Case Report
Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum after unsuccessful ERCP: a case report
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* Corresponding author: Timothy Sakellaridis sakellaridis_t@yahoo.gr
Department of Surgery, "Sismanoglio" General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
Cases Journal 2009, 2:120 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-120
Published: 3 February 2009Abstract
Background
The presence of subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum simultaneously is a rare complication of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that usually indicates free perforation to the peritoneal cavity or the retroperitoneal space.
Case presentation
We report an unusual case of a self-limited subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum following an unsuccessful ERCP for removal of a common bile duct stone.
Conclusion
There was no radiological evidence of peritoneal or retroperitoneal perforation. This complication is distinct from pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum due to perforation, and must be recognized, because it is benign and needs no surgical or radiological intervention.