[Mesenteric and portal venous gas in infarction of the small intestine in adults. Apropos of 3 clinical cases. Value of x-ray computed tomography].

Three case reports are presented with mesenteric and portal venous gas secondary to mesenteric infarction. In these patients with ileus, abdominal CT Scan appears as the most reliable diagnosis procedure. It can detect intravascular gas but also abnormalities of the intestinal wall such as intramural gas even without contrast. In mesenteric infarction, mesenteric and portal venous gas are radiological signs which considerably worsen the prognosis.