Intestinal Infarction Caused by Thrombophlebitis of the Portomesenteric Veins as a Complication of Acute Gangrenous Appendicitis After Appendectomy: A Case Report

The clinical symptoms of pylephlebitis caused by acute appendicitis are varied and atypical, which leads to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes. Here, we report a case of intestinal necrosis caused by thrombophlebitis of the portomesenteric veins as a complication of acute appendicitis after appendectomy.The patient had acute abdominal pain with tenderness and melena on the 3rd day after appendectomy for the treatment of gangrenous appendicitis. He was diagnosed with intestinal infarction caused by thrombophlebitis of the portomesenteric veins based on enhanced CT and diagnostic abdominal paracentesis. The patient was treated by bowel excision anastomosis and thrombectomy. After postoperative antibiotic and anticoagulation treatments, the patient recovered well and was discharged 22 days after the 2nd operation. A follow-up CT scan showed no recurrence of portomesenteric veins thrombosis 3 months later.Thrombophlebitis of the portomesenteric veins is a rare but fatal complication of acute appendicitis. For all the cases with acute abdominal pain, the possibility of thrombophlebitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Once pylephlebitis is suspected, enhanced CT scan is helpful for early diagnosis, and sufficient control of inflammation as well as anticoagulant therapy should be performed.     

Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in a child; an unusual fungal infection mimicking fistulising Crohn's disease

BackgroundGastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis is a rare disease caused by the fungus Basidiobolus ranarum. It has been reported in both children and adults. The disease mainly affects the colon and the small bowel; however, cases of the stomach, liver, pancreas, and renal system being affected have been reported.Case reportA 2 year old boy presented with the following symptoms; abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and palpable right iliac fossa mass. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated inflammatory markers and peripheral eosinophilia. Colonoscopy showed severely inflamed mucosa of the terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon. CT scan of the abdomen demonstrated an inflammatory mass with wall thickening of the terminal ileum and the colon. Surgical exploration demonstrated retroperitoneal mass and inflamed terminal ileum, cecum and ascending colon. Upon laparotomy, multiple internal fistulas involving the bowel loops, the urinary bladder, the right ureter and the gallbladder were observed. Further investigations using histopathology of the resected diseased bowel showed extensive necrosis, multinucleated giant cells and numerous eosinophils and large fungal hyphae surrounded by strongly eosinophilic material were seen in the tissue suggestive of B. ranarum infection. The patient responded well to treatment with voriconazole.ConclusionGastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every child presenting with abdominal pain, fever and palpable abdominal mass with peripheral eosinophilia. The presence of bowel inflammation and fistulas should not preclude such diagnosis.     

Digestive complications of gallstones lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

IntroductionSerious complications can ensue if a gallstone is dropped into the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and not retrieved.Case outlineA 75-year-old-man was admitted with intestinal obstruction 8 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Ultrasound scan and a contrast x-ray of the small bowel showed a gallstone within the small bowel lumen that CT scan had failed to identify. Laparotomy showed a Meckel''s diverticulum plus a 4×6-cm gallstone in the terminal ileum. The gallstone had penetrated into the Meckel''s diverticulum before migrating into the ileum and obstructing it.DiscussionGallstones lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy can cause an intraperitoneal abscess. In addition, they can migrate through the anterior or posterior abdominal wall or the diaphragm and into the urinary tract or bronchus. The resulting abscess can obstruct the digestive tract or drain into the digestive tract to cause a communicating abscess. It can also drain through the abdominal wall and the digestive tract to cause an enterocutaneous fistula. Lastly, the stone can migrate into the intestine and cause gallstone ileus. Following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, patients with a lost gallstone may suffer from abdominal pain and fever within days or months. Thus, all dropped gallstones should be removed during laparoscopy.     

A case of jejunal perforation in gallstone ileus

Gallstone ileus is a rare but important cause of small bowel obstruction in the geriatric population. A 65-year-old man with a twenty year history of cholecystolithiasis was admitted to our hospital with abdominal pain and vomiting. Physical exams showed abdominal defence and rebound tenderness. A plain abdominal X-ray suggested a small bowel obstruction and pneumobilia. CT scan revealed a 2.5-cm gallstone at the jejunum and air in the biliary tree. The patient underwent a emergency laparotomy based on a diagnosis of panperitonitis with a perforation associated with gallstone ileus. Operative findings revealed a jejunal perforation and a impacted stone on the anal side of perforation. Enterolithotomy and jejunal resection were performed with cholecystectomy and repairment of the cholecystoduodenal fistula.     

