A rare cause of pneumoperitoneum due to clostridium perfringens in a cirrhotic patient.

INTRODUCTION

Abdominal gas gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens is a rare differential diagnosis to pneumoperitoneum caused by bowel perforation. There are only a handful of case reports on this topic.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We present the case of a 58 year old cirrhotic patient who represented to our ER after complicated surgery for retroperitoneal liposarcoma. On admission he complained of abdominal pain and mild fever. Due to leukocytosis and CRP a CT scan was performed which showed extensive free air. The patient was taken to the OR for suspected bowel perforation. No perforation could be identified after extensive search and lavage.

RESULTS

Twelve hours after surgery microbiology reported extensive growth of clostridium perfringens in the cultures drawn from ascites. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and discharged home soon after.

CONCLUSION

Gas gangrene is a rare differential diagnosis to bowel perforation. Most reported cases are from cirrhotic patients. If no perforation can be identified in the OR postoperative antibiotics should cover clostridium perfringens.