The acute small-bowel obstruction caused by periappendicular abscess

The diagnostic modes and results of treatment 7 patients with periappendicular abscess, complicated by the acute short-bowel obstruction are discussed. Age varied from 19 to 76 years. 4 of them were hospitalized with ileus symptoms, the rest 5 developed the obstruction during the hospital stay. 2 patients had an urgent operation, 4 patients were operated after 2-4 days and 1 after 9 days after admission. The correlation between the obstruction symptoms and appendicular inflammation was supposed in 3 patients. The cause of small-bowel obstruction was twist of the intestine loop, matted to the appendicular abscess. The surgery consisted of abscess sanation, appendectomy, small-bowel decompression and extrication. One patients died postoperatively of pulmonary embolism.     

El íleo biliar como causa de abdomen agudo. Importancia del diagnóstico precoz para el tratamiento quirúrgico

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon type of mechanical intestinal obstruction caused by an intraluminal gallstone, and preoperative diagnosis is difficult in the Emergency department. This study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical presentation of 5 patients with gallstone ileus treated between 2000-2010. Clinical features, diagnostic testing, and surgical treatment were analyzed. Five patients were included: 2 cases showed bowel obstruction; 2 patients presented a recurrent gallstone ileus with prior surgical intervention; and one patient presented acute peritonitis due to perforation of an ileal diverticula. In all cases CT confirmed the preoperative diagnosis. In our experience, gallstone ileus may present with clinical features other than intestinal obstruction. In suspicious cases CT may be useful to decrease diagnostic delay, which is associated with more complications.     

Chronic pseudo-obstruction secondary to side-to-side intestinal anastomosis.

An unusual late complication of side-to-side intestinal anastomosis, chronic small-bowel obstruction with massive proximal ileal dilation despite a widely patent anastomosis, occurred in a patient. The classic blind loop syndrome was not present. Several potential mechanisms are suggested, including regional absence of normal peristalsis on a mechanical basis and bacterial overgrowth. This report adds support to the concept that side-to-side intestinal anastomosis should be avoided whenever possible.     

术后早期炎症性肠梗阻的诊断与治疗理念

术后早期炎症性肠梗阻多因腹部手术创伤及腹腔内无菌性炎症等原因引起的肠壁水肿及渗出,形成的动力性和机械性并存的粘连性肠梗阻.诊断标准:(1)腹部术后2周内发生肠梗阻;(2)术后肠功能短暂恢复,进食水后再出现肠梗阻,以腹胀为主;(3)腹部X线平片和全腹CT多个小的液气平面,无高度扩张的肠管.治疗理念:(1)禁食水+胃肠减压...     

Phytobezoars as a cause of small bowel obstruction associated with a carcinoid tumor of the ileocecal area

Carcinoid tumors are slowly growing malignant neoplasms associated with an indolent clinical course. About 60% of such tumors are located within the gastrointestinal tract. We describe an unusual case of small bowel obstruction associated with a carcinoid tumor of the ileum. A 70-year-old woman was presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and clinical signs of mechanical bowel obstruction. X-ray and CT-scan of the abdomen showed hydroaeric levels and the presence of intraluminal hyperdense "stones", presumably of gallbladder origin. A diagnostic laparotomy revealed that a large part of the terminal ileus was edematous, with prominent evidence of intestinal loop adhesions. The edematous part of the ileum was resected. Incision of the intestinal wall revealed a 2-cm soft mass at 8 cm from the ileocecal valve, where the presence of ten fruit pits obstructed the intestinal cavity. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a carcinoid tumor. An interesting case of small-bowel obstruction with a double cause is presented: an ileal carcinoid and fruit pit bezoars. The pathophysiology of the obstruction is discussed.     

