Pneumatosis in Post-Whipple Patients

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is the finding of air in the wall of the intestine. Clinical significance ranges from an incidental radiologic finding to an indicator of life-threatening disease requiring surgical intervention. We report the incidence and consequence of PI in a 7-year, single-surgeon, retrospective review. Data from demographics, imaging, and outcomes were analyzed. Two-tailed Fisher's exact test was performed to analyze the difference between groups. A total of 214 patients underwent a Whipple procedure with a routinely placed feeding tube during this period. Most had a gastrojejunal feeding tube, 80.4 per cent. Thirteen patients developed PI. Overall reoperation rate was nine of 201 versus four of 13 in the PI group (P < 0.02). Three patients taken back to the operating room with peritonitis and PI had a necrotic bowel. A fourth patient was taken to surgery for unrelenting upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The remaining nine were managed nonoperatively with resolution of PI. The 90-day death rate in those without PI was 2.9 per cent versus 23.3 per cent with PI (P < 0.02). Isolated PI can be managed nonoperatively; however, in the presence of peritonitis, it is a strong predictor of lethal complications.