Mucormycosis presenting as intestinal perforation: A pathologist perspective.

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection mostly involving the ocular region, sinuses and brain. It is mostly seen in the immunocompromised host. Gastrointestinal (GI) mucormycosis is rare and mostly present as hematemesis, abdominal pain and melena. Here, we present a case of intestinal mucormycosis who presented as cecal perforation. Surgical resection was done, and the diagnosis was made by histopathology. Our case is unique in the way that GI mucormycosis is itself a rare entity and even rarer in an immunocompetent host.

Disseminated Histoplasmosis Causing Temporally and Spatially Discrete Gastrointestinal Perforations in an HIV-Negative Patient.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungi endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. Immunocompetent persons who become infected are generally asymptomatic or present with mild symptoms. Symptomatic disease is seen primarily in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary manifestations being the most common presentation. We present a case of a young HIV-negative male who required 4 exploratory laparotomies over the course of 4 months during 2 hospitalizations due to discrete perforations of the ileum and jejunum caused by biopsy-proven gastrointestinal histoplasmosis despite maximal medical therapy as well as a gastric perforation.

Bowel obstruction and perforation during pregnancy: Case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Bowel perforation during pregnancy is a rare but life-threatening situation, and the management remained uncertain. We presented a case in our hospital and reviewed literatures to provide a guidance to deal with this challenging situation. CASE REPORT: A case at gestational age 26 weeks and 4 days, who had bowel perforation over previous ileo-colonic anastomosis site. The fetus was delivered via cesarean section after 1 week of operation and both were discharged without major complication at 35 days after delivery. We searched Pubmed and reviewed 15 English literatures and make a discussion. CONCLUSION: A simultaneous cesarean section could be considered if the gestational age was large enough to avoid the comorbidity of preterm birth or the maternal risk of sepsis outweigh the risk of preterm birth. Otherwise, tocolysis should be used in an attempt to delay delivery until the antenatal corticosteroids have worked.

Stillbirth as the primary manifestation of disseminated tuberculosis in a young immunocompetent mother with multiple perforations of the ileum.

Tuberculosis (TB), a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is particularly relevant in low/middle-income countries like India, where the disease is endemic. The female reproductive system is very vulnerable to this infection with, the clinical presentation being utterly silent in most patients. Symptoms of TB in pregnancy may initially be attributed to the gravidity itself besides temporary concealment of associated weight loss by the normally occurring weight gain during the pregnancy. Untreated TB may cause pregnancy loss by either placental damage or direct harm to both the mother and child. We report a case of latent disseminated TB in a young immunocompetent female that was revealed in the postpartum state (after full-term stillbirth delivery at home) as 20 ileal perforations secondary to intestinal TB. Due to ongoing sepsis and delayed presentation to the hospital, the patient could not be salvaged despite the best possible efforts.

A Novel Presentation of Tuberculosis with Intestinal Perforation in a Free-Ranging Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca cinerea).

We detail a novel presentation of tuberculosis associated with intestinal perforation in an endangered Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) from South Australian waters and confirm the presence of this disease in the region of highest pup production. In February 2017, a 3-yr-old juvenile male died shortly after hauling out at the Kingscote beach on Kangaroo Island. On postmortem examination, we found a mid-jejunal intestinal perforation and partial obstruction (from a strangulating fibrous and granulomatous mesenteric mass), a marked multicentric abdominal fibrosing granulomatous lymphadenitis, and a large volume serosanguinous peritoneal effusion. Acid-fast bacteria were detected postmortem in cytologic preparations of the mesenteric lymph node and in histologic sections of jejunum and the encircling mass. Mycobacterial infection was confirmed by positive culture after 3 wk. Molecular typing using mycobacterial interspersed repetitive-unit-variable-number tandem-repeat typing with 12-locus analysis identified Mycobacterium pinnipedii. This case highlights the need for vigilance of zoonotic disease risk when handling pinnipeds, including in the absence of specific respiratory signs or grossly apparent pulmonary pathology. Increased serologic population surveillance is recommended to assess the species' risk from this and other endemic diseases, especially given its endangered status.

