Duodenal ulcer perforation and pneumothorax: a case report

Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are rarely observed as a complication of perforated peptic ulcer, which is a common cause of acute abdomen. We report a case of a 30-year-old male patient with abdominal pain and respiratory distress. Resulting from physical examination and laboratory data of the patient, acute abdomen and pneumothorax were diagnosed simultaneously. Laparotomy revealed duodenal ulcer perforation and a simple patch closure was performed. No complications were observed during the postoperative course of the patient.     

急腹症合并甲状腺危象的围手术期处理

目的 探讨急腹症合并甲状腺危象的围手术期处理.方法 回顾性分析11例急腹症合并甲状腺危象病例的临床资料.结果 本组行阑尾切除术5例、十二指肠溃疡穿孔修补术2例、胃大部分切除术2例、胆总管切开取石"T"管引流术及脾切除术各1例.甲状腺危象发生于术后7例、术中2例及术前2例.抢救成功8例,死亡3例,死亡率27.3%,其中1例术前发生甲状腺危象的十二指肠溃疡穿孔因甲状腺危象抢救不充分,在胃大部分切除术后第1天死于心力衰竭;1例术中发生甲状腺危象的小肠穿孔,尽管甲状腺危象抢救成功,但术后11 d死于肠漏、腹腔脓肿及肺部感染诱发的多器官功能障碍综合征;另1例术后发生甲状腺危象的急性穿孔型阑尾炎因甲状腺危象处理不及时,术后第5天死于昏迷、多器官功能障碍综合征.结论 围手术期尽早识别甲状腺危象和适当的治疗是抢救本病成功的关键,其诊断主要靠临床表现及实验室检查综合判定.     

Cavernous hemangioma of the spleen

A benign hemangioma of the spleen sometimes ruptures causing hemoperitoneum and signs of an acute surgical condition of the abdomen.Three of forty-three reported cases of hemangioma of the spleen were complicated by rupture and hemoperitoneum.This condition, ruptured hemangioma of the spleen, has been most often diagnosed as acute appendicitis and perforated gastric ulcer.A case of ruptured hemangioma of the spleen which was mistakenly diagnosed as acute appendicitis is reported. This patient was successfully treated by splenectomy.     

Perforated ulcers related to smoking "crack" cocaine.

This article describes four patients with perforated gastroduodenal ulcers related to smoking "crack" cocaine. All patients came to the hospital with acute abdominal pain; only one patient had a history of ulcer disease. Only one patient had an elevated white blood cell count, and two patients had depressed white blood cell counts. In three patients, the x ray showed that pneumoperitoneum was present. Upon surgical exploration of the abdomen, all patients were found to have extensive peritoneal contamination. Operative repair consisted of omental patching with or without primary closure of the perforation. A history of cocaine smoking should be sought in patients with unexplained abdominal pain or pneumoperitoneum. In patients with acute abdominal pain and a history of smoking cocaine, a perforated gastroduodenal ulcer may be present, despite normal or low white blood cell counts and the lack of pneumoperitoneum on x-ray examination.     

Laparoscopic suture repair of a perforated gastric ulcer in a severely cirrhotic patient with portal hypertension: first case report.

BACKGROUND: Open digestive surgery in cirrhotic patients is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopy in this setting has the potential to reduce postoperative complications. Laparoscopic treatment of a perforated gastric ulcer in a severely cirrhotic patient with portal hypertension is herein described. METHODS: A 75-year-old woman affected by cirrhosis of the liver (Child class C) and chronic gastric ulcer presented with acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis of perforation was made with plain films of the abdomen and computed tomography. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed intense peritonitis due to a perforated ulcer of the anterior gastric wall, 2 cm proximal to the pylorus. Suture closure and placement of an omental patch were performed laparoscopically. RESULTS: Postoperative recovery was complicated by a minor leak of the gastric suture, managed by total parenteral nutrition. Closure of the gastric wound was demonstrated by Gastrografin studies on the 10th postoperative day. The patient was discharged on the 16th postoperative day. At 3-months follow-up, the patient is alive and free of gastric disease.     

