[Pneumoperitoneum induced by artificial respiration and its diagnosis by peritonel lavage (author's transl)]

Ventilation with increased end-exspiratory pressure may, especially in cases of blunt chest trauma, result in pneumoperitoneum although there are no intestinal injuries. The case histories of four persons who developed this complication are reviewed. Differentiation between such a complication and a condition requiring laparotomy is often difficult because other injuries, particularly a cerebrocranial trauma, may obscure the clinical symptoms. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage may help towards differentiating between a ventilation-induced pneumoperitoneum and an "acute abdomen" caused by perforation or rupture of an intra-abdominal hallow organ.