[Non-surgical pneumoperitoneum complicating status epilepticus. Two cases (author's transl)].
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Abstracto
Two cases of pneumoperitoneum following status epilepticus are reported. In both patients perforation of a hollow viscus was excluded by laparotomy and status epilepticus had been accompanied by haematemesis. An increase in upper digestive tract pressure resulting from high abdominal pressure during seizures might have caused leakage of air into the peritoneum through lacerations in the lower oesophageal mucosa. Awareness of this mechanism of non-surgical peritoneum would avoid unnecessary exploratory laparotomy in these seriously ill patients.