Amyand's hernia in a patient with acute complicated diverticulitis. A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Amyand's hernia with an inflamed or perforated appendix is rare with incidence of 0.1 % and 0.01 % of cases respectively. It has been described in conjunction with cecal perforation, cholecystitis and ureterolithiasis. Yet, its association with acute sigmoid diverticulitis has never been reported before. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 57-year-old male presented to the emergency department with acute abdomen and an indurated right inguinal mass. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan reported a giant inflamed sigmoid diverticulum and an Amyand's hernia with a complicated appendicitis. The patient was taken to the operating room and a midline laparotomy incision was made. A giant sigmoid diverticulum with ischemic patches was encountered. The cecal appendix was found inside the right inguinal canal, with a perforation in its distal third. A Hartmann's procedure, appendicectomy and non-mesh inguinal hernia repair was accomplished. DISCUSSION: Case reports of Amyand's hernia in patients with simultaneous abdominal conditions are scarce. Symptoms in these patients could be various and may lead to preoperative imaging and diagnosis. In this case acute abdomen in physical examination demanded imaging analysis and a preoperative diagnosis of acute diverticulitis and Amyand's hernia with a perforated appendicitis was made. CONCLUSIONS: Amyand's hernia with acute perforated appendicitis is a rare entity. CT scan is useful for diagnosis of Amyand's hernia and associated conditions. Preoperative diagnosis of Amyand's hernia and concomitant abdominal disease aids in the therapeutic approach and management. To our knowledge this is the first case report of an Amyand's hernia in a patient with acute diverticulitis.

Patients' perceptions of the post-pancreatectomy discharge process.

BACKGROUND: Complications after pancreatectomies contribute to poor outcomes. Patients are expected to identify signs/symptoms leading to these complications but may be poorly educated on how to identify them. We assessed the impact of an educational tool on patient perceptions of, and satisfaction with the discharge process, and its effect on readmission rates. METHODS: A prospective cohort study with retrospective chart review including patients who underwent pancreatic resection was undertaken. An interactive educational module (iBook) that provided information about the procedure, possible complications, and peri-discharge information was implemented. English-speaking patients were equally divided into the pre- and post-iBook cohorts. Primary outcome was patients' satisfaction with discharge; Secondary outcomes were 30- and 90-day readmission rates. RESULTS: 100 patients were included. Mean age was 65.5 ± 12.6, 46% were female, and 92.3% were white. Most patients underwent Whipple procedures (72%), and distal pancreatectomies (26%). In the post-implementation group, 92% were satisfied with the discharge process, and 89% reported it was a good tool. There were no statistical differences in 30- and 90-day readmission rates between cohorts. CONCLUSION: The iBook positively impacted patients' satisfaction and preparedness for discharge. Readmission rates were not statistically significantly impacted but could be investigated with further studies of greater sample sizes.

Language Proficiency and Survival in Pancreatic Cancer: a Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Limited English proficiency has been shown to negatively affect health outcomes. However, as of now, little is known about survival rates of patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) when compared to patients with English proficiency (EP) in an urban, non-safety net setting. We aimed to compare survival rates between patients with LEP and those with EP who had a diagnosis of PDAC. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective propensity-matched cohort study of patients with biopsy-proven PDAC was undertaken. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and language information were collected for all participants. Patients were classified as having LEP or EP based on their preferred speaking language at the time of admission and matched on baseline characteristics using propensity scores. Survival analysis methods were used to study survival rates in patients with PDAC based on their EP status. RESULTS: Of 739 included patients, 71 (9.48%) had LEP, mean age was 68.4 ± 10.9, and 51.8% were female. Both groups of patients were comparable for age, gender, marital status, and time to treatment. LEP status was associated with higher odds of death in both unmatched (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.22-2.22) and matched (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.03-2.47) analyses. Additionally, patients with LEP had significantly decreased odds of receiving cancer-directed treatment and increased odds of advanced stage cancer at presentation. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with PDAC, LEP predicted worse survival. The results of this study suggest that, after accounting for interpreter use, other factors contribute to this disparity. Such factors, as yet unmeasured, may include health literacy and cultural expectations, for which further investigation is warranted to better understand and limit this survival disparity.

Braden scale for pressure ulcer risk predicts rehabilitation placement after pancreatic resection.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing pancreatic resection frequently require rehabilitation facilities after hospital discharge. We evaluated the predictive role of validated markers of frailty on rehabilitation facility placement to identify patients who may require this service. METHODS: Single-center retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent pancreatic resection from 2010 to 2015. 90-day morbidity and mortality were calculated. Postoperative validated markers of frailty (Activities of Daily Living scale, Braden scale [assesses pressure ulcer risk, lower scores = higher risk] and Morse fall scale) were evaluated via multivariate regression to identify predictors of discharge to rehabilitation facility. RESULTS: 470 patients with complete data were included. Mean age was 62 and 49.2% were male. Postoperative median length of stay (LOS) was 8 (IQR 7-10). 92 (19.66%) patients were discharged to rehabilitation facilities and 138 (29.49%) patients were readmitted within 90 days. On multivariate analysis, age, sex, LOS > 8 days, inpatient Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) and initial Braden scale were predictive of rehabilitation placement. CONCLUSION: A marker of frailty routinely collected daily by nursing staff, the Braden scale, is available to help surgeons predict the need for postoperative rehabilitation placement after pancreatic resection. Engaging discharge planning services for at-risk patients may help prevent delayed hospital discharge and should be further evaluated.

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome and Cytomegalovirus Pneumonia Case Report: Highlights and Missing Links in Classification Criteria and Standardized Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pulmonary involvement is rarely associated with IRIS; therefore, limited information is available. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we describe the case of a 43-year-old HIV-infected male who developed an unusual case of IRIS after cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia. Clinically there was a progressive and paradoxical worsening of respiratory distress, despite being treated for CMV after initiation with antiretroviral therapy. Chest X-ray revealed disseminated infiltrates in both lungs; chest CT-scan showed generalized lung involvement and mediastinal adenopathy. Pulmonary biopsy confirmed CMV pneumonia with the observation of typical viral inclusions on pneumocytes. CONCLUSIONS: CMV pneumonia can be associated with the development of IRIS requiring treatment with immunosuppressant's and immunomodulatory drugs.