Acute colonic ileus (pseudo-obstruction) in renal transplant recipients

Colon complications are a potential source of serious morbidity to the immunosuppressed patient. Because of multiple predisposing factors, renal transplant patients are a high-risk group for the development of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. During a recent 18-month period, 290 renal transplants (79 living, 211 cadaveric donors) were performed and prospectively analyzed for colonic dysmotility. A total of 34 episodes of acute colonic ileus (30 primary, 4 recurrent) occurred in 30 (10.3%) renal transplant recipients. Acute colonic ileus was more frequent after living-donor transplantation (19.0% vs. 7.1%, p = 0.006). Analysis of multiple variables revealed that the incidence of acute colonic ileus was directly related to mean cumulative prednisone dosage (p less than 0.05). Medical therapy (rapid steroid reduction, bowel rest) resulted in a 76.7% response, whereas 8 patients underwent colonoscopy because of progression to acute pseudo-obstruction. The success rate for colonoscopic decompression was 87.5%; in 1 patient cecal perforation developed after unsuccessful decompression. Overall, 33 of 34 (97.1%) episodes of acute colonic ileus were successfully treated. Steroid-induced ileus (pseudo-obstruction) is a potentially malignant early form of colonic dysmotility infrequently reported in transplant recipients. Successful management requires early clinical recognition, reduction in steroid dosage, bowel rest, and urgent colonoscopic decompression in select cases.     

腹腔镜膀胱全切回肠膀胱术后早期肠梗阻的病因及治疗

目的:探讨腹腔镜膀胱全切回肠膀胱术后并发早期肠梗阻的病因及治疗方法。方法:回顾性分析2010年9月~2013年6月因腹腔镜膀胱全切回肠膀胱术后并发早期肠梗阻的19例患者的临床资料:均发生于术后1个月内,其中炎性肠梗阻12例,麻痹性肠梗阻4例,粘连性肠梗阻2例,肠内疝1例,发生率为12.8%,且发生于开展腹腔镜膀胱全切回肠膀胱术的早期。除1例肠内疝手术解除外,其余患者均经保守治疗。结果:19例肠梗阻患者均治愈出院。结论:肠梗阻是腹腔镜膀胱全切回肠膀胱术较为常见的并发症,术后并发肠梗阻的病因复杂,以保守治疗为主,少数保守治疗无效者需及时中转手术治疗。     

Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome (DIOS) in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis After Lung Transplantation

Background  Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest inherited life-threatening disease in Caucasians. With increased longevity, more patients with CF are developing gastrointestinal complications including the distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), in which ileocecal obstruction is caused by viscid mucofeculent material. The optimal management of DIOS is uncertain. Methods  The medical records of all patients with CF who underwent lung transplantation at this institution during a 15-year period were reviewed. The definition of DIOS required the presence of both clinical and radiological features of ileocecal obstruction. Results  One hundred twenty-one patients with CF underwent lung transplantation during the study period. During a minimum 2-year follow-up, there were 17 episodes of DIOS in 13 (10.7%) patients. The development of DIOS was significantly associated with a past history of meconium ileus (odds ratio 20.7, 95% C.I. 5.09–83.9) or previous laparotomy (odds ratio 4.93, 95% C.I. 1.47–16.6). All six patients who developed DIOS during the transplantation admission had meconium ileus during infancy, and five had undergone pretransplant laparotomy for CF complications. First-line treatment for all patients was a combination of medication (laxatives, stool softeners, and bowel preparation formulas). This was successful in 14 of the 17 DIOS but needed to be given for up to 14 days. The other three patients required laparotomy with enterotomy and fecal disimpaction. This provided definitive resolution of DIOS except in one patient who presented late and died despite ileal decompression and ileostomy. Conclusions  DIOS occurred in approximately 10% of CF patients after lung transplantation. Patients with a history of meconium ileus or previous laparotomy are at high risk of developing DIOS. Patients with DIOS require early aggressive management with timely laparotomy with enterotomy and possible stoma formation when non-operative therapy is unsuccessful. Presented at the Forty-Eighth Annual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Washington DC, May 19–23, 2007. Financial support: None     

Nonoperative management of small-bowel obstruction with endoscopic long intestinal tube placement

