Tension pneumoperitoneum caused by blunt trauma

Tension pneumoperitoneum (TPP), the accumulation of free intraabdominal air under pressure, is a rare event. TPP usually occurs from bowel surgery or bowel perforations. Less commonly, TPP occurs in the presence of pneumothor aces or during positive pressure ventilation. Trauma has rarely been a repo rted cause of TPP, The cases of 2 patients with TPP after blunt trauma are reported. The pathophysiology and management of TPP are discussed. Copyrigh t (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.