Factors affecting bowel gangrene development in patients with sigmoid volvulus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Sigmoid gangrene develops in 6.1% to 93.4% of sigmoid volvulus (SV) cases, and increases the mortality rate from 0% to 40% without bowel gangrene to 3.7% to 80%. This study aimed to investigate factors that induce bowel gangrene development in SV patients.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

Retrospective study from a single center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We determined whether there was any correlation between sigmoid gangrene and the following factors: age, gender, a previous history of a volvulus, previous history of abdominal surgery, pregnancy, major comorbidities, shock, duration of symptoms, direction and degree of rotation of volvulus, and ileosigmoid knotting.

RESULTS

Of 442 patients, 271 (61.3%) had sigmoid gangrene. The presence of pregnancy was negatively cor.related with sigmoid gangrene development (P < .05), while comorbid diseases (P < .01), associated shock (P < .01), prolonged symptom duration (P < .05), overrotation (P < .05), and associated ileosigmoid knotting (P < .01) were positively correlated with bowel gangrene. However, no correlation was observed between sigmoid gangrene and the other studied factors.

CONCLUSION

An inverse correlation between pregnancy and sigmoid gangrene was observed. On the other hand, a positive correlation was noted between bowel gangrene and comorbid diseases, shock, prolonged duration of symptoms, overrotation, and associated ileosigmoid knotting.

Calciphylaxis causing digital, gangrene in end stage renal disease: a case report and review

Calcific uraemic arteriolopathy (CUA), a potentially life-threatening vasculopathy of the skin and subcutaneous tissues is rarely associated with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) particularly in patients on haemodialysis. It is more frequently reported in whites than in blacks and commonly accompanies hyperphosphataemia, elevated calcium-phosphate product and marked secondary hyperparathyroidism. We report a rare case of CUA that complicated end stage renal disease secondary to obstructive uropathy in a 68 year old Nigerian. The risk factors for CUA, diagnosis, management and our peculiar limitations were reviewed and discussed.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treating acute cholecystitis -- possibilities and limitations

Our study analysed a batch of 1402 A.C., operated on within the S.U.U.B. First Surgical Clinic between 1993-2010. L.C. was possible in 90% of the cases, and conversion to open surgery was required in 10% of the cases. The causes that determined the necessity for this conversion were pericholecystic plastron - 49%, unclear anatomical orientation - 46.5%, haemorrhage - 9.7%, iatrogenic injury of the main bile duct - 0.23% etc. Statistical analysis has shown that male gender, over 50 yrs. age groups, gangrenous A. C. and fibrous plastron represent risk factors for the conclusion of L.C. Reinterventions were performed on 20 patients (1.4%). Postoperative mortality was not encountered.

[Predicting the risk of septic and necrotic complications in femoral amputation stump]

Treatment results of 430 patients with ischemic gangrene of lower limbs were analyzed and major risk factors of postoperative complications considering the femoral amputation stump were outlighted. These are: the high level of artery occlusion, ligature muscle compression in the stump, absence of active drainage and elderly age (more than 80 years), anemia. The intraoperative use of laser Doppler flowmetry gives the possibility to assess the potential viability of muscles at the amputation level. Predicting the risk of local postoperative complications allowed the differential approach to the stump formation and improved the treatment results.

Digital gangrene as the initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has rarely been reported among African blacks. However, recent reports may indicate otherwise. Digital gangrene in lupus patients has been reported in different populations and has mostly been seen in patients with long-standing lupus. Digital gangrene as the initial presentation of SLE has rarely been reported, even among African blacks. Two cases of digital gangrene as the initial presentation in Nigerian lupus patients are hereby presented. The medical and surgical managements, as well as relevant literature are hereby discussed.

Procedural trends in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease by insurer status in New York State

BACKGROUND

Type or lack of insurance may affect access to care, treatment, and outcomes. We evaluated trends for surgical management of all peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in-hospital admissions by insurer status in New York State.

STUDY DESIGN

Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) data were obtained and cross-referenced for diagnostic and procedure codes. Data from 2001 to 2002 were averaged and used as a baseline. Change in indication, volume of admissions, procedures, and amputations were calculated for the years 2003 to 2008 and were analyzed by insurer status.

