Small Intestinal Ischemia with Pneumatosis in a Young Adult: What Could Be the Cause?

This case highlights one of the infrequent complications of a commonly abused substance. A particular high index of suspicion of ischemic bowel is associated with cocaine abuse and should be included in the differential diagnosis of any young adult or middle-aged patient with abdominal pain and/or b...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amara Jyothi Nidimusili, Jenna Mennella, Khaldoon Shaheen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/462985
Description
Summary:This case highlights one of the infrequent complications of a commonly abused substance. A particular high index of suspicion of ischemic bowel is associated with cocaine abuse and should be included in the differential diagnosis of any young adult or middle-aged patient with abdominal pain and/or bloody diarrhea, particularly in the absence of other predisposing factors. To our knowledge, we report a rare case of ischemic small bowel associated with gangrene and pneumatosis intestinalis due to cocaine abuse.
ISSN:2090-6528
2090-6536