A major advance in the management of pneumatosis coli.

A new treatment for gas cysts of the large bowel is described which involves the continuous inhalation of a high concentration of oxygen over a five-day period. Two patients with incapacitating symptoms due to diffuse pneumatosis coli were treated by this method. Oxygen therapy resulted in remission of symptoms and disappearance of cysts in both cases. The physiological basis of this simple, effective therapy is discussed, together with the precautions necessary in its use.