Intra-Abdominal Explosion due to Pneumoperitoneum Following Colon Perforation

ABSTRACT

Explosions in the abdomen during surgery are rare. This article reports a case of an intra-abdominal explosion caused by flammable gas ignited by electrocautery during a laparotomy. The patient’s small intestine, left colon, and peritoneum were burned superficially, but recovered without any specific symptoms. Despite the rarity of this phenomenon, surgeons should be aware of the possibility of an explosion due to intra-abdominal gas, and consider the use a scalpel rather than electrocautery when opening the peritoneum of patients with pneumoperitoneum.