Karşıdağ, T Ministry of Health - Haseki Training and Research Hospital, General Surgery Clinic, Turkey , Asensio, J A University of Miami - Ryder Trauma Center, Miller School of Medicine - Division of Trauma Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, USA , Tüzün, S Ministry of Health - Haseki Training and Research Hospital, General Surgery Clinic, Turkey , Kocakuşak, A Ministry of Health - Haseki Training and Research Hospital, General Surgery Clinic, Turkey

Pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumoscrotum after diverticular perforation developed during colonoscopy

14814

The incidence of colon perforation is 0.1 percent for flexible sigmoidoscopy, 0.16 percent for diagnostic colonoscopy, and 0.44 percent for colonoscopy plus therapeutic intervention. Colonic perforation can lead to air accumulation in the retroperitoneal space and in a variety of places. This is a very rare entity. We report a case of a 73-year-old man investigated for enlargement of the neck, mild abdominal pain and distention after a diagnostic colonoscopic procedure. A chest and abdominal X-ray with CT scan showed subcutaneous emphysema, retroperitoneal air, pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum, and pneumoscrotum. This report pointed out the pathway of the air from the retroperitoneal space to the intrapericardial space and into the scrotum in a patient with a colon perforation.

166

Pneumopericardium , pneumomediastinum , pneumoretroperitoneum , pneumoscrotum , diverticulum perforation , colonoscopy

Ege Journal Of Medicine

168