Protracted Chemical Peritonitis Following Laparoscopy for Dermoid Cyst: A management dilemma.

Dermoid cysts are common benign ovarian tumours arising from totipotent germ cells. We report a rare case of chemical peritonitis and prolonged fever following laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy for torsion of a large ovarian dermoid and discuss the management of this patient with prolonged hospital stay, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory use, repeated drainage of the collection as well as re-laparotomy. The occurrence of this rare condition can be extremely distressing for the patient and treating surgeon alike, as the recommendations for management are limited. The management of chemical peritonitis may require one or more surgical procedures along with prolonged anti-inflammatory therapy.

Utility of head/abdomen circumference ratio in the evaluation of severe early-onset intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the predominant phenotype of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is symmetric or asymmetric in severe, early-onset disease due to placental insufficiency. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of high-risk pregnant women with severe, early-onset IUGR who were delivering at < 33+0 weeks' gestation at Mount Sinai Hospital from 2001 to 2010. Ultrasound images were reviewed for fetal biometry, amniotic fluid volume, and uterine and umbilical Doppler flow studies within seven days of delivery, and the frequency of head circumference/abdominal circumference ratio ≥ 95th percentile for gestation was determined. RESULTS: Sixty-two of 107 pregnancies (58%) with early-onset IUGR had an elevated HC/AC ratio (≥ 95th percentile), which was more than 10-fold greater than the expected proportion (P < 0.001). High rates of severe preeclampsia (53%), abnormal amniotic fluid (70%), and abnormal uterine artery Doppler studies (78%) indicated placental insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Fetuses with severe placental IUGR in the second trimester are more likely to have an asymmetric phenotype. This is in contrast to the current belief that asymmetric IUGR is confined to third trimester IUGR.

Atypical case of acute Fatty liver of pregnancy.

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a life threatening obstetric emergency. The most common presentation is malaise, nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain followed by jaundice. Due to high maternal and perinatal mortality, early diagnosis, prompt delivery and supportive care are required. We report an atypical case of AFLP and discuss the management and complications of this rare obstetric disorder.