Characterization of the cortisol response to traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination models in Cynomologus Macaques.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma, hemorrhage, and peritonitis have widely varying impacts on endocrine response in the injured patient. We sought to examine cortisol response in established non-human primate models of traumatic hemorrhage and intra-abdominal contamination. METHODS: Cynomologus Macaques were separated into two experimental groups, the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, involving a laparoscopic liver resection with uncontrolled hemorrhage, cecal perforation, and soft tissue excision; and the traumatic hemorrhage model, involving only liver resection and uncontrolled hemorrhage. Cortisol levels were measured pre-operatively, at the time of injury, and at regular intervals until post-operative day 1. RESULTS: Cortisol levels increased 600% from the pre-operative value in the polytrauma and hemorrhage model, with minimal changes (20%) in the hemorrhage only model. CONCLUSION: Cortisol levels increase dramatically in response to polytrauma and intra-abdominal contamination as compared to hemorrhage only. The lack of response in the hemorrhage only group may be due to relative adrenal insufficiency caused by the shock state or lack of enticing stimuli from fecal peritonitis.

Modified Antibiotic Regimen for Pediatric Complicated Appendicitis to Reduce Infectious Morbidity in Taiwan.

We compared our previous hospital-based antibiotic protocol and an optimum modified one by reviewing hospital records of children younger than 18 years with complicated appendicitis between 2010-2016. The modified protocol showed no infectious morbidity, which is significantly different from that of our previous protocol (mortality rate, 21.4%). An optimum hospital-based antibiotic protocol for complicated appendicitis can reduce the infectious morbidity rate without increasing hospital cost.

Fish oil-rich lipid emulsion modulates neuroinflammation and prevents long-term cognitive dysfunction after sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: Sepsis is a severe organic dysfunction caused by an infection that affects the normal regulation of several organ systems, including the central nervous system. Inflammation and oxidative stress play crucial roles in the development of brain dysfunction in sepsis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a fish oil (FO)-55-enriched lipid emulsion as an important anti-inflammatory compound on brain dysfunction in septic rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were subjected to sepsis by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or sham (control) and treated orally with FO (600 µL/kg after CLP) or vehicle (saline; sal). Animals were divided into sham+sal, sham+FO, CLP+sal and CLP+FO groups. At 24 h and 10 d after surgery, the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and total cortex were obtained and assayed for levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-10, blood-brain barrier permeability, nitrite/nitrate concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive species formation, protein carbonyls, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. Behavioral tasks were performed 10 d after surgery. RESULTS: FO reduced BBB permeability in the prefrontal cortex and total cortex of septic rats, decreased IL-1ß levels and protein carbonylation in all brain structures, and diminished myeloperoxidase activity in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. FO enhanced brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex and prevented cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: FO diminishes the negative effect of polymicrobial sepsis in the rat brain by reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.

Colonisation of the proximal intestinal remnant in newborn infants with enterostomy: a longitudinal study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The gut microbiota plays a main role in the maintenance of host's health. Exposure to different conditions in early life contributes to distinct 'pioneer' bacterial communities in the intestine, which shape the newborn infant development. Newborn infants with congenital malformations of the gastrointestinal tract (CMGIT), necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) commonly require abdominal surgery and enterostomy. The knowledge about the colonisation of these newborns' intestine by microorganisms is scarce. This protocol is designed to explore the microbial colonisation over time of the proximal intestinal remnant in newborn infants who underwent surgery for CMGIT, NEC or SIP and require enterostomy. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The literature about microbiota colonisation in newborn infants with enterostomy was reviewed and an observational, longitudinal, prospective study was designed. The infants will be recruited at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Dona Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central. Samples of the enterostomy effluent will be collected every 3 days, through 21 days after the first collection. The microorganisms colonising the proximal intestinal remnant will be identified using the 16S rRNA sequence analysis and a subset of microorganisms will be quantified using real-time PCR. This protocol may serve as basis for future observational and interventional studies on the modulation of the intestinal microbiota (eg, probiotics) on short and long-term outcomes in this population. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central (441/2017) and by the Ethics Committee of NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (n°50/2018/CEFCM). The results will be spread through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at international scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03340259.

