Pneumatosis intestinalis is a symptom or disease. Disease pneumatosis intestinalis Severe pneumatosis intestinalis

Many people are interested in the question: pneumatosis intestinalis, what kind of disease it is and how to treat it correctly. It is diagnosed in older people, small children and infants.

The disease is associated with the accumulation of gases in the stomach, which, penetrating through the mucous membrane, enter the blood circulation, provoking the formation of cysts. If treatment is not timely, inflammatory processes occur in the cavities where an increased amount of gases is concentrated.

Causes of pneumatosis intestinalis

The main cause of the development of pneumatosis is disorders in the digestive system, resulting in increased accumulation of gases.

The appearance of the disease is influenced by the following factors:

• if in childhood the child suffered serious intoxication of the body;
• if there is severe hypotension of intestinal peristalsis, which causes a strong accumulation of gases in the colon area;
• if there are strong spasms in the intestines that do not allow gases to escape on their own. This subsequently leads to the formation of cysts;
• any intestinal obstruction;
• food poisoning;
• eating disorders provoke pneumatosis;
• infectious diseases of the large and small intestines;
• adhesions in the intestines;
• hernias in the intestines;
• intestinal injury;
• colitis;
• pancreatic diseases;
• pregnancy;
• liver diseases;
• if there are tumors and polyps in the anal area that do not allow gases to escape, pneumatosis may appear.

Symptoms

Having identified symptoms, treatment is carried out only according to the doctor’s indications. Depending on the age and neglect of pneumatosis, the disease can manifest itself in different ways.

The most characteristic signs are:

• feeling of heaviness and fullness in the intestines;
• when diagnosed, bags of gases resemble bunches of grapes;
• the patient has;
• a person is bothered by painful sensations in the abdomen in the form of colic;
• pain can be constant or paroxysmal;
• there is frequent constipation;
• intestinal obstruction may occur;
• a cyst in children resembles a cluster of small air bubbles;
• feeling of discomfort in the abdominal cavity;
• nausea or vomiting;
• In places where gases are localized, bloating is observed. This is especially evident in newborns;
• constant ;
• cyanosis of the skin;
• general malaise;
• decrease in pressure;
• intestinal pneumatization;
• Complications may include shock or loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis

Most often, patients come to the doctor with complaints of ailments and problems with the gastrointestinal tract. And only after diagnostic measures, intestinal pneumatosis is detected in a person. The doctor can already determine the accumulation of gases by palpation if the patient has hyperpneumatosis. When pressing on the abdominal cavity, you can hear gas bubbles begin to burst in the abdomen.

But, To establish an accurate diagnosis and determine pneumatosis, it is necessary to undergo a number of diagnostic procedures:

• X-ray;
• colonoscopy, which examines the intestinal cavity for the presence of cysts;
• endoscopy, which allows not only to establish the correct diagnosis and assess the condition of the intestinal mucosa, but also to take material for a biopsy to exclude or confirm the presence of malignant formations.

Untimely diagnosis and treatment of intestinal pneumatization can lead to serious complications. Therefore, only a doctor decides how to treat pneumatosis and what methods need to be used for the disease.

Complications of pneumatosis intestinalis

If not treated in a timely manner, pneumatosis intestinalis causes severe complications, which can be fatal in advanced cases. Most often, with advanced hyperpneumatization, the following may develop:

• full or partial;
• clogging of the intestinal lumen with cysts;
• the formation of a loop of the stomach, when one part of it bends under the other;
• intensive adhesive process;
• colonic necrosis of the mucous membrane, which leads to circulatory problems.

Complications of pneumatosis can cause a person to lose consciousness and go into shock. Often, at an advanced stage of pneumatosis, the intestinal walls rupture, resulting in peritonitis. If surgery is not performed in a timely manner, death is possible.

Treatment

Pneumatosis is provoked by improper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, treatment is aimed at combating the causes of the disease. Only in advanced stages, when the patient has severe pneumatosis and intestinal obstruction, is surgical intervention resorted to.

In other cases of pneumatosis, the doctor selects drug treatment.

Carminatives- aimed at eliminating flatulence and gas accumulation. They restore microflora and quickly remove bloating. The drugs also relieve heaviness in the stomach and relieve heartburn. The most effective are:

• Bebinos;
• Benegast Redugas;
• Espumisan;
• Colikid;
• Meteospasmil;
• Gerbeon drops.

Antispasmodics- These medications relieve intestinal spasms. The following drugs are recommended:

• Motillium;
• Motizhekt;
• Mezim Forte.