RESULTS

There were 83,949 admissions. Endovascular intervention (EVI) increased tremendously for all indications and was used equally in the insured and uninsured. Among critical limb ischemia admissions, patients with private insurance were significantly more likely to be admitted for rest pain and significantly less likely to be admitted for gangrene (p < 0.001). Admission for gangrene declined for all. As EVI increased, amputation decreased and was significantly lowest in patients with private insurance (p < 0.001). Amputation was significantly higher in Medicaid than other insured (Medicaid vs private, p < 0.001; Medicaid vs Medicare, p = 0.003), but comparable to the uninsured (p = 0.08). Age greater than 65 years and low socioeconomic class or minority status were significant risks for gangrene (p = 0.014; p < 0.001) and ultimate amputation (p = 0.05; p < 0.001). Lack of insurance may pose a similar risk.

CONCLUSIONS

EVI increased tremendously and was used without disparity across insurer status. Amputation declined steadily and may have been related to increased EVI or to decreased admission for gangrene. Advanced age, low socioeconomic class or minority status, and lack of insurance negatively affect presentation and limb salvage. Universal health care may be beneficial in improving outcomes but must address root causes for delayed presentation.

Heroin addict with gangrene of the extremities, rhabdomyolysis and severe hyperkalemia

INTRODUCTION

Long-time consumption of narcotics leads to altered mental status of the addict. It is also connected to damages of different organic systems and it often leads to appearance of multiple organ failure. Excessive narcotics consumption or abuse in a long time period can lead to various consequences, such as atraumatic rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and electrolytic disorders. Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by injury of skeletal muscle with subsequent release of intracellular contents, such as myoglobin, potassium and creatine phosphokinase. In heroin addicts, rhabdomyolysis is a consequence of the development of a compartment syndrome due to immobilization of patients in the state of unconsciousness and prolonged compression of extremities, direct heroin toxicity or extremities ischemia caused by intraluminal occlusion of blood vessels after intraarterial injection of heroin. Severe hyperkalemia and the development of acute renal failure require urgent therapeutic measures, which imply the application of either conventional treatment or a form of dialysis.

CASE REPORT

We presented a male patient, aged 50, hospitalized in the Emergency Center Kragujevac due to altered mental status (Glasgow Coma Score 11), partial respiratory insufficiency (pO2 7.5 kPa, pCO2 4.3 kPa, SpO2 89%), weakness of lower extremities and atypical electrocardiographic changes. Laboratory analyses, carried out immediately after the patient's admission to the Emergency Center, registered the following disturbances: high hyperkalemia level (K+ 9.9 m mol/L), increased levels of urea (30.1 mmol/L), creatinine (400 micromol/L), creatine phosphokinase--CK (12,0350 IU/L), CK-MB (2500 IU/L) and myoglobin (57000 microg/L), with normal levels of troponin I (< 0.01 microg/L), as well as signs of anemia (Hgb 92 g/L, Er 3.61 x 10(12)/L), infection (C-reactive proteine 184 microg/mL, Le 16.1 x 10(9)/L) and acidosis (base excess--18.4 mmol/L, pH 7.26. Initial examination of the patient revealed swelling and paleness of the right lower leg, signs of gangrene of the right foot and the 1st and the 4th toes of the left foot. The patient had normal values of arterial pressure (130/80 mmHg) and heart rate (64/min(-1)); roentgenographic lungs examination and computerized tomography (CT) brain examination did not reveal pathological changes in lung and brain parenchyma; toxicological analyses confirmed the presence of heroin in patient's organism. The patient was treated by intensive conventional treatment (infusion of crystalloid solutions, 8.4% solution of sodium bicarbonate, i.v. infusion of diuretics, calcium gluconate and short-acting insulin), and also by antibiotics and anticoagulants. Normalization of kalemia and fast regression of electrocardiographic changes were registered. The patient refused the suggested surgical treatment (fasciotomy, foot amputation). After stabilization of kidney function and improvement of his mental state, the patient agreed to undergo surgical procedure. Therefore, on the day 30 of hospitalization the above-knee amputation of the right leg was performed, and on the day 38 the transmetatarsal amputation of the left foot was carried out. After 46 days of hospital treatment, the patient was released and sent to home treatment.

