Acalculous gangrenous cholecystitis in a young adult: a gastrointestinal manifestation of polyarteritis nodosa

The authors report a rare case of an acalculous gangrenous cholecystitis due to a form of vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). An 18-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with worsening symptoms of nausea, fever, intermittent abdominal pain, and high blood pressure that lasted for 4 days. After a sequential work-up, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and revealed a gangrenous cholecystitis with spontaneous perforation. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed successfully. The patient had an uneventful recovery period and was discharged on the second postoperative day. The histopathologic examination showed gangrenous and perforated gallbladder, vasculitis, and clues of PAN. The purpose of this article is to describe a rare condition in a young patient that was diagnosed and treated with minimally invasive surgery.

[Results of surgical treatment of ischemic gangrenous form of the diabetic foot syndrome]

Results of surgical treatment of 189 patients with diabetes mellitus with the diabetic foot syndrome, suffering an ischemic gangrenous form, stages II-IV (according to Wagner), were analyzed. The accomplishment of surgical treatment or small amputation of foot and preservation of the extremity supportive function was tried in every patient. Optimization of the patients surgical treatment was elaborated, basing on clinical investigations data, rheovasography and estimation of local blood circulation in tissues according to hydrogen clearance. In 79.2% of observations the satisfactory outcome was achieved with the lower extremity preservation. In 21.8% patients after high amputation of extremity postoperative mortality had constituted 9.8%.

Standardized patient care guidelines reduce infectious morbidity in appendectomy patients

BACKGROUND

Surgical wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess remain common infectious complications after appendectomy, especially in the setting of a perforated or gangrenous appendix. We therefore developed a clinical protocol for the management of appendicitis to decrease postoperative infectious complications.

METHODS

Between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 1999, 206 patients with appendicitis were treated on protocol. Retrospectively, the charts were reviewed for all protocol patients as well as for 232 patients with appendicitis treated in the year prior to protocol initiation. Data were collected on surgical wound infections and intra-abdominal abscesses.

RESULTS

There were significantly fewer infectious complications in the protocol group than in the nonprotocol group (20 [9%] versus 8 [4%]; P <0.05). In patients with a perforated or gangrenous appendix, the infectious complication rate was reduced from 33% to 13% (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of infectious complications after appendectomy can be significantly reduced with a standardized approach to antibiotic therapy and wound management.

Bilateral renal vein thrombosis as a complication of gangrenous appendicitis

Bilateral renal vein thrombosis after an appendectomy has never been reported in the pediatric literature. We describe the case of a 10-year-old boy who developed this very unusual complication following appendectomy for gangrenous appendicitis with peritonitis. Color duplex Doppler is the most appropriate investigation to allow correct diagnosis and immediate medical treatment. Peritoneal dialysis is a simple and effective tool to prevent permanent damage to renal function.

Intestinal ischemia and peripheral gangrene in a patient with chronic renal failure

Gastrointestinal complications are common in patients with renal failure and result in significant morbidity and mortality. Systemic calciphylaxis is an uncommon complication of renal failure, characterized by disseminated intravascular calcification and associated with progressive vascular compromise. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, elevated transaminases, and skin manifestations consistent with a vasculitic process. Hand films and skin biopsies showed extensive vascular calcification, and a computerized tomography scan confirmed colonic perforation and disseminated visceral vascular calcification. Histologic analysis of the resected skin and colonic tissues revealed extensive ischemic damage and mural calcification of medium to large vessels. Gastrointestinal involvement has been reported in only 3 prior cases of calciphylaxis; consequently, gastroenterologists are often unaware of this disease entity and may fail to recognize it, even in patients with the classical presentation. Prompt diagnosis is crucial, as parathyroidectomy may result in clinical improvement in up to two thirds of patients who present with elevated parathyroid hormone levels.

Is noma neonatorum a presentation of ecthyma gangrenosum in the newborn?

Noma neonatorum was suggested as a distinct entity characterized by a gangrenous process of the nose, oral cavity, eyelids and perineum that was almost universally fatal in premature infants with Pseudomonas sepsis. We report the first case of noma neonatorum in a 26-week-gestation twin born in the United States. Our case is consistent with previous descriptions of noma neonatorum; however, we question the distinction between noma neonatorum and a neonatal presentation of ecthyma gangrenosum.

Electromyographic mixed nerve and cutaneous silent period in evaluating the A-delta fibres in a patient with hereditary sensory-autonomic neuropathy

The aim of this study was to evaluate A-delta fibre function in a patient with hereditary sensory-autonomic neuropathy (HSAN). We used the mixed and cutaneous silent period techniques in addition to a conventional electromyographic investigation in a patient with type 2 HSAN, a rare disease characterised by wide-spread sensory and variable autonomic dysfunction caused by incomplete development of sensory and autonomic neurons. Whereas the stimulation of one digital nerve did not show any evidence of silent period in either the left or the right hand, the simultaneous stimulation of two digital nerves, as well as the stimulation of a mixed nerve, revealed a measurable delayed and shortened silent period. These data suggest that a spatial summation mediated by A-delta fibres was required for generation of the silent period in this patient and that combining the CSP and MNSP may be of practical use in evaluating impairment of the small myelinated fibres.

