Fatal air embolus associated with pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis.

A case of fatal air embolism caused by pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is presented. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of fatal air embolism associated with this disease. The underlying pathology was not known premortem and the finding of air both in the mesenteric venous bed and in the right side of the heart is consistent with a collateralizing phenomenon due to portal vein obstruction.