RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Primary splenic abscess is rare and typically presents in patients who are immunocompromised. We present a case of a 47-year-old apparently immunocompetent female patient who was diagnosed with primary splenic abscess from a Salmonella Typhimurium infection following emergency laparotomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old female patient presented with subjective fever and severe epigastric and left flank pain. She was treated empirically with intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam and gentamicin and was resuscitated with intravenous crystalloid infusion. A radiological diagnosis of splenic infarct secondary to splenic artery aneurysm superimposed with splenic abscess was presumed, however at emergency laparotomy, primary splenic abscess was identified. This abscess had eroded the left hemidiaphragm and had ruptured the splenic capsule leading to intra-abdominal pus in the pelvis which on culture grew Salmonella Typhimurium. A splenectomy and primary repair of the left hemidiaphragm were performed, with postoperative pancreatitis diagnosed following the procedure. After intensive care treatment, this patient made a full recovery. CONCLUSION: This case of primary splenic abscess was treated successfully with a combination of surgery (i.e.: splenectomy and surgical drainage), prolonged antimicrobial therapy, and intensive care in the perioperative period.
RESUMO
Objective: Several previous studies have shown a suboptimal level of understanding of COPD among different population groups. Students in their final year of Medicine constitute a population that has yet to be explored. The evaluation of their understanding provides an opportunity to establish strategies to improve teaching processes. The objective of the present study is to determine the current level of understanding of COPD among said population. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was done using digital surveys given to medical students in their final year at the Universidad de Sevilla. Those surveyed were asked about demographic data, smoking habits as well as the clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of COPD. Results: Of the 338 students contacted, responses were collected from 211 of them (62.4%). Only 25.2% had an accurate idea about the concept of the disease. The study found that 24.0% of students were familiar with the three main symptoms of COPD. Tobacco use was not considered a main risk factor for COPD by 1.5% of students. Of those surveyed, 22.8% did not know how to spirometrically diagnose COPD. Inhaled corticosteroids were believed to be part of the main treatment for this disease among 51.0% of the students. Results show that 36.4% of respondents believed that home oxygen therapy does not help COPD patients live longer. Only 15.0% considered the Body-mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise (BODE) index to be an important parameter for measuring the severity of COPD. Giving up smoking was not believed to prevent worsening COPD among 3.4% of students surveyed. Almost half of students (47.1%) did not recommend that those suffering from COPD undertake exercise. Conclusion: The moderate level of understanding among the population of medical students in their final year shows some strengths and some shortcomings. Teaching intervention is required to reinforce solid knowledge among this population.