Intestinal obstruction remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. We reviewed the records of 77 patients with mechanical small-bowel obstruction who were treated with endoscopically and fluoroscopically placed Leonard long intestinal tube decompression. Most patients (59%) had failed a trial of nasogastric tube or Miller-Abbott tube decompression. Overall, 29 per cent of patients were able to resolve their obstruction with Leonard tube decompression alone. Subdivision of patients on the basis of the etiology of their obstruction demonstrated a much higher rate of success for tube decompression in adhesive obstruction (37%) versus malignant obstruction (12%) or inflammatory obstruction (no successes). Patients with radiographic and clinical evidence of complete intestinal obstruction were significantly less likely to respond to long intestinal tube treatment (13%). The long intestinal tube was easily passed in all patients. There were no complications of the intubation procedure in our series, and the incidence of tube-related complications was four per cent. We conclude that an initial period of long intestinal tube decompression allows a significant percentage of patients with mechanical small-bowel obstruction to be treated nonoperatively, particularly if a partial obstruction from postoperative adhesions is present. Patients who have failed a trial of nasogastric tube decompression and are poor operative risks should also be considered for long intestinal tube placement.     

Gallstone Ileus in a Patient with Crohn’s Disease: a Case Report

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholelithiasis. Only 0,3–0,5% of all patients with gallstones will eventually suffer from this condition. It is well known that there is an increased prevalence of gallstones among patients with Crohn’s disease, but gallstone ileus remains even in these patients an unfrequent condition. Because of the rarity of this disease and its presentation as an intestinal (sub)obstruction, mostly without biliary symptoms, diagnosis and surgical treatment are often delayed. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with a long history of Crohn’s disease presenting with intermittent symptoms of intestinal obstruction since several weeks. Symptoms were thought to be due to recurrence of Crohn’s disease, but the patient did not respond to steroid therapy. Resection of the diseased ileocolic segment was performed and a large impacted stone was detected proximal of the stenotic segment. With this case report we want to emphasize how easily diagnosis of gallstone ileus can be missed, especially in Crohn’s patients and we would like to discuss the different treatment options.     

Inhaling nitrous oxide or xenon does not influence bowel wall energy balance during porcine bowel obstruction

Xenon (Xe) is less soluble than nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and hence may be more suitable during bowel obstruction. Therefore, we compared the intestinal mechanical and biochemical effects of these two gases with those of total IV anesthesia in a porcine model of small-bowel obstruction. Intestinal obstruction was induced in 33 anesthetized pigs, in 18 of which segmental ileal perfusion was reduced by partial arterial occlusion. Pigs received total IV anesthesia, Xe, or N(2)O (in 30% oxygen) for 4 h, and we determined the intraluminal pressure and volume, the arterial-ileal PCO(2) gap, and the lactate and pyruvate levels in the segmental mesenteric vein. Under both experimental conditions, Xe or N(2)O ventilation caused the volume to significantly increase with a concomitant significant increase in the intraluminal pressure during N(2)O ventilation. Regardless of the anesthesia technique, none of the biochemical variables was influenced in the animals with maintained ileal blood supply. In contrast, reducing the segmental perfusion induced pronounced alterations of all variables of bowel wall energy metabolism. The type of anesthesia, however, had no further statistically significant effect. Short-term inhalation of Xe or N(2)O seems to have no deleterious effects on the metabolic balance of the gut wall during intestinal obstruction. IMPLICATIONS: In anesthetized pigs, short-term inhalation of xenon or nitrous oxide over 4 h when compared with total IV anesthesia had no additional deleterious effects on the metabolic balance of the gut wall during intestinal obstruction, no matter whether the arterial blood flow was reduced or not.     

