Duration of pneumoperitoneum on chest radiograph after open colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative pneumoperitoneum on a plain chest radiograph is a potentially important medicolegal document of possible complication. However, pneumoperitoneum may be observed without significance after intra-abdominal procedures. METHODS: Between April 2001 and March 2002, 204 consecutive open laparotomies for colorectal surgery were studied. Sixty-three patients had 97 chest radiographs taken before the twenty-fifth postoperative day. RESULTS: Only one patient had subdiaphragmatic air (height >20 mm) on the tenth postoperative day associated with a visceral perforation. Normal subdiaphragmatic pneumoperitoneum was observed on 11 films in 8 patients (13%). Small amounts of air (