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Tension Pneumoperitoneum Caused by Obstipation
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Tension Pneumoperitoneum Caused by Obstipation

Daniel Miller
The western journal of emergency medicine, Vol.16(5), pp.777-780
09/2015
DOI: 10.5811/westjem.2015.6.25283
PMCID: PMC4644053
PMID: 26587109
url
https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2015.6.25283View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Emergency physicians are often required to evaluate and treat undifferentiated patients suffering acute hemodynamic compromise (AHC). It is helpful to apply a structured approach based on a differential diagnosis including all causes of AHC that can be identified and treated during a primary assessment. Tension pneumoperitoneum (TP) is an uncommon condition with the potential to be rapidly fatal. It is amenable to prompt diagnosis and stabilization in the emergency department. We present a case of a 16-year-old boy with TP to demonstrate how TP should be incorporated into a differential diagnosis when evaluating an undifferentiated patient with AHC.
Pneumoperitoneum - etiology Diagnosis, Differential Emergency Service, Hospital Pneumoperitoneum - diagnosis Humans Adolescent Peritonitis - complications Male Peritonitis - diagnosis Shock - complications Shock - diagnosis

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