Tension pneumoperitoneum. A cause of acute aortic occlusion

Massive accumulation of intraperitoneal air may result in an entity known as tension pneumoperitoneum. The patient usually complains only of abdominal fullness, and the abdomen becomes ballooned, barrel-shaped, and tympanic in all quadrants. Upward displacement of the diaphragm may cause respiratory embarrassment. There may also be diminished venous return due to compression of the inferior vena cava. Abdominal paracentesis may be necessary to improve respiratory exchange before laparotomy. In one patient with a perforated peptic ulcer and tension pneumoperitoneum, an enormous increase in intra-abdominal pressure apparently led to acute aortic occlusion. This particular complication of tension pneumoperitoneum has not previously been reported, to our knowledge. The clinical findings of aortic occlusion were reproduced in a canine model by insufflation of air into the abdomen. An intra-abdominal pressure of 100 mm Hg resulted in loss of the femoral pulse wave measured by an indwelling arterial catheter.     

腹腔镜技术在急腹症和腹部外伤中的应用

目的:探讨腹腔镜用于普通外科急腹症和腹部外伤的价值。方法:回顾分析2005年4月至2008年8月作者用腹腔镜诊治急腹症48例患者的临床资料。结果:48例患者中,胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔13例,急性阑尾炎9例,急性胆囊炎17例,腹部闭合性损伤4例,腹部开放性损伤1例,急性盆腔炎2例,肠梗阻2例。48例患者均在腹腔镜下确诊,43例在腹腔镜下完成手术,5例中转开腹。患者均获痊愈,无术后并发症及围手术期死亡。结论:腹腔镜技术集诊断与治疗于一体,是治疗急腹症和腹部外伤的有效方法。     

腹腔镜在急腹症中的应用

积极拓宽腹腔镜手术的治疗范围。应用腹腔镜诊治急腹症75例,完成胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔修补术35例,阑尾切除术31例,胆囊造瘘术1例,对病因不明的急腹症行腹腔镜探查术17例,全部术中明确诊断,9例腹腔镜治疗成功,6例无需手术治疗,2例中转剖腹。全组治愈,术后无并发症。腹腔镜胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔修补术、阑尾切除术等手术操作简单掌握,治疗效果可靠,腹腔镜探查术对病因不明的急腹症有独特的优势,既能明确诊断又可同时进行治疗,值得进一步推广。     

Gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery

From 1975 to 1985, a total of 1596 coronary artery bypasses or valve replacements resulted in 18 gastrointestinal tract complications in 16 patients at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. Twelve patients were treated surgically (hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer, one patient; perforated duodenal ulcer, one patient; cholecystitis: acalculous, gangrenous, two patients, and calculus, one patient; perforated cecum, one patient; ischemic colitis, one patient; and perforated diverticulitis of the colon, five patients). Six patients were treated conservatively by either nasogastric intubation or nothing by mouth and intravenous therapy (ileus, three patients; acute sigmoid diverticulitis, one patient; and active peptic ulcer disease, two patients). Multisystem failure caused two deaths. The etiology of hollow viscus complications seems to be related to a low-flow state, impairing normal tissue perfusion that can initiate an ischemic change. This change can lead to acute inflammation, perforation, or both or late stricture. When evidence of an acute abdominal disorder is observed or when conservative treatment falls to alleviate symptoms, prompt surgical intervention should be performed.     

Omeprazole-Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor widely used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. We report a patient presenting nonoliguric acute renal failure following omeprazole treatment. Both eosinophilia and eosinophiluria were observed, and the patient was diagnosed as having drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis. Renal failure spontaneously resolved when omeprazole was discontinued.     

