Adult midgut malrotation presented with acute bowel obstruction and ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal malrotation refers to the partial or complete failure of rotation of midgut around the superior mesenteric vessels in embryonic life. Arrested midgut rotation results due to narrow-based mesentery and increases the risk of twisting midgut and subsequent obstruction and necrosis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: 40 years old female patient admitted to emergency service with acute abdomen and computerized tomography scan showed dilated large and small intestine segments with air-fluid levels and twisted mesentery around superior mesenteric artery and vein indicating "whirpool sign". DISCUSSION: Malrotation in adults is a rare cause of midgut volvulus as though it should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients presented with acute abdomen and intestinal ischemia. Even though clinical symptoms are obscure, adult patients usually present with vomiting and recurrent abdominal pain due to chronic partial obstruction. Contrast enhanced radiograph has been shown to be the most accurate method. Typical radiological signs are corkscrew sign, which is caused by the dilatation of various duodenal segments at different levels and the relocation of duodenojejunal junction due to jejunum folding. As malrotation commonly causes intestinal obstruction, patients deserve an elective laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Malrotation should be considered in differential diagnosis in patients presented with acute abdomen and intestinal ischemia. Surgical intervention should be prompt to limit morbidity and mortality.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: clinicopathological characteristics of two cases.

Introduction. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor, presenting difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. Peritoneum is the second most common area of the mesothelioma after pleura, and even synchronous pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas are observed in 30-45% of all cases. The diagnosis may be difficult due to lack of specific symptoms and clinical findings. In addition, a delay in the diagnosis is not rare especially in the absence of previous asbestos exposure. Here we report two cases of malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these rare neoplasms are discussed. Case Presentation. The cases were two men (one aged 54 years old and the other 40 years old). Prolonged abdominal pain and swelling were the primary presentation symptoms and findings. The mesotheliomas were developed in the right upper quadrant of abdomen in both of the cases. Both cases were treated with surgical resection. Final diagnosis were possible with histological and immunohistochemical documentation of tumor characteristics, which were consistent with dictating a mesothelial origin. No history of asbestos exposure was reported. Conclusion. Peritoneal mesotheliomas are rare clinical entities. However, patients with prolonged abdominal pain and abdominal masses should be considered to have atypical pathologies such as peritoneal mesotheliomas.

Emergency thyroidectomy: Due to acute respiratory failure.

INTRODUCTION: Giant cervical and mediastinal goiter may lead to acute respiratory failure caused by laryngotracheal compression and airway obstruction. Here, we present a case admitted to the emergency service with a giant goiter along with respiratory failure and poor general health status, which required urgent surgical intervention. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 71-year-old female admitted to the emergency room with shortness of breath and poor general health status resulting from a giant cervical swelling progressively increased during the last 7 years and constituted severe respiratory failure which has become severe in the last one month. A giant nodular goiter of the left thyroid lobe extending retrosternally, causing tracheal compression, limiting the neck movements was detected with clinical examination and bedside ultrasound. Emergency thyroidectomy was planned. Fiberoptic-assisted awake nasal intubation was performed in the operating room. Emergency total thyroidectomy was performed for the life-threatening respiratory failure. Postoperative period was uneventful. She was transferred from intensive care unit to the ward on postoperative day 3 and was discharged from the hospital on the postoperative 7th day. Benign multinodular hyperplasia was reported on the histopathological report. Patient was included in routine follow-up. DISCUSSION: In the present case tracheal destruction due to compression of the giant goiter was found in agreement with previous reports. Emergency thyroidectomy was performed after awake intubation since it is a common surgical option for the treatment of giant goiter causing severe airway obstruction. CONCLUSION: Respiratory failure due to giant nodular goiter is a life-threatening situation and should be treated immediately by performing awake endotracheal intubation following emergency total thyroidectomy.