# Pneumatosis Intestinalis Following Surgical Gastrostomy Tube Placement in a Patient With Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 79-year-old woman with glottic cancer died from a rare intestinal condition following a common surgical procedure, highlighting the need for prompt interdisciplinary care.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case of fatal spontaneous pneumatosis intestinalis following surgical gastrostomy tube placement.

## Key findings

- Pneumatosis intestinalis developed within five days of surgical gastrostomy tube placement.
- The condition proved fatal in a patient with glottic squamous cell carcinoma.
- The case underscores the importance of rapid interdisciplinary management for such rare complications.

## Abstract

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a rare medical and post-surgical sequela of multiple different etiologies which can be either benign or life-threatening. Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the occurrence of PI; however, the pathophysiology is dependent on the suspected cause. The condition is largely categorized into two broad groups: idiopathic PI, which remains relatively uncommon, and secondary PI. The latter often surfaces as a result of a wide array of both gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal illnesses. These encompass vascular compromise, bowel mucosal disruption, gastrointestinal dysmotility, as well as infectious and immunological etiologies. Management ranges from conservative medical strategies to emergent surgical intervention.

We present the first case to our knowledge of spontaneous PI developing within five days of a surgical gastrostomy tube (SGT) placement in a 79-year-old female with glottic squamous cell carcinoma which unfortunately proved fatal. The purpose of this case report is to highlight a rare fatal complication of a common surgical procedure and the necessity of initiating interdisciplinary management quickly to determine the best treatment course.