Splenic anisakiasis resulting from a gastric perforation: an unusual occurrence

We report a case of gastric perforation by Anisakis sp. with consequent localization of the larva in the spleen. An 86-year-old white woman was admitted to our surgical department with a diagnosis of acute abdomen. She had a history of abdominal pain, and her laboratory data showed leukocytosis. In the plain abdominal radiograph, pneumoperitoneum was evident; a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen confirmed the presence of extraluminal air. Anamnesis disclosed the ingestion of raw fish during the week preceding her illness. The patient was underwent emergency laparotomy. A small gastric perforation and a nodular area at the superior pole of the spleen were found. Surgical treatment was performed successfully and consisted of excision of the gastric lesion and splenectomy. The histological diagnosis revealed the presence of gastritis with an ulcer, and in the splenic tissue, some necrotic foci containing cross-sectioned degenerated worms compatible with Anisakis larva.     

Spontaneously perforated pyometra. A differential diagnosis in acute abdomen

Spontaneously perforated pyometra is rare, but the condition must be born in mind in women with acute abdomen. Two cases are reported, one resembling perforated peptic ulcer, the other was mistaken for acute appendicitis.     

Modern aids to clinical decision-making in the acute abdomen

Acute abdominal pain continues to provide not only a large workload for the general surgeon but also many diagnostic and management problems. Many different techniques have been introduced over the past two decades to help in the management of the acute abdomen and this review considers their relative claims to become incorporated into the process of clinical decision-making. The evidence in support of formally structured patient interview pathways with or without computer-aided diagnostic programs is now overwhelming and should become routine. Both laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology have an important role to play in the management of patients in whom the decision to operate is in doubt, and a combination of the two would be complementary. Ultrasonography has become increasingly popular for investigating the acute abdomen, and results from specialist centres are impressive. However, the problems of operator variation and the difficulties in providing a 24-h service will probably prevent it from becoming a first-line investigation in most hospitals. Although plain radiography has been available for many years, its routine use in the management of the acute abdomen remains controversial. Recent studies have confirmed that contrast radiography is an important adjunct to decision-making, particularly in the management of large bowel obstruction, and there is increasing evidence to support its use in suspected small bowel obstruction, perforated peptic ulcer and acute diverticular disease.     

Clinical and morphological features in a case of recent gastric carcinoma (the signet ring cell carcinoma type)

The article presents the case of a male patient, hospitalized due to severe pain in the upper abdomen area, nausea, and vomiting. The patient was diagnosed with surgical acute abdomen, for which emergency surgery is performed. Upon penetration into the peritoneal cavity, stomach inspection shows at the medio-gastric level, on the greater curvature, a callous gastric ulcer, with a central perforation. A large excision is decided up to the healthy (normal) gastric tissue, and the resulting pieces are sent to the pathological anatomy laboratory. The histopathological exam reveals signet ring cell recent gastric carcinoma. The biopsy performed 1 month after surgery, prelevated from the antropyloric zone, reveals antropyloric gastritis with moderate activity and Helicobacter pylori positive. Due to the fact that such cases when this gastric cancer type is diagnosed in recent stages are extremely rare, we considered it useful to present it and look into its macroscopic and microscopic aspects, as well as into the differentiating diagnosis.     

Urological Pathology Causing Free Air Under the Diaphragm?

We report a case of long-standing, keratinising, squamous metaplasia of the bladder with undiagnosed malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma presenting as acute peritonitis secondary to spontaneous perforation of the bladder tumour. This presentation as an acute abdomen mimicking a perforated peptic or duodenal ulcer is the most unusual aspect of the case.     

Visceral larva migrans presenting as acute abdomen in a child

An unusual presentation of visceral larva migrans observed in a patient is reported. A 5-year-old boy suffering fever, abdominal pain, tenderness, and rigidity in the right lower and upper quadrant of the abdomen was operated on, with the false diagnosis of acute abdomen, and exploratory surgery was carried out. The pathological examination of the liver biopsy revealed eosinophil-rich necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with Toxocara spp larva. The diagnosis was also confirmed by serologic results. Clinicians should remember that toxocaral visceral larva migrans may rarely mimic an acute abdomen and cause unnecessary operations.     

