Case report
A Rare Case Report of Neonatal Pneumoperitoneum Leading to Pneumoscrotum
SD10-SD12
Correspondence
Dr. Sagar Karotkar,
Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha-442107, Maharashtra, India.
Email: dr.sagarkarotkar@gmail.com
The collection of air in the scrotal area is known as a pneumoscrotum. It is uncommon for pneumoperitoneum and pneumoscrotum to coexist, which presents challenges for diagnosis and treatment. Air in the scrotum as a concurrent sign is rare and patient typically exhibits symptoms of intraperitoneal sepsis. An unusual and serious ailment is in which a newborn has acute swelling of the scrotum that usually includes testicular torsion, trauma, inguinal hernia, hydrocele and, rarely, intestinal perforation or adrenal haemorrhage. Acute scrotum in an emergency needs attention. Neonates undergoing rigorous resuscitation or mechanical ventilation, as well as those with significant respiratory distress, may also exhibit this condition. The simultaneous occurrence of pneumoperitoneum and pneumoscrotum in a newborn is even more uncommon. Hereby, the authors present a case of one-day-old male neonate born by normal vaginal delivery who cried immediately after birth. The baby initially presented with respiratory distress and mild scrotal swelling. The antenatal scan had shown enlarged genitals with echogenic debris and calcifications. Evaluation for increasing scrotal swelling and progressive abdominal distension revealed gas under diaphragm and pneumoscrotum. Surgical exploration showed a wide perforation in transverse colon. The postoperative course was uneventful. A properly done radiological examination can help detect and identify the pathology and determine the source of an acute scrotum. The purpose of the present study is to present and assess the authors approach to treating pneumoperitoneum and provide insight into its presence in newborns and infants.