• Activated carbon;
• Polysorb;
• Filtrum.

Enzyme preparations - These medications are used to normalize digestion. Such drugs include:

• Pancreatin;
• Festal;
• Somilaza.

Probiotics— improve intestinal microflora, neutralize the effects of poisons and toxins. Recommended drugs:

• Linux;
• Bifidiumbacterin;
• Lactobacillus

Antidiarrheal- prescribed to patients who have regular diarrhea due to pneumatosis. These are medications such as:

• Stopdiar;
• Filtrum;
• Alpha Normix.

Laxatives- medications are prescribed for regular constipation. The best are:

• Slabicap;
• Weak;
• Glycerol;
• Lakitol;
• Lavacol.

Traditional medicine

Pneumatosis can be treated with folk remedies. The most effective are the following decoctions:

1. Dill water, which is prepared from a tablespoon of dill seeds diluted with a glass of boiling water. Drink this decoction up to 3-5 times a day in small sips.
2. Fennel decoction is prepared in a similar way. They drink it one tablespoon three times a day.

Prevention

If a person is diagnosed with pneumatosis intestinalis, there is a high probability of frequent relapses. Therefore, the patient needs:

• strictly follow a diet;
• Visit a gastroenterologist 2 times a year;
• self-medication is prohibited;
• use traditional medicine only after consultation with a doctor;
• at the slightest symptoms of the disease, immediately consult a doctor.

Pneumatosis intestinalis is a rare disease, the main symptom of which is the presence of gas-containing cysts in the intestinal wall. Its exact etiology is still unknown. The causes of intestinal pneumatization can be either iatrogenic (that is, caused by the actions of medical workers or medical procedures) or result from various diseases. The disease can manifest itself after surgery on the ileum, after colonoscopy, or during treatment with chemotherapy. Pneumatosis can be caused by chronic lung diseases, diseases affecting connective tissue, as well as by eating sorbitol or taking lactulose; In total, doctors count more than fifty factors contributing to the development of pneumatosis. Recently, cases of the appearance of cysts located under the serous and mucous membranes of the intestine have become more frequent. True, it remains unclear whether this is caused by microtraumas as a result of examining the intestines during irrigoscopy or colonoscopy, or whether simply improvements in the methods of these studies have led to better detection of the disease.

Causes of intestinal pneumatization

There are different theories about how exactly pneumatosis intestinalis occurs. According to the mechanical theory, increased pressure in the intestinal cavity causes intestinal gas to penetrate through microcracks in the intestinal mucosa into the lymphatic channels, and only then, under the influence of peristaltic contractions, the gas moves further. How does high pressure in the intestines occur? One cause may be an intestinal obstruction caused by injury, surgery, or a colonoscopy. However, this theory does not explain the presence of a large amount of hydrogen present in the contents of cysts (up to 50%). For comparison, ordinary intestinal gas contains no more than 14% hydrogen.

The bacterial theory of the occurrence of pneumatosis intestinalis suggests that bacteria located under the mucous membrane (clostridium and E. coli) during their life processes emit gas, which is retained by the submucosa and lymphatic channels. Inflammation of the tissue around the cysts supports this theory. This is also confirmed by experiments on animals in which bacteria were injected into the intestinal wall. The gas contained in the cysts formed as a result of the injection has a high hydrogen content. The bacterial theory is also confirmed by the fact that after the animals were treated with the antibiotic metronadazole, the disease gradually disappeared.

The pulmonary theory states that in patients suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, gas released as a result of rupture of the alveoli passes through the mediastinum into the retroperitoneum and then penetrates through the perivascular spaces into the intestinal wall. Pneumatosis can occur in some hereditary diseases characterized by impaired respiratory function (cystic fibrosis) and as a result of injuries - barotrauma or after drainage of the pleural area in the treatment of pneumothorax or hydrothorax (accumulation of air or fluid in the pleural cavity).

There are also studies that have revealed a connection between the occurrence of intestinal pneumatization and the use of diabetes medications (alpha-glucosidase inhibitors). Under the influence of these drugs, the bacterial flora of the intestines begins to produce intestinal gas in large quantities.

In most cases, cysts form in the walls of the ileum (42%) and colon (36%); otherwise, both the small and large intestines are affected (22%). Bubbles in the intestinal wall can be the size of a pinhead to 6-7 cm in diameter; they can be either scattered along the inner surface of the intestine or in close contact with each other, forming long lines. Some cysts may be pedunculated and hang into the abdominal cavity.

