What Researchers Did
Researchers described the case of a 67-year-old woman with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis diagnosed using an endoscopic ultrasonic catheter probe and successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What They Found
Endoscopic ultrasound with an ultrasonic catheter probe revealed strong echoes with distal acoustic shadowing in the third layer of the diseased colonic wall, indicating gas in the submucosa. After 30 consecutive days of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2 to 3 atmospheres absolute (60 minutes, twice daily), the gaseous cysts completely disappeared.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian patients diagnosed with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, this case suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be an effective treatment option. It also highlights the potential utility of endoscopic ultrasound for precise diagnosis of this rare condition.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted in Japan.
Study Limitations
The primary limitation of this study is its design as a single case report, which limits the generalizability of its findings.