Pneumatosis coli: a case presentation and review of the literature

Abstract

The case of pneumatosis coli presented here was felt to have occurred concomitantly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in combination with prolonged intestinal distention. This condition usually requires no treatment because it is often self-limiting. In this case, because of radiographic and clinical findings suggestive of intestinal obstruction, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy and tube cecostomy for decompression and drainage of the markedly distended cecum and transverse colon.