Significance of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis after jejunoileal bypass

In 148 radiographs taken two weeks to twenty-seven months postoperatively in a series of 402 jejunoileal bypass patients at the University of Minnesota, twenty-four patients demonstrated roentgen evidence for pneumatosis intestinalis on twenty-eight separate episodes. This primarily involved the right colon. Clinical signs and symptoms were reviewed in association with the roentgen findings. Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal stress were noted but were not universal. Six patients had no significant change in abdominal complaints at the time the pneumatosis was seen and seven patients had similar clinical findings without roentgen evidence for pneumatosis. Thus, the radiographic findings of pneumatosis intestinalis do not represent a specific sign for bypass enteritis.