Clinical spectrum of intra-abdominal abscesses in patients admitted to the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The mortality of undrained abdominal abscesses may be as high as 35 %. In this study, we analyzed the clinical spectrum of intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) patients in the ED and attempted to identify factors that can predict the severity of IAA. METHOD: This study was a retrospective review of adults (≥ 18 years) with IAA admitted to a single ED. IAA were diagnosed by abdominal computed tomography. The differences in clinical variables between patients receiving and not receiving inotropic drugs were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression was performed for assessing predictor variables. RESULTS: 128 patients presented with IAA. The most common complaint was abdominal pain (60.2 %) and the liver was most common location (39.8 %). Patients who required inotropic drugs had lower serum leukocyte, lymphocyte, and platelet counts and higher serum BUN and CRP levels. The independent factors associated with need for inotropic drugs were serum leukocyte, CRP, and BUN level. The optimal cutoff CRP value for predicting inotropic drug use was 12.06mg/dL, BUN value was 21mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated CRP and BUN levels could predict a higher association with requirement of inotrope. Therefore, emergency physicians should consider CRP and BUN levels and aiming for early aggressive treatment.

[Sigmoid colon diverticulitis : Treatment modalities 2011-2013]. / Sigmadivertikulitis : Behandlungsmodalitäten 2011 bis 2013.

INTRODUCTION: Diverticulosis is a relevant disease in Germany with a prevalence of over 60 % in patients aged ≥70 years. The S2k guidelines for the treatment of diverticulosis were recently published. Systematic epidemiological data on treatment modalities do not exist. METHODS: Analysis of in-hospital treatment modalities for diverticulosis based on data from the Federal Office of Statistics. RESULTS: Approximately 130,000 inpatient cases of diverticulosis are treated in Germany per year. Approximately 25 % undergo surgery and of these slightly under 50 % (12,000 procedures) are carried out by laparoscopy. The complication rates are 18 % in a best case scenario and up to 85 % in a worst case scenario. A stage-adjusted classification of treatment modalities based on data from the Federal Office of Statistics is currently practically impossible. CONCLUSION: To enable stage-adjusted epidemiological analysis of diverticulosis, a standardized and transparent documentation system enabling systematic analysis is necessary, which does not currently exist (e. g. ICD 10 coding); moreover, information on conservative and interventional treatment options are not included in the operations and procedures key (OPS) coding system.

[Sigmoid diverticulitis: indications and timing of surgery]. / Sigmadivertikulitis: Indikation und Zeitpunkt zur Operation.

BACKGROUND: Diverticular disease represents a common problem in the clinical routine. In addition to the question of who should be admitted to hospital for treatment and who can be treated as an outpatient, the questions of the indications and timing for surgery are decisive. Because the disease is internationally classified in different ways, the recommendations are also not uniform. OBJECTIVE: In this article the essential aspects of the indications for and timing of surgery are structured and oriented to the new S2K guidelines. RESULTS: The indications and timing of surgery can only be reasonably determined by evaluating all essential information on diverticular disease. A prerequisite is an exact, comprehensive and applicable classification of the disease before treatment. An adequate assessment cannot be made using morphological information obtained by imaging alone. DISCUSSION: The new classification of sigmoid diverticulitis corresponding to the German guidelines for diverticular disease classification (GGDDC) enables an appropriate strategy for evaluating the indications and selection of the time for surgery.

Preoperative CT staging in sigmoid diverticulitis--does it correlate with intraoperative and histological findings?

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate whether the computed tomography (CT) reflects the extent of the inflammation in sigmoid diverticulitis (SD) in order to draw conclusions for selecting the appropriate treatment. METHODS: Two hundred four patients who underwent resection for SD from January 2003 to December 2008 were included. The preoperative CT stage was compared with intraoperative and histological findings. Patients were classified into phlegmonous (Hansen-Stock IIa), abscess-forming (HS IIb), and free perforated (HS IIc) forms of SD. Patients with a recurrent type of diverticulitis were excluded. RESULTS: In the phlegmonous type (HS IIa; n = 75), we found a correlation with the preoperative stage in 52% (intraoperative) and 56% (histological), an understaging in 12% (intraoperative) and 11% (histological), and an overstaging in 36% (intraoperative) and 33% (histological). In the abscess-forming type (HS IIb, Hinchey I/II; n = 87), we found conformity in 92% (intraoperative) and 90% (histological), understaging in 3% (intraoperative) and 0% (histological), and overstaging in 5% (intraoperative) and 10% (histological). In the presence of a free perforation (HS IIc, Hinchey III/IV; n = 42), we saw conformity in 100% (intraoperative and histological). The positive predictive value for correctly diagnosing of phlegmonous type (HS IIa), abscess-forming type (HS IIb), and free perforation (HS IIc) by CT was intraoperatively (histologically) 52% (56), 92% (90), and 100% (100), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CT is one of the most accurate methods for staging in SD. However, in the phlegmonous type (HS IIa), it leads to an overestimation of the findings in every third patient. It must be clarified whether this pronounced low inflammation should really be regarded as a complicated form of SD. In contrast, the abscess-forming (HS IIb) and free perforated (HS IIc) type of complicated SD is very well reflected by CT.

