Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition, and although various causes have been proposed, associations with medications and transplantation are extremely rare. We report a case of intestinal pneumatosis in a woman who developed the condition 20 days after undergoing a liver transp...

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Main Authors: Ramos, María Elena, Andres Murcia, Ciro, Mejía, Gilberto
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2025-04-01
Series:Iatreia
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Online Access:https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/354107
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author Ramos, María Elena
Andres Murcia, Ciro
Mejía, Gilberto
author_facet Ramos, María Elena
Andres Murcia, Ciro
Mejía, Gilberto
author_sort Ramos, María Elena
collection DOAJ
description Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition, and although various causes have been proposed, associations with medications and transplantation are extremely rare. We report a case of intestinal pneumatosis in a woman who developed the condition 20 days after undergoing a liver transplant. Initially attributed to intestinal obstruction caused by adhesions, the patient underwent laparotomy for adhesiolysis. However, the pneumatosis persisted, and the affected intestinal surface increased despite medical treatment. Concurrently, the patient experienced a viral respiratory infection with secondary thrombocytopenia, leading to the discontinuation of mycophenolate. This intervention resulted in improvement in both the imaging findings of intestinal pneumatosis and associa­ted symptomatology. The perpetuation of this condition in the patient was likely linked to the use of mycophenolate, as the patient improved once the medication was discontinued. Abdominal tomography represents the gold standard technique for diagnosing intestinal pneumatosis, as well as for evaluating its extent and complications. Generally, a favorable outcome is achieved with conservative treatment, as cases requiring surgical management have a poor prognosis.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Universidad de Antioquia
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spelling doaj-art-f939fa9bd2df4cba9d14d49385d3a35a2025-08-20T02:27:16ZspaUniversidad de AntioquiaIatreia0121-07932011-79652025-04-0138236937610.17533/udea.iatreia.281Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case ReportRamos, María Elena0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1195-5147Andres Murcia, Ciro1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1868-2209Mejía, Gilberto2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8693-4546Fundación Cardioinfantil, Bogotá, ColombiaFundación Cardioinfantil, Bogotá, ColombiaFundación Cardioinfantil, Bogotá, ColombiaPneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition, and although various causes have been proposed, associations with medications and transplantation are extremely rare. We report a case of intestinal pneumatosis in a woman who developed the condition 20 days after undergoing a liver transplant. Initially attributed to intestinal obstruction caused by adhesions, the patient underwent laparotomy for adhesiolysis. However, the pneumatosis persisted, and the affected intestinal surface increased despite medical treatment. Concurrently, the patient experienced a viral respiratory infection with secondary thrombocytopenia, leading to the discontinuation of mycophenolate. This intervention resulted in improvement in both the imaging findings of intestinal pneumatosis and associa­ted symptomatology. The perpetuation of this condition in the patient was likely linked to the use of mycophenolate, as the patient improved once the medication was discontinued. Abdominal tomography represents the gold standard technique for diagnosing intestinal pneumatosis, as well as for evaluating its extent and complications. Generally, a favorable outcome is achieved with conservative treatment, as cases requiring surgical management have a poor prognosis.https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/354107liver transplantationmycophenolic acidpneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
spellingShingle Ramos, María Elena
Andres Murcia, Ciro
Mejía, Gilberto
Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
Iatreia
liver transplantation
mycophenolic acid
pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
title Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
title_full Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
title_fullStr Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
title_short Intestinal Pneumatosis Following Liver Transplantation, a Rare Condition with High Morbidity: A Case Report
title_sort intestinal pneumatosis following liver transplantation a rare condition with high morbidity a case report
topic liver transplantation
mycophenolic acid
pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
url https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/354107
work_keys_str_mv AT ramosmariaelena intestinalpneumatosisfollowinglivertransplantationarareconditionwithhighmorbidityacasereport
AT andresmurciaciro intestinalpneumatosisfollowinglivertransplantationarareconditionwithhighmorbidityacasereport
AT mejiagilberto intestinalpneumatosisfollowinglivertransplantationarareconditionwithhighmorbidityacasereport