A Case of Pneumoperitoneum After Mechanical Ventilation in A Child with Severe Bronchial Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

Massive pneumopritoneum developing immediately following initiation of artificial ventilation is an unusual sign of lung barotrauma and must be distinguished from pneumoperitoneum following rupture of a hollow abdominal viscus. Besides, pneumoperitoneum occurring in a mechanically ventilated asthmatic patient can present a diagnostic dilemma as the usual signs of an intestinal perforation may be masked by steroid therapy, sedation or paralysis, or combination of all three. We report a case of massive pneumoperitoneum after initiation of mechanical ventilation in a child with severe asthmatic attack.