[Torsion and necrosis of epiploic appendices of the large bowel]

The features of the clinical symptoms was studied, the possibility of laparoscopy in modern diagnosis and treatment of epiploic appendices torsion and necrosis of the large bowel was assessed in the article. It was done the retrospective analysis of the medical records of 87 patients with a diagnosis of epiploic appendices torsion and necrosis of the large bowel. The patients had laparoscopic operations in our hospital in the period from January 1995 to December 2012. The clinical picture, laboratory and instrumental datas in cases of epiploic appendices torsion and necrosis were scarce and nonspecific. An abdominal pain preferentially localized in the lower divisions was the main symptom (97.7%). The instrumental methods did not allow to diagnose the torsion and necrosis of epiploic appendices in the majority of cases and all these techniques were used for the differential diagnosis with other diseases. The assumption of the presence of appendices torsion and necrosis occured just in 34.5% of cases before the operation. Diagnosis of epiploic appendices torsion and necrosis present significant difficulties on prehospital and preoperative stages. The diagnostic laparoscopy is the method of choice in unclear situations and it allows to diagnose the torsion and necrosis of epiploic appendices in 96.6% of cases. Successful surgical treatment by using laparoscopic approach is possible in 90.8% of cases.

An anchoring technique by looping with the tip of a super-stiff wire: may be a solution in patients with anomaly of the aortic arch and tortuous carotid artery disease?

Vascular anatomy is one of the most important factors for the successful carotid artery interventions, either angioplasty or stenting. We report a new technique for advancing a guiding catheter into the common carotid artery when there is an unfavourable aortic arch anatomy and tortuosity of the carotid artery.

Gallbladder torsion resulting in gangrenous cholecystitis within a parastomal hernia: findings on unenhanced CT

Gallbladder torsion is a rare cause of acute gangrenous cholecystitis; its occurrence within an abdominal hernia has not been previously reported. We present such a case occurring within a parastomal hernia and imaged with unenhanced CT.

Increased risk of complications in acute onset intestinal malrotation

INTRODUCTION

Intestinal malrotation is a potentially life-threatening illness which presents in many different ways and the symptoms span from acute to chronic. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical presentation of intestinal malrotation at all ages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study of all patients operated for intestinal malrotation at Odense University Hospital in the period from 1/1/1990 to 1/4/2012. The following information was recorded in the hospital records: demographics, presentation, duration of symptoms, diagnostic imaging and outcome. Patients were classified into two age groups: children (0-15 years) and adults (over 15 years).

RESULTS

A total of 54 patients were identified - 47 children and seven adults. Children frequently presented with acute symptoms, while adults mostly had chronic symptoms. The mortality rate was 6% and 14% for children and adults, respectively (p = 0.44). Deaths were due to volvulus.

CONCLUSION

Intestinal malrotation may have an acute and a chronic form in both children and adults. Complications and death only occurred in patients with an acute onset. Proper knowledge about symptoms is important for a good outcome.

FUNDING

not relevant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

not relevant.

Omental infarction preceded by anatomically upturned omentum

We report the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed spontaneous omental torsion with no other noticeable findings. Notably, a computed tomography exam 6 months prior demonstrated the omentum located within the anterior hepatic space, suggesting that the patient had a hypermobile, upturned omentum. To our knowledge, this is the first case report illustrating an anatomically upturned omentum as precursor to omental infarction.

Isolated fallopian tube torsion in pediatric and adolescent females: a retrospective review of 15 cases at a single institution

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To identify and review cases of isolated fallopian tube torsion (FTT) at our institution to further characterize diagnosis and management.

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Tertiary care medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

Case series of pediatric and adolescent females, <21 years old, with operatively diagnosed isolated fallopian tube torsion from our institution.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Isolated fallopian tube torsion.

