Valentino's Sign/perforated gastric ulcer

[stevierae]

Re: Valentino's Sign/perforated gastric ulcer

Years ago, we were repairing , on an emergency basis, a perforated gastric ulcer. One of the surgeons mentioned at the time that the presence of free air in the abdomen was diagnostic for a perforated ulcer, or ANY perforated viscus, and received this name in honor of Rudolph Valentino, who died in surgery while they were trying to repair HIS perforated gastric ulcer.

My problem: I am doing some investigative work as to whether a perforated viscus (in this case, the colon) was worked up properly; that is, if signs and symptoms were ignored.

I can see that some obvious symptoms were.

But, I wonder about Valentino's Sign--is this an archaic term, no longer used, since the widespread use of MRI and CT? If it is used, does it refer to PALPABLE free air--that is, crepitus, or subcutaneous emphysema? You know, that "bubble wrap" feel, like when a patient has a spontaneous pneumothorax? Or does it refer to free air visualized on X-ray, such as a flat plate abdomen?

I typed "Valentino's Sign" into several medical and surgical search sites, and also punched in "perforated gastric ulcer" but found nothing.

Thank you, one and all, for any help