[Pneumobilia, pneumoperitoneum and pneumowirsung of traumatic etiology: Case report and review of the literature]

Abstract

Pneumobilia is a phenomenon associated with the presence of a biliary-enteric fistula or manipulation of the bile duct during procedures or surgical interventions that cause dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi. A known, but infrequently reported event, is the increase in intraabdominal pressure after closed abdominal trauma, which causes pneumobilia due to a mechanism of retrograde air leakage towards the bile duct. Depending on the general compromise of each patient, the prognosis can vary from a benign condition that only requires conservative management, to being life threatening. We present the case of a 75-year-old male patient who, after suffering a closed thoraco-abdominal trauma, presented with rib fracture and, in addition, gallbladder wall rupture, pneumoperitoneum, pneumobilia, and pneumowirsung, having a favorable clinical course after receiving conservative management.