RESULTS

Fifteen cases of isolated fallopian tube torsion were identified based on intraoperative diagnosis. Patient ages ranged from 8-15 years old, mean age of 12. Fourteen patients (93%) presented with abdominal pain, 8 (53%) localized to the side of associated torsion. Ultrasonography reports described a tubular structure in 4 patients and an associated ovarian or paraovarian cyst in eleven patients. Suspicion of fallopian tube torsion was only described for those patients with a tubular structure described on ultrasonography report. Intraoperatively, 7 patients (47%) were found to have no associated pathology and 8 (53%) were found to have associated cyst or hydrosalpinx. Eight (53%) patients underwent salipingectomy and 7 (47%) underwent reversal of torsion with drainage of associated cyst or cystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated fallopian tube torsion is a rare condition that seems to occur in younger adolescents. Vague clinical presentation contributes to low preoperative suspicion. Preoperative suspicion may be increased based on radiographic findings of an enlarged tubular structure or an adjacent normal ovary. Management may be considered nonemergent and salpingectomy is controversial. Long-term fertility outcomes must be further assessed for more definitive decisions regarding surgical management.

Key clinical predictors in the early diagnosis of adnexal torsion in children

OBJECTIVE

Adnexal torsion (AT) accounts for 2.7% of cases of acute abdominal pain in children. When AT is undiagnosed, ovarian blood supply is compromised, eventually leading to tissue necrosis. Because the clinical presentation of AT is nonspecific, preoperative diagnosis is challenging. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors that differentiate AT from other sources of acute abdominal pain.

METHODS

This study was an IRB-approved retrospective chart review of girls age 4-18 y/o with acute abdominal pain who then underwent surgical evaluation. Data collected included age, menarchal status, symptoms, physical exam findings, laboratory tests, imaging studies, operative procedures and postoperative diagnosis. Factors associated with AT were included in a logistic regression model. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve based on this model was then constructed in order to determine its ability to predict AT.

RESULTS

94 patients presented with acute abdominal pain; 45 were diagnosed with AT and 49 with other causes of abdominal pain. Presence of intermittent pain (P < .0217), non-radiating pain (P < .0229) and increased adnexal size (P < .0032) were significantly associated with AT in the final model. The area under the ROC curve was equal to 0.8601, suggesting excellent discrimination between AT and other causes of acute abdominal pain by using these 3 parameters.

CONCLUSION

Key clinical and imaging findings can aid in the early diagnosis of AT in children. Future prospective studies will focus on development of a clinical predictive model for the diagnosis of AT in the pediatric population.

Low back pain development response to sustained trunk axial twisting

PURPOSE

To investigate if there is an effect of sustained trunk axial twisting on the development of low back pain.

METHODS

Sixteen male pain-free university students volunteered for this study. The trunk axial twisting was created by a torsion moment of 50 Nm for 10-min duration. The axial rotational creep was estimated by the transverse camera view directly on the top of the head. The visual analog scale in low back area was examined both in the initial and at the end of twisting. Each performed three trials of lumbar flexion-extension with the cycle of 5 s flexion and 5 s extension in standing before and after twisting. Surface electromyography from bilateral erector spinae muscles as well as trunk flexion performance was recorded synchronously in video camera. A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to evaluate the effect of twist.

RESULTS

The results showed that there was a significant (p < 0.001) twist creep with rotational angle 10.5° as well as VAS increase with a mean value 45 mm. The erector spinae was active in a larger angle during flexion as well as extension after trunk axial twisting.

CONCLUSIONS

Sustained trunk axial twisting elicits significant trunk rotational creep. It causes the visual analog scale to have a significant increase, and causes erector spinae muscles to become active longer during anterior flexion as well as extension, which may be linked to the decrease of the tension ability of passive tissues in low back area, indicating a higher risk in developing low back pain.

Total knee arthroplasty in patients with excessive external tibial torsion >45° and patella instability--surgical technique and follow up

Patients presenting with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA), excessive external tibial torsion (EETT) and chronic patella subluxation pose significant surgical challenges. A combination of TKA, tibial derotation osteotomy, and tibial tuberosity transfer was performed in ten patients (twelve knees) with OA secondary to EETT and patellar instability. Six weeks of non weight-bearing and flexion limited to 45° was mandated after surgery. The mean follow-up and patient age was 81months (range, 14 to 159) and 56years (range, 49 to 62). The mean pre-operative external tibial torsion was 62°, with an average rotational correction of 30°. Significant improvement was found in the Knee Society Score, SF-12 and all WOMAC questionnaire score subscales (p<0.0001); 5 patients had complications, but no loosening or nonunion was seen.