Spleenic Abscess As A Complication Of Extrapulmonay Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis continues to be a fatal infectious disease in developing countries. Despite the advances in medical sciences and introduction of potent therapeutic regimes tuberculosis has still managed to survive and prevail worldwide. It can affect many organs of body. Isolated splenic tuberculosis is uncommon in immunocompetent host and only some cases are reported internationally. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis with splenic involvement is also rare and only comes after lungs and liver. We present a case of patient presented with complaints of prolonged fever, cough and insidious onset of abdominal pain and sepsis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed spleenic abscess as incidental finding associated with tuberculous perforation of colon. She underwent double barrel colostomy and spleenectomy followed by intensive care unit admission. Measures such as awareness about the disease, early medical assistance and good compliance regarding treatment can produce positive results in combating tuberculosis and its complications.

An unusual case of caecal perforation following ileostomy reversal.

A 63-year-old man with a history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease underwent defunctioning loop ileostomy for obstructing metastatic rectal cancer prior to receiving long-course neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Four months post completion of neoadjuvant therapy, he underwent an uncomplicated elective ultra-low anterior resection with formation of colonic J pouch and first stage liver metastasectomy for bilobar liver disease. At 1 year, he proceeded to an elective closure of loop ileostomy. Unfortunately, his postoperative course was complicated by profuse diarrhoea with subsequent colonic perforation, necessitating an emergency laparotomy and ileocolic resection with end ileostomy formation. Histopathology and stool studies were consistent with Salmonella Typhi infection. At the present time, Salmonella Typhi causing toxic megacolon and subsequent colonic perforation is an uncommon phenomenon in Australia. Here, we present an unusual case and explain why bowel perforation in this instance likely had a multifactorial aetiology.

Nationwide observational study of mortality from complicated intra-abdominal infections and the role of bacterial cultures.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of taking intra-abdominal cultures during source control procedures in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection (CIAI) is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether intra-abdominal cultures reduce the mortality rate of CIAI. METHODS: The Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database was used to identify adult patients with CIAI who had undergone source control procedures on the first day of admission to hospital between April 2014 and March 2016. In-hospital mortality was compared between patients who did and those who did not have intra-abdominal cultures taken. A generalized linear mixed-effect logistic regression model and a random intercept per hospital were used to adjust for baseline confounders and institutional differences. Subgroup analyses were also performed according to disease cause, site of onset and severity of CIAI. RESULTS: Intra-abdominal cultures were taken from 16 303 of 41 495 included patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that patients with intra-abdominal cultures had a significantly lower mortality than those without (odds ratio 0·85, 95 per cent c.i. 0·77 to 0·95). Subgroup analyses revealed statistically significant differences in mortality between patients with and without cultures among those with lower intestinal perforation, biliary tract infection/perforation, healthcare-associated CIAI and high-risk community-acquired CIAI. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-abdominal cultures obtained during source control procedures may reduce in-hospital mortality, especially in patients with lower intestinal perforation, biliary tract infection/perforation, or healthcare-associated or high-risk community-acquired CIAI.

Tuberculous peritonitis following intestinal perforation in malignancy.

Tuberculous peritonitis is one of the most common causes of exudative ascites, especially in the young, and is an important cause of extra-pulmonary disease. However, tuberculous peritonitis is challenging to diagnose because there are no pathognomonic clinical features or imaging findings. Therefore, it is commonly misdiagnosed as another type of peritoneal disease, especially so in elderly patients with malignant disease. In this report, we described two cases of tuberculous peritonitis that were observed after intestinal perforation in elderly patients with malignancies. These diagnoses were established by laparoscopic peritoneal biopsy or AFB cultures of the ascitic fluid. Both patients were treated with anti-TB medications.

Tuberculous peritonitis following intestinal perforation in malignancy

SUMMARY Tuberculous peritonitis is one of the most common causes of exudative ascites, especially in the young, and is an important cause of extra-pulmonary disease. However, tuberculous peritonitis is challenging to diagnose because there are no pathognomonic clinical features or imaging findings. Therefore, it is commonly misdiagnosed as another type of peritoneal disease, especially so in elderly patients with malignant disease. In this report, we described two cases of tuberculous peritonitis that were observed after intestinal perforation in elderly patients with malignancies. These diagnoses were established by laparoscopic peritoneal biopsy or AFB cultures of the ascitic fluid. Both patients were treated with anti-TB medications.