Tropical idiopathic lower limb gangrene: case report

Tropical idiopathic lower limb gangrene is a rare disease. It was first described by Gelfand amongst the indigenous inhabitants of present day Zimbabwe. It is a bilateral and simultaneous gangrene of both lower extremities due to no obvious cause and usually seen in men during the second and fourth decade of life. The onset is always sudden and the first sign is oedema of both feet accompanied by pain. The patients are usually people who have been previously healthy. This is a report of a clinical variant of the disease.

[Dermo-hypodermitis and necrotizing fasciitis]

Acute gangrenous dermo-hypodermitis and necrotizing fasciitis are potentially life-threatening infections of skin and soft tissues, which may be difficult to recognize at an early stage. A combination of local signs (erythema, mottling, bullous formation) and of symptoms suggestive of sepsis should prompt early suspicion and therapeutic intervention. Group A streptococci remain the major pathogen involved in necrotizing fasciitis involving extremities, following minor trauma or surgery, and sometimes apparently spontaneously. The most severe form is streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, where production of exotoxins (superantigens) is a major factor contributing to the severity of the syndrome. A number of other pathogens, often combined in mixed aerobic-anaerobic infections may be involved, especially in post-surgical and perineal gangrene. Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy, and should be considered as soon as the clinical suspicion arises. Antibiotic therapy is based on penicillins (penicillin G for streptococcal gangrene, or beta-lactamases penicillins in polymicrobial infections). New therapeutic approaches (clindamycin and immunoglobulins) may be useful in streptococcal toxic shock. The prognosis appears to have improved in recent years with early therapeutic intervention, but remains largely dependent on the severity of the septic response and underlying diseases.

Venous gangrene of lower extremities and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis

This is a study of the venous gangrene of lower extremities and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. We report on a premature infant who developed phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) in both lower extremities in association with S. aureus sepsis, resulting in gangrene of the right foot. Non-pitting edema and cyanosis of the digits of the right lower extremity were noted 48 hours after hypotension and severe shock due to S. aureus sepsis. Intravenous antibiotics, isotonic fluids, and heparin were administered. Twenty-four hours later, edema and ischemic changes of the first and fifth left toes were also noted. Doppler flow study showed flow signals in both right and left popliteal arteries. However, there were no Doppler signals in neither right nor left popliteal vein. Emergency fasciotomies were performed on both lower limbs. The progression of the gangrene was limited to the right foot. There was complete resolution of PCD in both lower extremities. To the best of our knowledge, the association of S. aureus sepsis with PCD and venous gangrene in an infant has not been reported previously. This case illustrates the need for early recognition of PCD and aggressive intervention.

[Unsatisfactory pain treatment in attacks of acute intermittent porphyria. Vasodilation an alternative if the pain is shown to be the pain of intestinal angina]

Abdominal pain is by far the most serious symptom in attacks of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). Its cause is unknown. This case suggests visceral ischemia as a possible cause of the abdominal pain. A 31-year-old woman with recurrent bouts died during an attack; the autopsy revealed a 20 cm necrotic gangrene in the ileum. A protracted intestinal vasospasm could have been the immediate cause of death. The question as to whether intestinal angina could be the cause of abdominal pain in acute intermittent porphyria is discussed.

Non-thermic skin affections

The Centre for Burns can help by its means (material, technical and personal) in the treatment of burns with extensive and deep losses of the skin cover and other tissue structures and in some affections with a different etiology (non-thermic affections). Indicated for admission are, in particular, extensive exfoliative affections--Stevens-Johnson's syndrome (SJS), Lyell's syndrome--toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), deep skin and tissue affections associated with fulminant purpura (PF), possibly other affections (epidermolysis bullosa, posttraumatic avulsions etc.). The similarity with burn injuries with loss of the skin cover grade II is typical, in particular in exfoliative affections with a need for adequate fluid replacement in the acute stage and aseptic surgical treatment of the affected area from the onset of the disease. In conditions leading to full thickness skin loss, in addition to general treatment rapid plastic surgical interventions dominate.

Gangrene in the distal extremity of all 4 limbs of a 2-week-old foal

Wet gangrene developed in all 4 limbs following repair of a rupture in the lower urinary tract in a 2-week-old foal. Dehydration and hypoxemia are suspected as the inciting causes of the necrosis.

Peripheral gangrene complicating idiopathic and recessive hemolytic uremic syndromes

Three patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) developed peripheral gangrene. Bilateral carotid artery thromboses occurred in one of these patients after recovery from HUS. One patient had a long history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In the second patient, a flu-like illness preceded the onset of HUS. The third was one of two sisters, with the HUS appearing more than 1 year apart. None had evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation or infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient with rheumatoid arthritis had renal cortical necrosis but recovered moderate renal function after treatment with dialysis and plasmapheresis for 6 months. The child with a genetic form of HUS died of renal failure and had massive cortical necrosis and vascular thrombosis at autopsy. This is the first report of peripheral gangrene in children with idiopathic HUS and autosomal recessive HUS.