Hernia through the foramen of Winslow: a complication of cholecystectomy. A case report

In 151 years since first described, there have been 112 reported cases of hernia through the foramen of Winslow (HFW). All thus far have described HFW as a primary entity. The case reported appears to be unique with HFW as a surgical complication. HFW is the least common of internal hernias. The primary symptom is pain referred from the herniated organ and the hepatoduodenal ligament. An interesting sign is that the patient is found curled up or stooped over for pain relief. Anatomic factors implicated in HFW are an enlarged epiploic foramen, a floppy cecum and ascending colon, or abnormal length of small bowel mesentery. Tension on these structures causes pain with the torso extended. Distention of bowel in the lesser sac mimics gastric obstruction. Organs herniated are: small bowel (63%); cecum, ascending colon, and terminal ileum (30%); and transverse colon (7%). Of 25 cases reported since 1966, cecal herniation comprised two-thirds. The diagnosis may be made radiologically and the treatment is surgical. The case and a review of the literature are presented with attention to the anatomy. Also provided are the signs and symptoms of this interesting and perplexing diagnosis.     

Plasmid-pattern analysis in the differentiation of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates.

Plasmids carried by 29 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from two different origins (invasive and carrier, non-hospital-associated strains) were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis in order to evaluate any association with virulence. Plasmid patterns were found to be characteristic of individual strains and no particular molecular size band was found to correlate with either of the two categories of isolates. It is concluded that the plasmid pattern analysis carried out could not differentiate between carrier and invasive S. epidermidis, but did provide a useful tool for epidemiological investigation.     

The course of severe foot infection in patients with diabetes.

Infection of the foot is a limb threatening condition for patients with diabetes mellitus. Identification of patients with diabetes and severe infection of the foot most likely to benefit from early revascularization or major amputation would improve the results of a treatment policy to prevent limb loss and avoid futile delays in amputation. During a nine year period, 79 diabetic patients underwent emergency procedures for severe infection of the foot during the initial hospitalization period. None of the patients underwent arterial reconstruction. Eventually, 21 of the patients required a major amputation, eight during the initial hospitalization and 13 on a subsequent admission. Stepwise discriminant analysis of clinical independent variables revealed that the patients most likely to require a major amputation during the initial hospitalization were those with an absent dorsalis pedis pulse and a polymicrobial infection (p = 0.018). The overall amputation rate (immediate or subsequent amputation) was higher for patients of either sex with nonpalpable pedal pulses when compared with those with at least one palpable pulse (p less than 0.05). Males who were not dependent on insulin had the highest risk of overall limb loss (p = 0.01). Patients undergoing delayed amputation required a significantly higher number (p = 0.01) of readmissions to the hospital for recurrent infection of the foot than those who did not undergo amputation. Data in the current study suggest that early major amputation in a subset of patients would prevent delay in the rehabilitation process of the amputee, decrease long term morbidity and reduce health care cost. An aggressive policy of early revascularization in patients with a pulse deficit may reduce the amputation rate in those with diabetes with severe infection of the foot.