When Air Strikes: A Pregnant Patient’s Surprising Encounter With Pneumoperitoneum

TL;DR

A pregnant woman experienced pneumoperitoneum without a clear cause, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis in such cases.

Contribution

This case report presents a rare instance of idiopathic pneumoperitoneum in pregnancy without organ perforation.

Findings

Pneumoperitoneum was observed without evidence of perforation or ischemia during exploratory laparotomy.

The patient remained stable post-surgery despite the unusual presentation.

The case suggests trauma and physiological changes may contribute to pneumoperitoneum in pregnancy.

Abstract

Pneumoperitoneum, characterized by free air in the peritoneal cavity, typically signals significant intra-abdominal pathology, often due to perforated hollow viscera requiring urgent surgical intervention. However, spontaneous idiopathic pneumoperitoneum, particularly in pregnant patients, is rare and poorly understood. This case report details a 41-year-old female, 24 weeks pregnant status post two rounds of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), who presented unresponsive after a suspected overdose. Initial assessments revealed abdominal distention and a CT scan indicated substantial intra-abdominal free air. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, which, surprisingly, showed no evidence of perforation or ischemia in any abdominal organs. Following surgery, the patient remained stable, was extubated on postoperative day one, and progressed to a regular diet, although she declined recommended psychiatric care for substance use disorder. This case highlights the diagnostic complexities of pneumoperitoneum in pregnancy, suggesting that factors such as trauma, physiological changes, and substance-related gastrointestinal dysmotility may contribute to this condition. The absence of identifiable perforation emphasizes the potential for benign causes, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to effectively address the needs of pregnant patients with acute abdominal symptoms.

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