Port site necrotising fasciitis following laparoscopic appendicectomy

Case report of open appendectomy in treating acute perforated appendicitis with necrotizing fasciitis of the abdominal wall: A rare complication of a common disease

Acute appendicitis can be associated with uncommon complications such as necrotizing fasciitis. We present a case of a 37-year-old woman referred to our hospital with a 1-week history of significant weakness, anorexia, and mild abdominal pain. According to laboratory and radiographic data, the patient was diagnosed with perforated appendicitis and gangrene.

Port site infection in laparoscopic surgery: A review of its management

Laparoscopic surgery (LS), also termed minimal access surgery, has brought a paradigm shift in the approach to modern surgical care. Early postoperative recovery, less pain, improved aesthesis and early return to work have led to its popularity both amongst surgeons and patients. Its application has progressed from cholecystectomies and appendectomies to various other fields including gastrointestinal surgery, urology, gynecology and oncosurgery. However, LS has its own package of complications. Port site infection (PSI), although infrequent, is one of the bothersome complications which undermine the benefits of minimal invasive surgery. Not only does it add to the morbidity of the patient but also spoils the reputation of the surgeon. Despite the advances in the field of antimicrobial agents, sterilization techniques, surgical techniques, operating room ventilation, PSIs still prevail. The emergence of rapid growing atypical mycobacteria with multidrug resistance, which are the causative organism in most of the cases, has further compounded the problem. PSIs are preventable if appropriate measures are taken preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively. PSIs can often be treated non-surgically, with early identification and appropriate management. Macrolides, quinolones and aminoglycosides antibiotics do show promising activity against the atypical mycobacteria. This review article highlights the clinical burden, presentations and management of PSIs in LS as shared by various authors in the literature. We have given emphasis to atypical mycobacteria, which are emerging as a common etiological agent for PSIs in LS. Although the existing literature lacks consensus regarding PSI management, the complication can be best avoided by strictly abiding by the commandments of sterilization techniques of the laparoscopic instruments with appropriate sterilizing agent.

Necrotising fasciitis due to an infected sebaceous cyst

The current case presents a patient who was admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of cellulitis of the right groin. In the following days, the patient's condition deteriorated and developed a septic shock. Exploration in the operating room showed a necrotising fasciitis of the adductor muscles, with an infected sebaceous cyst in the inguinal crest as port d'entrée. After extensive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, haemodynamic and respiratory support, the patient recovered. Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but very lethal condition, which necessitates aggressive surgical therapy and antibiotic support. The current case report is the first report to show a necrotising fasciitis due to an infected sebaceous cyst.