A case of colon obstruction developed as a complication of acute pancreatitis]

In acute pancreatitis, colonic complications such as mechanical obstruction, ischemic necrosis, hemorrhage, and fistula are rare but their outcomes are fatal. It is known that colonic obstruction in acute pancreatitis is more likely found in splenic flexure and transverse colon caused by severe inflammation of body and tail of pancreas leading to pressure necrosis. A 43-year-old man presented with abdominal distension lasting for 2 weeks. The patient had been admitted to our institution 6 weeks prior to the current admission, and the abdominal CT scan performed during the first admission revealed the pancreatic enlargement with peri-pancreatic fatty infiltration and fluid collection. At that time he was diagnosed as acute pancreatitis. The conservative management resulted in clinical improvement so that the patient was discharged. Upon the second admission, abdominal CT scan revealed multiple pseudocysts in the tail portion of pancreas with concominant wall thickening and narrowing of the proximal descending colon, and a dilatation of the bowel proximal to the splenic flexure. An obstruction of the descending colon as a complication of acute pancreatitis was suspected and the patient underwent left hemicolectomy. Abdominal distension was relieved after the operation and he was discharged on the 15th hospital days.     

Cholecystocolocutaneous fistula: a case report

BACKGROUND: Cholecystocolocutaneous fistula (CCCF) is a rare complication of gallstone disease resulting from spillage of gallstones from perforation of an empyema of the gallbladder, which can pose diagnostic dilemmas. We describe a patient, who presented initially with a swelling followed by discharging sinuses on her right flank where a diagnosis of CCCF was made and was treated surgically with satisfactory outcome. METHODS: A computed tomography (CT) scan showed an ill-defined soft tissue mass in the right subhepatic space and a fistulogram demonstrated passage of contrast into the gallbladder fossa and hepatic flexure of colon. At laparotomy,a cutaneous fistula containing two pigment stones led to the gallbladder fossa and hepatic flexure of colon. RESULTS: Debridement of infected granulation tissues which had replaced the gallbladder, closure of the cystic duct stump and colonic fistula followed by excision of the fistula tract led to complete resolution. CONCLUSIONS: CCCF is a rare complication of perforated gallbladder with spillage of calculi, and a fistulogram is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of retrieving spilled stones following interventions in the gallbladder to prevent the complication.     

A case of stump appendicitis after appendectomy]

Stump appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the residual appendix and a rare complication after an appendectomy. Although the signs and symptoms do not differ from acute appendicitis, the diagnosis is often not considered because of the past surgical history. Only a small number of stump appendicitis cases have been reported, but there has been no report of stump appendicitis in Korea. Herein, we report a case of stump appendicitis. A 28-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Fifteen months ago, the patient had a laparoscopic appendectomy under the diagnosis of an acute appendicitis, but she subsequently suffered from intermittent abdominal pain and fever. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan showed an inflamed appendiceal stump. Laparoscopic stump appendectomy was done and the biopsy revealed stump appendicitis.     

Digestive complications of biliary gallstone lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A patient was admitted because of an intestinal obstruction. Eight years before, he underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Abdominal ultrasonography and small bowel series showed a gallstone in the small bowel that computed tomography scan failed to identify. Laparotomy showed a Meckel's diverticula and a biliary stone in the terminal ileum. In the literature, it has been shown that gallstone lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be responsible for intraperitoneal abscess. In the contact of intestine, the stone may induce an obstructive abscess, a communicating abscess, a digestive fistula or a biliary ileus. During the postoperative course of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, these patients suffer from abdominal pain and fever lasting from few days to several months. Imaging shows the biliary gallstone mechanical complications induced by the stone. To avoid such complications, biliary gallstone that falls into the peritoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be removed under laparoscopy.     

Graded compression sonography of abdominal neoplasms mimicking acute appendicitis.

Over a 3-year period nine patients (mean age of 43 years) with acute abdominal pain and unsuspected abdominal neoplasms were referred for graded compression sonography to rule out appendicitis. Six of the nine patients had right lower quadrant neoplasms involving the cecum, terminal ileum, iliacus muscle, or iliac lymph nodes. However, in three patients neoplasm was noted outside the right iliac fossa involving the liver, right kidney, and upper abdominal mesentery. This study underscores the fact that in patients without sonographic evidence of acute appendicitis, a survey of the upper abdomen and right flank should routinely be performed in addition to scanning the right iliac fossa and pelvis. In patients more than 50 years of age neoplasm must also be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis.     

