Post-Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Complicated with Mycotic Aneurysm Rupture, Repaired by Redo Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Mycotic aneurysms although rare can be devastating. We encountered a dialysis patient with rapidly expanding distal aortic arch aneurysm who underwent axilloaxillary bypass and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Three months later, he suffered mycotic aneurysm rupture for which redo TEVAR was performed. Antibiotic therapy was discontinued 16 weeks after the second operation, and renal transplantation was performed 6 months later. Dialysis was discontinued in the patient without infection recurrence.

Bacteroides pyogenes causing serious human wound infection from animal bites.

Bacteroides pyogenes is part of the normal oral flora of domestic animals. There is one previous report of human infection, with B. pyogenes bacteremia following a cat bite (Madsen 2011). We report seven severe human infections where B. pyogenes was identified by Bruker matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDTI-TOF MS), but not by VITEK MS and was misidentified by VITEK ANC card.

[DYNAMICS OF INDICES OF A LOCAL IMMUNITY IN AN ACUTE APPENDICITIS].

Abstract The results of investigation on dynamics of a local immunity indices in an acute appendicitis, depending on the pathological process stage as well as on bacteriological investigation of parietal microflora of processus vermicularis, were adduced. The sIgA and lisocymal dynamics have witnessed that while a destructive process progressing their concentration was enhanced, and in a gangrenous acute appendicitis they practically disappeared. Due to affection of a barrier function of the processus vermicularis wall a favorable conditions were created for the microorganisms intramural translocation as well as to abdominal cavity.

Gynecologic rarities: a case of periclitoral abscess and review of the literature.

Periclitoral abscess is a rare entity, with publications limited to case reports. We present here a case of periclitoral abscess in a 17 year old patient, which was treated with incision and drainage. We also review all the similar cases that have been reported in the English literature until now.

A clinical case of Fournier gangrene.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of Fournier gangrene and the specific surgical therapy CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year old patient with a two days history of pain in the perineal region, swelling, developing necrosis and foul-smelling lesions was examined in emergency settings. The swelling of subcutaneous plane involved the flank regions, mainly on the left side. The investigations were performed (full blood count, blood urea, electrolytes, coagulation profile). A Fournier gangrene was diagnosed and surgery performed under general anesthesia. Broad spectrum antibiotics were given concomitantly. The first surgical procedure consisted in surgical debridement and excision of all the necrotic tissue. Cultures were taken. We performed counter incisions bilaterally on both flanks. The communication through the fascial planes was clearly demonstrated, especially on the left side. A loop colostomy was also performed. Multiple re-excisions were further employed. Due to a precarious evolution, the patient were on mechanical ventilation for 13 days. Inotrope medication was given for a total of 19 days and, the antibiotherapy adapted to the antibiogram (Bacterioides eggerthii was identified). The reconstruction of the perineum was later performed and, after 3 months, the colostomy was closed in good conditions without further complications. CONCLUSION: Early recognition and aggressive surgical excision are mandatory for success in patients with Fournier gangrene. Colonic diversion can be very useful if employed from the beginning.

Stereotatic implantation of Ommaya reservoir in the management of brain abscesses.

We evaluated the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotatic implantation of Ommaya reservoir in the management of brain abscess. Forty-five patients with brain abscesses were treated with CT-guided stereotatic implantation of Ommaya reservoir and followed up between September 1998 and February 2008. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was use to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ommaya Reservoir treatment. The GOS score at 3-months post-operation was 5 for 41 patients (91.1%), 4 for 2 patients (4.4%) and 3 for 2 patients (4.4%), respectively. The results suggest that the CT-guided stereotatic implantation of Ommaya reservoir is a potential technique that can be safely used to treat the brain abscess.

