Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Breast: A Potentially Lethal Surgical Emergency.

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the breast is an extremely rare event in surgical practice. It is considered the most aggressive form of soft tissue infection and a true surgical emergency. It is also associated with a high risk of mortality if not diagnosed promptly. Few cases have been documented in the literature; the exact etiology and risk factors vary from those involving the limbs, trunk, and perineum. Early recognition, prompt surgical treatment, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality. These reports present cases of NSTIs in breasts with unique etiologies and challenges in their management.

Conservative Management of Gunshot Wound to Anterior Abdomen in a Resource-Poor Setting in the Caribbean.

Previously, the management of gunshot wounds (GSWs) to the anterior abdomen required exploratory laparotomy; however, this was associated with a considerable number of non-therapeutic surgeries. The use of non-operative management (NOM) of GSW to the abdomen is controversial, with many surgeons sceptical to accept this into their practice. The NOM of GSW to the abdomen employed in a selected group of patients has been shown to be safe and acceptable. Penetrating GSW to the thoraco-abdomen, back and lateral abdomen has been the most successful compared to the anterior penetrating wound. Most of the anterior GSWs to the abdomen are associated with viscus injury and require exploratory laparotomy. We report the case of a 58-year-old male who presented with a single GSW to the epigastrium with a contrast computed tomography scan demonstrating grade 3 liver lacerations, contusion to the right adrenal gland, with moderate free fluids in the retroperitoneum and the pelvis. The patient was haemodynamically stable and managed successfully with NOM. It is one of the safe routes of anterior penetration of GSW to the abdomen and treated with conservative management.

Local Repair of a Secondary Aortoenteric Fistula in an Unstable Patient in a Resource-Poor Setting: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The presentation of a massive upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB) due to an aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is a rare occurrence. A high index of suspicion is required to rapidly make the diagnosis and execute prompt surgical management. Despite the many surgical options described, the survival rate continues to be low. Conventional surgical management is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. However, in emergencies, patients are unsuitable for major vascular surgery and may benefit from the less invasive staged procedure. This is a case report of a secondary aortoenteric fistula (SAEF) presenting as a massive UGIB, two years after an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using a Dacron graft. Due to a lack of endovascular service in our setting, we proceeded with an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy followed by exploratory laparotomy. A damage control approach was chosen for our patient, i.e., local repair of the graft and aorta, as our patient was on double inotropes on the table. The patient died within 24 hours as a result of massive blood volume loss.

Surgical glove use for specimen removal in laparoscopy, the cheapest available: a prospective study.

Despite the proven benefits of laparoscopic surgery, it is indeed very costly. The aim of our study was to show an effective way to reduce one of the costs. Between January 2012 and December 2018, we used sterile unpowdered latex-free surgical gloves for specimen retrieval in 243 selected cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and appendectomy. The mean retrieval time was 6.7 ± 3.6 min. All procedures were performed safely. Minor wound infection was noted in three patients but there was no case of port site hernia in our series. We conclude that specimen retrieval using sterile, unpowdered, latex-free surgical gloves is safe, effective and cheap. No special additional preparation is required.

World's Oldest Case of Synchronous Bilateral Benign Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: A Rare Occurrence.

Phyllodes tumors are rare fibroepithelial tumors of the breast. They account for less than 0.5% of breast cancers. Bilateral presentation is a rare event, and seems to be associated with the more benign subtype but, reports are scarce. It is more common to have multiple ipsilateral tumors or bilateral asynchronous presentations. However, bilateral synchronous phyllodes are seldom reported. A literature search has revealed only five cases of synchronous and one case of metachronous bilateral phyllodes tumor of the breast. The age ranges of these patients are between 16-42 years. We are reporting the world's first case of bilateral synchronous phyllodes tumor of the breast in a patient over the age of 50 years.