Laparoscopically assisted treatment of acute abdomen in systemic lupus erythematosus

The incidence of abdominal pain in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is very high. Most patients do not require surgical treatment (serositis). Some cases such as appendicitis, perforated ulcer, cholecystitis or, rarely, intestinal infarction are surgical. Differential diagnosis is difficult, partly because noninvasive examinations do not provide enough evidence to rule out a diagnosis. On the other hand, in patients with SLE who have acute abdomen, it is dangerous to delay surgery by attempting conservative therapy. In fact, a better survival rate has been associated with early laparotomy. We report a case of acute abdomen in a patient affected by SLE, in which the diagnostic problem was solved by means of laparoscopy and the treatment was laparoscopically assisted. A 45-year-old woman with a 25-year history of SLE was admitted with abdominal pain and fever. Her physical examination revealed a painful right iliac fossa with rebound tenderness. Her WBC count was normal. Abdominal x-ray, ultrasonography, paracentesis, and peritoneal lavage did not provide a diagnosis. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, showing segmentary small bowel necrosis. The incision of the umbilical port site was enlarged to allow a small laparatomy, and a small bowel resection was performed. The histopathologic finding was "leucocytoclasic vasculitis, with infarction of the intestinal wall." The patient recovered uneventfully. In conclusion, this case report shows that emergency diagnostic laparoscopy is feasible and useful for acute abdomen in SLE. Currently, this diagnostic possibility could be considered the technique of choice in these cases, partly because, when necessary, it also can allow for mini-invasive treatment therapy.     

The acute surgical abdomen after cardiac surgery involving extracorporeal circulation.

From 1972 through 1984, 7140 cardiac operations were performed at one university teaching hospital; they were reviewed to elucidate common factors in patients developing an acute surgical abdomen after cardiac surgery and extracorporeal circulation. Twenty-one patients (0.29%) developed an acute surgical abdomen in the period following cardiac surgery. The abdominal surgical complications were, in general, due to complications of peptic ulcer disease, decreased intestinal blood flow, and cholecystitis. There was no correlation between preoperative history, physical examination, cardiac function, laboratory data, and the subsequent development of an acute abdomen. Mortality rate, 24% after abdominal surgery, was increased with emergency cardiac operations, combined cardiac procedures, complications of cardiac surgery, unnecessary delay of abdominal surgery, and abdominal wound complications. Major abdominal wound complications were seen in 38%. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery may develop a variety of common abdominal surgical disorders. Patients so inclined cannot be identified prior to cardiac surgery. Ulcer prophylaxis, wound management, prompt resuscitation, and timely surgery are critical.     

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目的 探讨血管疾病所致急腹症的诊断和治疗。方法 对1997年6月至2002年8月间经治的15例血管源性急腹症的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果 以中老年病人为多见，常并存心脏、血管疾病。临床表现差异较大，容易漏诊、误诊。平均确诊时间11h，手术治疗11例，非手术治疗4例，死亡2例，致残l例。结论 重视病史的全面采集，坚持正规的体格检查程序，严密观察病情，正确的临床逻辑思维，恰当的辅助检查，是早期诊断和成功治疗该病的关键。     

腹腔镜诊治急腹症在基层医院中的应用体会

目的:探讨基层医院利用腹腔镜技术诊治急腹症的临床应用价值。方法:回顾分析2010年1月至2012年12月为204例急腹症患者行腹腔镜探查及治疗的临床资料。结果:患者均经腹腔镜探查获得确诊,其中急性阑尾炎86例,急性胆囊炎46例,急性上消化道穿孔30例,肠梗阻26例,卵巢黄体破裂6例,急性盆腔炎10例。186例于镜下完成治疗,18例中转开腹。其中83例行阑尾切除术,39例行胆囊切除术,30例行胃十二指肠溃疡穿孔修补术,11例行肠粘连松解术,7例行小肠部分切除术,6例行卵巢病灶切除术,10例盆腔炎行盆腔冲洗术。纠正术前诊断16例,14例发生手术并发症。平均住院(5.2±0.8)d。结论:腹腔镜技术可提高急腹症的确诊率,指导治疗,避免阴性探查,具有疗效确切、手术并发症少、术后康复快等优点,在基层医院中应用前景广阔。