Pneumatosis intestinalis in children beyond the neonatal period.

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a well-recognized manifestation of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in the newborn--a condition that often requires surgical intervention for infarcted bowel. However, little information is available concerning PI in older children or its management. Sixteen older infants and children (greater than 2 months) had x-ray findings of PI (intramural air). There were eight girls and eight boys ranging in age from 2 months to 8 years. Associated conditions included short bowel syndrome (SBS) (8), congenital heart disease (2), iron ingestion (1), nesidioblastosis (1), hemolytic anemia (1), rheumatoid arthritis (1), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (1), and malrotation (1). Clinical presentation included abdominal distension (13), bloody diarrhea (12), bilious emesis (5), and lethargy (5). Two patients on steroids had unsuspected PI identified as an incidental operative finding during pancreatectomy for nesidioblastosis (1) and splenectomy for hemolytic anemia (1), respectively. Only four other children (iron toxicity, postcardiac catheterization, rheumatoid arthritis, and BPD required surgical intervention. Each manifested peritioneal irritation, acidosis, and hypotension or had pneumoperitoneum on abdominal x-ray. In ten of 14 patients, PI was managed nonoperatively with nasogastric suction, fluid resuscitation, intravenous (IV) antibiotics (seven to ten days), and repeated abdominal x-ray and physical examinations. Children with SBS comprised 50% of the total number of patients and eight of ten treated by observation. All had associated viral syndromes (rotavirus) or rhotozyme-positive stools and developed bloody diarrhea. There were two deaths (12.5%) in patients with iron toxicity and congenital heart disease who required resection of gangrenous bowel. All of the other patients survived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)