An analysis of missed cases with surgical emergencies admitted in non-surgical departments. Case series and а review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: The delayed diagnosis in emergency surgery can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality and often lead to litigations. The aim of the present work is to analyse the outcome in cases with non-trauma surgical emergencies wrongly admitted in non-surgical departments. METHODS: A retrospective trial in two independent University hospitals was conducted. The first group encompassed the patients worked-up in the Surgical unit of Emergency department (2014-2018). The second one included all cases visited Emergency department (2018). Only cases with acute abdomen and delayed diagnosis and operation were included. The analysis included the proportion of the delayed diagnosis, time between admission and operation, intraoperative diagnosis, complications and mortality rate. RESULTS: In the first group there were 30 194 visits in the surgical unit with 15 836 hospitalizations (52.4%). Twenty patients of the last (0.13%) were admitted in the Clinic of Infectious disease and subsequently operated. The mean delay between hospitalization and operation was 3 days (1-10). Seventeen patients (85%) were operated with mortality of 10%. In the second group, there were a total of 22 760 visits with 11 562 discharged cases. Of the last, 1.7% (n=192) were re-admitted in a surgical ward, 25 of which underwent urgent surgery (0.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The missed surgical cases represent only a small proportion of the patients in emergency department. The causes for wrong initial admissions in our series were misinterpretation of the symptoms, insufficient clinical examination and underuse of US and CT. The careful clinical assessment, point-of care US and CT may decrease the rate of the delayed diagnosis.

Giant-cell arteritis without cranial manifestations presenting as fever of unknown origin: a diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT.

We present a case of 68-year-old female with four months history of fever, fatigue, and weight loss. She was classified as case of fever of unknown origin. The physical examination was normal, the laboratory tests showed anemia, elevation of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and fibrinogen. The diagnosis was unclear and 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed. Images showed high glucose uptake in the wall of the ascending and descending aorta, in the walls of the subclavian arteries, abdominal aorta and proximal part of both iliac arteries. The diagnosis of GCA appeared most likely and steroid treatment was initiated. After the therapy, clinical signs disappeared, laboratory parameters normalized and follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated lack of glucose uptake in the vessels' walls. We observed remission. 18F-FDG PET/CT offers a possibility for early detection of inflammation in the vessels and could be used for assessment of therapy response. Performing this nuclear imaging method in a clinical setting, where there is suspicion of large-vessel vasculitis is of great benefit for the final outcome.