Postoperative intussusception: experience with 36 cases in children

Intestinal obstruction is a common postoperative complication and is usually related to peritoneal adhesion formation. A less well-recognized cause is postoperative intussusception (POI). Thirty-six instances of POI in children (aged 1 month to 18 years) were treated between 1970 and 1987. POI followed Nissen fundoplication in 9 patients, neuroblastoma resection in 5, small-bowel procedures in 4, inguinal herniorrhaphy in 3, pull-through procedures in 3, ureterostomy in 2, thoracic procedures in 2, ventral hernia in 1, nephrectomy in 1, hepatic resection in 1, Heller myotomy in 1, ventriculo-atrial shunt in 1, and gastrocystoplasty in 1. Initial symptoms included bilious vomiting or increased nasogastric drainage (after initial return of gut function) in 26 patients, abdominal distension in 24, irritability in 10, intermittent pain in 7, palpable abdominal mass in 2, rectal bleeding in 2, and lethargy in 1. The symptoms occurred 1 to 24 days (mean, 8 days) after the initial surgery. Plain abdominal radiographs revealed multiple air-fluid levels in 31 and an "adynamic ileus" in five patients. Barium contrast techniques could successfully reduce two ileocolic and one distal ileo-ileal lesions. The remainder necessitated operative management. Manual reduction was possible in 29 cases, and four children with diagnostic delay required bowel resection and an anastomosis for intestinal necrosis. The site of intussusception was ileo-ileal in 23 patients, jejunojejunal in 6, ileocolic in 5, and jejuno-ileal in 2. The diagnosis of POI should be considered in children with signs of bowel dysfunction in the early postoperative period. Contrast studies are of limited value, since most cases are confined to the small bowel. A high index of suspicion and prompt laparotomy will usually allow manual reduction of the lesion. Diagnostic delay may result in bowel necrosis.     

Midgut volvulus in an adult with congenital malrotation

Congenital midgut malrotation, a rare anatomic anomaly that can lead to duodenal or small-bowel obstruction, rarely is observed beyond the first year of life. Symptomatic patients present with either acute bowel obstruction and intestinal ischemia with a midgut or cecal volvulus or with chronic vague abdominal pain. Chronic symptoms often can make the diagnosis difficult. By using several modalities such as barium studies, computerized tomography, angiography, and emergency laparotomy, we diagnosed midgut volvulus and partial intestinal obstruction, which occur rarely in an adult with congenital midgut malrotation.     

Gallstone ileus: An analysis of 20 patients

An analysis of 20 patients with gallstone ileus treated at the University Hospital in Linköping during a 10-year period is presented. The patients had a median age of 75 years and 70% were women. The symptomatology was usually vague and consisted of diffuse abdominal pain, often accompanied by vomiting. The delay before admission to the hospital averaged 4 days. Radiography with both plain abdominal x-rays and a barium meal showed mechanical intestinal obstruction in all but 1 patient and gallstone ileus was diagnosed before laparotomy in 60% of patients. Enterolithotomy was performed in all patients but there was no surgery on the gallbladder and/or the fistula. The frequency of postoperative wound infection was 25%. There was only 1 death, a mortality rate of 5%. It is our opinion that the low mortality was due to early diagnoses, careful preoperative preparation, an operative procedure aiming only at relief of the obstruction, and improved anesthesia and prophylactive short-term antibiotics. The only indication for an elective cholecystectomy is persistent symptoms of gallbladder disease.     

无手术史急性肠梗阻46例临床分析

目的　探讨无腹部手术史急性肠梗阻病例的临床特点。方法　通过 4 6例无腹部手术史急性肠梗阻病例的回顾性研究 ,将其分为老年人组和青壮年组 ,分析其病因、临床表现及治疗措施。结果　肠道粪块阻塞所致的肠梗阻占老年人病例的 6 3% ;青壮年组手术治疗率达到 81.8%。结论　老年人患者肠梗阻的主要原因是肠道粪块阻塞 ,以保守治疗为主 ,其次为肠道肿瘤 ;青壮年患者多需急诊手术     

The usefulness of small-bowel manometry in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal motility disorders

Motility disorders of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have traditionally been diagnosed by excluding mechanical small-bowel obstruction. In order to diagnose GI motility disorders in a positive fashion, small-bowel manometry was performed on 15 patients who were referred to the authors with intestinal motility disorders. Intestinal manometry was performed after first positioning a 200-cm multilumen tube into the small intestine. Ports located at 10-cm intervals were perfused with sterile water and connected to pressure transducers to record intraluminal pressures with a multichannel chart recorder. This low compliance water perfusion manometry system allowed examination of both fasting and postprandial motility. Intestinal manometry was able to assist in the diagnosis of two patients that had true mechanical small-bowel obstruction. One patient had a stenosis of the gastrojejunostomy and three patients had a functional gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a motility disorder in the Roux limb. One patient had a functional obstruction from a reversed jejunal loop and eight patients were identified as having intestinal pseudo-obstruction. We found intestinal manometry was a helpful adjunct in the diagnosis of GI motility disorders.     