Gallbadder volvulus

A 50 years old man was admitted to Wolayita Soddo Hospital, southern Ethiopia, with the complaints of sudden onset right upper quadrant pain with repeated vomiting. Physical examination was remarkable for a dehydration and abdominal tenderness. The patient showed no improvement on conservative treatment and hence underwent laparotomy. The intraoperative finding was a gallbladder volvulus and cholecystectomy was uneventful.

[Splenic torsion as cause of acute abdomen in children]

A six-year-old boy was admitted with symptoms consistent with acute appendicitis. Immediately before placement of the first trocar, a large abdominal mass was observed which on imaging was identified as a torsioned spleen. Due to suboptimal reperfusion and risk of reperfusion-mediated morbidity a splenectomy was performed. The recovery was uneventful. The child had a twin brother who on a routine ultrasound examination was found to have a normally positioned spleen. Challenges in diagnosis and treatment of children with splenic torsion is discussed.

A rare case of small bowel obstruction secondary to ovarian torsion in an IVF pregnancy

A 39- year-old woman, who conceived following in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, presented at 12 weeks gestation with symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Subsequent investigations found small bowel obstruction  secondary to ovarian torsion. Surgical management to remove a necrotic ovary and fallopian tube led to a good recovery from the acute illness. A postoperative ultrasound scan confirmed a viable pregnancy and the patient was discharged. Her case demonstrates a rare complication of OHSS and ovarian torsion leading to small bowel obstruction.

Common presentation uncommon diagnosis primary omental torsion

Primary omental torsion is a rare cause of acute abdomen and mimics common acute abdominal condition like appendicitis. Torsion of the greater omentum may be primary or secondary. Here we present 2 cases admitted through emergency with the pain in right iliac fossa with this unusual diagnosis.

Selenium has a protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury in a rat ovary model: biochemical and histopathologic evaluation

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat ovaries.

METHODS

Thirty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 7): sham (S), I/R1, I/R2, Se1, and Se2. In the I/R1 and Se1 groups, 4 hours of ischemia was followed by 6 hours of reperfusion, and in the I/R2 and Se2 groups, 4 hours of ischemia was followed by 12 hours of reperfusion. In the Se groups, 30 minutes before reperfusion, a single dose of 0.2 mg/kg Se was administered intraperitoneally. The ovarian tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured biochemically. Tissue damage to ovarian tissue was scored by histopathologic examination.

RESULTS

The I/R groups had significantly higher MDA levels and lower CAT, SOD, and GPx activities than the sham group (P < .05). Although NO levels were significantly higher in the I/R1 group than in the sham group (P < .05), the NO levels in the I/R2 and sham groups were similar. Selenium pretreatment significantly lowered tissue MDA and NO levels and increased tissue SOD and GPx activities in the Se groups, compared with those in the I/R groups (P < .05). Catalase activities were significantly higher in the Se2 group than in the I/R2 group (P < .05). Catalase activities were higher in the Se1 group than in the I/R1 group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Treatment with Se significantly decreased the ovarian tissue damage scores in the Se2 group compared with those in the I/R2 group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Selenium is effective in preventing tissue damage induced by I/R in rat ovaries.

Evaluation of left ventricular torsion by cardiovascular magnetic resonance

Recently there has been considerable interest in LV torsion and its relationship with symptomatic and pre-symptomatic disease processes. Torsion gives useful additional information about myocardial tissue performance in both systolic and diastolic function. CMR assessment of LV torsion is simply and efficiently performed. However, there is currently a wide variation in the reporting of torsional motion and the procedures used for its calculation. For example, torsion has been presented as twist (degrees), twist per length (degrees/mm), shear angle (degrees), and shear strain (dimensionless). This paper reviews current clinical applications and shows how torsion can give insights into LV mechanics and the influence of LV geometry and myocyte fiber architecture on cardiac function. Finally, it provides recommendations for CMR measurement protocols, attempts to stimulate standardization of torsion calculation, and suggests areas of useful future research.

