Outcomes prediction score for acute abdomen: a proposal. / Proposta de escore preditor de desfechos para abdome agudo.

OBJECTIVE: to establish a correlation between objective data collected at the initial evaluation and the outcomes in cases of acute abdominal pain. METHODS: we conducted a retrospective, case-control study in which we reviewed medical records of patients treated at an emergency room in 2016, diagnosed with abdominal and pelvic pain. RESULTS: of the 2,352 medical records evaluated, we considered 330 valid for the study. Of these patients, 235 (71.2%) were discharged and the remaining 95 (28.8%) were hospitalized, submitted to surgery, or died. The statistical analysis demonstrated that male gender, age ≥50, axillary temperature >37.3ºC, anemia, leukocytosis >10,000/mm3, neutrophil count above 7,700/mm3, lymphocyte count less than 2,000/mm3 and hyperamylasemia were variables in independently associated with worse outcome. CONCLUSION: the presence of three or more of the evaluated variables greatly increases the chances of a patient suffering the outcomes of surgery or death, the chance of death being greater the greater the number of variables present.

OBJETIVO: estabelecer a correlação entre dados objetivos coletados na avaliação inicial e os desfechos nos casos de dor abdominal aguda. MÉTODOS: estudo retrospectivo, de caso controle, em que foram revisados prontuários de pacientes atendidos em um serviço de urgência e emergência no ano de 2016, diagnosticados com dor abdominal e pélvica. RESULTADOS: de 2.352 prontuários avaliados, 330 foram considerados válidos para o estudo. Destes pacientes, 235 (71,2%) receberam alta e os 95 (28,8%) restantes foram internados, submetidos à cirurgia ou morreram. A análise estatística demonstrou que sexo masculino, idade ≥50 anos, temperatura axilar >37,3ºC, anemia, leucocitose >10.000/mm3, neutrocitose acima de 7.700/mm3, linfopenia <2.000/mm3 e hiperamilasemia são variáveis isoladamente associadas a pior desfecho. CONCLUSÃO: a presença de três ou mais das variáveis avaliadas aumenta fortemente a chance de um paciente sofrer os desfechos de cirurgia ou morte, sendo a chance de óbito tanto maior quanto maior o número de variáveis presentes.

Intra-abdominal pressure may be elevated in patients with open abdomen after emergent laparotomy.

PURPOSE: To estimate the change in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) among critically ill patient who were left with open abdomen and temporary abdominal closure after laparotomy, during the first 48 h after admission. METHODS: A cohort study in a single ICU in a tertiary care hospital. All adult patients admitted to the ICU after emergent laparotomy for acute abdomen or trauma, who were left with temporary abdominal closure (TAC), were included. Patients were followed up to 48 h. IAP was routinely measured at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after admission to ICU. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were included, 34 were operated due to acute abdomen and 5 due to abdominal trauma. Seventeen patients were treated with skin closure, 13 with Bogota bag, and 9 with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Eleven patients (28.2%) had IAP of 15 mmHg or above at time 0, (mean pressure 19.0 ± 3.0 mmHg), and it dropped to 12 ± 4 mmHg within 48 h (p < 0.01). Reduction in lactate level (2.4 ± 1.0 to 1.2 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p < 0.01) and increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio (163 ± 34 to 231 ± 83, p = 0.03) were observed as well after 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large report of IAP in open abdomen. Elevated IAP may be measured in open abdomen and may subsequently relieve after 48 h.

Evaluación de pacientes adultos mayores con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, no experimental / Evaluation of elderly patients with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen. Prospective, descriptive, non-experimental study

Se ha observado que la población mayor de 65 años requiere con mayor frecuencia procedimientos quirúrgicos y en ellos las presentaciones clínicas de las entidades responsables de un abdomen agudo son atípicas. En situaciones de emergencia, el diagnóstico resulta más difícil que en el adulto debido a diversos factores. Objetivo: Evaluar características clínicas, edad y sexo de pacientes adultos mayores con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en el Hospital Universitario "Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar" de Maturín, estado Monagas, período enero-septiembre 2019. Método: Se realizó un tipo de investigación no experimental, prospectiva, descriptiva, transversal, de campo, donde se estudiaron a todos los pacientes mayores de 60 años con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico según criterios clínicos, en el servicio de Cirugía General, con una muestra de 53 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Resultados: Se evaluaron 790 pacientes adultos, con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en el período señalado, de los cuales 53 pacientes correspondían a adultos mayores, 30 pacientes (56.60%) de sexo femenino con una edad promedio general de 71.33 años. La principal causa de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en adultos mayores fue la obstrucción intestinal con 26 pacientes (49.06%). La principal comorbilidad fue la hipertensión arterial (41.50%). Un 16.98% de los pacientes se complicaron con sepsis (complicación más frecuente) con mortalidad de 15.09% y más de la mitad (54.71%) ameritaron más de 4 días de hospitalización incluyendo a los complicados (90%)(AU)

