Gastric Pneumatosis: Emphysematous Gastritis versus Gastric Emphysema

Abstract

Presence of air in the wall of the stomach is known as gastric pneumatosis. It may be associated with a benign condition like gastric emphysema (GE) to life threatening condition emphysematous gastritis (EG). Differentiation between two entities based on clinical presentation, predisposing factors, and radiological findings is important as EG has more complications and higher rates of mortality. The treatment in GE is conservative while treatment in EG is evolving. We present a case of a diabetic patient who developed EG following abdominal surgery and managed conservatively with favorable outcome.