Multiple small bowel perforations due to invasive aspergillosis in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: case report and a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract by Aspergillus is mostly reported as part of a disseminated infection from a primary pulmonary site and only rarely as an isolated organ infection. METHODS: We report a case of small bowel perforation due to IA in a patient with acute leukemia under chemotherapy and pulmonary aspergillosis. We performed a systematic review of the literature as well. RESULTS: A 43-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia under chemotherapy developed severe neutropenia and pulmonary aspergillosis due to Aspergillus flavus. He developed melena and hemodynamic failure and a contrast-enhanced ultrasound scan suggested active intestinal bleeding. During emergency laparotomy we found multiple intestinal abscesses, several perforations of intestinal loop and Aspergillus flavus was isolated from the abscesses. Resection of the jejunum was performed. The patient received voriconazole and finally recovered. The patient is now alive and in complete disease remission. From literature review we found 35 intestinal IA previously published in single case reports or small case series as well. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal aspergillosis are nonspecific, such as abdominal pain, and only occasionally it presents as an acute abdomen. Antemortem detection of bowel involvement is rarely achieved and, only in cases of complicated gastrointestinal aspergillosis, the diagnosis is achieved thanks to the findings during surgery. Gastrointestinal aspergillosis should be suspected in patients with severe and prolonged neutropenia with or without pulmonary involvement in order to consider the right therapy and prompt surgery.

Determinants of postoperative morbidity and mortality in children managed for typhoid intestinal perforation in Kano Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal perforation is a serious but poorly understood complication of typhoid fever. This study aims to determine the patient factors associated with postoperative morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all children presenting to our unit with typhoid intestinal perforation (TIP) between March 2009 and December 2013. The patients were grouped based on postoperative outcome status and were compared with respect to patient related variables, using chi square test. Multivariate analysis was performed using a binary logistic regression model. Significance was assigned to a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: The records of 129 children were analyzed. There were 78 (60.5%) boys and 51 (39.5%) girls. The male/female ratio was 1.53:1. Their ages ranged from 3years to 13years (mean 8.14years; SD 2.61years). A single intestinal perforation was seen in 73.4% (94/128) of them, while 26.6% (34/128) had two or more. Mortality rate was 10.9%. Multivariate analysis showed that multiple intestinal perforations significantly predicted postoperative mortality (p=0.005) and development of postoperative fecal fistula (p=0.013), while serum albumin <32g/L was a predictor of postoperative surgical site infection (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Multiple intestinal perforations, a postoperative fecal fistula and hypoalbuminemia adversely affected outcome in our patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Retrospective study). Type of study-Prognosis study.

Colonic perforation by an intrathecal baclofen pump catheter causing delayed Escherichia coli meningitis.

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) delivery via an implanted pump is frequently used for the treatment of spasticity. This is an effective and safe neurosurgical and pharmacological intervention associated with an improvement in patient quality of life. There is, however, a risk of device-related infection. We present a patient with pump-site infection and Escherichia coli meningitis secondary to transcolonic perforation of an intrathecal baclofen pump catheter. While this is rare, we review the intraoperative precautions and best practices that should be taken to prevent and manage this unusual complication.

[Results after surgical management of ileal perforation due to typhoid fever, about 29 cases in Ouahigouya (Burkina Faso)]. / Résultats de la prise en charge des perforations iléales typhiques : à propos de 29 cas à Ouahigouya (Burkina Faso).

The aim of this study was to determine the results of management of typhoid perforations. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 in the General Surgery Department of the Regional Teaching Hospital Center of Ouahigouya (Burkina Faso). It involved 29 operated patients, in whom the diagnosis of typhoid perforation was confirmed at laparotomy: age, sex, admission time, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects were analyzed. Typhoid perforations accounted for 20% of acute generalized peritonitis and 38.1% of digestive perforations. Twenty-three patients were males and six were females (sex-ratio: 3.8). The average age of patients was 19 years. The mean diagnostic time was 9.8 days. The excision-suture of the perforation was the most used technique with 62% of the cases. The treatment lead to complications in 10 cases with a morbidity of 34.5%. Four deaths were recorded, representing an overall mortality of 13.8%. Prognostic factors were diagnostic delay, age, number of perforations and resection-anastomosis.