1/322. Successful revascularization of an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) with the recipient right gastroepiploic artery. A technique for revascularizing the arterial supply to an orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in a 55-year-old male afflicted with end-stage alcoholic liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension is reported. The presence of well-developed portosystemic collaterals and an unsuitable recipient common hepatic artery necessitated the dissection and liberation of the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) for its subsequent use as the recipient arterial source. Posttransplantation, save for an early biliary leak which was corrected promptly, the patient's evolution was uneventful. Two separate celiac angiographic series at 6 weeks and 20 months posttransplantation revealed an excellent flow through the recipient and donor arterial systems. Additionally, the RGEA demonstrated an adaptation in caliber when pre- and posttransplantation angiograms were compared. It was concluded that the RGEA is a suitable rescue option for revascularization of OLT's provided it satisfies elementary hemodynamic requirements. ( info) |
| The patient, a 59-year-old male, had been diagnosed as having alcoholic hepatopathy 20 years previously. He noticed localized swelling on his left leg after fishing in a river. The patient was diagnosed as having cutaneous mucormycosis upon histological and mycological examination of the skin. Gradual improvement of the symptoms was noted four weeks after administration of itraconazole and fruconazole; these were discontinued after five months. ( info) |
3/322. Incarceration of umbilical hernia following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for the treatment of ascites. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an effective therapy for patients with medically refractory ascites. Many patients with refractory ascites have umbilical herniation. Incarceration of umbilical hernia has been reported following diuresis, paracentesis, and peritoneovenous shunting. We report 2 cases of umbilical hernia incarceration following resolution of ascites after TIPS. ( info) |
4/322. Vasculitic small bowel perforation masquerading as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a patient with decompensated liver disease. We report on a young patient with decompensated alcohol-induced liver disease (child-Pugh score C) who presented with clinical, biochemical and radiological evidence suggestive of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. She was however subsequently found to have multiple small bowel perforations, which were diagnosed only at laparotomy. The histology of the bowel showed evidence of vasculitis. This case illustrates two important points. Firstly, even if a patient has all the prerequisites to develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, a secondary cause of peritonitis (eg. bowel perforation or intra-abdominal abscess) must always be considered as a differential diagnosis and a repeat ascitic tap is mandatory after 48 h of antibiotic therapy to confirm a decrease in the white cell count. Secondly, it shows the rare co-existence of alcoholic liver disease and vasculitis. ( info) |
5/322. A case of multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (Madelung's disease). Multiple symmetrical lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) is a rare disease with multiple symmetrical unencapsulated fatty accumulation diffusely involving the neck, the shoulders and the upper extremities (Kohan et al. Otolaryngol. head neck Surg. 1993;108:156-159). We describe a 48-year-old Japanese man with a history of alcoholism and liver cirrhosis who reported gradually enlarging masses in his cervical region for 4 years. MRI revealed large masses suggesting lipomas in the neck. The patient underwent a two-stage lipectomy. This patient is the 13th case reported in japan since 1978, though over 200 cases have been reported since 1846 in europe, most of them from the Mediterranean (Kitano et al. ORL 1994;56:177 180; Kaku et al. Endocrinol. Diabetol. 1997;4:103-106). ( info) |
6/322. aeromonas sobria infection with severe soft tissue damage and segmental necrotizing gastroenteritis in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A 49-year-old man, who had a 3-year history of liver dysfunction but had not been treated, was admitted to the hospital with a sudden onset of fever and generalized muscle pain. He subsequently developed generalized purpura with scattered hemorrhagic bullae of the skin and massive bloody stools. aeromonas sobria was proven by culture of both blood and bullous fluid. In spite of the extensive treatment with antibiotics and other medications in the intensive care unit (ICU), the patient went into septic shock and died 2 days after admission. Pathological examination on autopsy revealed segmental necrotizing gastroenteritis with bacterial colonies and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, in addition to extensive severe soft tissue damage involving cellulitis and rhabdomyolysis and epidermolysis. Although the prognosis for vibrio vulnificus infection with severe soft tissue damage in patients with liver cirrhosis, malignancy, diabetes mellitus or other pre-existing diseases is poor, the unfavorable progression of aeromonas species, especially A. sobria infection is rare. This is thought to be the first report of an autopsied case. ( info) |
| We report a 40-year-old man with decompensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who developed spontaneous peritonitis caused by candida albicans after complete recovery from a recent episode of acute pancreatitis. The patient was successfully treated with amphotericin b. A search of the literature showed that this is the fourth reported case of spontaneous peritonitis caused by candida albicans. ( info) |
| budd-chiari syndrome is a rare disease, but there are many known causes. Recent studies showed that it can be an acquired lesion resulting from thrombosis in some elderly patients. We report a 74-year-old man with budd-chiari syndrome attributed to chronic deep venous thrombosis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. When he was aged 45 years, stasis ulcers of the lower extremities appeared. cerebral infarction and left hemiparesis occurred at age 71. ultrasonography, venacavography, and three-dimensional-magnetic resonance imaging on admission demonstrated total obstruction of the inferior vena cava with several massive thrombi and developed collateral vessels. Although the etiology of the thrombosis remained obscure, we made some speculative assumptions that chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (which is frequently observed in cirrhosis) or hereditary coagulopathy could be involved, from his familial history of thrombotic phenomena and a severe deficiency of clotting inhibitors. Despite the high mortality of untreated budd-chiari syndrome reported in previous studies, this patient had been alive for about 30 years from the suspected onset. ( info) |
9/322. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis associated with hepatic cirrhosis. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is not a recognized complication of end-stage liver disease. A case of sagittal sinus thrombosis in a 44-year-old male with end-stage hepatic cirrhosis is described. Recurrent seizures were the only manifestation. work-up revealed severe deficiency of protein c, protein s, and antithrombin iii. He was treated with low molecular weight heparin and underwent an orthotopic liver transplant after three months. Follow-up helical CT venogram showed resolution of the sinus thrombosis. ( info) |
10/322. Acquired cutaneous lymphangiectasia in a patient with cirrhotic ascites. BACKGROUND: Lymphangiectasia results from acquired dilation of lymphatic vessels. Areas of skin affected by obstruction or destruction of lymphatic drainage are said to be prone to the development of lymphangiectasia. Cirrhosis is a cause of alterations of lymph flow. methods: Case report. RESULTS: We report a case of acquired, late-onset, lymphangiectasia associated with alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis. Lesions were scattered over the right, lower, anterior abdominal wall, a region that is drained by a common group of lymphatic vessels that were probably disordered. CONCLUSION: We think that this is the first reported case of lymphangiectasia associated with altered lymph flow in cirrhosis and ascites. ( info) |