Intestinal obstruction in appendicitis: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Appendicitis as a cause of intestinal obstruction is an infrequent condition. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence and frequency of intestinal obstruction, according to the classification of intestinal obstruction secondary to appendicitis, and to characterise their severity.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study analysing all patients operated on for intestinal obstruction secondary to appendicitis within a 15-year period was designed. Continuous and categorical variables including age, gender, time interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, C-reactive protein and white blood cells values, type of intestinal obstruction and WSES Sepsis Severity Score, were included.

Results

During the period of study 3626 patients were operated on for appendicitis and 44 cases had associated intestinal obstruction (1.2%). According to the classification of intestinal obstruction in appendicitis, most patients had a mechanical ileus with strangulation (48%) and a WSES Sepsis Severity Score of 3 or less points (77%).

Conclusions

The incidence of intestinal obstruction in appendicitis was higher than expected. These patients have a severe inflammatory response with a WSES Sepsis Severity Score of 3 points. According to the classification of intestinal obstruction in appendicitis, most patients had a mechanical obstruction with strangulation.

     

Gallstone ileus: One-stage surgery in a patient with intermittent obstruction

Gallstone ileus, an uncommon complication of cholelithiasis, is described as a mechanical intestinal obstruction due to impaction of one or more large gallstones within the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical presentation is variable, depending on the site of obstruction, manifested as acute, intermittent or chronic episodes. A 51-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with 3 events of intestinal obstruction during the previous 7 d. At admission, there were clinical signs of intestinal obstruction; abdominal film demonstrated dilated bowel loops, air-fluid levels and a vague image of a stone in the inferior left quadrant. Once stabilized, a laparotomy was performed. Surgical findings were distention of the jejunum and ileum proximal to a palpable stone in the ileum as well as gallstones and a cholecystoduodenal fistula in the gallbladder. An enterolithotomy, repair of the cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystectomy were performed. The postoperative course was uneventful. There is no uniform surgical procedure for this disease. When the patient is too ill or when biliary surgery is not advisable, an enterolithotomy is the best option. The one-stage procedure should be the offered to adequately stabilized patients when local and general conditions, such as good cardiorespiratory and metabolic reserve permit a more prolonged surgical procedure.     

Autosuturing device in intestinal urinary conduits

The autosuturing device has been used to close the base of 41 urinary intestinal conduits: 12 colonic, 25 ileal, and 4 jejunal. The techniques are described. There were no urine or bowel leaks, although in one postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding occurred in association with a partial small-bowel obstruction probably related to the stapled enteroanastomosis. Use of the instruments reduced peritoneal contamination and facilitated conduit manipulation. Operating time was reduced. Four patients have passed stones composed of struvite and apatite with staples embedded within. The autosuturing device should be considered an alternative rather than a substitute for conventional proximal conduit closure and bowel anastomoses.     

Intestinal gallstone obstruction

Three cases of intestinal obstruction due to obturation with gallstones are presented. These patients made 1,3% of all patients operated for acute intestinal obstruction and 0,2% of all patients operated for cholelithiasis. This variant of intestinal obstruction is rare disease and is not characterized with a typical picture and specific symptoms. Analysis of complaints, anamnesis, additional methods of abdominal examination help to suspect biliary ileus. In emergency cases scope of surgery must be minimal and directed to adequate elimination of intestinal obstruction. Indications for simultaneous disjunction of biliodigestive fistula depend on many factors which must be regarded individually for each patient.