Symptoms of pneumatosis intestinalis

Pneumatosis has no characteristic clinical symptoms. It is either asymptomatic, or patients complain of pain and bloating, flatulence, colic caused by it, diarrhea and bleeding from the anus. In general, doctors are more inclined to think that pneumatosis intestinalis is not a separate disease, but a condition that complicates the course of other diseases.

Pneumatosis can be a consequence of the following diseases:

Necrotizing enterocolitis. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common serious diseases of newborns and infants, the development of which is especially susceptible to premature babies and children with underweight. The exact causes of this disease are unknown; assumptions range from intestinal infarction to the infectious nature of the disease. Its signs are bloating, food intolerance, vomiting, blood in the stool, diarrhea, changes in temperature and pressure. The course of the disease can be very different: in mild cases it ends without any consequences for the child, and in severe cases surgical treatment is indicated.

Heart diseases. Pneumatosis intestinalis is one of the signs of problems in the cardiovascular system. As a rule, during the treatment process, as the patient’s condition improves, pneumatosis also goes away.

Consequence of injuries. Falls from a bicycle, fights, blows to the abdomen - all this can lead to the development of intestinal pneumatization.

Consequence of destruction of the intestinal mucosa. The cause of this phenomenon may be peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis. Appendicitis, adhesions as a result of intestinal surgery, diverticulitis, intussusception (invasion of the upper segment of the intestine into the lower; most often found in infants), and so on can also contribute to damage to the inner surface of the intestine and the development of obstruction.

Some hereditary diseases, such as Hirschsprung's disease. One of the symptoms of the disease is chronic constipation caused by abnormalities in the development of the colon in newborns.

Pneumatosis intestinalis in AIDS mainly affects the cecum and colon. It is assumed that immunodeficiency causes depletion of lymphoid tissue and, as a result, damage to the intestinal walls.

Establishing diagnosis

If pneumatosis intestinalis is suspected, the following tests may be performed:

It is prescribed to determine the presence or absence of damage to the colon. Intestinal pneumatization is determined by cysts. They can be small, present in large numbers, or more rare and large (up to 3 cm in diameter), surrounded by reddened and inflamed intestinal mucosa. Cysts are usually destroyed by biopsy. Recently, in connection with programs for the preventive detection of colon cancer, the number of identified cases of intestinal pneumatosis is growing - its presence is detected even in patients with a complete absence of symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases.

X-ray examination. Even the simplest x-ray of the digestive tract can detect pathological changes in the characteristics of the intestinal walls. On an x-ray, pneumatosis intestinalis appears as individual small bubbles or clusters of them in the form of a bunch of grapes or stripes.

Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Using these methods, you can determine where the intestinal wall is thickened and contains gas. CT is more sensitive than conventional x-rays and can distinguish pneumatosis from air in the intestinal lumen or fatty deposits. In addition, with the help of computed tomography, you can determine the severity of the development of intestinal pneumatization - for example, whether the intestinal walls are very thickened, whether there is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), and so on.

Severe pneumatosis intestinalis and associated complications

If there are many cysts and they are large in size, then their accumulation can lead to intestinal obstruction. In particularly severe cases, the gas pressure in the cysts is so great that it can cause the intestine to rupture, releasing gas and intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity. As a result, a person may develop peritonitis, which is a life-threatening disease. Severe intestinal pneumatosis is also dangerous because the organs adjacent to the affected area of ​​the intestine may be subject to compression, which contributes to the development of adhesions in them.

Treatment of pneumatosis intestinalis

Since intestinal pneumatization is not an independent disease, but only a consequence, the disease under the influence of which pneumatosis developed should be treated. As a rule, during the treatment process, pneumatosis gradually disappears. If the cause of pneumatosis is increased pressure in the intra-abdominal area due to increased gas formation, the doctor can treat it with drugs that improve intestinal motility, laxatives, prescribing a diet, and so on. If pneumatosis occurs due to infection, the doctor may suggest that the patient take antiviral drugs and antibiotics.

If the size and number of cysts are such that they begin to pose a danger in themselves, pneumatosis can be treated with oxygen respiratory therapy. The principle of its operation is as follows: the supply of oxygen increases the saturation of the blood with this gas and leads to an increase in pressure in the cysts. Oxygen displaces gases from the cysts and is subsequently metabolized by the body, which leads to the weakening and disappearance of signs of intestinal pneumatization. To reduce the frequency of relapses, oxygen therapy is recommended for another two days after the final disappearance of the cysts.