It has been observed that the population over 65 years of age requires more and more surgical procedures and in them the clinical presentations of the entities responsible for an acute abdomen are atypical. In emergency situations, diagnosis is more difficult than in adults due to various factors. Objectives: Evaluate clinical characteristics, age and sex of older adult patients with diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen at the "Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar" Hospital from Maturín, Monagas state, January-September 2019 period. Method: A non-experimental type, prospective descriptive, cross-sectional, field research was carried out, where all patients older than 60 years with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen according to clinical criteria, in the General Surgery service, with a sample of 53 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Results: 790 adult patients were evaluated, with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen in the indicated period, of which 53 patients corresponded to older adults, 30 female patients (56.60%) with a general average age of 71.33 years. The main cause of acute surgical abdomen in older adults was intestinal obstruction with 26 patients (49.06%). The main comorbidity was arterial hypertension (41.50%). 16.98% of the patients were complicated by sepsis (the most frequent complication) with mortality of 15.09% and more than half (54.71%)(AU)

Proposta de escore preditor de desfechos para abdome agudo / Outcomes prediction score for acute abdomen: a proposal

RESUMO Objetivo: estabelecer a correlação entre dados objetivos coletados na avaliação inicial e os desfechos nos casos de dor abdominal aguda. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo, de caso controle, em que foram revisados prontuários de pacientes atendidos em um serviço de urgência e emergência no ano de 2016, diagnosticados com dor abdominal e pélvica. Resultados: de 2.352 prontuários avaliados, 330 foram considerados válidos para o estudo. Destes pacientes, 235 (71,2%) receberam alta e os 95 (28,8%) restantes foram internados, submetidos à cirurgia ou morreram. A análise estatística demonstrou que sexo masculino, idade ≥50 anos, temperatura axilar >37,3ºC, anemia, leucocitose >10.000/mm3, neutrocitose acima de 7.700/mm3, linfopenia <2.000/mm3 e hiperamilasemia são variáveis isoladamente associadas a pior desfecho. Conclusão: a presença de três ou mais das variáveis avaliadas aumenta fortemente a chance de um paciente sofrer os desfechos de cirurgia ou morte, sendo a chance de óbito tanto maior quanto maior o número de variáveis presentes.

ABSTRACT Objective: to establish a correlation between objective data collected at the initial evaluation and the outcomes in cases of acute abdominal pain. Methods: we conducted a retrospective, case-control study in which we reviewed medical records of patients treated at an emergency room in 2016, diagnosed with abdominal and pelvic pain. Results: of the 2,352 medical records evaluated, we considered 330 valid for the study. Of these patients, 235 (71.2%) were discharged and the remaining 95 (28.8%) were hospitalized, submitted to surgery, or died. The statistical analysis demonstrated that male gender, age ≥50, axillary temperature >37.3ºC, anemia, leukocytosis >10,000/mm3, neutrophil count above 7,700/mm3, lymphocyte count less than 2,000/mm3 and hyperamylasemia were variables in independently associated with worse outcome. Conclusion: the presence of three or more of the evaluated variables greatly increases the chances of a patient suffering the outcomes of surgery or death, the chance of death being greater the greater the number of variables present.

Intestinal nonrotation and left-sided perforated appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain, requiring emergency surgery. Approximately one third of cases have pain unexcepted location due to its various anatomical location. Acute appendicitis is a very rare cause of left lower quadrant pain; if it occurs, a few congenital anomalies should be considered such as Situs Inversus totalis and Midgut Malrotation (MM). MM is a rare congenital anomaly; it occurs due to error in process of rotation or fixation of intestines around the superior mesenteric vessels and it refers to nonrotation or incomplete rotation of intestines. Here we report a case who presented with left lower abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute perforated appendicitis with intestinal nonrotation. Clinicians should be aware that intestinal nonrotation may be presented with left lower quadrant pain and complicated by acute appendicitis.

