Emphysematous gastritis: case report and literature review

Abstract

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare variant of gastritis that is characterised by the presence of gas in the wall of the stomach with CT scan being the procedure of choice for diagnosis. It is a potentially fatal disease that is caused by gas forming organisms and usually presents with systemic toxicity. Predisposing factors include corrosive ingestion, alcohol abuse, abdominal surgery, diabetes, and immunosuppressant. Antimicrobial therapy with antibiotics covering gram-negative organisms and anaerobes, and surgery in appropriate cases may enhance survival. We report a new case of emphysematous gastritis following pelvic surgery, diagnosed with a CT scan that showed gas in both stomach wall and liver portal venous distribution and recovered with conservative management.