Treatment with oxygen-breathing therapy occurs as follows: the patient is put on a high-flow face mask, also known as a Venturi mask. The mask receives a mixture of oxygen (from the cylinder) and regular air supplied through the mask valve of the same name. The mask allows you to regulate the degree of saturation of the air mixture with oxygen. Oxygen in large doses can be harmful, so when carrying out therapy, the doctor needs to measure the gas pressure in the blood every day and from time to time give the patient a chest x-ray. A decrease in the vital capacity of the lungs is one of the symptoms of the onset of oxygen poisoning.

Surgical treatment of pneumatosis intestinalis

In particularly severe cases of intestinal pneumatization (for example, when there is a threat of peritonitis), surgical treatment may be prescribed. The doctor determines whether surgery is necessary based on a combination of signs: the degree of pain, the presence of diarrhea, temperature, whether there is bleeding from the anus, whether the blood pressure is low, as well as test results (including the number of white blood cells, amylase, lactic acid and other chemical compounds in blood). The doctor also pays attention to the presence of complications in the patient and the condition of his intestines.

Pneumatosis, although rare in clinical practice, represents a real problem for many patients. Suspicion of pneumatosis may arise from increased gas formation and systematic belching. Normally, the stomach cavity contains about 200 ml of air, which is easily absorbed into the tissue structures of the intestine. The main volume of gases enters the body from outside, while the remaining volume is produced by microorganisms as a result of their vital activity. When there is excess accumulation of gas in the stomach, it is naturally released through the mouth, and when it accumulates in the intestines, it is released through the anus. Loud uncontrollable belching causes serious psychological and physiological discomfort, and the patient seeks privacy. Excessive accumulation of gas can provoke its accumulation in the lymphatic system, which leads to the formation of vascular diseases. So, what is pelvic pneumatosis?

Features of the pathology

Pneumatosis is characterized by an increased concentration of air masses in the gastric and intestinal cavities. The difference between pneumatosis and typical increased gas formation is the presence of cystic fragments that form between the layers of tissue of the walls of the intestine and stomach. Cystic structures can be visualized on ultrasound even in infants if there have been intestinal infections and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The gas formed during pneumatosis is produced by microorganisms of the abdominal cavity.

Gastroanatomy (stomach and intestines)

Clinicians call pneumatosis aerophagia (abnormal swallowing of air). The composition of the gas contains impurities of digestion products and enzymes. The bacterial environment of the peritoneum also includes Escherichia coli. The disease can be either local or generalized, when the disease spreads to several parts of the digestive tract. When palpating the abdominal and iliac regions, they even feel the sound of gas bubbles collapsing. An endoscopic examination clearly shows the filling of the entire free space of the cavities of the epigastric organs with gas bubbles. Some blisters contain bloody spots.

Important! Frequent belching is a characteristic signal of the development of pathology of the abdominal organs. In case of systematic discomfort, it is important to immediately seek help from specialists. Self-suppression of the condition is only temporary and over time can only intensify the unpleasant sensations.

Classification and types

The classification of pneumatosis allows you to accurately determine the clinical picture, determine the diagnosis and its possible complications. The separation of types of pneumatosis helps to determine the tactics of treating the disease.

By nature of occurrence

There are two types of pneumatosis based on the type of occurrence:

• primary process;
• secondary pneumatosis.

Primary pneumatosis of the stomach develops against the background of persistent functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, with mental illness (psychosis, hysteria, neurasthenia). The primary process is often associated with increased emotional and nervous stress, with disruptions in nervous activity. The combination of pneumatosis and autonomic disorders is explained by regular irritation of nerve endings in the cavities of the gastrointestinal tract. The secondary process develops with existing pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, persistent mental disorders as a complication of underlying diseases.

According to the nature of the flow

The clinical picture of aerophagia appears in accordance with the condition that caused the pathology. Based on the type of course, the following types of pneumatoses are distinguished:

• neurological (swallowing air through the mouth during seizures, hysteria, psychosis);
• organic (swallowing of air due to the abnormal structure of the gastrointestinal tract, swallowing a large amount of air when eating).

Important! Functional newborns are also found. Regurgitation (otherwise, physiological regurgitation of fresh milk mass) occurs as a result of underdevelopment of the digestive system. Against the background of the baby’s absolute health, belching and regurgitation are transient in nature, and the condition itself is more relevant to general pediatric practice.

Etiological factors

What is it - pneumatosis of the pancreas, stomach and intestines? Many factors contribute to the development of increased gas formation with cystic components in the walls of the stomach and other epigastric organs. The pathological condition in young children often occurs due to food poisoning and intestinal infections. In adults and elderly people, pathology often has a secondary process against the background of existing pathologies of internal organs and systems. The main reasons include:

• disturbances of peristalsis (a decrease in the number of intestinal contractions affects the formation and distribution of gases);
• pneumatization (accumulation of gases due to compression of parts of the intestine);
• intestinal obstruction of any origin;
• tumors, polyps, cancers;
• infectious diseases;
• colic, peptic ulcer.

