[Valor predictivo de la procalcitonina para la necesidad de cirugía y la presencia de isquemia y necrosis en pacientes con obstrucción del intestino delgado]. / Predictive value of procalcitonin for the need of surgery and the presence of ischemia and necrosis in patients with small bowel obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels predict the need for surgery and the presence of ischemia and/or necrosis (I/N) in small bowel obstruction. METHOD: Of 54 patients included, conservative management was performed in 31 (non-surgical group) and an exploratory laparotomy in 23 (surgical group). The reference value of the PCT was between 0.10 and 0.50 ng/mL. RESULTS: PCT levels were higher in the surgical group (7.05 ± 7.03 ng/mL) than in the non-surgical (0.37 ± 0.63 ng/mL), and in patients with I/N (10.06 ± 7.07 ng/mL) than without I/N (1.52 ± 1.45 ng/mL). In the ROC curve, the area under the curve was 0.91 for the need for surgery and 0.93 for I/N. PCT ≥ 0.80 ng/mL had the best sensitivity and specificity for surgery and ≥ 1.95 ng/mL for I/N. PCT was also an independent predictor for these events. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of PCT can recognize the need for surgery and the presence of I/N in small bowel obstruction. Additional studies are needed to affirm or invalidate our findings.

OBJETIVO: El propósito de este estudio de cohorte prospectivo fue evaluar si las concentraciones séricas de procalcitonina (PCT) predicen la necesidad de cirugía y la presencia de isquemia o necrosis (I/N) en la obstrucción del intestino delgado. MÉTODO: De 54 pacientes incluidos, se realizó manejo conservador en 31 (grupo no quirúrgico) y laparotomía exploradora en 23 (grupo quirúrgico). El valor de referencia de la PCT fue entre 0.10 y 0.50 ng/ml. RESULTADOS: Los valores de PCT fueron mayores en el grupo quirúrgico (7.05 ± 7.03 ng/ml) que en el no quirúrgico (0.37 ± 0.63 ng/ml), y en los pacientes con I/N (10.06 ± 7.07 ng/ml) que en aquellos sin I/N (1.52 ± 1.45 ng/ml). En la curva COR (Característica Operativa del Receptor), el área bajo la curva fue 0.91 para la necesidad de cirugía y 0.93 para la I/N. La PCT ≥ 0.80 ng/ml obtuvo las mejores sensibilidad y especificidad para una cirugía, y ≥ 1.95 ng/ml para I/N. La PCT también fue un predictor independiente para estos eventos. CONCLUSIONES: Los valores de PCT permiten reconocer la necesidad de cirugía y la presencia de I/N en la obstrucción del intestino delgado. Son necesarios estudios adicionales para reafirmar o invalidar nuestros hallazgos.

[Complicated diverticular disease debuting as necrotising fasciitis of pelvic limb. A case report]. / Enfermedad diverticular complicada iniciada como fascitis necrosante de miembro pélvico. Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease, and the diverticulitis, the main complication of it, are widely studied diseases with multiple chronic cases reported in the literature, but there are no atypical presentations with extra-abdominal symptoms coupled with seemingly unrelated entities, such as necrotising fasciitis. CLINICAL CASE: Female 52 years old, was admitted to the emergency department with back pain of 22 days duration. History of importance: Chronic use of benzodiazepines intramuscularly. Physical examination revealed the presence of a gluteal abscess in right pelvic limb with discoloration, as well as peri-lesional cellulitis and crepitus that stretches across the back of the limb. Fasciotomy was performed with debridement of necrotic tissue. Progression was torpid with crackling in abdomen. Computed tomography showed free air in the cavity, and on being surgically explored was found to be complicated diverticular disease. DISCUSSION: It is unusual for complicated diverticular disease to present with symptoms extra-peritoneal (< 2%) and even more so that a diverticulitis is due to necrotising fasciitis (< 1%). The absence of peritoneal manifestations delayed the timely diagnosis, which was evident with the crackling of the abdomen and abdominal computed tomography scan showing the parietal gaseous process. CONCLUSION: All necrotising fasciitis needs an abdominal computed tomography scan to look for abdominal diseases (in this case diverticulitis), as their overlapping presentation delays the diagnosis and consequently the treatment, making a fatal outcome inevitable.

[Intestinal intussusception secondary to myofibroblastic tumor in an elderly patient. Case report]. / Intususcepción intestinal secundaria a tumor miofibroblástico en un adulto mayor. Reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is defined as a segment of the gastrointestinal tract and mesentery within the lumen of an adjacent segment. It is a rare condition in adults that can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the rectum. Only 5% of all intussusceptions are presented in adults, and in 1-5% of all cases of intestinal obstruction. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour is rare, and is usually found in the lung, and rarely detected in some intestinal portions. It causes a variety of non-specific symptoms, with those that present as an intussusception being uncommon. CLINICAL CASE: A female of 69 years with partial bowel obstruction secondary to intestinal intussusception due to an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, a rarely diagnosed condition and never published before. DISCUSSION: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours are rare, and in this case with an atypical presentation that was surgically resolved satisfactorily. These entities are difficult to diagnose, with histopathology giving the definitive diagnosis. A literature review was performed to gather recent information about their diagnosis and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumours require a high level of suspicion, as diagnosis prior to surgery is difficult. Surgery is considered the treatment of choice, requiring leaving free surgical edges to prevent recurrences.