Rare Cause of Left Upper Abdominal Pain.

Inflamed diverticular disease of the small bowel is an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain. Despite its low prevalence rate (0.3-2%), it is associated with a high mortality rate between 20-25% (Fisher and Fortin, 1977; Ferreira-Aparicio et al., 2012). This is due to complications including perforation, bleeding, and obstruction. This case report presents the diagnosis and management of Mr. X, a 70-year-old male with jejunal diverticulitis and a duodenal diverticulum. Mr. X has a background of type 2 diabetes mellitus and sigmoid diverticulosis, he presented with a three-day history of left upper quadrant pain radiating to the left iliac fossa. He was haemodynamically stable despite his elevated inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein 161 mg/l and neutrophils 13.3×109/l) and computerised tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showing jejunal diverticulitis and a duodenal diverticulum. Mr. X was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and analgesia and a follow up CT scan showed that the jejunal diverticulitis had resolved. Previous operative management of the discussed pathology has been reported, the current report is novel as the diagnosis was made early and the case managed conservatively.

Complicated Severe Acute Pancreatitis: Open and Laparoscopic Infracolic Approach.

INTRODUCTION: The heterogeneous nature of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) renders decisions related to complications challenging. Central solid collections at the root of the mesentery are difficult to access with traditional techniques. Here we describe a case series of laparoscopic infracolic necrosectomy (ICN) and open or laparoscopic infracolic necrosectomy with Roux-en Y cystjejunostomy (ICN-RYCJ) for the management of complicated SAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database identified all patients treated with infracolic necrosectomy or drainage of pancreatic collections for complicated SAP between 2012 and 2021 inclusive at a single institution. RESULTS: Forty patients were identified (median age 53 years)-ICN group 9 patients (median time to intervention-22 days) and ICN-RYCJ group 31 patients (median time to intervention-99 days). Two patients in ICN group underwent interval fistula-tract jejunostomy. Thirty-one patients had laparoscopic surgery and 9 patients underwent an open approach. Four patients required intervention post-operatively. Nineteen patients were discharged from follow-up at two years. CONCLUSION: Infracolic approach with selective Roux-en Y cystjejunostomy, as a single or staged intervention, is an effective and safe operative option to add to the armamentarium of the pancreatic surgeon when dealing with complicated SAP not amenable to drainage/debridement by traditional techniques.

Are we meeting the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for cholecystectomy post-gallstone pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to audit the current management of patients suffering with gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) at a university teaching hospital for compliance with the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines regarding cholecystectomy post-GSP. METHODS: Data were collected on all patients identified via the hospital coding department that presented with GSP between January 2011 and November 2013. Patients with alcoholic pancreatitis were excluded. The primary outcome was the length of time in days from diagnosis of GSP to cholecystectomy. Secondary outcomes included readmission with gallstone-related disease prior to definitive management and admitting speciality. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients were identified with a presentation of GSP during the study period. Thirty-nine patients were treated conservatively. One hundred and six patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy a median (interquartile range) interval of 33.5 days (64 days) post-admission. Patients with a severe attack as classified by the Glasgow severity score (n = 16) waited a median of 79.5 days (71.5) for cholecystectomy. Only 32% (n = 34) of patients with mild disease underwent cholecystectomy during the index admission or within 2 weeks. When grouped by admitting speciality, patients admitted initially under hepatobiliary surgery waited significantly fewer days for definitive treatment compared with other specialities (P < 0.0001). Twenty-one patients (19.8%) re-presented with gallstone-related pathology prior to undergoing cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Only 32.1% were treated as per BSG guidelines. About 19.8% (n = 21) of the patients suffered further morbidity as a result of a delayed operation and there is a clear difference between admitting speciality and the median time to operation.