Important! Intestinal infections and a burdened gastroenterological history are a significant trigger for the development of pathology. Such infections are always complex, require long-term treatment, and cause chronicity of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Features of pneumatosis in children

The development of pneumatosis in children is possible not only after previous infections, but also due to intestinal obstruction after abdominal operations. Severe pathology affects muscle tone and intestinal motility. Other causes of pneumatosis in children are a sedentary lifestyle and abnormal development of internal organs. If there is excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines and stomach, gas-suppressing drugs and prolonged massage are prescribed.

Interesting! The child's body has enormous health resources and is capable of rapid recovery due to intensive cell regeneration processes in bone and connective tissue. With proper treatment and timely diagnosis, absolute recovery can be achieved without the risk of chronicity of the process.

Pneumatosis during pregnancy

The gestational period of a woman in all trimesters often occurs against the background of deteriorating health due to the pressure of the growing abdomen and the pressure of the fetus on the pelvic organs. If normal gas formation is more of a physiological process during pregnancy, then with pneumatoses this condition can threaten the health of the fetus. Intestinal emphysema or pneumatous transformations of the tissues of the walls of the stomach indicate disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the development of diseases such as colitis, enterocolitis, and intestinal infection. If the intestines of a young mother become infected, the newborn may become infected during the birth process. Pathogenic microflora in an infant’s imperfect body can cause serious complications, for example, the development of meningeal infection.

Important! The pregnancy period is associated with health problems for many women. A natural decrease in immunity gives many infections and diseases the “green light” to penetrate into the body. If stomach diseases occurred before pregnancy, then it is important to follow a special diet, all the recommendations of the doctor and specialized specialists.

Signs and manifestation

A striking symptom of pneumatosis of the stomach and intestines is increased persistent gas formation and flatulence. The intensity of the sensations depends entirely on the degree of filling of the cavities with gas bubbles, on the number of cystic components and air cavities inside the digestive system. The main symptoms of pneumatosis are:

• discomfort in the rectal area (feeling of stretching of the walls, distension);
• vomiting and constant nausea;
• pale skin;
• cramping pain (sometimes of unclear localization);
• constipation along with diarrhea;
• belching.

Cystic cavity

Important! Pneumatosis is a gastrointestinal pathology that can lead to serious complications such as peritonitis and intestinal obstruction as a result of cysts blocking the intestinal lumen. With ordinary flatulence, the patient does not experience a general deterioration in his condition. The mistake of many patients is that they separate bloating, nausea and flatulence from weakness and general deterioration of the condition.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnostics includes examination of the intestinal cavity (endoscopic methods), the condition of the epigastric organs (ultrasound, X-ray with contrast), urine, blood and stool tests. In addition to research, the doctor studies the patient’s complaints, his clinical history, and the likelihood of concomitant pathologies based on the existing symptoms. The main goal of differential diagnosis in gastroenterology is to exclude the condition of “acute abdomen” and other pathologies dangerous to life and health.

Treatment tactics

In the prevailing number of cases, pneumatosis is considered by clinicians as a secondary process, therefore therapeutic measures are aimed at eliminating the provoking factors. For uncomplicated pneumatosis, conservative treatment with medications is sufficient. For life-threatening complications, emergency surgery is required. Drug treatment consists of prescribing the following drugs:

• antibiotics of suitable groups;
• antispasmodics;
• intestinal antiseptics (in case of intestinal infections);
• carminatives for gas formation;
• antidiarrheal (for loose stools);
• laxatives (for congestion).

Ultrasound of the abdominal organs

Important! The dosage is selected solely in accordance with the severity of the disease, the patient’s age and the characteristics of his medical history. Treatment of pneumatosis in children and adults with suspected complications is carried out only in specialized hospitals.

Traditional methods of treatment

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are described in numerous traditional medicine recipes. To reduce pain and colic, decoctions of peppermint, fennel seeds or dill are suitable. To sanitize the intestines, you can systematically drink a decoction of chamomile, lemon balm, and string in the form of regular tea. Decoctions of fruits, rose hips, plums or apples will help strengthen intestinal motility and improve the overall tone of the stomach. It is worth considering that monotherapy, consisting only of grandmother’s recipes, will not be suitable for eliminating pathology. Traditional methods will be effective when taking medications, as well as after surgery to speed up rehabilitation.