Clinical characteristics of perforated pyometra and impending perforation: specific issues in gynecological emergency.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of pyometra and the differences between perforated pyometra and early-drained pyometra in order to prevent morbidity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 14 patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2008 with early-drainage pyometra and six patients with perforated pyometra were included. In addition, a review of the literature yielded another 30 perforated pyometra cases for comparison. RESULTS: Of 20 women with pyometra, the main presented symptoms at admission were abdominal pain (80%), fever (45%) and vaginal discharge (25%). The majority of organisms isolated were Bacteroides fragilis (seven cases), Streptococcus species (six cases) and Escherichia coli (five cases). Of the 36 cases with spontaneous uterine perforation to date, 35 cases (97%) had abdominal pain, 11 cases (31%) had fever, and 10 cases (27%) had vomiting. Hypoalbuminemia was found in seven patients (five cases in the perforation group and two cases in the drainage group). CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of pyometra before perforation can avoid surgical exploration and decrease morbidity and mortality. Perforated pyometra should be considered as a differential diagnosis in women with pneumoperitoneum and fever. Hypoalbuminemia should be considered as a predisposing factor for pyometra perforation.

An uncommon late complication of appendicitis.

A 10-year-old boy presented with a 2.5-week history of right leg pain and limp. A right flank mass was noted by a parent on the day of presentation. The child's past medical history was remarkable for perforated appendicitis treated with an interval laparoscopic appendectomy 2 years before this presentation. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography revealed a retroperitoneal mass with calcifications, suggestive of a retained appendicolith with abscess formation. This case illustrates the importance of considering very late complications of appendicitis in patients presenting with fever and abdominal or flank pain or masses.

[Infiltrating perineal and scrotal inflammation: rare cutaneous manifestation of familial Mediterranean fever or acne inversa?]. / Einschmelzende Entzündungen perineal und skrotal : Seltene kutane Manifestation bei Familiärem Mittelmeerfieber oder Acne inversa?

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) can present cutaneous symptoms. In the reported case, infiltrating perineal and scrotal inflammation were attributed to FMF and treated by systemic medication with colchicine. The poor outcome of this conservative approach and pathognomonic axillary dermatological findings allowed the diagnosis of acne inversa to be made. Knowledge of this clinical picture possibly including genital manifestations is crucial, as early excision of all affected regions is the therapy of choice that enables healing.

Sepsis Secondary to Bacteroides Fragilis Tubo-Ovarian Abscess Requiring Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy.

A 45-year-old, G0P0 premenopausal woman was admitted for investigation of right lower quadrant pain, fever, leucocytosis and right adnexal abscess on CT. She was started on intravenous antibiotics and underwent CT-guided percutaneous drainage from which Bacteroides fragilis was cultured. A few days later, she had an exploratory laparotomy with incision and drainage. Once stabilised, she was discharged on intravenous antibiotics. She was followed outpatient and subsequent imaging demonstrated significant improvement of the abscess. After being asymptomatic for 3 months, she again presented to the emergency department with right lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever and leucocytosis. Two days later, she underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. She made a full recovery and began treatment with a herbal oestrogen derivative to prevent early menopause.

[Infectious spondylodiskitis and epidural abscess after spinal puncture for pilonidal sinus excision]. / Espondilodiscitis infecciosa y absceso epidural después de una punción subaracnoidea para escisión de sinus pilonidal.

Vertebral infections after spinal puncture are rare and often inadequately documented. Their incidence does not exceed that of spontaneous epidural abscesses and we should therefore be cautious about assuming a causal relation between puncture and an abscess. After analyzing 10 published cases we saw that only half of them reported on aseptic conditions and only 2 patients seem to have had a prior infection. In 3 cases, the abscesses appeared after technically simple punctures whereas half the reports did not even mention the type of puncture. This complication should be considered whenever a patient develops back pain and fever, even if there are no neurological deficits and even after a simple spinal puncture. Given that early diagnosis and treatment have proven effective in improving the survival rate and reducing the rate of neurological sequelae, magnetic resonance images should be ordered urgently so that early treatment can be established.

[The Vulnerable Heel of Achilles: Intratendinous Abscess Following a Cat Bite]. / Die vulnerable Ferse des Achilles ­ intratendinöser Abszess nach Katzenbiss.

An 83-year-old patient suffered a cat bite dorsally to the Achilles tendon. In the further course, he developed an isolated intratendinous abscess of the Achilles tendon, which was surgically revised twice and subsequently healed with antibiotic treatment. In Germany, about 40,000 bite injuries of different origins occur annually. Most of these injuries are cat or dog bites, while human bites are rare. Although the course is often complicated, there are no standard recommendations for treatment. An intratendinous abscess after animal bite injury has not been described in the literature as yet.