[Intra-abdominal pressure as a surgery predictor in patients with acute abdominal pain]. / Presión intraabdominal como predictor de cirugía en pacientes con dolor abdominal agudo.

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal pressure is the pressure's state of balance within the abdominal cavity when a patient is at rest. This pressure may vary during mechanical ventilation or spontaneous breathing. The objective was to establish the intra-abdominal pressure as a surgery predictor in patients with acute abdominal pain. METHODS: From April to December, 2013, it was carried out a nested case-control study on patients with acute abdominal pain in the emergency room of a second level hospital. Thirty-seven patients fit the inclusion criteria; they all underwent surgery with a previous measurement of the intra-abdominal pressure. Based on the results of the anatomopathological study, we divided the patients into two groups: those with evidence of acute abdominal inflammatory process (n=28) (case group), and patients without evidence of acute abdominal inflammatory process (n=9) (control group). RESULTS: In the case group, 100 % of patients shown high intra-abdominal pressure with a p=0.01 (OR=5 [95 % CI=2.578-9.699]. In the case group, the mean intra-abdominal pressure was 11.46, and in the control group 9.2 (p=0.183). CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal pain requiring surgical intervention is directly related to intra-abdominal pressure>5 mmHg.

Introducción: la presión intraabdominal es el estado de equilibrio de la presión de la cavidad abdominal en reposo y puede presentar cambios durante la ventilación mecánica o espontánea. El objetivo fue determinar la presión intraabdominal como predictor de cirugía en el paciente con dolor abdominal agudo. Métodos: se llevó a cabo un estudio de casos y controles anidado en una cohorte de pacientes con dolor abdominal agudo en el servicio de urgencias de un hospital de segundo nivel, en el periodo comprendido entre abril y diciembre de 2013. Se incluyeron 37 pacientes, todos fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente con previa toma de la presión intraabdominal. Se formaron los grupos con el resultado del estudio anatomopatológico: con evidencia de proceso inflamatorio abdominal agudo (n = 28) y sin evidencia de proceso inflamatorio abdominal agudo (n = 9). Resultados: en los casos el 100 % presentó presión intraabdominal alta con una p = 0.01, RM: 5 (IC 95 %: 2.578-9.699). En los casos la media de la presión intraabdominal fue de 11.46 y en los controles de 9.2 (p = 0.183). Conclusiones: el dolor abdominal que requiere cirugía para su resolución tiene relación directa con una presión intraabdominal > 5 mmHg.

Toma de medición intraabdominal a personas en estado crítico, por el profesional de enfermería / Taking measurement intraabdominal people in critical condition, by the nursing professional", "_e": "n

El aumento de la presión dentro de la cavidad abdominal se asocia a múltiples alteraciones fisiopatológicas, con una importante repercusión en aparatos y sistemas originando disfunción orgánica múltiple, lo que conlleva a un incremento en la morbimortalidad en pacientes en estado crítico, la medición de presión intraabdominal es un procedimiento que se está realizando con mayor frecuencia en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos, en donde los profesionales de enfermería tienen un papel muy importante en la toma e identificación de posibles complicaciones que ponen en riesgo la vida del paciente. La siguiente revisión tiene la finalidad de difundir el conocimiento y dar a conocer la importancia e intervenciones de enfermería en la medición de la presión intraabdominal.

The increase in the pressure inside the abdominal cavity is associated with multiple pathophysiological changes, with a significant impact in systems causing multiple organic dysfunction, leading to increased the morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, the measurement of intra-abdominal pressure is a procedure that is being performed more frequently in the intensive care units, where nurses have an important role in taking and identifying possible complications that endanger the patient’s life. The following review has the purpose of disseminate knowledge and explain the importance and the nursing interventions in measuring intra-abdominal pressure.