Definition and classification of intra-abdominal infections.

Intra-abdominal infections represent a wide variety of pathological conditions that involve lesions of all the intra-abdominal organs. They include both inflammation of single organs and any sort of peritonitis (primary, secondary, tertiary), where the severity of the disease often depends on the extension of the inflammation (local or diffuse peritonitis). They also include intraperitoneal, retroperitoneal and parenchymal abscesses. the aim of this article is to analyze the current definitions and classifications of intra-abdominal infections.

[Intra-abdominal infections: definitions and classification]. / Infezioni intraddominali: ambiti e definizioni.

Intraabdominal infections (IAIs) represent a wide variety of pathological conditions that involve lesions of all the intra-abdominal organs. They include both inflammation of single organs and any sort of peritonitis (primary, secondary, tertiary), where the severity of the disease often depends from the extension of the inflammation ((local or diffuse peritonitis). They include also the intra-peritoneal, retroperitoneal and parenchymal abscesses. The aim of current review is that of analyse the current definitions and classifications of intraabdominal infections.

Laparostomía contenida en el manejo de la sepsis abdominal / Temporary abdominal closure for the management of abdominal sepsis

Introducción: La laparostomía contenida es una técnica para el manejo de la sepsis y otras patologías de origen abdominal. Las series reportadas en Chile aun son escasas. Nuestro objetivo es comunicar nuestra experiencia con laparostomía contenida en el manejo de la sepsis abdominal, con el uso de polietileno fenestrado como cobertura peritoneal transitoria. Material y método: Se realiza una revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes laparostomizados en nuestro hospital entre enero del 2002 a junio del 2005. Para la revisión de fichas clínicas y obtención de datos se confeccionó un protocolo de registro. Se excluyeron 5 pacientes que no cumplieron con este protocolo. Resultados: Nuestra serie quedó constituida por 32 pacientes. La edad promedio fue 51 años. La distribución por sexo fue 59 por ciento hombres y 41 por ciento mujeres. La laparostomía fue la primera cirugía en 24 pacientes. La principal indicación fue la gran contaminación de la cavidad peritoneal. La etiología de la infección intraabdominal, se agrupó según la clasificación de Meakins modificada. El promedio de días laparostomizado fue de 7,8. 10 pacientes requirieron nueva cirugía post-laparorrafia. El promedio de aseos fue de 2,3. Morbilidad médica se presentó en 25 pacientes. Morbilidad quirúrgica se presentó en 19 pacientes. Seis pacientes se ingresaron a Cuidados Intensivos para su manejo. El promedio de hospitalización fue 28 días. La mortalidad de la serie fue 6 pacientes (18,7 por ciento).Conclusiones: La sepsis abdominal sigue siendo una patología de difícil manejo pese al avance en antibioticoterapia y cuidados intensivos. Se expone la experiencia con la técnica de laparostomía contenida, en el Hospital Herminda Martin de Chillán, con el uso de polietileno fenestrado como una alternativa al manejo de la sepsis abdominal, con alta morbilidad general y una mortalidad aceptable en relación a la literatura.

Results from percutaneous drainage of Hinchey stage II diverticulitis guided by computed tomography scan.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous abscess drainage guided by computed tomography scan is considered the initial step in the management of patients presenting with Hinchey II diverticulitis. The rationale behind this approach is to manage the septic complication conservatively and to follow this later using elective sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis. METHODS: The clinical outcomes for Hinchey II patients who underwent percutaneous abscess drainage in our institution were reviewed. Drainage was considered a failure when signs of continuing sepsis developed, abscess or fistula recurred within 4 weeks of drainage, and emergency surgical resection with or without a colostomy had to be performed. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients (17 men and 17 women; median age, 71 years; range, 34-90 years) were considered for analysis. The median abscess size was 6 cm (range, 3-18 cm), and the median duration of drainage was 8 days (range, 1-18 days). Drainage was considered successful for 23 patients (67%). The causes of failure for the remaining 11 patients included continuing sepsis (n = 5), abscess recurrence (n = 5), and fistula formation (n = 1). Ten patients who failed percutaneous abscess drainage underwent an emergency Hartmann procedure, with a median delay of 14 days (range, 1-65 days) between drainage and surgery. Three patients in this group (33%) died in the immediate postoperative period. Among the 23 patients successfully drained, 12 underwent elective sigmoid resection with a primary anastomosis. The median delay between drainage and surgery was 101 days (range, 40-420 days). In this group, there were no anastomotic leaks and no mortality. CONCLUSION: Drainage of Hinchey II diverticulitis guided by computed scan was successful in two-thirds of the cases, and 35% of the patients eventually underwent a safe elective sigmoid resection with primary anastomosis. By contrast, failure of percutaneous abscess drainage to control sepsis is associated with a high mortality rate when an emergency resection is performed. The current results demonstrate that percutaneous abscess drainage is an effective initial therapeutic approach for patients with Hinchey II diverticulitis, and that emergency surgery should be avoided whenever possible.