A case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor of ileum with liver abscess]

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and is generally located in the stomach and small intestine. They usually present with abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, and palpable mass. Some patients present with rare symptoms that are more common in malignant GIST. Malignant GIST combined with a liver abscess has not been reported yet in the literatures. We report a case of 67-year-old woman who suffered from liver abscess combined by malignant GIST with central necrosis and fistula in the ileum. She complained of fever, chills, and abdominal pain. Abdominal CT scan showed huge liver abscess and ileal mass with air pocket. Small bowel series showed contrast material filling into the ileal GIST mass. An operation was performed and the final diagnosis was malignant GIST of the ileum with invasion into the sigmoid colon and urinary bladder.     

Multiple small bowel ruptures due to ischemic enteritis： A case report

A rare case of multiple small bowel ruptures due to ischemic enteritis (ISE) is reported. The patient was admitted to the hospital with acute abdominal pain followed by bloody diarrhoeas. Preoperative colonoscopic findings were similar to those presented in Crohn's disease. Intraoperatively, ischemic lesions and multiple ruptures were localized at the jejunum and the proximal ileum. Histopathological examination of the resected bowel segment established the diagnosis of ISE. Although ISE is not common, concurred multiple ruptures of the small bowel is a rare but actual complication.     

Internal fistula leakage due to a road traffic accident: A fortuitous diagnosis of Crohn's disease

Background and aimFistulae are one of the most frequent complications of Crohn's disease (CD) and occur in 30–40% of patients. Conversely, free perforation is a rare complication and is one of the indications for emergency surgery of CD because of secondary peritonitis. We report a case of a spontaneous fistula rupture secondary to a road traffic accident.MethodsCase report.ResultsA 22 year-old man, with no personal significant medical history, was admitted in the emergency room after a road traffic accident. He underwent abdominal CT, which revealed pelvis fractures, abnormal bowel wall of the terminal ileum (wall thickening and mucosal enhancement), peritoneal effusion within the pelvis, mesenteric nodes and extra-luminal gas within an area of mesenteric inflammation: these features were suggestive of ileum perforation associated with inflammatory bowel disease, most likely CD. Laparoscopic assessment was decided and an ileocaecal resection with ileocolonic anastomosis was performed. Histological analysis revealed terminal ileitis with ulcers, non caseating granulomas and submucosal fibrosis, a transparietal fistula and a caecoappendicular inflammation, confirming CD. Post surgical outcome was uneventful and the patient was discharged at day 9.ConclusionOur patient presented this rare complication revealing CD. The involvement of the terminal ileum and fistulae were characteristics of CD. Rupture of the fistula was favored by the trauma and responsible for the peritonitis. A resection with primary anastomosis was possible. To our knowledge, it is the first case described for the rupture of an ileal fistula secondary to traumatism in a patient with CD.     

Gallstone ileus： Report of two cases and review of the literature

Gallstone ileus is a rare disease and accounts for 1%-4% of all cases of mechanical intestinal obstruction. It usually occurs in the elderly with a female predominance and may result in a high mortality rate. Its diagnosis is difficult and early diagnosis could reduce the mortality. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. We report two cases of gallstone ileus. The first was a 78-year old woman who had a 2-d history of vomiting and epigastralgia. Plain abdominal film suggested small bowel obstruction clinically attributed to adhesions. Later on, gallstone ileus was diagnosed by abdominal computed tomography (CT) based on the presence of pneumobilia, bowel obstruction, and an ectopic stone within the jejunum. She underwent emergent laparotomy with a one-stage procedure of enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula repair. The second case was a 76-year old man with a 1-wk history of epigastralgia. Plain abdominal film showed two round calcified stones in the right upper quadrant. Fistulography confirmed the presence of a cholecystoduodenal fistula and gallstone ileus was also diagnosed by abdominal CT. We attempted to remove the stones endoscopically, but failed leading to an emergent laparotomy and the same one-stage procedure as for the first case. The postoperative courses of the two cases were uneventful. Inspired by these 2 cases we reviewed the literature on the cause, diagnosis and treatment of gallstone ileus.     

Right adrenal abscess -- an unusual complication of acute apendicitis

Acute appendicitis represents one of the most frequent abdominal emergencies encountered in everyday surgical practice. Local infectious complications are not unusual and retroperitoneal abscesses after acute retrocaecal appendicitis have been previously described. The authors present the case of a 22-years-young female patient, admitted for a right iliac fossa abscess, secondary to gangrenous appendicitis. A right adrenal mass 35/40 mm was revealed during preoperative ultrasound evaluation, which evolved in an adrenal abscess that spontaneously drained 10 days after appendectomy and retrocecal drainage. Adrenal abscesses are exceptionally rare, with only a few cases being reported in the literature, but none of these after acute appendicitis.     

