A simple score for predicting mortality in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis

This study was conducted to identify simple computerized tomography (CT) and clinical predictors of mortality in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis (PI). Thus, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PI were assessed and the predictors of mortality were identified.

The medical records of 123 patients with PI were reviewed retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine independent predictors of mortality. These data were used to develop a simple score that would predict mortality on the first and seventh day after diagnosis.

The median age at diagnosis was 62 (range, 20-91) years. The most common cause of PI was mesenteric vascular ischemia (n=43, 35.0%). Twenty-nine (23.6%) disease-related deaths occurred during the index admission. Both signs of peritoneal irritation on physical examination and decreased or absent enhancement of the bowel wall were associated with increased mortality. If both factors were absent, the in-hospital mortalities on both the first and seventh days after the diagnosis of PI were less than 5%. However, if both factors were present, the in-hospital mortality was 57% on the first day and 59% on the seventh day.

A simple and novel risk score that predicts mortality in patients with PI was proposed. Patients with both peritoneal irritation and decreased or absent enhancement of bowel wall on CT should be observed vigilantly and early intervention should be instituted.