Efficacy and safety of ertapenem versus piperacillin-tazobactam for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections requiring surgical intervention.

Complicated intra-abdominal infections usually mandate prompt surgical intervention supplemented by appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that ertapenem was not inferior to piperacillin-tazobactam for the treatment of community-acquired intra-abdominal infections. A randomized open-label active-comparator clinical trial was conducted at 48 medical centers on four continents from December 2001 to February 2003. Adult patients with intra-abdominal infections requiring surgery were randomized to receive either ertapenem 1 g daily or piperacillin/tazobactam 13.5 g daily in 3-4 divided doses. The primary analysis of efficacy was the clinical response rate in clinically and microbiologically evaluable patients at the test-of-cure assessment 2 weeks after completion of therapy. All treated patients were included in the safety analysis. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and treatment duration in both treatment groups were generally similar. The most commonly isolated pathogens at baseline were E coli (greater than 50% of cases in each group) and B fragilis ( approximately 9%). Favorable clinical response rates were 107/119 (90%) for ertapenem recipients and 107/114 (94%) for piperacillin/tazobactam recipients. The frequencies of drug-related adverse events, most commonly diarrhea and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels, were similar in both treatment groups. Six of 180 ertapenem recipients (3%) and two of 190 piperacillin/tazobactam recipients (1%) had serious drug-related adverse experiences. In this study, ertapenem and piperacillin/tazobactam were comparably safe and effective treatments for adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections.

[Pylephlebitis: a rare but possible complication of intra-abdominal infections]. / Pileflebitis: una extraña pero posible complicación de las infecciones intraabdominales.

BACKGROUND: Pylephlebitis or septic thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system is a rare but serious complication of intra-abdominal infections which drain into the portal venous system. Its diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and imaging tests, mainly a computed tomography scan, given the lack of specificity of the signs and symptoms. Spread of septic emboli is the major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to analyse patients diagnosed in our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed with pylephlebitis in our hospital. CLINICAL CASES: Four patients were included, 3 men and one woman. In 3 cases it was acute cholecystitis that led to the diagnosis of pylephlebitis at the same time as the intra-abdominal infection. Emergency surgery was performed in one case, whilst the other 2 were treated conservatively. Blood cultures were performed in all cases, and empirical antibiotic treatment was used. In the only case of acute appendicitis, diagnosis of pylephlebitis was achieved during the study of postoperative fever, with empirical antibiotic treatment also being started. The haematologist was requested to start the required anticoagulation therapy in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Pylephlebitis is a rare complication of intra-abdominal infections that may make lead to a worse outcome. A high level of suspicion is required as well as imaging tests to make an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Anaerobic myocardial abscess following myocardial infarction.

An anaerobic myocardial abscess due to Bacteroides fragilis developed in a 60-year-old man when he had an acute myocardial infarction while recuperating from surgery for a paracolonic abscess. Anaerobic bacteremia is a common event and may lead to infection in areas of low oxygen tension far removed from the original portal of entry.

Progressive necrotizing wound infections in postirradiated patients.

Five cases of postoperative progressive gangrenous wound infection are described in patients who had received whole pelvis irradiation prior to surgery for genital tract cancer. The syndrome described as distinct from Meleney Type I and II ulcers. Predicated on the experience derived, a scheme for its management is proposed.

Treatment of infected abdominal aneurysms by extraanatomic bypass, aneurysm excision, and drainage.

Five patients with infected abdominal aortoiliac aneurysms were treated. The diagnosis was made preoperatively based upon fever, leukocytosis, positive blood culture findings, and presence of an aneurysm in all five patients. Two patients had salmonella species, two had staphylococcus species, and one had bacteroides species cultured from the blood and aneurysm contents. All patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics and a single operative procedure consisting of preliminary extraanatomic bypass followed by complete aneurysm excision and posterior drainage of the retroperitoneum. There were no operative deaths and no instances of aortic stump disruption, persistent retroperitoneal sepsis, or graft thrombosis. All patients were alive and well on last follow-up 15 months to 5 years postoperatively.