BACKGROUND: As a restrictive procedure, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) relies primarily on the reduction of gastric volume. It has been suggested that an immediate postoperative gastric remnant volume (GRV) may influence long-term results of LSG; however, there are no consensus in this matter. The aim of this study was to assess the reproducibility of different radiographic methods of GRV calculation and evaluate their correlation with the weight loss (WL) after surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 174 patients who underwent LSG in the period from 2014 to 2017. Using UGI, GRV was measured with 3 different mathematical methods by 2 radiologists. Intraobserver and interobserver calculations were made. Correlation between GRV and WL were estimated with calculations percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) and percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) after 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: During analysis of intraobserver similarities, the results of ICC calculation showed that reproducibility was good to excellent for all GRV calculation methods. The intraobserver reproducibility for Reader I was highest for cylinder and truncated cone formula and for Reader II for ellipsoid formula. The interobserver reproducibility was highest for ellipsoid formula. Regarding correlation between GRV and WL, significant negative correlation has been shown on the 12th month after LSG in %TWL and %EWL for every method of GRV calculation, most important for ellipsoid formula (%TWL - r(X,Y) = -0.335, p < 0.001 and %EWL - r(X,Y) = -0.373, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Radiographic methods of GRV calculation are characterized by good reproducibility and correlate with the postoperative WL.
Gastric Stump , Laparoscopy , Obesity, Morbid , Gastrectomy/methods , Humans , Laparoscopy/methods , Obesity, Morbid/surgery , Reproducibility of Results , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome , Weight Loss
BACKGROUND The presence of fat droplets within the subarachnoid space is an uncommon finding, which is almost exclusively associated with a ruptured dermoid cyst. In a trauma setting, transthecal migration of fat droplets is an extremely rare occurrence. We present 2 case reports of intracranial transthecal migration of fatty bone marrow after sacral fractures. CASE REPORT Both patients presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after falls from a standing height. The first patient, an 84-year-old woman, suffered a stable sacral fracture extending into a large meningeal cyst within the right S2 foramen. Her initial neurological assessment and computed tomography (CT) of the head were unremarkable. As the fracture did not require surgical treatment, she was discharged home and prescribed bed rest, analgesics, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Three days after the injury, she was readmitted to the ED with a mild headache, dizziness, and an episode of nausea and vomiting. A follow-up head CT revealed fat droplets in the subarachnoid space and lateral ventricles. After successful symptomatic treatment, she was discharged home in good general condition. The second patient, a 60-year-old man, underwent a head CT for a scalp hematoma, which revealed fat droplets in the 3rd ventricle and right lateral ventricle. The pelvic CT revealed a large sacral meningeal cyst with microfractures in its wall. He was discharged home on the same day and prescribed bed rest and analgesics. CONCLUSIONS The detection of intracranial intrathecal fat droplets in association with a specific trauma mechanism should initiate the search for a sacral fracture.
Neck Injuries , Spinal Fractures , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Rupture , Sacrum/diagnostic imaging , Sacrum/injuries , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
In the XXI century obesity has become one of the most demanding epidemiological threats worldwide. At the same time, bariatric surgery has established itself as an effective treatment for morbidly obese patients, with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) emerging as the most popular bariatric procedure. This paper reviews the role of imaging studies of patients after LSG. Computed tomography is widely considered as the method of choice in detection of complications in early postoperative period. The dynamic character of upper gastrointestinal examination allows for the assessment of passage through the gastric remnant. The paper also discusses evaluation of the shape and volume of the gastric remnant assessed by imaging studies.
PURPOSE: Emphysematous cholecystitis (EC) is an uncommon, severe variant of acute cholecystitis caused by gas- forming bacteria - most often Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli. We present a deceptive case of EC associated with retroperitoneal gas gangrene and emphysematous pancreatitis. CASE REPORT: An 86-year-old, overweight woman was admitted to the emergency department with non-specific abdominal symptoms. Admission laboratory tests showed elevated diastase levels indicating acute pancreatitis. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a substantial amount of gas in the retroperitoneum and peritoneal cavity, which raised a suspicion of duodenal perforation. Primary diagnosis was not confirmed during emergency laparotomy, which revealed a gangrenous gallbladder adjacent to the duodenum and surrounded by purulent fluid. The final diagnosis established after laparotomy and rereading of CT scans was that of emphysematous cholecystitis associated with gangrenous pancreatitis and retroperitoneal gangrene. After surgery, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit in septic shock. Shortly after, the second laparotomy was undertaken on suspicion of internal bleeding. During surgery, the patient experienced cardiac arrest and died despite immediate resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: Emphysematous cholecystitis may be associated with a spread of infection both to the peritoneal cavity and retroperitoneum and result in a substantial amount of gas in those anatomic compartments. The knowledge of this rare complication may be helpful in establishing a correct diagnosis.
