Spontaneous Idiopathic Pneumoperitoneums: Four Case Reports And Review Of The Literature

More than 90% of pnömoperitoneum occur as a result of gastrointestinal perforation. However, sometime spneumoperitoneum is not associated with visceral perforation. In this study, we aimed to introduce the four cases of idiopathic spontaneous pneumoperitoneum and to review the literature. Ages were between 58 and 83 years old and intra-abdominal free air was determined during the emergency room imaging applications with undetermined etiology. One patient was diagnosed with idiopathic spontaneous pömoperitoneum after medical follow-up, and the others were diagnosed after surgery. All patients were male and did not have any etiologic factors other than diagnosis of COPD to create pneumoperitoneum. A detailed history and physical examination findings may prevent unnecessary laparotomy for diagnosis spontaneous pnömoperitoneum. In spontaneous pnömoperitoneum patients, it is suggested that COPD history should be questioned if no other etyological factor was found.