Management of Complicated Appendicitis in the Pediatric Population: When Surgery Doesn't Cut It

Doxycycline Sclerotherapy of a Cervical Cystic Hygroma: A Caribbean Institution Experience

Cervical cystic lymphangiomas are rare benign tumors that pose a formidable challenge to surgeons confronted with managing this uncommon entity. Due to the intimacy with which these cystic lesions blend with critical cervical structures, a considerable number of patients who undergo surgical management are often plagued with recurrence and morbidity. As a result, doxycycline sclerotherapy has become an attractive, safe, and effective alternative as a primary treatment modality in a select group of pediatric patients. This case report presents an 18-month-old patient with a large cervical cystic hygroma that was effectively treated with exclusive doxycycline sclerotherapy.

Back to the Future: Lipiodol in Lymphography-From Diagnostics to Theranostics

Lipiodol is an iodinated poppy seed oil first synthesized in 1901. Originally developed for therapeutic purposes, it has mainly become a diagnostic contrast medium since the 1920s. At the end of the 20th century, Lipiodol underwent a transition back to a therapeutic agent, as exemplified by its increasing use in lymphangiography and lymphatic interventions. Nowadays, indications for lymphangiography include chylothorax, chylous ascites, chyluria, and peripheral lymphatic fistula or lymphoceles. In these indications, Lipiodol alone has a therapeutic effect with clinical success in 51% to 100% of cases. The 2 main access sites to the lymphatic system for lymphangiography are cannulation of lymphatic vessels in the foot (transpedal) and direct puncture of (mainly inguinal) lymph nodes (transnodal). In case of failure of lymphangiography alone to occlude the leaking lymphatic vessel as well as in indications such as protein-losing enteropathy, postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea, or plastic bronchitis, lymphatic vessels can also be embolized directly by injecting a mixture of Lipiodol and surgical glues (most commonly in thoracic duct embolization). The aim of this article is to review the historical role of Lipiodol and the evolution of its clinical application in lymphangiography over time until the current state-of-the-art lymphatic imaging techniques and interventions.

Let It Chill: The Role of Interventional Radiology in Complicated Appendicitis. A Case Report

Appendicitis is a common cause of acute abdominal syndrome that affects different group ages. In some cases, complications such as abscess formation or perforation may make taking an immediate surgical approach difficult. We report a case of a 39-year-old male who presented with appendicitis, with the presence of a well-circumscribed abscess. The surgeons and interventional radiologists at our institution preferred a conservative approach by placing ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage and performing an interval appendectomy weeks after the initial symptoms. Through the presentation of this case, we want to make physicians, mostly in developing countries, aware of the benefits of interventional radiology in the management of complicated appendicitis.

[Deep Vein Thrombosis Due to Compression of Huge Hepatic Cyst Successfully Treated by Inferior Vena Cava Filter and Cyst Drainage]

An 88-year-old woman complained of right quadrant abdominal pain and severe edema in both legs. She had a history of pulmonary embolism one month ago. Abdomen CT showed a huge hepatic cyst compressing the intrahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). The venogram CT showed multifocal thrombosis in the iliocaval and both lower extremity veins. Percutaneous hepatic cyst drainage was carried out. Fluid analysis presented leukocytosis, which suggested an infected hepatic cyst. To prevent secondary pulmonary thromboembolism, an IVC filter was inserted before catheter drainage for the hepatic cyst. One week later, abdominal pain was relieved. Then, sclerotherapy for the remnant hepatic cyst was performed by ethanol. Follow-up CT showed an increased amount of thrombosis in the iliocaval and left calf vein, but the IVC filter prevented another thromboembolic event successfully. The patient started dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant, and compression stockings were applied to both legs. After one month, no visible thrombosis in the pelvis or either extremity was detected in abdominal CT. This case suggests that a huge hepatic cyst, especially with infection, should be considered as a possible cause of deep vein thrombosis if no other risk factors for thromboembolism exist.

Scoring system for differentiating perforated and non-perforated pediatric appendicitis

OBJECTIVES

Appendicitis is the most common indication for emergency pediatric surgery and its most significant complication is perforation. Perforated appendicitis (PA) may be managed conservatively, whereas non-perforated appendicitis (NP) is managed surgically. Recent studies have shown that ultrasound (US) is effective for differentiating between PA and NP, and does not expose pediatric patients to ionizing radiation. The purpose of this study is to enhance the accuracy of differentiation with a novel scoring system based on clinical, laboratory, and US findings.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 243 patients aged 2-17 years who presented between 2006 and 2013 with surgically proven appendicitis, of whom 60 had perforation. Clinical and laboratory data were collected and US images evaluated by a pediatric radiologist. To create the scoring system, point values were assigned to each parameter. A randomly selected training sample of 137 subjects was used to create a scoring prediction model. The model was tested on the remaining 106 patients.

RESULTS

Scores of ≥6, ≥11, and ≥15 yielded specificities of 64, 91, and 99%, and sensitivities of 96, 61, and 29%, respectively (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We have designed a scoring system incorporating clinical, laboratory, and sonographic findings which can differentiate PA from NP with high specificity.