Pneumomediastinum and abdominal pain: which correlation?

The case of a female patient with abdominal pain, fever and dyspnea appeared abruptly, is reported. Two days previously the patient underwent endoscopic colic polypectomy. Preliminary abdominal and chest X-ray showed colic and tenual air-fluid levels, a modest amount of pneumomediastinum and soft tissue emphysema of the neck. The cause of the latter finding was referable to five sites of origin: the lung parenchyma, mediastinal airways, the esophagus, the neck and the abdominal cavity. For symptom worsening thoracoabdominal CT was performed. It confirmed the pneumomediastinum and soft tissue emphysema of the neck and presence of intra and retroperitoneal free air as for perforation. Colonoscopy is a routine procedure in the diagnosis and therapy of colonopathies, but colic iatrogenic perforation is a dangerous complication not to be underestimated.