[Acute torsion of wandering spleen: a rare cause of acute abdomen]

BACKGROUND

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical entity characterized by an anomalous position of the spleen in the abdomen due to impaired splenic ligamentous attachments that produce an elongation of the vascular pedicle. This makes a partial or complete volvulus of the vascular axis more likely. Wandering spleen's clinical presentation is variable--from an asymptomatic patient to one with chronic abdominal pain or an acute abdomen. The most common complication is the acute torsion of the splenic pedicle causing acute abdominal pain.

CLINICAL CASE

A 30-year-old woman who turned up at the Emergency Department with acute abdominal pain. Diagnostic imaging (ultrasonography and computerized axial tomography) revealed a huge spleen in an abnormal location and without vascularization. An urgent splenectomy was performed.

CONCLUSION

Acute torsion of wandering spleen is a rare cause of acute abdomen, which makes early diagnosis difficult and can result in delayed treatment. This would lead to having to perform a splenectomy. Due to splenic necrosis or infarction, which increases the risk of postsplenectomy sepsis.

Rotational profile of lower limb and axis for tibial component alignment in varus osteoarthritic knees

The purposes of this study were to describe the changes in tibial torsion and knee rotation in varus osteoarthritic knees and to check the reliability of reference axis, for tibial component placement, based on femoral transepicondylar axis in these patients. A secondary goal was to determine which reference axis based on proximal tibia is most accurate for determining tibial component rotation. Fifty-two varus osteoarthritic knees and 20 normal knees were analyzed using computed tomographic scan. Tibial torsion and knee rotation were significantly reduced in patients with osteoarthritis. Reference axis based on posterior tibial condyles was most accurate and least variable for tibial component alignment. A significant negative correlation was found between knee rotation and tibial axis based on transepicondylar axis (r = -0.485).

[A man with atypical appendicitis]

A 43-year-old man presented with acute left-sided middle and lower abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with 'left-sided acute appendicitis with non-rotation of the colon'. This is a rare and usually asymptomatic congenital anomaly.

Do high levels of CA 19-9 in women with mature cystic teratomas of the ovary warrant further evaluation?

PURPOSE

To evaluate the serum levels of tumor markers (particularly CA 19-9) in patients with ovarian mature cystic teratomas (MCT) with respect to age, size, bilaterality, menopause, presence of adhesions, complications and the postoperative levels.

METHODS

We evaluated clinical characteristics and tumor markers of 157 patients with MCT of the ovary operated at our clinic.

RESULTS

CA19-9 was the only tumor marker with a mean serum level (46.95 +/- 101.11 U/ml) above the cut-off value and the elevated rate was 33.1%. Tumor size, presence of adhesions and CA 125 levels were significantly higher in patients with elevated CA 19-9. Bilaterality rate was 10.8%. The most common complication was torsion (6.4%).

CONCLUSION

We suggest that elevated levels of CA 19-9 may be expected in MCTs of the ovary and that they will probably be decreased postoperatively. Therefore, postponing evaluation of other possible sources of CA 19-9 elevation in asymptomatic and young patients is more common sense.

[Uterine torsion in cattle - frequency, clinical symptoms and theories about the pathogenesis]

Aim of the present study was to summarize the available literature about the incidence, frequency, clinical symptoms and ideas as to the pathogenesis of uterine torsion in the cow.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analysis of the literature using electronic libraries (Pub Med, Medline), German veterinary medicine journals and obstetrical textbooks.

RESULTS

Uterine torsion is a very important maternal reason for dystocia as most cases occur during parturition. The post-cervical torsion (combined uterine and vaginal torsion, Torsio uteri and vaginae) is more commonly diagnosed than an intra-cervical or pre-cervical torsion. Torsions to the left occur more frequently than to the right. Clinical symptoms clearly vary depending on the degree of torsion. The frequency in relation to all parturitions is described as between 0.5 and 1%, whereas the percentage of uterine torsions presented to the veterinarian as a reason for dystocia varies between 2.7 and 65%. The pathogenesis of uterine torsion remains unclear; however, general agreement exists that the cow is predisposed to uterine torsion due to its anatomy. It appears that the Brown Swiss is more often affected than other cattle breeds.