1/39. Intestinal bleeding and occlusion associated with shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli O127:H21.We report a case of a nine-year old boy with vomiting, abdominal pain and fever, who underwent surgery with a diagnosis of appendicitis in Mendoza and from whom a shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli (STEC) O127:H21 strain was recovered. Forty-eight hours after surgery he presented bilious vomiting and two episodes of intestinal bleeding. Laboratory findings included: hematocrit, 35%; blood urea nitrogen, 0.22 g/L. The urinary output was normal. The following day physical examination showed an alert mildly hydrated child, without fever but with distended and painful abdomen. The patient was again submitted to surgery with a diagnosis of intestinal occlusion. Bleeding and multiple adhesions in jejunum and ileum were found. The patient still had tense and painful abdomen and presented two bowel movements with blood; hematocrit fell to 29% and blood urea nitrogen rose to 0.32 g/L. STEC O127:H21 eae(-)/Stx2/Stx2vh-b( )/E-Hly( ) was isolated from a stool sample. He was discharged after 10 days of hospitalization and no long-term complications such as HUS or TTP were observed. This is the first report, to our knowledge, on the isolation of E. coli O127:H21, carrying the virulence factors that characterize STEC strains, associated to an enterohemorrhagic colitis case. This serotype was previously characterized as a non-classic enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). STEC infections can mimic infectious or noninfectious pathologies. Therefore an important aspect of clinical management is making the diagnosis using different criteria thereby avoiding misdiagnoses which have occasionally led to invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or the inappropriate use of antibiotics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/39. Percutaneous endoscopic sigmoidopexy in sigmoid volvulus with T-fasteners: report of two cases.PURPOSE: We report two cases of percutaneous endoscopic sigmoidopexy in patients with sigmoid volvulus. methods: Two patients with recurrent sigmoid volvulus were considered unfit for resective surgery or general anesthesia (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status III-IV). Fixation of the sigmoid colon to the abdominal wall was performed percutaneously under sedation in the endoscopy suite. Fixation was obtained using three T-fasteners in a triangular disposition in the bowel. The T-fasteners were cut at the skin after 28 days. RESULTS: Both procedures were successfully performed in approximately 20 minutes and were well tolerated. Feeding commenced the same day. One patient died after seven months of follow-up, without recurrence, of causes not related to volvulus. The other patient had no recurrence after 18 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The authors purpose was to show a new technique for colonic fixation performed in patients with recurrent sigmoid volvulus who otherwise had contraindication for elective surgery. Future studies will be required to verify the effectiveness and safety of this novel technique.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.088770187557185keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/39. Late presentation of small bowel obstruction following blunt abdominal trauma.BACKGROUND: Motor vehicle accidents have increasingly become a major cause of serious blunt abdominal and chest injury, the pattern and mechanism of which has changed in recent years largely due to seatbelt legislation. AIM: A case of blunt abdominal and chest trauma is reported which resulted in a mesenteric tear--the small bowel subsequently herniated through and strangulated. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the need for clinical suspicion, serial physical examination and early surgery in the management of these injuries.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/39. Case report: volvulus of a mesenteric cyst--an unusual complication diagnosed by CT.A 10-year-old girl presented with colicky abdominal pain and a vague left sided mass on physical examination. Plain radiographs of the abdomen were unremarkable but ultrasound examination demonstrated a large right sided unilocular cystic abdominal mass. Computed tomographic features were diagnostic of volvulus of the proximal small bowel with associated mesenteric cyst. Surgery confirmed CT findings and no mid gut malrotation was noted at operation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/39. Small bowel obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.BACKGROUND: Despite the proliferation of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP), postoperative bowel obstructions still occur from mesocolonic constrictions, internal hernias, and anastomotic strictures. Obstructed patients do not present with a characteristic history and physical. Therefore, radiographic studies including upper gastrointestinal films and computed tomography are essential for diagnosing these unique obstructive etiologies after LRYGBP. methods: From February 2000 to December 2000, 115 patients underwent standard LRYGBP at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Retrocolic anastomoses were performed on all patients. Defects at the mesocolon and mesomesentery were closed with interrupted, nonabsorbable sutures. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal study on the first postoperative day. RESULTS: Six patients developed small bowel obstructions postoperatively. Five of these patients required reexploration. The obstructive etiologies were two mesocolonic constrictions, three internal herniations, and one massive clot at the gastrojejunostomy. Repair of the mesocolonic constrictions involved incising the transverse mesocolon vertically to create a larger window for the Roux limb. Internal herniations were reduced, and defects were reclosed with nonabsorbable sutures. The patient with an obstructive clot was treated endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these 6 patients, we have altered our technique to antecolic placement of the Roux limb. This technique requires division of the omentum and additional mobilization of the Roux limb mesentery in order to decrease tension at the gastrojejunostomy. Since initiating these changes and closing all iatrogenic defects, we have not experienced further early small bowel obstructions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.088770187557185keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/39. Delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernias presenting with strangulation.Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries commonly occur following blunt and penetrating trauma, and that may be missed during a first evaluation, resulting in chronic diaphragmatic hernia and/or strangulation. In this study, we present three cases of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernias presenting with strangulation. The type of trauma was blunt in two and penetrating in one patient. In all three cases, the diagnoses of diaphragmatic injuries were missed in acute and chronic settings. While two patients had transverse colonic strangulation, the other one had strangulated stomach and spleen. Transverse colon resection was performed in one patient. Two patients had postoperative complications, and no postoperative mortality was detected. patients complaining of upper abdominal pain and dyspnea with past history of thoracoabdominal trauma should be evaluated for a missed diaphragmatic injury. A high index of suspicion, physical examination of the chest, and x-ray film are helpful for diagnosis of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernias presenting with strangulation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/39. Primary midgut volvulus in the adult: two case reports.Primary midgut volvulus is associated with a high mortality rate. The presentation and management of two patients with primary midgut volvulus are reviewed. Both presented with severe abdominal pain inconsistent with clinical findings. diagnosis was made intraoperatively in one case and at autopsy in the other. Surgeons need to suspect primary midgut volvulus when they encounter patients with atypical presentation of small bowel obstructions, i.e., when the severity of symptoms is inconsistent with physical findings. Primary midgut volvulus should be considered in the differential diagnosis in these patients, and, if suspected, emergent abdominal exploration is indicated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.088770187557185keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/39. Ileosigmoid knotting: a case report and review.Ileosigmoid knotting, or compound volvulus, has not been reported previously in australia. A 41 year old woman of Anglo-Saxon origin presented with a short history of extreme abdominal pain that was out of proportion to her physical findings. At operation it was found that her entire ileum was tightly knotted around the redundant, twisted sigmoid colon. Both closed loops were gangrenous and it was impossible to unravel the bowel. She recovered uneventfully following resection and primary anastomosis of both portions of the intestine. Most patients with this uncommon condition have been reported from finland and eastern africa. An arrangement of the small bowel and sigmoid colon on long, narrow mesenteries would appear to be a prerequisite. The brevity of the history and the severity of the abdominal pain call for early laparotomy. Prolonged attempts to untie the knot are dangerous. It is safer to divide the ileum at the knot and resect it in order to release the sigmoid colon. Primary anastomosis is feasible where the history is short and the uninvolved intestine is clean and collapsed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.088770187557185keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/39. Enterolithiasis in jejunal diverticulosis, a rare cause of obstruction of the small intestine: a case report.Jejunal diverticula are rare and usually asymptomatic; they occur twice as frequently in men. They are discovered incidentally during small-bowel enteroclysis, CT scan or laparotomy. Complications include diverticulitis, perforation, hemorrhage and enterolith formation. intestinal obstruction due to enterolithiasis is uncommon. We present the association of enterolithiasis and jejunal diverticulosis causing obstruction of the small intestine in a 74-year-old female who was admitted for abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. On physical examination, there was discomfort on palpation of the upper abdomen. Laboratory tests revealed mild elevation of leucocytes and c-reactive protein. CT scan demonstrated dilatated loops of proximal jejunum with thickening of the wall, suggesting ingestion of a foreign body. Clinical and radiological findings did not indicate conservative therapy; our patient underwent minilaparotomy, and pronounced jejunal diverticulosis was identified. An enterotomy was performed and a cylindrical enterolith, 10cm long and 3cm in diameter, was removed. The operative and postoperative course was uneventful. Enterolithiasis must be considered as a potential source of intestinal obstruction. The differential diagnosis should take gallstone ileus and ingestion of a foreign body into consideration. Initial therapy is nonoperative; if this management fails, surgery is indicated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/39. A patient with abdominal distension.A 74-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of vomiting and abdominal pain. She had been well until 24 hours before admission, when she had had her last meal. She had not eaten anything unusual. She developed pain in the left lower abdominal quadrant, and difficulties with her bowel movements. An enema was given unsuccessfully. There was progressive distension of the abdomen. The patient started to vomit gastric and later bilious contents. No history of abdominal symptoms or weight loss was reported. She currently takes oral antidiabetic agents and an angiotensin ii blocker because of hypertension. On physical examination she was not in distress and was afebrile, blood pressure 130/100 mmHg, pulse rate 88 beats/min. On auscultation increased bowel sounds with rushes of high-pitched sounds were heard. Her abdomen was distended and a large tender mass filling the whole left lower quadrant without signs of peritoneal irritation was found. There were no faeces on rectal examination. The leucocyte count was 10.2 mmol/L, haemoglobin 7.2 mmol/L, c-reactive protein 36 mg/l and lactate dehydrogenase 535 U/l. Under suspicion of a mechanical bowel obstruction without signs of peritonitis, the patient was treated with a nasogastric tube, fasting and enemas on which she improved. An abdominal X-ray in bed taken on day two showed no bowel distension (figure 1). After removing the nasogastric tube on day two the nausea returned. Abdominal examination was unchanged. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan after drinking oral contrast and intravenous contrast was performed (figure 2).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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