Gastric emphysema secondary to severe vomiting: a comparative review of 14 cases

Gastric emphysema is characterised by the presence of air within the wall of the stomach. The radiographic finding of gastric emphysema with hepatic portal venous gas is classically an ominous sign, associated with a high mortality rate. We report one case from our clinical experience and undertake a review of the previously reported cases of vomiting-induced gastric emphysema retrieved from the PubMed. A total of 14 cases were found to date. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 45.6 years (range, 9 months to 81 years). Computed tomography abdomen was the frequently used diagnostic modality. Interestingly, conservative treatment led to a clinical cure and resolution of gastric emphysema as well as the associated hepatic portal venous gas in most of the patients. This review illustrates that vomiting-related gastric emphysema entails a more benign course and surgical intervention can be avoided with a prompt aetiology establishment in these patients.

[1]  A. Kuhn,et al.  Gastric Emphysema , 2017, Pediatric emergency care.

[2]  Akihiko Ozaki,et al.  Asymptomatic hepatic portal venous gas with gastric emphysema as a chronic complication of gastrostomy tube placement: a case report , 2016, Journal of Medical Case Reports.

[3]  Ceen-Ming Tang,et al.  Conservative management of gastric emphysema with hepatoportal venous gas , 2015, BMJ Case Reports.

[4]  M. Habib,et al.  Vomiting-Induced Gastric Emphysema and Hepatoportal Venous Gas: A Case Report and Review of the Literature , 2015, Case reports in medicine.

[5]  H. Sheth,et al.  Diagnostic dilemma of gastric intramural air. , 2014, Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

[6]  Michael Z Su,et al.  Gastric emphysema secondary to laparoscopic gastric band erosion , 2014, International journal of surgery case reports.

[7]  Guillermo López-Medina,et al.  Gastric Emphysema a Spectrum of Pneumatosis Intestinalis: A Case Report and Literature Review , 2014, Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine.

[8]  M. Dai,et al.  Man With Nausea and Vomiting , 2012 .

[9]  E. Pauli,et al.  Multiply Recurrent Episodes of Gastric Emphysema , 2011, Case reports in surgery.

[10]  J. Chou,et al.  A rare complication of chemotherapy in a 56-year-old patient. Gastric emphysema. , 2010, Gastroenterology.

[11]  A. Gupta.  Interstitial gastric emphysema in a child with duodenal stenosis. , 1977, The British journal of radiology.

[12]  Chen-Yi Liao,et al.  A Rare Cause of Hepatic Portal Venous Gas with Gastric Emphysema. , 2015, Internal medicine.

[13]  M. Dai,et al.  Images in emergency medicine. Man with nausea and vomiting. Gastric emphysema complicating pancreatic cancer-related gastric outlet obstruction. , 2012, Annals of emergency medicine.

[14]  G. Trikudanathan,et al.  Vomiting-induced gastric emphysema: a rare self-limiting condition. , 2012, The American journal of the medical sciences.

[15]  S. Cherian,et al.  Gastric emphysema associated with diabetic gastroparesis. , 2011, Internal medicine.