First Report of Preoperative Imaging Diagnosis of a Surgically Confirmed Case of Valentino's Syndrome

Valentino's syndrome: a bizarre clinical presentation

A perforated peptic or duodenal ulcer may cause an unusual expression of right lower quadrant pain. In Valentino's syndrome, the chemical fluid from the ulcer flows via the right paracolic gutter to the right iliac fossa, causing peritoneal irritation and chemical appendicitis which will mimic pain in the right lower quadrant. We report a case of a 23-year-old male patient who presented with cramping lower abdominal pain with fevers and vomiting. His pain was mostly in the right lower quadrant and radiated to his back. A perforation-related pneumoperitoneum was found on a computed tomography scan, along with an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and thickening of the pyloric antrum. Valentino's syndrome's aberrant clinical picture mimicking acute appendicitis is a pathognomonic presentation of the disease. Right lower abdominal pain should also prompt the scrutiny of atypical differentials, such as perforated ulcers. Physicians need to manage these patients with a high index of suspicion.

An Unusual Presentation of Valentino Syndrome With a Perforated Gastric Ulcer as a Cause of Abdominal Pain: A Case Report

Numerous pathologies can cause abdominal pain; thus, the surgeon's job is to precisely identify any pathologies that may require surgery and endanger the patient's life. Perforation of a gastric or duodenal ulcer associated with a clinical picture of acute appendicitis is known as Valentino syndrome (VS). To our knowledge, there are 22 cases of VS reported in the literature. We describe the clinical case of a 53-year-old female patient with abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa who came to the emergency room. A plain tomography was performed, which found free intraperitoneal fluid and free subdiaphragmatic air. Therefore, a laparotomy was performed, revealing a gastric perforation. VS is a rare pathology and when not recognized and managed properly, it can increase patients' mortality.

Valentino's syndrome: A rare and lethal differential diagnosis for acute appendicitis

Due to the rarity of the condition, Valentino’s syndrome is an underrated differential diagnosis for acute appendicitis. We describe a patient with Valentino’s syndrome in whom preoperative and intraoperative diagnoses were challenging due to misleading clinical, investigative, and morphological findings. A 31-year-old woman who was on methylprednisolone for sensory radiculopathy presented to the emergency department with acute right lower quadrant pain. The clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis was supported by the elevated inflammatory markers and ultrasonographic findings. An appendicectomy and an ovarian cystectomy were performed due to the findings of mild appendicitis and right ovarian endometrioma, respectively. Postoperatively, she developed peritonitis with a purulent bile-stained discharge from the surgical site and per vagina. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a retroperitoneal collection at the second lumbar vertebral level extending along the right paracolic gutter to the pelvis and intraperitoneal fluid collections in right lower quadrant and pelvis. An emergency exploratory laparotomy confirmed a perforation at the posterior aspect of the duodenum which was repaired with an omental patch. Unfortunately, relaparotomy and end ileostomy were required due to colonic perforation with the eroded drain tube. She made an uneventful recovery with intensive care and underwent ileostomy reversal after 12 weeks. We emphasize the clues to have a high degree of suspicion during preoperative and intraoperative evaluation to recognize this lethal mimicker of acute appendicitis.

Valentino's Syndrome (with Retroperitoneal Ulcer Perforation): A Rare Clinico-Anatomical Entity

Patient: Male, 51-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Valentinos syndrome • perforated duodenal ulcer to the retroperitoneum

Symptoms: Epigastric pain • loss of appetite • nausea • right lower quadrant abdominal pain

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Exploratory laparotomy

Specialty: Surgery

Valentino's Syndrome: A Life-Threatening Mimic of Acute Appendicitis

Perforated ulcers are a rare cause of abdominal pain, and may not be considered when pain is localized to the right lower quadrant (RLQ). This case highlights an unusual presentation of a perforated duodenal ulcer that presented with RLQ pain, which has been described as Valentino’s syndrome. Valentino’s syndrome occurs when gastric or duodenal fluids collect in the right paracolic gutter causing focal peritonitis and RLQ pain. This case highlights that perforated ulcers, while an uncommon cause of RLQ pain, must remain on the differential of any patient that has an abdominal examination consistent with peritonitis.