History-taking and the Usefulness Index in the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND: The primary diagnosis of functional dyspepsia (FD) is made on the basis of typical symptoms and by excluding organic gastrointestinal diseases that cause dyspeptic symptoms. However, there is difficulty reaching a diagnosisin FD. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficiency of the Usefulness Index (UI) test and history-taking in diagnosing FD. METHODS: A study on acute abdominal pain conducted by the World Organization of Gastroenterology Research Committee (OMGE) included 1333 patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. The clinical history-taking variables (n = 23) for each patient were recorded in detail using a preedefined structured data collection sheet, and the collected data were compared with the final diagnoses. RESULTS: The most significant clinical history-taking variables of FD in univariate analysis were risk ratio (RR): location of pain at diagnosis (RR = 5.7), location of initial pain (RR = 6.5), previous similar pain (RR = 4.0), duration of pain (RR = 2.9), previous abdominal surgery (RR = 4.1), previous abdominal diseases (RR = 4.0), and previous indigestion (RR = 3.1). The sensitivity of the physicians' initial decision in detecting FD was 0.44, specificity 0.99 and efficiency 0.98; UI was 0.19 and RR 195.3. In the stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of FD were the physicians' initial decision (RR = 266.4), location of initial pain (RR = 3.4),duration of pain (RR = 3.1), previous abdominal surgery (RR = 3.7), previous indigestion (RR = 2.2) and vomiting (RR = 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with upper abdominal paininitially and a previous history of abdominal surgery and indigestion tended to be at risk for FD. In these patients the UI test could help the clinician differentiate FD from other diagnoses of acute abdominal pain.

[Role of heat flow generated by an abdominal cavity in monitoring of acute surgical pathology of abdominal organs].

Despite of significant development of modern surgery results of treatment of acute diffused peritonitis and acute intestinal obstruction are still unsatisfactory. Successful treatment of these conditions depends considerably on timely and adequate diagnosing as it gives a choice of optimal treatment tactics. Measuring of a human body heat flow in areas of organs affected by pathology in cases of acute diffused peritonitis and acute intestinal obstruction provides a possibility to improve the principles of early differential diagnosing, to form new approaches to treatment tactics and monitoring of general health status of a patient during early postoperative treatment. 47 patient suffering from acute diffused peritonitis and 42 patients suffering from acute intestinal obstruction have been examined; the patients were divided into groups based on abdominal cavity exudates character, intestinal obstruction type and intra-abdominal hypertension grade. Measurement of abdominal cavity heat flow was performed by a contact method with use of thermoelectric medical thermometer. Intra-abdominal hypertension was measured by generally used transvesical method. It has been established that abdominal cavity heat flow correlates with character of abdominal cavity exudates; this is also confirmed by reliable difference between serous peritonitis and fibrinopurulent peritonitis indices. Indices in case of acute intestinal obstruction are lower than ones in case of acute diffused peritonitis as there are no inflammatory changes of peritoneum. Development of intra-abdominal hypertension of grades 3-4 directly influences the heat flow extent; this is explained by accelerated and aggravated pathological changes of inner organs cased by the main disease. Thus, abdominal cavity heat flow fully reflects degree of purulent and inflammatory processes of abdominal cavity organs and can be used for additional diagnosing and clinical course monitoring.

[Extraperitoneal ligation herniorraphy by the acute infectious diseases of the abdominal cavity in children].

Surgery on the reason of the "acute abdomen" in children often reveals the persisting vaginal peritoneal defects, which further lead to hernia formation. 23 children (aged 4-15 years) were operated on the acute uncomplicated appendicitis (n=10), acute mesadenitis (n=3), appendicular local and pelvioperitonitis (n=9) and ovary apoplexia (n=1). Inguinal hernia was revealed in all patients during laparoscopy. After videoendoscopic sanation of the abdomen and appendectomy (if it was necessary) the extraperitoneal ligation herniorraphy in author's modification was performed. The were no cases of abdominal complications as well as hernia recurrence among the treated patients.

Lupus mesenteric vasculitis can cause acute abdominal pain in patients with SLE.

Lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) is a unique clinical entity found in patients who present with gastrointestinal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus, and is the main cause of acute abdominal pain in these patients. LMV usually presents as acute abdominal pain with sudden onset, severe intensity and diffuse localization. Other causes of abdominal pain, such as acute gastroenteritis, peptic ulcers, acute pancreatitis, peritonitis, and other reasons for abdominal surgery should be ruled out. Prompt and accurate diagnosis of LMV is critical to ensure implementation of appropriate immunosuppressive therapy and avoidance of unnecessary surgical intervention. The pathology of LMV comprises immune-complex deposition and complement activation, with subsequent submucosal edema, leukocytoclastic vasculitis and thrombus formation; most of these changes are confined to small mesenteric vessels. Abdominal CT is the most useful tool for diagnosing LMV, which is characterized by the presence of target signs, comb signs, and other associated findings. The presence of autoantibodies against phospholipids and endothelial cells might provide information about the likelihood of recurrence of LMV. Immediate, high-dose, intravenous steroid therapy can lead to a favorable outcome and prevent serious complications such as bowel ischemia, necrosis and perforation.

