Traumatic Pneumoperitoneum After Vaginal Intercourse

Pneumoperitoneum with peritonitis, although uncommon, is a serious injury encountered in the pediatric emergency department. Although the patients may often appear ill or toxic, they can have normal vital signs at initial presentation. Patients with such injury can present with a variety of complaints because of the nature of referred pain. As a result, some patients may be more or less straightforward, thus illustrating the importance of obtaining a detailed history and performing a thorough physical examination.

We discuss an uncommon case report of pneumoperitoneum with peritonitis in an adolescent patient presenting with vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain hours after vigorous coitus.

Examination under anesthesia, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and exploratory laparoscopy revealed a vaginal laceration and a 2- to 3-cm perforated area at the left edge of the vaginal laceration that involved the rectovaginal septum entering the peritoneal cavity.

Pneumoperitoneum resulting from vaginal intercourse in an otherwise healthy adolescent female is a rare cause of peritonitis. Although it has been described in the adult literature, this case illustrates the importance of considering sexual history as a contributory factor in pediatric patients presenting with an acute abdomen.