Oxygen therapy for pneumatosis coli. Symptomatic and radiologic remission of colonic gas cysts after breathing high-concentration oxygen.

Pneumatosis coli in a 72-year-old woman caused severe incapacitation by diarrhoea and faecal incontinence. Treatment consisted of oxygen via a Venturi mask to give arterial oxygen tension c. 32.5 kPa. It was well tolerated and resulted in symptomatic and radiologic cure within 7 days. Knowledge of this treatment and correct diagnosis are important for avoidance of unnecessary surgery.