The value of intra-abdominal pressure measurement in patients with acute abdomen.

AIM: To find out the potential benefit of bladder pressure (BP) measurement as a diagnostic tool for acute abdomen. BACKGROUND: Acute abdomen is one of the most important clinical entities among general surgical clinics. The diagnosis can be achieved by considering the patient's history, physical examination, laboratory analysis or by different imaging modalities. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) occurs due to elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and can be diagnosed by measurement of BP. We observed in our clinical routine elevated IAP levels in patients with acute abdomen. METHODS: Two groups were established: one containing 65 consecutive patients diagnosed as having acute abdomen in the emergency room, and the control group of 10 consecutive patients with no acute abdominal complaints elected for laparoscopic operation. IAP measurements were performed before the operations. BP was measured in the supine position with 50 mL of sterile saline instilled into the bladder after the bladder had been emptied. The catheter was connected to a water manometer with the reference point being the symphisis pubis. BP levels greater than 7 cmH2O were accepted as abnormal and interpreted as a diagnostic criteria for acute abdomen. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and the accuracy are calculated 95.4%, 80%, 96.9%, 72.7%, 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found elevated IAP may support the physicians diagnosis of acute abdomen with approximately 27.3% false negative rate.

Curso de atualização em emergências médicas: aula 13: abdome agudo: avaliação clínico-radiológica / Updating medical emergencies course: class 13: acute abdomen: clinical-radiological assessment

O abdome agudo permanece um problema clínico-cirúrgico intrigante e fonte de grandes surpresas e dilemas. Por ser um quadro geralmente doloroso, com anormalidades na peristalse, é necessário um diagnóstico precoce e terapêutico de urgência. Nesta aula abordaremos as causas de dor abdominal de acordo com a faixa etária, assim como sua classificação (abdome agudo inflamatório, perfurativo, obstrutivo, vascular e hemorrágico), a fisiopatologia da dor, exame físico e as indicações dos exames complementares.

Acute abdomen remains intriguing a physician-surgical problem and source of great surprises and dilemma. For being a generally painful situation, with abnormalities in peristalse a precocious and therapeutical diagnosis of urgency is necessary. In this lesson, we will approach the causes of abdominal pain in acoordance with the age, as well as its classification (acute abdomen inflammatory, perforative, obstructive, vascular and hemorrhagic), the physiopathology of pain, physical examination and the indications of the complementary examinations.

Acute renal artery embolism: a case report and brief literature review.

Acute renal artery embolism is an uncommon clinical diagnosis. We present a case report of a patient who was treated with transcatheter thrombolysis and a literature review and discussion of this condition and its management.

[Abdominal sepsis in surgical patients. Pathophysiology and prevention]. / Sepsi addominali nel malato chirurgico. Fisiopatologia e prevenzione.

Abdominal sepsis is a rare but life threatening condition due to several causes. Although several advances in medicine have been performed in last years, abdominal sepsis could have a negative potential evolving beyond exitus. The authors present a review of the literature and a commentary of their own clinical experience.

Bile leakage presenting as acute abdomen due to a stone created around a migrated surgical clip.

BACKGROUND: Surgical clips may migrate into the common bile duct after surgery for cholecystolithiasis leading to usually early or middle-term complications. CASE REPORT: A 31-year-old woman, 6 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, developed acute abdomen and choloperitoneum after rupture of a secondary bile duct and bile leakage. This complication was due to a solitary common bile duct stone. The stone was formed around a surgical clip that had migrated from the cystic duct remnant to the common bile duct. The patient underwent investigative laparotomy and, subsequently, an ERCP with stone extraction and clearance of the common bile duct. She was perfectly well at the follow-up after 14 months. CONCLUSIONS: Rupture of a bile duct and biliary peritonitis may be a delayed complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to surgical clip migration and formation of a stone. Definitive treatment of the condition may be achieved through ERCP. Surgeons, gastroenterologists and radiologists should be aware of this late complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cases of acute abdomen.

Acute abdomen as first symptom of acute leukemia.