CONCLUSION

The routine laboratory diagnostics, which implies determining of the levels of potassium, urea, creatinine and CK in the serum of all hospitalized heroin addicts can contribute to timely detection of hyperkalemia and acute kidney weakness and undertaking of appropriate therapeutic measures.

Painful black toe - a case study

BACKGROUND

Critical limb ischaemia refers to an advanced form of peripheral vascular disease where severe arterial occlusion manifests as chronic ischaemic rest pain, nonhealing ulcers and gangrene. Depending on the severity of disease and level of occlusion, endovascular revascularisation and vascular surgical bypass are indicated to salvage the limb before the inevitable lifesaving choice limb amputation.

OBJECTIVE

This article illustrates a clinical scenario in which, without any intervention, the ischaemic anatomy may dry up and mummify. It is a remarkable reminder of the natural history of such events.

DISCUSSION

Medical management including analgesia, wound care, infection control and aggressive modification of atherosclerotic risks factors may contribute to a better prognosis. For inoperable cases, pneumatic compression and spinal cord stimulation can be considered to relieve symptoms and improve wound healing.

Asplenic fulminant sepsis secondary to a dog bite complicated by toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens-Johnson syndrome

We report a case of asplenic fulminant sepsis in Australia following a dog bite which was complicated by toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens-Johnson syndrome (TENS/SJS). Capnocytophaga canimorsus, the infective organism, is a rare cause of septicaemia: a high degree of suspicion of this unusual organism and its early aggressive management is paramount. The diagnostic and management difficulties of TENS/SJS in the context of a patient with fulminant sepsis, DIC and on inotropes are also highlighted.

Above-elbow amputation and death following human bite mismanaged by quacks: a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Human bite is a common injury sustained during a fight, love passion, self mutilation, cannibalism or vampirism. Although widely reported as being more dangerous than animal bites, such complications as limb amputation from gangrene and eventually death is either uncommon or scarcely reported in our environment.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the dangers of human bite as a potential cause of severe morbidity and mortality especially when poorly managed.

METHODOLOGY

A 30 year old Fulani herdsman with gangrene of the right hand, and distal forearm presenting in coma 10 days after sustaining human bite is presented and relevant related literature reviewed.

CASE REPORT

M.U. is a 30 year old Fulani herdsman who presented to us at the accident and emergency unit with 10 days history of human bite to the first web space of the right hand, 5 days history of gangrenous hand and distal foreman, and 2 days history of loss of consciousness. The injury was inflicted by a fellow herdsman during a fight. He then commenced treatment with a patent medicine dealer. A few days later the hand became swollen with associated severe pains, serous discharge and subsequent darkish discoloration, frank pus exudates and loss of hand function. Two days prior to presentation, he lapsed into unconsciousness after complaining of severe weakness and fever. Following his presentation, clinical examination and investigation, he was offered a below elbow guillotine amputation. However by the next day, he deteriorated with GCS of 5/15 and subsequently died after 24 hours of presentation.

CONCLUSION

Human bite can be a cause of severe morbidity and mortality. Treatment by quacks should be discouraged while early presentation, surgical debridement and delayed wound closure should be emphasized along with other surgical principles.

Gangrenous small bowel obstruction secondary to congenital internal herniation: a case report

Congenital internal herniation is a rare condition presenting as recurrent abdominal pain or acute intestinal obstruction. In cases in which bowel incarceration or strangulation develop, rapid progression to bowel ischemia, necrosis or perforation is inevitable. Mortality in such cases has been reported to be as high as 50%. Despite advances in imaging modalities, arriving at a pre-operative diagnosis of a congenital internal herniation remains a challenge. We report such a case where imaging was unsuccessful in determining the cause of intestinal obstruction in a 3 year old child. Congenital internal herniation may result in disastrous consequences if not addressed in a timely fashion due to its rarity. Hence a high index of clinical suspicion is needed to avoid missing this diagnosis in a child presenting with recurrent abdominal pain or acute intestinal obstruction.

