Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis associated with propranolol usage: a case report and review of the literature

Association between beta-blocker utilization and heart failure mortality in the peritoneal dialysis population: a cohort study

Background

The prognostic significance of beta(β)-blocker therapy in patients at end-stage renal disease, specifically those receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) and presenting with heart failure, remains inadequately elucidated due to limited research conducted thus far.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort comprising 608 patients receiving PD between September 2007 and March 2019, with a subsequent follow-up period extending until December 2020. Cox regression and propensity score matching weighted analysis was used to model adjusted hazard ratios for β-blocker use with heart failure-related mortality. Competing risk analysis and subgroup analysis were carried out to further elucidate the correlation.

Results

β-blockers were prescribed for 56.1% of the peritoneal dialysis patients. Heart failure occurred in 43.4% of the total population and 15.5% of deaths were due to heart failure. The prescription of β-blockers was associated with a 43% lower adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for heart failure death within the cohort (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36-0.89; P = 0.013). Even after accounting for competing risk events, patients in the group using β-blockers demonstrated a significantly lower cumulative risk of heart failure-related mortality compared to those not using β-blockers (P = 0.007). This protective effect of β-blockers was also observed in subgroup analyses. Conversely, β-blocker use had no statistically significant associations with all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

The use of β-blockers was associated with a reduced risk of heart failure-related mortality in the PD population. Future randomized clinical trials are warranted to confirm the beneficial effect of β-blockers in the context of PD.

Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis: A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare clinical entity that may cause small bowel obstruction. It is characterized by a thick fibrocollagenous cocoon-like membrane. Surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment. A 36-year-old Pakistani man presented with recurrent attacks of colicky abdominal pain, distention, vomiting, and constipation. Abdominal CT revealed a thick enhanced membrane forming a sac that contained clusters of small intestinal loops. Exploratory laparotomy showed a thick membrane containing the small bowel and extensive inter-loop adhesions. The sac underwent decortication and excision, inter-loop adhesions were released, and an appendectomy was performed. The patient tolerated the procedure and was discharged in good condition.

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis in a long-term propranolol user

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare cause of bowel obstruction that is characterized by the encasement of the small bowel by a thick, whitish, and fibrous membrane. The pathophysiology of SEP is poorly understood and preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Previous reports suggest that SEP may be linked to the chronic use of β-adrenergic blockers. A 46-year-old man with liver cirrhosis and end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis presented with recurrent abdominal pain and borborygmi. He had been taking propranolol to prevent bleeding from gastroesophageal varices for the past 15 years. Abdominal computed tomography showed ileal loops encapsulated by soft tissue with dilatation of the proximal small bowel on the right side of the abdomen. Barium follow-through showed conglomerated distal ileal loops with a cauliflower-like appearance. Explorative laparotomy revealed a thick, fibrous, whitish capsule encapsulating the ileal loops. The covering membrane was dissected and excised, resulting in an improvement in symptoms after surgery. Accordingly, a final diagnosis of SEP was made. Due to the lack of other apparent causes for SEP, we conclude that in this case, the long-term use of propranolol may be associated with the development of SEP.

Sclerosing peritonitis, a rare complication after intestinal transplant. Report of one case successfully treated with adjustment of immunosuppression

Sclerosing peritonitis is a complication described in different clinical situations, such as patients that underwent prolonged peritoneal dialysis or renal transplantation with previous history of peritoneal dialysis. The origin of this entity is unclear so far and it is believed that several mechanisms may contribute to its development. The hallmark of sclerosing peritonitis is the continuous accumulation of fibrocollagenous deposits in the intestinal wall and mesenteries causing progressive adhesion of the intestinal loops and mesenteric retraction resulting in intestinal obstruction. Also, it has been described as a rare complication after intestinal transplant that might lead to graft failure. In this report, we describe a case of sclerosing peritonitis after intestinal transplantation that was successfully treated with modifications in the immunosuppressive regime allowing restitution of gastrointestinal transit and intestinal autonomy.

Idiopathic sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis: an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP), also called encapsulating peritonitis, is a rare and benign cause of intestinal obstruction of unknown etiology. Its onset may be acute or subacute although there are some reports with a two-month history. More commonly, this entity is secondary to chronic peritoneal dialysis, ventriculoperitoneal and peritoneovenous shunting, the use of β-blockers and systemic lupus erythematous. Recurrent episodes of bacterial peritonitis, intestinal tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, familial Mediterranean fever, gastrointestinal cancer, liver transplantation, intra-abdominal fibrogenic foreign bodies, and luteinized ovarian thecomas are also related to SEP. The idiopathic presentation is more rare. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, malnutrition, and clinically palpable mass characterize the clinical features. Diagnosis is frequently made with gross findings during surgery, imaging workup and histopathology. The authors report the case of a 36-year-old male patient with a 10-day history of abdominal pain that was operated on because of intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis was made preoperatively and confirmed by the intraoperative findings and histopathology.

Idiopathic encapsulating peritonitis: report of two cases

This report presents two cases of young males who developed the rare idiopathic form of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) presented as partial bowel obstruction, both diagnosed during surgical treatment, with satisfactory outcomes. Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is a rare and enigmatic condition, characterized by intraperitoneal fibrosclerosis, which causes intestinal obstruction. It is a chronic entity with a poorly elucidated pathophysiology, leading to the constitution of a thick white nacreous fibrosis membrane that wraps the bowel in a concertina-like fashion with some adhesions configuring an intra-abdominal cocoon. Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is reported in a wide variety of patients, including those who have undergone peritoneal dialysis, young adolescent girls, cirrhotic patients after peritoneal-venous shunting, and patients treated with β-blockers. Nevertheless, the etiology of SEP remains obscure. This entity presents many difficulties in preoperative diagnosis because of its peculiar characteristics. Recognition of the SEP results in proper management and prevents unnecessary bowel resection. Regardless of cause, the treatment of the obstruction is surgical, with dissection of the encasing membrane from the intestine and separation of adherent loops of small bowel until they are laid free and returned to their normal configuration. The prognosis after appropriate surgical therapy is good, but depends on coexisting diseases.