CASE REPORT: The authors presented a rare case of acute abdomen syndrome caused by the rupture of the corpus rubrum as the first symptom in a 35-years-old woman with the acute lymphatic leukemia. During the laparotomy is notice diffuse bleeding from under skin blood vessels and muscles. The blood was electrocoagulated and was sewn with catgut sutures. The right ruptured corpus rubrum was found from which fresh blood was leaking. The right ovary was carefully resected and sutured, and each ligature was bleeding. At the beginning of the surgery laboratory analysis results arrived which showed a high leukocytosis (28.0 x 10(9)/l) with sever thrombocytopenia (10 x 10(9)/l) and afibrinogenemia (0.1 g/l) with anemia (1.9 x 10(12)/l erythrocyte, haematocrit 0.24), which indicated leukemia with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (antithrombin III levels 0.9 g/l, D-dimers 1989 micro g/l). RESULT. A year later she died with the picture of severe disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, agranulocytosis and septic condition with multiorganic failure.

The relevance of free fluid between intestinal loops detected by sonography in the clinical assessment of small bowel obstruction in adults.

INTRODUCTION: The main role of the radiologist in the management of patients with suspicion of small bowel obstruction is to help triage patients into those that need immediate surgical intervention from those that require medical therapy or delayed surgery. Ultrasound examination is usually considered not helpful in bowel obstruction because of air in the intestinal lumen that interferes the evaluation of the intestinal loops, however recently some Authors attested the increasing important role of sonography in the acute abdominal disease. Aim of our report is to demonstrate the value of free fluid detected by US in differentiating between low and high-grade small bowel obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study is based on 742 consecutive patients who presented symptoms of the acute abdomen; all patients had undergone initial serial abdominal plain film and US examinations prior to any medical intervention. We reviewed the imaging findings of 150 cases in whom small bowel obstruction was clinically suspected and confirmed at surgery. We consider the following radiographic and US findings: dilatation of small bowel loops; bowel wall thickness; presence of air-fluid levels; thickness of valvulae conniventes; evidence of peristalsis; presence and echogenicity of extraluminal fluid. We looked at the value of extraluminal peritoneal fluid at US examination in differentiating low and high-grade small bowel obstruction based on the surgical outcome. RESULTS: In 46 patients altered peristaltic activity, thin bowel walls, fluid filled loops with hyperechoic spots in the bowel segment proximal to obstruction were noted at US, whereas radiographic features were: moderate dilatation of small bowel loops, with thin bowel wall and evidence of numerous and subtle valvulae conniventes; presence of air-fluid levels was also noted. In 70 other patients, US examination revealed all the findings described in the precedent cases and also the presence of free extraluminal fluid; abdominal plain film showed an increased dilatation of small bowel loops with moderate thickened wall and air-fluid levels. In 34 other patients US examination revealed the presence of thick-walled loops, hypoperistalsis and a larger amount of free extraluminal fluid. Radiographic findings in these patients were: horizontal featured and markedly dilated small bowel loops presenting parietal thickness, presence of intraluminal fluid stasis and evidence of thickened, sparse and incomplete valvulae conniventes. At surgery etiology of small bowel obstructions was various, but most of cases related to adhesions (70 cases). The presence of extraluminal fluid were confirmed at surgery in 104 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience using sonography in suspicion of SBO (small bowel obstruction) suggests the usefulness of this imaging modality to differentiate a functional or obstructive ileus, demonstrating the evidence of intestinal peristalsis. Furthermore, the presence of a large amount of fluid between dilated small bowel loops suggests worsening mechanical small bowel obstruction, that requires not a medical therapy but immediate surgery.

[Determination of beta-endorphin plasma concentrations in surgical patients with acute abdominal pain]. / Odredjivanje plazma koncentracija opiodnog peptida beta-endorfina kod hirurskih bolesnika sa abdominalnim bolom.

Abdominal pain and surgery, frequently associated with this kind of pain, modify plasma levels of stress-hormones and iniciates the response of endogenous analgetic system. The aim of this study was to determine serum concentration of beta-endorphine in patients with acute abdominal pain (n=12), which were surgically treated. Serum concentration of beta-endorphin was measured on five data points: before, during and after surgery. During abdominal surgery serum concentration of beta-endorphin was increased by 7% compared to preoperative period; in postoperative period the concentration continued to rise and remained increased within next hours. The maximal levels of beta-endorphine were not observed during, and immediately after surgery. Postoperatively, between 6 and 8 p.m. on the day of surgery, maximal level of beta-endorphin was noted, which was even ten times higher than to preoperative value. Plasma level of beta-endorphin fell to the baseline values 24 hours after surgery. In conclusion, abdominal surgery induces a postponed (delayed) increase in serum beta-endorphine levels, which are associated with modulation of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative pain perception.