A Troublesome Complication of Hydatid Cysts; Intra-Abdominal Rupture: A 10-Year Study from a High-Volume Center.

Background: Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection, often caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Although it is classified as a benign disease, cyst ruptures in the abdomen can be fatal. Ruptures occur spontaneously or after trauma. We aimed to report data from patients who underwent emergency surgery due to spontaneous intra-abdominal hydatid cyst rupture. Methods: Upon a retrospective review of the records at Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey, we found that 34 cases were operated on due to hydatid cyst rupture between January 2012 and October 2022. All patients were operated on in an emergency, and partial cystectomy, intra-abdominal irrigation, and drainage were performed using laparotomy. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, sex, symptoms, radiological findings, laboratory results, intraoperative findings, and postoperative follow-ups. Results: Twenty-two (64.7%) female and 12 (35.3%) male patients were enrolled. The mean age was 39.1 (±17.58) years. All patients experienced spontaneous rupture. The ruptured cyst was found in the liver in 32 patients (94%), the spleen in 1 patient (3%), and the pelvis in 1 patient (3%). The diagnosis was determined using ultrasonography in 12 (35.3%) patients, computed tomography in 21 (61.8%) patients, and magnetic resonance imaging in 1 (2.9%) patient. All patients exhibited acute abdomen and leukocytosis. The average length of hospital stay was 5.14 (±1.37) days. Conclusion: Hydatid cyst rupture should be considered in cases of acute abdomen, particularly in regions where the disease is endemic, as in our region. The ruptured hydatid cyst was primarily observed in the liver (94.11% of cases).

Acute appendicitis during coronavirus disease 2019 in Türkiye: Changes in clinical approach, treatment, and diagnosis modalities: A retrospective and cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in major changes in health-care systems and emer-gency surgical interventions. Here, we examined patients with acute appendicitis who presented to emergency departments and com-pared diagnosis, treatment, and post-treatment processes before and during the pandemic period and investigated how the pandemic affected management of acute appendicitis. METHODS: A national, multicenter, and cohort study model was designed that included patients older than 18 years of age diag-nosed with acute appendicitis clinically and/or radiologically, with patients compared before (pre-pandemic period: January 1-April 30, 2019) and after (pandemic period: January 1-April 30, 2020) the pandemic. Our investigation included comparisons of pre-operative imaging methods, presence of plastron appendicitis/abscess, conservative/surgical approach, type of anesthesia given, laparoscopic/open surgical approach, bowel resection rates, drain insertion rates, and presence of post-operative complications RESULTS: For the two study groups, 8972 patients from 69 centers were examined, with 4582 patients operated in the pre-pan-demic period and 4234 patients operated in the pandemic period. During the pandemic period, 63.6% of patients underwent open surgery, whereas 34.4% had laparoscopic surgery. Although 60 patients (1.3%) requested non-operative follow-up in the pre-pandemic period, 94 patients (2.2%) requested this in the pandemic period. When conditions of patients were evaluated regardless of their own wishes, 114 patients (2.4%) before and 163 patients (3.8%) during the pandemic received non-operative follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study did not show the direct correlation between the application of COVID-19-related restrictions and the severity of acute appendicitis. Although non-operative management rates have been increased during the COVID-19 period, the incidences of both complicated and the uncomplicated appendicitis were similar during the COVID-19 crisis period. Given this infor-mation non-operative management can be employed for patients diagnosed with appendicitis.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Related With Penicillium Species Following Deceased-Donor Liver Transplant.

Early or late posttransplant opportunistic infections are among the leading complications after liver transplant. The source of early posttransplant opportunistic infections is usually the patient, the implantation of an infected graft, contamination during a surgical procedure, or invasive interventions performed at the intensive care unit. A 10-year-old male patient with Wilson disease (Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease Score of 42, Child-Pugh score of 12, total bilirubin 40 mg/dL, platelet count 55000/mL, hemoglobin level 6.3 g/dL, albumin level 1.7 g/dL, urinary copper level 4305 µ/24 h) was closely monitored in the pediatric intensive care unit of our liver transplantation center for care of a worsened general status. A deceased-donor liver transplant was performed using a right lobe liver graft (ex vivo split) obtained through the national organ sharing network. The patient developed rightward deviation of eyes and altered consciousness after the procedure and underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography examinations. The cranial magnetic resonance image, taken on the third postoperative day, revealed lesions consistent with embolic infarction, and the computed tomography scan, taken on the eighth day, showed intracerebral hemorrhage. Decompressive craniotomy, which included hematoma drainage and catheter placement, was performed. Culture and histopathologic examinations of the hematoma material revealed a Penicillium species of fungi. However, the patient died before a definitive diagnosis was made. The aim of this report is to raise awareness on early posttransplant opportunistic infections of the central nervous system presenting with intracranial hemorrhage following liver transplant.