[The importance of early surgical intervention in the treatment of necrotizing vasculitis]

Vasculitides are an etiologically heterogeneous group of vascular affections leading to vascular wall damage followed by ischaemia of the tissues supplied by the affected vessels. Damage to the vessels of lower extremities is frequent; in serious cases a complete destruction of soft tissue as well as skeletal lesions may occur. This then results in a situation which, without a well-timed surgical intervention, often requires an amputation of the limb. We are presenting a case of a 61-year-old female patient with a large plantar defect of the right foot and gangrene of three toes of the same limb which developed as a result of necrotizing vasculitis.

[The possibilities of laser Doppler flowmetry for the estimation of the intestine resection volume by the acute mesenteric ischemia]

The results of the surgical treatment of the acute mesenteric ischemia in 2 groups of patients were comparatively analyzed. The control group (n=52) experienced the traditional way and criteria of detecting the volume of intestinal resection (color and peristaltic activity, arterial pulsation). For the main group (n=57) the intraoperative estimation of the intestinal viability was performed with the help of laser Doppler flowmetry. As a result, the postoperative intestinal gangrene rate was 9.1% among patients of the main group, whereas the complication was registered among 48.6% of the control group. The main group of patients demonstrated the overall lower rate of postoperative complications in comparison with the control group: 67.6 and 40.9% (p=0.01), respectively. The same picture was for the lethality rate: 76.9 and 52.6% (p=0.03), respectively.

A comparative study on arsenic and humic substances in alluvial aquifers of Bengal delta plain (NW Bangladesh), Chianan plain (SW Taiwan) and Lanyang plain (NE Taiwan): implication of arsenic mobilization mechanisms

Humic substances in groundwater and aquifer sediments from the arsenicosis and Blackfoot disease (BFD) affected areas in Bangladesh (Bengal delta plain) and Taiwan (Lanyang plain and Chianan plain) were characterized using fluorescence spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the mean concentration of As and relative intensity of fluorescent humic substances are higher in the Chianan plain groundwater than those in the Lanyang plain and Bengal delta plain groundwater. The mean As concentrations in Bengal delta plain, Chianan plain, and Lanyang plain are 50.65 μg/l (2.8-170.8 μg/l, n=20), 393 μg/l (9-704 μg/l, n=5), and 104.5 μg/l (2.51-543 μg/l, n = 6), respectively. Average concentrations and relative fluorescent intensity of humic substances in groundwater are 25.381 QSU (quinine standard unit) and 17.78 in the Bengal delta plain, 184.032 QSU and 128.41 in the Chianan plain, and 77.56 QSU and 53.43 in the Lanyang plain. Moreover, FT-IR analysis shows that the humic substances extracted from the Chianan plain groundwater contain phenolic, alkanes, aromatic ring and amine groups, which tend to form metal carbon bonds with As and other trace elements. By contrast, the spectra show that humic substances are largely absent from sediments and groundwater in the Bengal delta plain and Lanyang plain. The data suggest that the reductive dissolution of As-adsorbed Mn oxyhydroxides is the most probable mechanism for mobilization of As in the Bengal delta plain. However, in the Chianan plain and Lanyang plain, microbially mediated reductive dissolution of As-adsorbed amorphous/crystalline Fe oxyhydroxides in organic-rich sediments is the primary mechanism for releasing As to groundwater. High levels of As and humic substances possibly play a critical role in causing the unique BFD in the Chianan plain of SW Taiwan.

[The attempt of clinical classification of the complicated diabetic foot syndrome]

The experience of surgical treatment of 1532 patients with the complicated forms of diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) was analyzed. The original clinical classification of the complicated DFS was suggested. The classification considered the clinical form (symbol "C"), anatomic localization (symbol "Z") and etiology (symbol "E"). The classification allows to define surgical tactics depending on concrete complications of the DFS, frames conditions for the unification and uniform registration of the form and severity of the disease and volume of the surgical treatment.

[Treatment of chronic critical ischemia by neuroischemic form of the diabetic foot syndrome]

Treatment results of 203 patients with critical ischemia by neuroischemic form of the diabetic foot sindrome were analyzed. 45 patients had open, endovascular or hybrid vascular reconstructions. The method was decised basing on the results of angiographic studies. The support function was saved in 34 (75,6%) cases of 45 operated patients. Revascularization proved to be an effective and reasonable method of surgical intervention by critical ischemia caused by the neuroischemic form of the diabetic foot syndrome.