Coconut leaf midrib skewer as a cause for small bowel obstruction and perforation: A case report.

Foreign body ingestion is an infrequent cause of small bowel obstruction and, rarely, perforation. It is a common occurrence among pediatric patients, mentally impaired and the edentulous elderly population majority of which will pass through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully. The likelihood of complications such as perforation, bleeding or fistula formation increases markedly particularly for sharp, stiff, and elongated objects (i.e. toothpicks, meat bones, pins, and razor blades). Diagnosis can be difficult as frequently patients are incognizant of the nature and time of ingestion. Imaging is commonly non-specific as well. We present an unusual case of a 65-year-old male who had an ileal perforation secondary to a coconut leaf midrib skewer initially presenting as small bowel obstruction. Intraoperatively, adhesions were seen in the ileum with note of the foreign body perforating two bowel loops that was not identified in preoperative imaging. This case highlights the importance of considering atypical causes of small bowel obstruction even in the background of previous surgery. Finally, early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and timely intervention are essential to improve patient outcomes and decrease mortality in such cases.

WBC Count vs. CRP Level in Laboratory Markers and USG vs. CT Abdomen in Imaging Modalities: A Retrospective Study in the United Arab Emirates to Determine Which Are the Better Diagnostic Tools for Acute Appendicitis.

Introduction Acute Appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical emergency. Despite the use of various diagnostic parameters, the rate of negative appendectomy remains high (30%). Thus, through our retrospective study, we aim to analyse whether white blood cell (WBC) count or C-reactive protein (CRP) level is more indicative in the confirmation of AA. We also analysed imaging modalities ultrasonography (USG) and computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen to find out which is better for diagnosing AA. Methods Patients with suspected AA admitted for laparoscopic appendectomy in Saqr Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, during 2019-2020 were included in the study. Patients who had either or both WBC and CRP values were included in the study and their diagnosis was confirmed based on histological appendectomy findings. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23.0 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and chi-square test as required. p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Out of the 320 patients with suspected AA, WBC had a p-value of 0.8 (insignificant). A total of 228 patients who had elevated WBC had confirmed histological diagnosis of AA, and 152 patients who were tested for CRP and had elevated levels had confirmed histological diagnosis of AA. CRP had a p-value of 0.04 (significant). However, when the ROC curve was used as evidence to see which was a better test, WBC and CRP both had a low area under the curve (AUC), which proved that they were not the most accurate diagnostic marker in diagnosing AA. However, CRP was slightly better than WBC. A total of 266 patients underwent USG abdomen and it had a p-value of 0.4 (insignificant), while 118 patients underwent CT scan, which had a p-value of 0.01 (significant). CT abdomen was statistically proven as a better radiological investigation. Also, when the ROC curve was used to compare USG and CT abdomen, CT again proved to be a better radio diagnostic method for AA. Conclusions From our study, it can be concluded that CRP is better than WBC in ruling in appendicitis and CT abdomen is better than USG in diagnosing appendicitis, but CT abdomen is only next to histological diagnosis in confirming AA. Hence, we recommend doing CRP as the primary laboratory marker for suspected cases of AA. CT abdomen is the ideal imaging modality in cases of suspected AA where clinical examination, laboratory values, and ultrasound examination are inconclusive.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Current Treatment Trends.

Diverticular disease is a common surgical condition, especially in the Western world. Its existence is well known in Asian countries as well; however, its impact on Asian health care is not the same as that in Western countries. Diverticular disease has a variable presentation, and its implications can be challenging to manage both for the patient and the medical professionals. Diet and lifestyle are commonly associated with its etiology. In Western countries, much attention is given to diverticular disease, and with the acceptance of colonoscopy as a surveillance investigation, a greater number of people are diagnosed with diverticular disease at an early stage and overall. In acute presentations, a CT scan of the abdomen remains the investigation of choice. The most common presentation of diverticular disease is pain in the abdomen or a change in bowel habits. In most cases, diverticular disease is treated with medical intervention; however, in cases associated with severe complications or advanced stages, surgical modality remains the primary treatment.

A Detached Gallbladder Situated Below the Transverse Colon: A Case Report of an Unusual Position.

