Gregory Wallace1, Nelson Rosen2, Alexander J Towbin3, Sonata Jodele4, Kasiani C Myers4, Stella M Davies4, Amanda Flannery4, Juan P Gurria5. 1. Division of Bone Marrow Transplant and Immune Deficiency, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Electronic address: Gregory.Wallace@cchmc.org. 2. Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 3. Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 4. Division of Bone Marrow Transplant and Immune Deficiency, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 5. Surgical Critical Care / Pediatric Surgery, Phoenix Children's Hospital / Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) has been reported in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HSCT) since 1980s and at present there is no uniform consensus of the significance and management of this condition. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 990 consecutive pediatric HSCT recipients and examined data for clinical PI presentation, management and outcomes RESULTS: PI was identified in 53 patients (5.4%), mainly allogeneic HSCT recipients receiving systemic steroids. Abdominal X-ray was the main diagnostic modality. Forty-seven patients (89%) were evaluated because of clinical concerns and others were identified as incidental findings. Pneumoperitoneum was reported in 15 patients (28%). None of these patients had signs of acute abdomen. The majority of patients (43/53, 81%) had no targeted clinical intervention for PI and resolved PI in a median of 15 days (IQR 3-61). Surgery consult was only requested for 7/53 (13%) patients, three of whom had evidence of pneumoperitoneum. None of these patients required any surgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumatosis intestinalis commonly occurs in HSCT recipient receiving steroids, but unlike with NEC, PI rarely poses clinical risk after transplant. The majority of HSCT recipients with PI require only close monitoring without interventions. Surgical evaluation should be based on clinical symptoms and not PI presence alone.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE:Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) has been reported in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HSCT) since 1980s and at present there is no uniform consensus of the significance and management of this condition. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 990 consecutive pediatric HSCT recipients and examined data for clinical PI presentation, management and outcomes RESULTS: PI was identified in 53 patients (5.4%), mainly allogeneic HSCT recipients receiving systemic steroids. Abdominal X-ray was the main diagnostic modality. Forty-seven patients (89%) were evaluated because of clinical concerns and others were identified as incidental findings. Pneumoperitoneum was reported in 15 patients (28%). None of these patients had signs of acute abdomen. The majority of patients (43/53, 81%) had no targeted clinical intervention for PI and resolved PI in a median of 15 days (IQR 3-61). Surgery consult was only requested for 7/53 (13%) patients, three of whom had evidence of pneumoperitoneum. None of these patients required any surgical interventions. CONCLUSIONS:Pneumatosis intestinalis commonly occurs in HSCT recipient receiving steroids, but unlike with NEC, PI rarely poses clinical risk after transplant. The majority of HSCT recipients with PI require only close monitoring without interventions. Surgical evaluation should be based on clinical symptoms and not PI presence alone.
Authors: Shannon N Acker; Sarah Ogle; Emily Cooper; Maxene Meier; Pamela N Peterson; Ann M Kulungowski Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2022-10-15 Impact factor: 2.003