Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis 43 Years after Distal Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer

We herein report a case of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in a patient without chronic kidney disease after gastrectomy. A 69-year-old man underwent distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer at 25 years old. After 43 years, he developed bowel obstruction and underwent enterolysis of the encapsulated small intestine. A pathological examination of the capsular membranes revealed inflammation, foam, and giant cells that destroyed foreign substances. The patient was discharged 1.5 months later. Foreign body reactions to surgical instruments used in gastrectomy are considered a cause of EPS. EPS due to foreign body reactions to surgical instruments should also be considered in such cases.

Prediction of surgical outcomes in severe encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis using a computed tomography scoring system

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare and potential lethal complication of peritoneal dialysis characterized by bowel obstruction. Surgical enterolysis is the only curative therapy. Currently, there are no tools for predicting postsurgical prognosis. This study aimed to identify a computed tomography (CT) scoring system that could predict mortality after surgery in patients with severe EPS.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled patients with severe EPS who underwent surgical enterolysis in a tertiary referral medical center. The association of CT score with surgical outcomes including mortality, blood loss, and bowel perforation was analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients who underwent 37 procedures were recruited and divided into a survivor and non-survivor group. The survivor group had higher body mass indices (BMIs, 18.1 vs. 16.7 kg/m2, p = 0.035) and lower CT scores (11 vs. 17, p < 0.001) than the non-survivor group. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that a CT score of ≥15 could be considered a cutoff point to predict surgical mortality, with an area under the curve of 0.93, sensitivity of 88.9%, and specificity of 82.1%. Compared with the group with CT scores of <15, the group with CT scores of ≥15 had a lower BMI (19.7 vs. 16.2 kg/m2, p = 0.004), higher mortality (4.2% vs. 61.5%, p < 0.001), greater blood loss (50 vs. 400 mL, p = 0.007), and higher incidence of bowel perforation (12.5% vs. 61.5%, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

The CT scoring system could be useful in predicting surgical risk in patients with severe EPS receiving enterolysis.

Abdominal cocoon syndrome: Rare cause of intestinal obstruction-Case report and systematic review of literature

BACKGROUND

Abdominal cocoon or sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is an uncommon condition in which the small bowel is completely or partially encased by a thick fibrotic membrane. Our study presents a case of sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis and conducts a literature review.

METHODS

A bibliographic research was conducted. Our research comprised 97 articles. Gender, age, symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment were all included in the database of patient characteristics.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 51-year-old man complaining of a 2-day history of minor diffuse abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and constipation was presented in emergency department. Physical examination was indicative of intestinal obstruction. Laboratory tests were normal. Diffuse intraperitoneal fluid and dilated small intestinal loops were discovered on computed tomography (CT). An exploratory laparotomy was recommended, in which the sac membrane was removed and adhesiolysis was performed. He was discharged on the tenth postoperative day.

RESULTS

There were 240 cases of abdominal cocoon syndrome in total. In terms of gender, 151 of 240 (62.9%) were male and 89 of 240 (37%) were female. Ages between 20 and 40 are most affected. Symptoms include abdominal pain and obstruction signs. For the diagnosis of abdominal cocoon syndrome, CT may be the gold standard imaging method. The surgical operation was the treatment of choice in the vast majority of cases (96.7%). Only 69 of 239 patients (28.9%) were detected prior to surgery, and CT was applied in these cases.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal cocoon is a rare condition marked by recurrent episodes of intestinal obstruction. Surgical therapy is the most effective treatment option.

Concurrent development of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis and calciphylaxis in a patient with peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease

Both encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) and calciphylaxis are rare but severe complications involving patients with end-stage renal disease. In this report, we discuss a unique case of a 73-year-old female patient who had undergone 8 years of peritoneal dialysis for IgA nephropathy and concurrently developed these two synchronous complications within 3 months of each other. Diagnosis and management of both conditions were discussed in detail as well as the possible association between the two. With surgical treatment for EPS and measures to minimise bone mineral disorder abnormalities, both complications have been successfully managed to date.

Abdominal cocoon in children: A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Abdominal cocoon or “encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis” (EPS) is an uncommon and rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Only a few cases have been reported in paediatric patients. Typically, EPS is described as the primary form in young adolescent girls from tropical and subtropical countries because of viral peritonitis due to retrograde menstruation or a history of peritoneal dialysis. Most patients are asymptomatic or present with abdominal pain, which is likely to occur secondary to subacute bowel obstruction. Findings at imaging, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are often nonspecific. When diagnosed, EPS is characterized by total or partial encasement of the bowel within a thick fibrocollagenous membrane that envelopes the small intestine in the form of a cocoon because of chronic intraabdominal fibroinflammatory processes. The membrane forms a fibrous tissue sheet that covers, fixes, and finely constricts the gut, compromising its motility.

CASE SUMMARY

We present a case of EPS in a 12-year-old boy 8 wk after primary surgery for resection of symptomatic jejunal angiodysplasia. There was no history of peritoneal dialysis or drug intake.