This report presents an unforeseen event involving the detachment of the gallbladder without any traumatic cause, which was incidentally detected during a scheduled laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure. The incidence of total congenital gallbladder detachment from the liver is quite uncommon. The primary difficulty encountered in patients afflicted with this particular medical issue pertains to the intraoperative identification and localization of the gallbladder. The significance of this case report lies in its presentation of a groundbreaking finding that has the potential to provide challenges for surgeons doing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a commonly performed surgical procedure.

Are We Following iRefer Guidelines From the Royal College of Radiology When Requesting Abdominal X-rays?

Background Abdominal radiography is one of the most routinely performed radiological investigations in hospitals. It is one of the initial investigations done in hospitals. Numerous studies have shown that abdominal X-rays have low sensitivity in several conditions such as acute abdominal pain. Methodology This study aims to first identify whether the Royal College of Radiology guidelines are being adhered to while requesting abdominal X-rays and, second, to identify the number of unnecessary requests made in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board. This is a retrospective audit of abdominal X-ray request data collected between the 1st and 23rd of August 2022. Data were collected from the electronic radiology record system. iRefer guidelines by the Royal College of Radiology were used as a reference to compare the requests made, and data were then analysed accordingly. Data are reported descriptively using percentages. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Of the total 242 abdominal X-rays noted, 89.67% of requests were according to the iRefer guidelines while 10.33% of requests were not. A total of 73.14% of cases were suspected to have an intestinal obstruction, and the positivity rate for the same was only 12.39%. Conclusions The majority of the requests followed the guidelines. However, there is an urgent need to develop local guidelines to reduce needless abdominal X-rays.

Bucket-Handle Mesenteric Tears: A Comprehensive Review of Their Presentation and Management.

Bucket-handle mesenteric tears remain a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We aim to review the literature, including a single-surgeon series, to better understand their presentation and management. Three electronic databases (Ovid Medline, Embase, and PubMed) were searched for original research articles, describing relevant cases, from database inception to October 2021 using the following Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: mesenteric avulsion, mesenteric tear, and blunt abdominal trauma. A retrospective review of cases managed under a single surgeon at our unit was also performed. Data extracted included demographics, mechanism of injury, presenting features, diagnostic imaging, surgical management, and patient outcome. In total, 19 studies were identified, including 22 patients (median age 34.5 years). The most common cause of injury was seat-belted road traffic accidents (77.3%), and patients commonly presented with abdominal pain (72.7%), tenderness (50%), positive seat-belt sign (54.5%), and haemodynamic compromise (45.5%). Computerised tomography scanning was the main imaging modality (68%), and the most common findings reported were abdominal free fluid (36.4%) and abdominal wall hernia (27.3%). The majority of patients were operated on within 24 hours of injury (68%), had a median length of stay of 14.5 days, and experienced an uncomplicated recovery (68%). There was no association between the development of complications and delayed surgical intervention >24 hours (p = 0.145). Our institution's experience was similar, with 50% of patients undergoing surgical intervention within 24 hours. The median age was 32.5 years (50% female), and the median length of stay was 11 days. A high index of suspicion, serial monitoring, including blood tests, and imaging, with a low threshold for early repeat imaging, can provide a useful guide for identifying patients with bucket-handle tears.

Clinical, Radiological and Pathological Appraisal of Acute Appendicitis in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Background Acute appendicitis can occur at any age but is rare among people of extreme age; it is more common in teenagers and young adults. Traditionally diagnosis is made on clinical grounds. In recent times imaging techniques have been deployed to improve diagnosis and reduce negative appendicectomy rates. The aim of the study was to describe the common clinical features of acute appendicitis among our patients, highlight the role of medical imaging, and compare all these with the histological report of the excised appendix. Methods A 24-months retrospective review of all patients who underwent appendicectomy (July 1, 2019-June 30, 2021) for suspected acute appendicitis was performed. Medical records numbers of patients who had appendicectomies were retrieved from the operating room register. These numbers were used to access the hospital's electronic medical records database for the patients' records. These records were reviewed for biodata, clinical features, laboratory, medical imaging findings, and histological reports. Result In this hospital, 354 appendicectomies were performed. Only 336 had complete data set suitable for further review. There were more males (N=257; 76.5%) than females (N=79, 23.5%), yielding a male to female ratio of 4:1. There were also more Saudi citizens (n=266, 79.2%), with the predominant age group being 11-30 years. Abdominal pain was the predominant symptom (100%) and was localized to the right iliac region in 331 (98.7%) of patients. Other symptoms recorded were anorexia (n=247, 73.5%), vomiting (n=190, 56.5%), and nausea (n=93, 27.7%). Atypical symptoms included diarrhoea (n=27, 8%) and constipation (n=12, 3.6%). Acute appendicitis, complicated appendicitis, and no appendicitis were the reported histological disposition in 174 (51.8%), 124 (36.9%), and 38 (11.3%) cases respectively. Abdominal CT scan had a higher sensitivity (98.6% vs 70.5%), higher diagnostic odd ratio (2.5 vs 1.4) and a lower miss (false negative) rate (1.4% vs 29.5%) compared to ultrasonography. However, the CT scan, from this study, has a rather low specificity (3.4%) and high false positive rates (96.5%). Open (n=205; 61%) and laparoscopic (n=131;39%) approaches were used for the appendicectomies. In our study, 44 patients were diagnosed with the decision to operate based on clinical grounds; and of this, 42 (95.4%; n=44) had confirmatory histology reports of appendicitis. Also, 38 patients had negative appendicectomy; giving a negative appendicectomy rate of 11.3%. This high rate may be due to the lower specificity and high false positive rate observed in this study. The post-operative complication rate was 21.4%, and this was solely due to surgical site infection, and this was more common with the open approach (p=0.001). Conclusion Suspected acute appendicitis was the sole indication for our appendicectomies. A computerized tomography scan was a more reliable diagnostic tool than ultrasonography. Despite the fact that acute appendicitis is majorly a clinical diagnosis, and good clinical acumen is an excellent skill in the management of patients, we observed an overreliance on medical imaging for diagnosis. Open appendicectomies were more common, and surgical site infection was the sole complication of surgery. There was a relatively high negative appendicectomy rate for an image-assisted diagnosis.

Current Aspects on the Management of Perforated Acute Diverticulitis: A Narrative Review.

Unhealthy nutritional habits and the current western lifestyle have led to an increased incidence of acute diverticulitis, which mainly affects older patients. However, the disease course in younger patients might be more severe. It has a continued increase in surgical practice, as it is the most common clinical condition encountered in the emergencies. Diagnosis and management have changed over the past decade. C-reactive protein > 170 mg/L represents the cut-off point between moderate and severe diverticulitis, and a CT scan is mandatory. It demands urgent surgical management and has high morbidity and mortality rate, especially in immunosuppressed patients, reaching up to 25%. According to the contemporary guidelines, there have been certain indications for conservative management and re-evaluation (administration of antibiotics, CT-guided drainage of the abscess, when it is > 4 cm). They include pericolic air bubbles or a small amount of fluid, absence of abscess within a distance of 5 cm from the affected bowel or abscess ≤4 cm. In other cases, Hartmann's sigmoidectomy is the procedure of choice. An alternative choice, nowadays, is resection and primary anastomosis with or without diverting stoma, especially in younger patients. Laparoscopic lavage only versus primary resection has been performed in severe cases of Hinchey III or IV. Damage control surgery, possible open abdomen, and reoperation are recommended in severe sepsis. Hinchey's classification may not be absolutely adequate, and several modifications have been proposed. Current classification criteria (CRP, qSOFA score) are more appropriate. The decision-making must be individualized depending on the hemodynamic status (septic shock), age, comorbidity, immune status, intraoperative findings, and MPI (Mannheim peritonitis index).

A Rare Case of Spontaneous Anterior Abdominal Wall Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Caused by Finegoldia magna.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a highly invasive disease characterized by rapidly worsening inflammation of the fascia associated with necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue. It is a rare, life-threatening disease and needs early diagnosis through acute clinical awareness. It warrants urgent and aggressive surgical management. We report a rare and fatal case of spontaneous necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the anterior abdominal wall caused by Finegoldia magna in a chronic diabetic patient. The initial presentation and radiological features suggested a pelvic abscess. Other acute abdomen differentials were also considered, and the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy where a necrotic anterior abdominal wall with copious purulent secretions was noted. The organism Finegoldia magna was identified from the necrotic tissue sample with other cultures coming back negative. The risk posed by NSTIs is very high, and hence though the incidence is low, clinicians should be aware of the potential dangers of this disease to avoid delays in initiating appropriate treatment.

Phytobezoar: An unusual cause of small bowel obstruction.

Phytobezoars are concretions of indigested fruit and vegetables fibers in the gastrointestinal tract. The past of gastric surgery is most common risk factor of phytobezoar. We present the case of a 39-year-old female was admitted to the emergency department and who presented with small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar, her past medical history was marqued by truncal vagotomy and simple suture recurrent perforated gastric ulcer 15 years earlier. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful.

Thyrotoxicosis Presenting With Acute Cholecystitis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Hyperthyroidism primarily presents with the symptoms and signs of thyrotoxicosis. However, many cases might present with a precipitating factor that unmasks the hyperthyroid status of the patients. These factors are associated with a stress condition, with infections being the most common factors, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute coronary syndrome, and pulmonary embolism. We present a case of hyperthyroidism masqueraded as acalculous cholecystitis.

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections Cause Acute Abdomen and Peritonitis: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) often present to emergency departments with acute abdomen. It is challenging to distinguish between the abdominal problems caused by a VPS and acute surgical abdomen having another cause because VPS infections occasionally cause peritonitis. The frequencies and clinical features of acute abdomen caused by VPS infection are unknown. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of all patients with a VPS who presented with acute abdomen to emergency department for a 10-year period. Clinical data, diagnostic workflow, and subsequent treatment were assessed using patient medical records. RESULTS: In total, 1679 patients presented with acute abdomen; of these, 24 (1.4%) had a VPS at the time of presentation. Of the 24 patients, 12 had an acute surgical abdomen related to gastrointestinal sources with subsequent therapy. In the remaining 12 patients (50%), peritonitis was caused by a VPS infection; seven of these had erroneous abdominal surgeries because of misdiagnosis. Patients with shunt infections as a source of peritonitis underwent shunt surgeries within the past 10 wk (mean, 58 d). Patients with an acute surgical abdomen with gastrointestinal sources had their most recent shunt surgery at a mean of 4.7 y before presentation to the emergency department. CONCLUSIONS: Acute abdomen and peritonitis are challenging in the presence of a VPS. Shunt infections frequently mimic acute surgical abdomen and may lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary diagnostic procedures, unnecessary surgery, and delay in receiving the appropriate treatment. Shunt surgery in recent patient history is suggestive of VPS infection, and a shunt tap should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Evaluación de pacientes adultos mayores con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, no experimental / Evaluation of elderly patients with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen. Prospective, descriptive, non-experimental study

Se ha observado que la población mayor de 65 años requiere con mayor frecuencia procedimientos quirúrgicos y en ellos las presentaciones clínicas de las entidades responsables de un abdomen agudo son atípicas. En situaciones de emergencia, el diagnóstico resulta más difícil que en el adulto debido a diversos factores. Objetivo: Evaluar características clínicas, edad y sexo de pacientes adultos mayores con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en el Hospital Universitario "Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar" de Maturín, estado Monagas, período enero-septiembre 2019. Método: Se realizó un tipo de investigación no experimental, prospectiva, descriptiva, transversal, de campo, donde se estudiaron a todos los pacientes mayores de 60 años con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico según criterios clínicos, en el servicio de Cirugía General, con una muestra de 53 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Resultados: Se evaluaron 790 pacientes adultos, con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en el período señalado, de los cuales 53 pacientes correspondían a adultos mayores, 30 pacientes (56.60%) de sexo femenino con una edad promedio general de 71.33 años. La principal causa de abdomen agudo quirúrgico en adultos mayores fue la obstrucción intestinal con 26 pacientes (49.06%). La principal comorbilidad fue la hipertensión arterial (41.50%). Un 16.98% de los pacientes se complicaron con sepsis (complicación más frecuente) con mortalidad de 15.09% y más de la mitad (54.71%) ameritaron más de 4 días de hospitalización incluyendo a los complicados (90%)(AU)

It has been observed that the population over 65 years of age requires more and more surgical procedures and in them the clinical presentations of the entities responsible for an acute abdomen are atypical. In emergency situations, diagnosis is more difficult than in adults due to various factors. Objectives: Evaluate clinical characteristics, age and sex of older adult patients with diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen at the "Dr. Manuel Núñez Tovar" Hospital from Maturín, Monagas state, January-September 2019 period. Method: A non-experimental type, prospective descriptive, cross-sectional, field research was carried out, where all patients older than 60 years with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen according to clinical criteria, in the General Surgery service, with a sample of 53 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Results: 790 adult patients were evaluated, with a diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen in the indicated period, of which 53 patients corresponded to older adults, 30 female patients (56.60%) with a general average age of 71.33 years. The main cause of acute surgical abdomen in older adults was intestinal obstruction with 26 patients (49.06%). The main comorbidity was arterial hypertension (41.50%). 16.98% of the patients were complicated by sepsis (the most frequent complication) with mortality of 15.09% and more than half (54.71%)(AU)

Polyarteritis Nodosa with Marked Eosinophilia, Associated with Severe Gastrointestinal Tract Involvement and Recurrent Venous Thrombosis.

A 45-year-old man was admitted with acute abdominal pain and eosinophilia. Abdominal computed tomography revealed thickness of the ascending and transverse colon with decreased contrast enhancement and a small amount of ascites. In an emergency operation, the necrotic colon was resected. Histopathology showed subserous medium-sized arteritis with abundant eosinophil infiltrates and thrombosis in the portal vein branches. He was diagnosed with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and immunosuppressive therapy improved his condition. Two years later, the disease recurred with ischemic cutaneous lesions and marked eosinophilia. Our experience suggests that marked eosinophilia in PAN may imply severe organ involvement, including gastrointestinal necrosis, as well as the association of venous thrombosis.

Hematoma disecante del esófago a causa de abdomen agudo quirúrgico / Dissecting Hematoma of the Esophagus due to Acute Surgical Abdomen

RESUMEN El hematoma disecante del esófago es poco frecuente y solo existen pocos casos registrados en la literatura. Generalmente, se presenta después de un trauma asociado a procedimientos endoscópicos o de forma espontánea. Se describe clínicamente con la triada clásica de dolor torácico, odinofagia, disfagia o hematemesis. Se ha relacionado con un aumento rápido de la presión intraesofágica o un mecanismo de deglución anómala particularmente en presencia de trastornos de la hemostasia. La mayoría de los pacientes tienen un buen pronóstico pues resuelven con tratamiento conservador. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con diagnóstico de hematoma disecante de esófago con ruptura a cavidad abdominal que causó hemoperitoneo importante. Se realiza una revisión del tema(AU)

ABSTRACT Dissecting hematoma of the esophagus is a rare condition and there are only few cases reported by the literature. Generally, it occurs after trauma associated with endoscopic procedures or spontaneously. It is described clinically with the classic triad of chest pain, odynophagia, dysphagia or hematemesis. It has been associated with a rapid increase in intra-esophageal pressure or an abnormal swallowing mechanism particularly in the presence of haemostasis disorders. Most patients have a good prognosis because they obtain a solution by means of a conservative treatment. We present the clinical case of a patient with a diagnosis of dissecting hematoma of the esophagus with rupture to the abdominal cavity causing significant hemoperitoneum. A review of the subject is carried out(AU)

Metagenome Analysis as a Tool to Study Bacterial Infection Associated with Acute Surgical Abdomen.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to profile the bacterium in the ascites and blood of patients with acute surgical abdomen by metagenome analysis. METHODS: A total of 97 patients with acute surgical abdomen were included in this study. Accompanied with the standard culture procedures, ascites and blood samples were collected for metagenome analysis to measure the relative abundance of bacteria among groups of patients and between blood and ascites. RESULTS: Metagenomic analysis identified 107 bacterial taxa from the ascites of patients. A principal component analysis (PCA) could separate the bacteria of ascites into roughly three groups: peptic ulcer, perforated or non-perforated appendicitis, and a group which included cholecystitis, small bowel lesion, and colon perforation. Significant correlation between the bacteria of blood and ascites was found in nine bacterial taxa both in blood and ascites with more than 500 sequence reads. However, the PCA failed to separate the variation in the bacteria of blood into different groups of patients, and the bacteria of metagenomic analysis is only partly in accordance with those isolated from a conventional culture method. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the metagenome analysis can provide limited information regarding the bacteria in the ascites and blood of patients with acute surgical abdomen.

Comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal en el abdomen agudo quirúrgico / Behavior of intrabdominal pressure in the acute surgical abdomen

Introducción: la presión intrabdominal se define como el resultado de la tensión presente dentro del espacio anatómico abdominal y es un elemento clave en todos los procesos fisiopatológicos que se desarrollan en el abdomen agudo o en sus complicaciones. Objetivo: evaluar el comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal medida por vía transvesical en los pacientes con abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Método: se realizó una investigación de carácter cuasiexperimental del comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal, en 200 enfermos con cuadros de abdomen agudo quirúrgico, atendidos en el Hospital General Docente Comandante Pinares, durante el periodo comprendido de abril 2011 a octubre 2015. Se controlaron variables como la edad, sexo, presión intrabdominal, frecuencia respiratoria y cardiaca, así como diagnóstico etiológico. Resultados: la mayor incidencia de pacientes pertenece al sexo masculino, predominando las edades 40 - 49 años. El diagnóstico etiológico que más se presentó fue la apendicitis aguda con un valor de presión intrabdominal normal, entre 1 y 9 cm de agua. El incremento de la PIA modificó la frecuencia respiratoria (polipnea) y la frecuencia cardiaca (taquicardia). Después de realizar la laparotomía y descompresión abdominal la PIA regresa a valores normales en el postoperatorio. Conclusiones: la medición de la presión intrabdominal constituye una herramienta más para el diagnóstico del abdomen agudo quirúrgico y sus complicaciones(AU)

Introduction: intrabdominal pressure is defined as the result of the tension present within the abdominal anatomical space and is a key element in all the pathophysiological processes developed in the acute abdomen or in its complications. Objective: to evaluate the behavior of intrabdominal pressure measured by the transvesical approach in patients with acute surgical abdomen. Method: a quasiexperimental investigation was performed on the behavior of intrabdominal pressure in 200 patients with surgical acute abdomen, cared at Comandante Pinares General Teaching Hospital, during the period from April 2011 to October 2015. Some variables were controlled, such as age, sex, intrabdominal pressure, respiratory and cardiac frequency, as well as etiological diagnosis. Results: the highest incidence of patients belongs to the male sex, with ages ranging from 40 to 49 years old. The most frequent etiologic diagnosis was acute appendicitis with normal intrabdominal pressure, between 1 and 9 cm of water. The increase of intrabdominal pressure altered respiratory rate (polypnea) and heart rate (tachycardia). After performing abdominal laparotomy and decompression the intrabdominal pressure returned to normal postoperative values. Conclusions: the measurement of intrabdominal pressure is one more tool for the diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen and its complications(AU)

Caracterización clínica de pacientes con urgencias quirúrgicas abdominales operados por cirugía videolaparoscópica / Clinical characterization of patients with abdominal surgical emergencies operated by videolaparoscopic surgery

Introducción: el abdomen agudo quirúrgico justifica el mayor porcentaje de intervenciones de urgencia a nivel mundial. El empleo de la cirugía videolaparoscópica en este tipo de afecciones es cada vez más frecuente. Objetivo: caracterizar a los pacientes operados de urgencia con esta modalidad. Métodos: estudio descriptivo y transversal de una serie constituida por 534 pacientes operados de urgencia con enfermedades abdominales agudas por cirugía videolaparoscópica en el Hospital Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany de Santiago de Cuba, desde el primero de enero de 2013 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2015. Las principales variables utilizadas fueron: diagnóstico operatorio, tiempo quirúrgico, tiempo de hospitalización, complicaciones, reintervención, causa de reintervención y estado al egreso. Se emplearon medidas de resumen como número, porcentaje y media aritmética. Resultados: las mujeres y los grupos etarios jóvenes fueron los porcentajes más representativos de la serie estudiada (55, 8 por ciento y 46, 6 por ciento respectivamente). La enfermedad más frecuente fue la apendicitis aguda) con 40,3 por ciento. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 34 minutos. Se egresó al 61,4 por ciento antes de las 24 horas y 1,8 por ciento de los pacientes presentaron complicaciones posoperatorias. Conclusiones: los porcentajes de complicaciones, corta estancia hospitalaria y baja letalidad, son similares a los referentes teóricos internacionales, indicando que la cirugía videolaparoscópica de urgencia es una alternativa útil en los pacientes con abdomen agudo quirúrgico(AU)

Introduction: Acute surgical abdomen justifies the highest percentage of emergency interventions worldwide. The use of videolaparoscopic surgery in these types of conditions is becoming more frequent. Objective: To characterize the emergency operated patients with this modality. Methods: Descriptive and cross-sectional study of a series consisting of 534 patients operated on with acute abdominal diseases by videolaparoscopic surgery at the Hospital Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany from Santiago de Cuba, from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. The main variables used were: operative diagnosis, surgical time, hospitalization time, complications, reoperation, cause of reoperation and state at discharge. Results: Women and younger age groups represented the most representative percentages of the series studied (55.8 percent and 46.6 percent respectively). The most frequent disease was acute appendicitis) with 40.3 percent. The average surgical time was 34.0 minutes. It was discharged the 61.4 percent before 24 hours and 1.8 percent of patients presented postoperative complications. Conclusions: The percentage of complications, short hospital stay and low lethality, are similar to the international theoretical references, indicating that emergency videolaparoscopic surgery is a useful alternative in patients with acute surgical abdomen(AU)

Comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal en el abdomen agudo quirúrgico / Behavior of intrabdominal pressure in the acute surgical abdomen

Introducción: la presión intrabdominal se define como el resultado de la tensión presente dentro del espacio anatómico abdominal y es un elemento clave en todos los procesos fisiopatológicos que se desarrollan en el abdomen agudo o en sus complicaciones. Objetivo: evaluar el comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal medida por vía transvesical en los pacientes con abdomen agudo quirúrgico. Método: se realizó una investigación de carácter cuasiexperimental del comportamiento de la presión intrabdominal, en 200 enfermos con cuadros de abdomen agudo quirúrgico, atendidos en el Hospital General Docente Comandante Pinares, durante el periodo comprendido de abril 2011 a octubre 2015. Se controlaron variables como la edad, sexo, presión intrabdominal, frecuencia respiratoria y cardiaca, así como diagnóstico etiológico. Resultados: la mayor incidencia de pacientes pertenece al sexo masculino, predominando las edades 40 - 49 años. El diagnóstico etiológico que más se presentó fue la apendicitis aguda con un valor de presión intrabdominal normal, entre 1 y 9 cm de agua. El incremento de la PIA modificó la frecuencia respiratoria (polipnea) y la frecuencia cardiaca (taquicardia). Después de realizar la laparotomía y descompresión abdominal la PIA regresa a valores normales en el postoperatorio. Conclusiones: la medición de la presión intrabdominal constituye una herramienta más para el diagnóstico del abdomen agudo quirúrgico y sus complicaciones(AU)

Introduction: intrabdominal pressure is defined as the result of the tension present within the abdominal anatomical space and is a key element in all the pathophysiological processes developed in the acute abdomen or in its complications. Objective: to evaluate the behavior of intrabdominal pressure measured by the transvesical approach in patients with acute surgical abdomen. Method: a quasiexperimental investigation was performed on the behavior of intrabdominal pressure in 200 patients with surgical acute abdomen, cared at Comandante Pinares General Teaching Hospital, during the period from April 2011 to October 2015. Some variables were controlled, such as age, sex, intrabdominal pressure, respiratory and cardiac frequency, as well as etiological diagnosis. Results: the highest incidence of patients belongs to the male sex, with ages ranging from 40 to 49 years old. The most frequent etiologic diagnosis was acute appendicitis with normal intrabdominal pressure, between 1 and 9 cm of water. The increase of intrabdominal pressure altered respiratory rate (polypnea) and heart rate (tachycardia). After performing abdominal laparotomy and decompression the intrabdominal pressure returned to normal postoperative values. Conclusions: the measurement of intrabdominal pressure is one more tool for the diagnosis of acute surgical abdomen and its complications(AU)

Oclusión intestinal por duplicación intestinal: diagnóstico y tratamiento en urgencias / Intestinal occlusion by intestinal duplication: diagnosis and treatment in the emergency

Las duplicaciones intestinales son anomalías congénitas; se han descrito a lo largo de todo el tracto digestivo con una presentación clínica inespecífica. Reportamos el caso clínico de un paciente de 83 años intervenido quirúrgicamente por una oclusión intestinal por duplicación intestinal del íleon terminal. Discutimos la presentación clínica, estudios de imagen, procedimiento quirúrgico y resultados del tratamiento. Revisamos la literatura actual pertinente por ser un hallazgo etiológico de oclusión intestinal poco frecuente.

The intestinal duplication are congenital abnormalities; have been described throughout the digestive tract with a nonspecific clinical presentation. We report the clinical case of a patient of 83 years underwent surgery for an intestinal occlusion by intestinal duplication of the terminal ileum. We discuss the clinical presentation, image studies, surgical procedure and results of treatment. We review the current literature relevant to be a finding etiological diagnosis of intestinal occlusion rare.