Important! The disease is dangerous due to the development of serious complications that can lead to disability or death. Any treatment must be coordinated with your doctor. Self-medication in this case can only do harm, because some drugs only temporarily eliminate symptoms, and the disease, meanwhile, progresses.

Prevention

Pneumatosis intestinalis has vague symptoms, so its diagnosis can be difficult if you have a complicated gastroenterological history. Pathology can be avoided by following a healthy lifestyle, small, nutritious meals, a regular diet (sleep and wakefulness), and timely treatment of concomitant diseases.

This is a rather rare disease of the digestive system, which is accompanied by the appearance of gas-filled cysts on the inner surface of hollow organs. The formations resemble clusters of vesicles with a thin wall of connective tissue. The main risk group is men over 35 years of age, but many cases are also recorded in newborns.

What is pneumatosis intestinalis

Pathology is formed when pressure in the gastrointestinal tract increases. In places where the mucous membrane is damaged, gas or bacteria that produce it penetrate into the walls. Sometimes this process is caused by the formation and disintegration of tumors. Gas bubbles are absorbed by the villi and pass through them into the lymphatic vessels.

Most often, cysts form in the lower part of the small intestine, but they can also be located in the stomach, peritoneum, mesentery, falciform and gastrohepatic ligaments, and colon. Severe pneumatosis is a form of the disease in which several internal organs are simultaneously affected.

The pathological process develops slowly. In adults, cases of self-healing are common, after which small scars remain at the site of the cysts. For children, this disease is much more dangerous and can lead to death. In case of complications, surgical intervention is required to remove the affected area.

Causes of pneumatosis

Factors contributing to the development of pathology:

• Intestinal infections leading to the accumulation of gas produced by microbes in the walls.
• Weakened peristalsis.
• Squeezing parts of the intestine.
• Low human mobility.
• Impaired haustration (mixing movements of the colon).
• Spasms.
• Problems with gas escaping through the anus.
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure.
• Benign tumors formed from cells on the inner surface of blood or lymph vessels.
• Pyloric stenosis is a disease in which the diameter of the lumen decreases (through it the contents of the esophagus enter the stomach). The cause may be a scar left after the ulcer has healed, as well as an oncological formation on the walls of the organ.

Due to difficulty entering the stomach, food begins to stagnate, decompose and ferment. To cope with the additional load, the muscular lining of the stomach increases and the organ stretches.

The pathology can only be cured surgically; medications are used to relieve discomfort and prepare for surgery.

Symptoms of the disease

Pneumatosis may accompany:

• Aching pain and feeling of pressure in the abdomen.
• Weight loss.
• Belching.
• Flatulence.
• Diarrhea, sometimes constipation. After bowel movement the condition improves.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• General weakness.
• Bleeding from the anus.
• If hyperpneumatosis is detected in newborns, it is acute, accompanied by loose stools, vomiting, and enteritis.
• Blood and increased fat content are observed in the stool.

Pneumatosis in pregnant women

The period of bearing a child in women is accompanied by numerous disruptions in the functioning of the digestive system:

• Reduced levels of bifidobacteria make the body vulnerable to disease.
• The uterus puts pressure on the rectum, creating an obstacle to the removal of gases.
• The increased workload of the body leads to problems with the pancreas.
• The activity of peristalsis is disrupted due to the release of progesterone, a hormone that relaxes the uterus during pregnancy. Anxiety also negatively affects intestinal motility, which causes constipation.

All of these factors increase the likelihood of developing cysts. In addition, the health of a child after birth is directly dependent on the state of his mother’s body.

Pneumatosis in children

In the first days of life, this disease can manifest itself as a result of congenital intestinal obstruction. Its causes include defects in other organs that lead to compression or blockage.

Obstruction is manifested by severe vomiting of bile, accompanied by bloating. Once the diagnosis is made, emergency surgery is performed, before which a gastric tube is inserted to regulate gastric emptying. Parenteral nutrition is also used, when the necessary substances are delivered to the body directly, through the blood vessels.

In infancy, excessive gas formation often occurs due to improper nutrition of the nursing mother. During this period, it is necessary to exclude dairy products, cabbage, legumes, coffee and strong tea from the diet. You can't eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits. It is also important to choose the optimal amount of milk for the baby. It is advisable to increase the frequency of feedings, reducing portions.

With improper breastfeeding technique, large amounts of air are swallowed along with milk. The same thing happens when feeding from a bottle if it is chosen incorrectly.

