Treatment
If the free air in the abdomen is due to a recent surgical procedure, no treatment is necessary. The gas is absorbed through the intestinal wall, enters the bloodstream and is exhaled through the lungs. In the case of a pathological pneumoperitoneum, the therapy is carried out according to the cause.
If the air enters the abdominal cavity through injuries to the peritoneum, the wound is closed and treated. Tumors that invasively grow into organs and eventually damage them to such an extent that perforation occurs are surgically removed, if possible. Subsequently, an attempt must be made to stitch the perforated organ back together.
The perforation of an abdominal organ can also be caused by injuries or inflammatory processes in the body (e.g. diverticulitis, gastric ulcer). A perforation is always considered an absolute emergency and must be operated on immediately. During the operation an attempt is made to suture the hole. Subsequently, a drug therapy with antibiotics is administered to treat or prevent peritonitis.
The prognosis
The prognosis of a pneumoperitoneum depends on the cause. Free air that has entered the abdominal cavity through surgery is harmless and disappears after a few days without treatment. If a perforation of an abdominal organ leads to free air in the peritoneum, quick action must be taken as this is a potentially life-threatening condition. If peritonitis has already formed, it can lead to life-threatening blood poisoning or even multiple organ failure.
