ML Reppucci et al. JPGN 2023; 76: 561-565. Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Children With Intestinal Failure: The Result of Intestinal Stress From Enteral Feeding?

This was a single-center, retrospective review (n=111) of children with intestinal failure (2019-2022). Key findings:

• 30.6% of patients (34 of 111) developed PI
• Only one patient had a surgical cause (midgut volvulus) identified

The authors speculate that enteral feedings, in some, cause a stress (?relative ischemia, ?intraluminal pressure) which leads to pneumatosis.

My take: We still don’t understand pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) very well outside of the neonatal population where it is often a life-threatening medical condition.

Related blog post: Image Only: Pneumatosis Intestinalis in Necrotizing Enterocolitis