There is a traditional method of removing gases using a warm heating pad, which is applied to the baby's tummy. For the same purpose, a massage consisting of soft stroking is also used.

Accurate diagnosis

Pathology can be detected in the following ways:

• The best visualization of the organs involved in the disease process is achieved using x-rays.
• Ultrasound is another effective diagnostic method.
• Colonoscopy is an examination of the mucous membrane to detect its defects.
• Sometimes a qualified surgeon can detect the presence of cysts by palpating if they are large enough.

After the examination, a rectal biopsy is performed (tissue collection for analysis).

Treatment

The path to recovery combines drug therapy and an appropriate diet.

Medicines

There is no need to treat pneumatosis intestinalis directly. It is necessary to identify the underlying disease that caused the development of tumors and focus on it.

List of drugs depending on the situation:

• For infectious pathologies, antibiotics are used to destroy bacteria and antiseptics to prevent tissue decomposition. Antimicrobial drugs are taken only as prescribed by a doctor.
• Constipation requires a change in diet, and in severe cases, the use of laxatives.
• If spasmodic processes are observed in the intestines, antispasmodics will help alleviate the condition. These include drugs such as Buscopan, No-Shpa, Drotaverine.
• Medicines that are safe for children and prevent gas formation include Plantex, Smecta, Espumisan.
• Since one of the factors contributing to the disease is hysterical neurosis, sedatives can be used for preventive purposes.

Folk remedies

Grandmother’s recipes can only speed up recovery, but not cure:

• An infusion of parsley seeds helps with cramps and increased gas formation.
• Aloe vera helps remove toxins and waste, improves blood circulation, has a positive effect on the overall tone of the body, and destroys microbes.
• A decoction of dill seeds has a bactericidal effect, neutralizes decay processes, has an antispasmodic effect, and helps in the formation of beneficial microflora.
• Chamomile infusion is an analgesic, carminative, emollient and anti-inflammatory agent.
• Dandelion root decoction. It can be used to treat chronic constipation and anxiety disorders.
• Wormwood infusion can improve the functioning of the central nervous system and pancreas.
• Beet kvass reduces acidity and has a laxative effect.

Diet

Increased intestinal pneumatization is directly related to gas formation. This factor must be combated first of all.

Harmful products include:

• Dishes with artificial additives and dyes.
• Sour fruits, if they are eaten before the main course.
• Sweets.
• Baking with yeast dough.
• Dairy products.
• Legumes, cabbage, onions, peppers, garlic, turnips, radishes.
• Carbonated drinks.
• Dumplings and other semi-finished products.
• Fatty dishes.

• Broths and decoctions.
• Vegetables, preferably stewed.
• Fruits, but only two hours after eating.
• Rice and buckwheat.
• Dill seed tea.

It is also important:

• Eat in moderation.
• Divide the daily menu into 6 small portions.
• Maintain the same diet.
• Increase the amount of water you drink per day to 2 liters.

Possible complications

There are two types of dangerous consequences:

• Intestinal obstruction, which can appear as a result of spasm, tumor, foreign body, volvulus of a section of the intestine due to increased peristalsis. In children, it manifests itself as a result of developmental defects or malnutrition that is not appropriate for their age.
• Peritonitis occurs when cysts rupture and gas enters the abdominal cavity due to high internal pressure in the intestines. In this case, the condition quickly worsens. The pain intensifies, pallor appears, and blood pressure decreases.

Both episodes require immediate surgery. Drug treatment plays only a supporting role.

Prevention

• Balanced and moderate nutrition. Avoid fatty, spicy and fried foods, fast food. Eat in small portions.
• No bad habits. Alcohol and nicotine negatively affect the health of internal organs.
• Engaging in physical therapy can improve the process of getting rid of excess gas.
• If possible, live and work in places that are safe from an environmental point of view. Monitor water quality. Avoid fruits and vegetables that are likely to contain chemical pesticides.
• Do not visit public catering places where hygiene standards may be violated.
• Avoid stress and depression.

Pneumatosis intestinalis is a fairly rare disease that most often occurs in children, including newborns, and the elderly.

With it, the gases located in the walls of the small and large intestines do not pass through the mucous membrane of the organ and are not absorbed into the blood, but are retained in the gastrointestinal tract and form cysts, often multiple.

At the same time, there is a more severe stage of the disease - severe intestinal pneumatosis, in which, along with the formation of gas-filled cavities, an inflammatory process begins.

Causes and signs of the disease

The causes of pneumatosis intestinalis lie in insufficient absorption of gases into the human circulatory system.

