Surgical outcome of jejunum-jejunum intussusception secondary to Rapunzel syndrome: a case report

Background

Adult intestinal intussusception is a rare condition caused by the mechanical disruption of bowel motility. A bezoar is defined as indigestible material inside the gastrointestinal tract that develops into a trapped mass; the most frequent bezoar is a trichobezoar. When a trichobezoar extends into the small intestine it is defined as Rapunzel’s syndrome. Literature describing complications related to this pathology remains scarce.

Case presentation

A 16-year-old Mexican girl presented to our emergency room with acute abdomen and a presumptive diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography was suggestive of intussusception. Surgery confirmed a jejunal-jejunal intussusception with a mass within the gastric cavity extending into her small intestine, corresponding to a trichobezoar. A manual intussusception reduction and a gastrotomy with extraction of the trichobezoar were performed.

Conclusions

We present a case of a jejunum intussusception as a complication of Rapunzel syndrome. Our patient had a favorable outcome after surgical intervention with a manual intussusception reduction, with retrograde displacement of the trichobezoar into the gastric lumen, and a complete extraction through a gastrostomy. Follow-up included psychiatric evaluation.

[Acute appendicitis during pregnancy: report of 4 cases]

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis is the more frequent no obstetric surgical emergency during pregnancy with an incidence of 1 in 1500 pregnancies. The clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the physiological changes of pregnancy itself. If not treated early increases the risk of maternal and fetal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the diagnosis and treatment of four cases of acute appendicitis during pregnancy.

CLINICAL CASE

Four cases of acute appendicitis during pregnancy diagnosed in the period of a month. Gestational age at diagnosis of appendicitis was between 8 and 13 week. All patients underwent laparotomy; three cases were appendicitis phase II and one phase III. The preoperative was managed with indomethacin and ceftriaxone. There were no maternal or obstetric complications.

CONCLUSIONS

An early diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis during pregnancy, and a multidisciplinary approach between surgeon, obstetrician and anesthesiologist is the basis for success in the management of these patients.