The management of complicated diverticulitis and the role of computed tomography.

PURPOSE: Acute diverticulitis is a disease with a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from a phlegmon (stage Ia), to localized abscesses (stages Ib and II), to free perforation with purulent (stage III) or feculent peritonitis (stage IV). While there is little debate about the best treatment for mild episodes and/or very severe episodes, uncertainty persists about the optimal management for intermediate stages (Ib and II). The aim of our study was therefore to define the role of computed tomography (CT) and to analyze its impact on the management of acute diverticulitis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 511 patients (296 males, 215 females) admitted for acute diverticulitis between January 1994 and December 2003. Excluded were patients with stoma reversal only, "diverticulitis" mimicked by cancer, or significantly deficient patient records. Patients were analyzed either as a whole or subgrouped according to age (<40 yr, >40 yr). A modified Hinchey classification was used to stage the severity of acute diverticulitis. RESULTS: In 99 patients (19.4%), an abscess was found (74 pericolic, 25 pelvic, median diameter: 4.0 cm). CT-guided drainage was performed in 16 patients, one failure requiring a two-stage operation. Whereas conservative treatment failed in 6.8% in patients without abscess or perforation, 22.2% of patients with an abscess required an urgent resection (68.2%, one-stage, 31.8%, two-stage). Recurrence rates were 13% for mild cases, as compared to 41.2% in patients with a pelvic abscess (stage II) treated conservatively with/without CT-guided drainage. Of all surgical cases, resection/primary anastomosis was achieved in 73.6% with perioperative mortality of 1.1% and leak rate was 2.1%. CONCLUSIONS: CT evidence of a diverticular abscess has a prognostic impact as it correlates with a high risk of failure from nonoperative management regardless of the patient's age. After treatment of diverticulitis with CT evidence of an abscess, physicians should strongly consider elective surgery in order to prevent recurrent diverticulitis.

Percutaneous drainage of abdominal abcess.

The mortality in undrained abdominal abscesses is high with a mortality rate ranging between 45 and 100%. The outcome in abdominal abscesses, however, has improved due to advances in image guided percutaneous interventional techniques. The main indications for the catheter drainage include treatment or palliation of sepsis associated with an infected fluid collection, and alleviation of the symptoms that may be caused by fluid collections by virtue of their size, like pancreatic pseudocele or lymphocele. The single liver abscesses may be drained with ultrasound guidance only, whereas the multiple abscesses usually require computed tomography (CT) guidance and placement of multiple catheters. The pancreatic abscesses are generally drained routinely and urgently. Non-infected pancreatic pseudocysts may be simply observed unless they are symptomatic or cause problems such as pain or obstruction of the biliary or the gastrointestinal tract. Percutaneous routes that have been described to drain pelvic abscesses include transrectal or transvaginal approach with sonographic guidance, a transgluteal, paracoccygeal-infragluteal, or perineal approach through the greater sciatic foramen with CT guidance. Both the renal and the perirenal abscesses are amenable to percutaneous drainage. Percutaneous drainage provides an effective and safe alternative to more invasive surgical drainage in most patients with psoas abscesses as well.

Host defense mechanisms of surgical patients. Friend or foe?

Surgeons and members of this society commonly deal with 2 types of infections of great concern in hospitalized patients. These are hospital-acquired pneumonia and intra-abdominal infections. Both of these infections have the potential for severe morbidity and mortality. We have learned how to classify the types of intra-abdominal infections into primary peritonitis, localized abscess with or without peritonitis, diffuse suppurative peritonitis, or combinations of these classifications. Each of these conditions carries a different mortality risk proportional to its severity. We have also learned how to diagnose surgical infections by properly taking medical history and performing physical examination, appropriate laboratory testing, and sophisticated imaging techniques. The treatment of intra-abdominal infections has become fairly standardized and includes surgical or percutaneous drainage of the infected material, correction of the underlying pathologic symptoms, and broad-spectrum empirical antibiotic therapy.

Abcesos intra-abdominales post-apendicectomia en el Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez 1990-1995

Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo, en el que se analiza los pacientes que fueron diagnosticados de absceso intra-abdominal postapendicectomía (AIPA), en el Hospital Pablo Arturo Suárez, entre enero de 1990 a diciembre de 1995. El 2.25 por ciento de los pacientes apendicectomizados, tuvieron AIPA. La perforación y la gangrena apendicular fueron observadas en el 91.7 por ciento de los casos con AIPA. El promedio de horas transcurridas entre el ingreso del paciente a emergencia y la cirugía fue de 14,25 horas, rango 3-45 horas. La fosa ilíaca derecha fue la localización más frecuente de AIPA (50 por ciento). El 66.7 por ciento de los pacientes con AIPA se sometieron a drenaje quirúrgico del absceso más antibiotico-terapia. Nos se observó mortalidad en este grupo de estudio. El cirujano debe desarrollar su criterio diagnóstico, para identificar pacientes en riesgo de AIPA y dar celeridad en el tratamiento quirúrgico d este tipo de paciente...