Case report: "Popcorn" dystrophic ileal calcification in a patient with Crohn's disease

Small bowel calcification is a rare finding, often associated with chronic infection or small intestinal neoplasms. The authors report a patient who developed dystrophic ileal calcification in the setting of medically refractory Crohn's disease. The patient had longstanding, obstructive ileal Crohn's disease, treated with corticosteroids for a 10-year period. Diffuse terminal ileal calcification was evident on radiographic studies, including plain films as well as abdominal CT scan. The patient underwent successful resection of the diseased segment of small bowel and has done well over the ensuing 3-year period. Dystrophic calcification is a rare complication of long-standing chronic inflammation in Crohn's disease that may occur in the absence of adenocarcinoma or chronic infection.     

Lipoma of the small bowel

CLINICAL FEATURES: A 40-year-old female presented with chronic diarrhoea, intermittent abdominal pain, and melena. She reported of a 7 kg loss of weight within the preceding 6 weeks and showed signs of mild abdominal pain upon palpation of the right lower quadrant. Our clinical diagnosis was Crohn's disease or infectious gastro-enteritis as a CT scan showed thickening of the colonic wall in the right lower quadrant. However a previously performed ileocolonoscopy was normal. TECHNICAL EXAMINATIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging showed a thickened terminal ileum with extensive narrowing of the bowel lumen, in addition a polyp obstructing the lumen of the terminal ileum at 30 cm was detected during colonoscopy. THERAPY: The involved portion of ileum was resected. Intraoperatively an intussusception with the polyp forming the leading edge was found. Histological analysis led to the diagnosis "lipoma". Postoperatively the patient is now feeling well without any abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Tumours of the small bowel are rare and are therefore often forgotten in the list of differential diagnoses of abdominal pain. If symptomatic, these tumours present mainly with uncharacteristic and unspecific signs, often leading to a delay in correct diagnosis as in the presented case. We therefore suggest that small bowel tumours should be considered at earlier stages in the differential diagnosis of unexplained abdominal pain in the middle-aged patient with signs of intestinal obstruction.     

Septic thrombophlebitis of the porto-mesenteric veins as a complication of acute appendicitis

Pylephlebitis, a rare complication of acute appendicitis, is defined as thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system. Pylephlebitis usually occurs due to secondary infection in the region drained into the portal system. We report a case of pylephlebitis caused by acute appendicitis. The patient was transferred from a private clinic 1 wk after appendectomy with the chief complaints of high fever and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with pylephlebitis of the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein by CT-scan. The patient was treated with antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy, and discharged on the 25th day and follow-up CT scan showed a cavernous transformation of portal thrombosis.     

Gallstone ileus one quarter of a century post cholecystectomy

Gallstone ileus is a rare but potentially serious complication of cholelithiasis. It is usually preceded by history of biliary symptoms. It usually occurs as a result of a large gallstone creating and passing through a cholecysto-enteric fistula. Most of the time, the stone will pass the GI tract without any problems, but large enough stones can cause obstruction. The two most common locations of impaction are the terminal ileum and the ileocaecal valve because of the anatomical small diameter and less active peristalsis. We present an unusual case of small bowel obstruction secondary to gallstone ileus 24 years after an open cholecystectomy.     

Aeroportia and acute abdominal pain: ischemic bowel necrosis

Pneumatosis intestinalis and aeroportia are typical findings of mesenteric ischemia. The second carries a worse prognosis than the former. We report the case of a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain and acidosis after admission to the coronary unit for myocardial infarction. An emergent abdominal CT scan showed aeroportia. Laparotomy confirmed extended bowel necrosis. Aeroportia is a typical feature of ischemic bowel necrosis, often associated with advanced disease and bad prognosis. In the presence of acute abdominal pain, aeroportia should be considered as a sign of ischemic bowel necrosis. Emergent laparotomy is warranted.     

Small-bowel perforation caused by fish bone

A diagnosis of small-bowel perforation, caused by a sharp or pointed foreign body, is rarely made preoperatively because the clinical symptoms are usually nonspecific and can mimic other surgical conditions, such as appendicitis and diverticulitis. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who experienced severe pain in the right iliac fossa and fever for about five days before arrival at our hospital. The presumptive diagnosis was acute purulent appendicitis and an emergency appendectomy was planned. Swelling and erythema were noted in a segment of the small bowel in the lower right abdomen. A tiny pointed object was found penetrating the inflamed portion of the bowel, which proved to be a sharp fish bone (gray snapper). The bone was removed, followed by segmental resection of the terminal ileum and ascending colon. The postoperative course was uneventful.