Retrospective analysis of cases of intestinal invagination treated and followed-up at our clinic.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to present data on the diagnosis, treatment, clinical course, and outcome of cases of intestinal invagination. METHODS: Data of 11 patients treated for intestinal invagination at one center between June 2009 and July 2015 were analyzed retrospectively in terms of demographic data, etiological factors, anatomical localization of invagination, admission complaints, physical examination findings, diagnostic imaging modalities used, postoperative complications, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Of the total, 9 (81.8%) patients were female and 2 (18.2%) were male. Nine (81.8%) cases occurred due to benign causes and 2 to malignant causes. One (9%) patient had jejunojejunal invagination, 5 (45.5%) had ileoileal invagination, and 5 (45.5%) had ileocecal invagination. Right hemicolectomy-ileotransversostomy was performed in 5 (45.5%) patients and segmental small bowel resection with end-to-end anastomosis in 6 (54.5%). CONCLUSION: Intestinal invagination is a rare cause of acute abdomen in adults that may have a variety of etiologies and therefore may present with different clinical pictures. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are the most common symptoms. The rate of accurate diagnosis is 30% to 35% using ultrasonography and 50% to 80% using computerized tomography. In adults, the preferred treatment is surgery. As malignant pathologies are responsible for some cases of invagination, oncological principles should be strictly observed in surgical treatment. Though a rare cause of acute abdomen and/or ileus in adults, invagination is a clinical condition that must be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis.

Evaluation of Early Postoperative Neurological Complications Following Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is one of the best treatment options for end-stage liver disease. In Turkey, living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is performed more frequently than cadaveric transplantation, because organ donation is unpopular in our country. Neurological complications contribute to poor postoperative outcomes after liver transplantation. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of LDLT patients in whom such complications developed early during postoperative follow-up in the intensive care unit. METHODS: Of 217 LDLTs performed between August 2011 and August 2012, neurology consultations were arranged for 29 patients (13.36%) because of development of new-onset neurological symptoms and/or findings in patients with neurologically uneventful preoperative histories. We retrospectively collected data on age, gender, primary disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and postoperative hospitalization duration of those who survived. The indications for neurological consultation and diagnoses were categorized into acute confusion/encephalopathy, epileptic seizures, leukoencephalopathy, and focal neurological deficits. The immunosuppressive treatment regimens prescribed were also considered. The outcomes of the 2 groups (with and without neurological complications) were compared. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 44.52±16.24 years, and males predominated (65.5%, n=19). Acute confusion/encephalopathy was the most frequent complication (62.1%, n=18), followed by epileptic seizures (27.6%, n=8), cerebrovascular disease (6.9%, n=2), and leukoencephalopathy (3.4%, n=1). Statistically significant between-group differences in age (44.5±16.2 vs. 34.33±20.98 years; p<0.001), and proportions of patients with a disease of viral etiology (55.17% vs. 35.63%, p<0.05), were evident. Mortality was significantly higher in the group with neurological complications (65.5% vs. 37.32%, p<0.05). The duration of postoperative hospitalization was also significantly longer in this group (29.80±15.04 vs. 10.00±5.47 days; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Mortality was significantly higher and the duration of postoperative hospitalization significantly longer in LDLT patients with new-onset neurological complications than in those without such complications.

A rare cause of gastric obstruction: Lighters swallowing.

The majority of swallowed foreign bodies are thrown spontaneously without causing complications in the digestive system. Multiple number of foreign bodies may be swallowed by psychiatric patients which delay diagnosis and increase the complication rate. Long and hard objects cannot pass through the pylorus, and may cause obstruction, ulceration, bleeding and perforation. Endoscopy is used as an effective method in such cases. An exploratory laparatomy was performed after unsuccessful endoscopic foreign object removal in a 28-year-old schizophrenic patient with gastric outlet obstruction due to multiple cigarette lighter swallowing. Ten lighters were removed from the stomach through gastrotomy and one more lighter was removed from the descending colon by milking through the anus. The aim of this paper is to discuss encountered difficulties in psychiatric patients who underwent surgery due to intake of foreign bodies.