A rare case of benign pneumatosis intestinalis with portal venous gas and pneumoperitoneum induced by acarbose

Abstract

Alpha glucosidase inhibitors have been shown to be associated with pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in recent reports. We herein report the case of a 73-year old man who received treatment with an alpha glucosidase inhibitor (acarbose) and presented with acute abdomen. A computed tomography scan demonstrated PI in addition to intrahepatic portal air and pneumoperitoneum. During exploratory laparotomy, we found no evidence of hollow organ perforation or bowel necrosis. The patient recovered after conservative treatment with cessation of the alpha glucosidase inhibitor. This is the first report to describe the combination of PI with portal venous gas and pneumoperitoneum caused by an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor.