Wandering spleen torsion causing acute abdominal pain in a child: case report and review of literature.

Wandering spleen is a rare occurrence where the spleen normal fixation to the abdominal wall is lost and thus allowed to change in position. We report a case of a child who presented with acute abdominal pain secondary to a wandering spleen complicated by torsion of its vascular pedicle. The diagnosis was promptly made using computed tomography and managed with splenectomy.

Intrathoracic esophageal rupture distal to the carina after blunt chest trauma: Case-report.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal rupture caused by blunt chest trauma is a very rare entity, with an incidence of 0.001%. Eighty two percent of the esophageal perforation secondary to blunt chest trauma occur above the level of the carina, with the lowest reported incidence in the intrathoracic region distal to the carina. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report on the case of a 48-year-old Hispanic male with intrathoracic esophageal rupture. Exploration revealed a right lateral, mid esophageal, longitudinal 1.5cm perforation. The defect was repaired using a double-layered primary closure reinforced with an intercostal muscle flap. The patient tolerated the procedure and the recovery was complicated by a pneumonic process which was treated accordingly. No leakage was found. DISCUSSION: A five-year retrospective review (2009-2013) at our institution identified 5586 trauma cases with only one case with esophageal rupture. This represents a 0.0002% of incidence of blunt esophageal rupture. This estimate is consistent with what has been previously reported in the medical literature. Our case represents a uniquely rare presentation of traumatic esophageal rupture due to the underline mechanism of injury and its anatomical location. A high index of suspicion and early intervention are critical in assuring a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis and surgical intervention with primary repair completed in the first twenty-four hours after presentation is fundamental to achieve a good outcome after esophageal rupture.

Operative strategies for pulmonary artery occlusion secondary to mediastinal fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Fibrosing mediastinitis is a rare disease characterized by an excessive fibrotic reaction in the mediastinum, which may entrap mediastinal structures including the pulmonary arteries. Our objectives were to assess the surgical strategies and outcomes of repair of pulmonary artery occlusion attributable to mediastinal fibrosis. METHODS: With approval from the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, we identified all patients with fibrosing mediastinitis who underwent an operation for relief of pulmonary artery obstruction between 1980 and 2008. Perioperative data were collected using medical records and late follow-up surveys. RESULTS: Operative procedures to bypass or reconstruct an obstructed pulmonary artery were performed in 5 patients. Patients' median age was 40 years (range, 27 to 51 years), and all patients were symptomatic and had right ventricular hypertension. In 3 patients, a double-outlet right ventricle was constructed using a valved conduit (porcine valved conduit, n = 1; aortic homograft, n = 2) from the right ventricle to the right pulmonary artery. Two patients required complete reconstruction of the pulmonary artery confluence using a pulmonary homograft in 1 patient and a hybrid technique of autologous pericardial reconstruction and intraoperative stenting in another patient. All patients had a reduction in right ventricular pressures after operation. One patient died perioperatively owing to respiratory failure; the remaining 4 patients were alive at a median follow-up of 7.4 years (range, 0.5 to 14.7 years). One patient required late balloon dilatation of the conduit and distal pulmonary arteries 10 years after initial operation, but the remaining conduits were widely patent at late follow-up. Late functional improvement was limited owing to other complications from mediastinal fibrosis or other comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of pulmonary artery occlusion attributable to mediastinal fibrosis can be challenging. Successful operative strategies include both creation of a double-outlet right ventricle and complete reconstruction of the pulmonary artery confluence. Hybrid techniques of both conduit placement and stenting should also be considered for patients with occluded pulmonary arteries.