[Reply: Clinical meaning of portal pneumatosis]

Hepatic portal venous gas. Should it be considered as an ominous radiologic sign?

Portal pneumatosis is considered as an ominous radiologic sign if it is associated to intestinal ischemia. If sepsis is present, mortality reaches 80-90%. However, in inflammatory disease or infections survival rates are close to 70%. With the aim to reconsider the poor prognosis associated with portal pneumatosis, we would like to present the case of a 63-years-old male who went to the emergency room with abdominal pain and peritoneal irritation. Urgent surgery was indicated, findings were: an area of transmural necrosis located in the antimesenteric sigma's face, and patchy necrosis of the colonic mucose. A Hartmann`s procedure was performed. Nowadays, the pacient underwent surgery for restoration of the continuity of the GI.