This often occurs due to difficulty in removing gases naturally (due to the formation of polyps or tumors in the rectum, for example). In these cases, excessive accumulation of gases occurs in the intestines, which forms cysts.

The causes of pneumatosis are also called impaired intestinal motility or intestinal obstruction - these factors also contribute to the deterioration of the removal of gases from the body.

The reasons may lie in infectious diseases of the intestines - they also lead to excessive formation of gases due to the activity of harmful microorganisms.

Pneumatosis can develop due to intestinal spasms and increased pressure inside the peritoneum - this entails pinching of the intestine and stagnation of gases in certain areas.

In newborns and young children, the disease often occurs as a result of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal infections, and low mobility due to age.

The causes of pneumatosis are varied, but most of them are caused by disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

If you observe symptoms of pneumatosis intestinalis, you should consult a doctor. Treatment with folk remedies is allowed only after consultation with a specialist.

Symptoms of pneumatosis intestinalis are considered nonspecific, that is, they are characteristic of many other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

First of all, the symptoms of this disease depend on the location of the cysts and their number, stage and duration of the disease. There are cases when gas accumulations are located throughout the intestine.

It should be noted that pneumatosis intestinalis is a very rare disease, so doctors find it difficult to describe all its symptoms as accurately as possible.

Its main symptoms are increased flatulence and pain. Excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines stretches the walls of the organ, which leads to colic or cramping pain.

Symptoms include diarrhea or constipation, and in severe cases, intestinal obstruction due to cysts blocking the intestines.

In newborns and young children, symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, bloating and general malaise.

Due to increased pressure in the intestine, the formed cysts sooner or later burst, which leads to intestinal rupture and further peritonitis.

In this case, the symptoms become more pronounced: a sharp deterioration in health, severe sharp abdominal pain, decreased blood pressure, pallor, and lack of peristalsis.

After this, a state of shock sets in, and if treatment is not started in a timely manner, death is very likely.

Diagnosis and treatment of pneumatosis

Diagnosis of pneumatosis intestinalis is often difficult due to the nonspecificity of the symptoms of this disease. An experienced and highly qualified doctor, when palpating the abdomen, can feel air bubbles, but this happens quite rarely.

The only effective method to detect the disease is an endoscopic examination of the intestine.

An X-ray with a contrast agent is possible, but if cysts are detected, endoscopy is still recommended to more accurately confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of pneumatosis intestinalis usually involves the fight against another disease that interferes with the absorption of gases.

For example, if a child has an intestinal infection, he is prescribed treatment with antiseptics and antibiotics.

You can also combat excessive gas formation using folk remedies - taking a decoction of parsley or an infusion of dandelion roots.

If the patient has diarrhea, the doctor will recommend taking Imodium, Motilium or Loperamide; for vomiting, Cerucal and Metoclopramide will be useful.

You can get rid of persistent constipation using both medications (Prelaxan, Duphalac) and folk remedies (buckthorn bark, Senna herb).

If the disease is in an advanced stage and can threaten the patient’s life (intestinal obstruction has developed or peritonitis has begun), then a surgical operation is mandatory.

However, any treatment, especially with natural remedies, should be started only after consultation with a doctor who will tell you how to treat pneumatosis intestinalis correctly and not harm your body even more.

Proper treatment of the disease must necessarily include some dietary restrictions. A diet for pneumatosis intestinalis is mandatory and must be followed strictly.

First of all, you need to start eating often (five to six times a day), but in small portions, otherwise this may cause stretching of the disturbed areas of the intestine.

It is forbidden to eat foods that can increase gas formation. First of all, these are carbonated drinks, some vegetables (legumes, cabbage, radishes), fruits (green apples and pears) and berries (grapes, currants, gooseberries), baked goods, and sweets.

The ban is imposed on the consumption of coffee and alcoholic beverages, fried, fatty and pickled foods.

Soups can be cooked in broth with lean meat; porridge and boiled vegetables and dairy dishes are allowed. It is recommended to drink weak tea, jelly, rosehip decoction or milk.

Proper nutrition for pneumatosis, as for any other disease of the gastrointestinal tract, is a very important factor in the treatment of the disease.

Pneumatosis intestinalis is currently not very well studied by doctors, since it is a rare disease.

The causes of its occurrence are varied, but they are often associated with the development of some other disease of the gastrointestinal tract, so treatment is aimed primarily at eliminating the primary disease.

Symptoms of pneumatosis intestinalis are nonspecific, so diagnosing this disease is quite difficult.

In any case, if you observe signs of this disease, you should consult a doctor and not try to self-treat.