Incidental pneumatosis intestinalis in a patient with chronic kidney disease: a case report

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a clinical condition characterized by the presence of gas within the bowel wall and is considered a rare medical finding. While PI may be harmless in some cases, it can also signal more severe gastrointestinal pathology, including ischemia, bowel obstruction, or perforation. We present the case of an 87 year old male with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD), in whom PI was incidentally discovered during a follow up computed tomography (CT) performed for a renal mass. The patient was asymptomatic, and the CT findings showed no signs of ischemia, bowel obstruction or perforation. This case underscores the importance of correlating clinical and imaging data to avoid unnecessary surgery interventions. Additionally, it provides a comprehensive review of the pathogenesis, causes, diagnosis and management of PI. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential link between chronic kidney disease, HD, and the development of PI.