Abstract.
Background:
Postoperative pneumoperitoneum on a plain chest radiograph is a potentially important medicolegal document of possible complication. However, pneumoperitoneum may be observed without significance after intra-abdominal procedures.
Methods:
Between April 2001 and March 2002, 204 consecutive open laparotomies for colorectal surgery were studied. Sixty-three patients had 97 chest radiographs taken before the twenty-fifth postoperative day.
Results:
Only one patient had subdiaphragmatic air (height >20 mm) on the tenth postoperative day associated with a visceral perforation. Normal subdiaphragmatic pneumoperitoneum was observed on 11 films in 8 patients (13%). Small amounts of air (<15 mm high) were observed in 7 (15%) of 47 radiographs on days 0–5, in 4 (18%) of 25 radiographs on days 6–10, but in no radiograph of 24 after day 10.
Conclusions:
Subdiaphragmatic pneumoperitoneum less than 20 mm high is often observed between the sixth and tenth postoperative days, without clinical importance.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shatari, T., Clark, M.A. & Keighley, M.R.B. Duration of pneumoperitoneum on chest radiograph after open colorectal surgery. Tech Coloproctol 8, 27–30 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-004-0047-7
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10151-004-0047-7