CONCLUSION

In this report, we sought to highlight the diagnostic, surgical, and histopathological characteristics and review the current literature on EPS in paediatric patients.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: do not be too late for the right diagnosis! Case report and short literature review

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by an acquired, inflammatory fibrocollagenous membrane encasing the small intestine, resulting in symptoms of bowel obstruction. It is still unclear whether early surgical intervention has an advantage over conservative management, but, in most reviewed case reports, it is preferred to preserve the surgical management in patients not responding to conservative measures, or when bowel ischaemia is occurring. We report a case of a 58-year old patients, affected by chronic renal failure, on treatment with peritoneal dialysis, in which a late diagnosis of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis was made, and where surgical intervention was not sufficient to guarantee survival due to the late diagnosis.

[Abdominal cocoon syndrome in an eigth-year-old girl caused acute bowel obstruction]

This case report describes an eight-year-old girl who was admitted under the suspicion of gastroenteritis. The physical examination revealed symptoms of acute bowel obstruction, which was confirmed by abdominal CT scan. Explorative laparotomy showed a fibrotic membrane encapsulating the small intestine causing obstruction and ischaemia, and the perioperative diagnosis was abdominal cocoon syndrome. Two metres of the small intestine, excessive peritoneal membrane and the appendix was resected and an ileostomy was performed. The patient recovered with antibiotics, fluid therapy and parenteral nutrition.

Abdominal cocoon accompanied by multiple peritoneal loose body

RATIONALE

Abdominal cocoon and peritoneal loose body are both rare abdominal diseases.

PATIENT CONCERNS

The patient reported in this case was a 47-year-old man who suffered from abdominal pain and distension for 3 days.

DIAGNOSIS

X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple peritoneal loose body and small bowel obstruction, characterized by a total encapsulation of the small bowel with a fibrous membrane.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent surgical treatment and exploratory laparotomy confirmed the diagnosis of abdominal cocoon.

OUTCOMES

Histopathological examination of pelvic nodules confirmed peritoneal loose body.

LESSONS

To our knowledge, the herein reported case is the first abdominal cocoon that was accompanied by multiple peritoneal loose body.

A New Experience With Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis: Role of Early Intervention

After 20 years of peritoneal dialysis in Iran, we have encountered with several cases of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in past few years. Many of these cases remained undiagnosed until advanced stages due to lack of suspicion. In centers with more experience about EPS, mortality has decreased by early diagnostic interventions. Peritoneal dialysis nurses may not be aware of EPS and radiologists are usually not familiar with EPS, either. To increase knowledge about this condition, we decided to present this review article with the case study of one of the 1st patients with EPS at our center. Currently, we have had no data registry of EPS in Iran, yet. Our plan is to develop a national EPS registry in our country which will help to closely monitor these patients.

Time Is Not Always the Matter: An Instance of Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis Developing in a Patient on Peritoneal Dialysis for a Short Term

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is an infrequent but serious complication that is observed mostly in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). However it can occur after short-term PD, in association with "second hit" risk factors such as peritonitis, acute cessation of PD, or kidney transplantation with the use of calcineurin inhibitors.In our case, a young woman with second-hit risk factors presented with clinical and abdominal computed tomography findings consistent with EPS after short-term PD. She was treated conservatively with nutritional support and was discharged in improved and stable clinical status.In general, the diagnosis of EPS requires clinical findings of bowel obstruction combined with typical computed tomography imaging features. However, the clinical manifestations can be very vague, and the diagnosis is often unclear. A recent study categorized EPS into 4 clinical stages, from pre-EPS to chronic ileus, with associated management from conservative treatment to surgical intervention.In association with second-hit risk factors, EPS can occur after short-term PD. Severity is variable, and the outcome is often devastating. Timely recognition and expert management of EPS can change the outcome very favorably.

[Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis in a patient who had previously been in peritoneal dialysis]

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare but potentially fatal complication to long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). We describe a case of EPS in a 58-year-old patient who had formerly had PD. The interdisciplinary approach for diagnosis and possible treatments in this condition is discussed.

[Rare case of systemic lupus erythematosus with encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis during hemodialysis]

A 57-year old male patient was admitted to our hospital because of severe vomiting and abdominal pain with massive ascites. He had been diagnosed as mixed connective tissue disease in 1997 and lupus nephritis ISN III (A/C) + V in 2003. Treatment was started with intravenous steroid pulse therapy combined with an immunosuppressant resulting in improvement of his proteinuria and serological activity. In 2008, the disease activity flared and he was admitted to our hospital with nephrotic syndrome. Hemodialysis was unavoidable, despite treatment with intravenous steroid pulse therapy and plasma exchange. We continued to treat him with oral prednisolone and tacrolimus. However, for personal reasons, he terminated tacrolimus treatment and massive ascites remained because of insufficient hemodialysis. Since the end of 2011, he suffered repeated abdominal pain with ileus and encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) was detected. In February 2013, he underwent synechotomy for EPS. Here, we present a rare case of EPS in a hemodialysis patient.

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis--correlation of radiological findings at CT with underlying pathogenesis

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare entity most commonly associated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Several imaging features at computed tomography (CT) are common to many diseases; however, appreciation of the features unique to this condition interpreted with the appropriate clinical findings is crucial to diagnosis.

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (cocoon bowel) presenting after laparotomy for splenic abscess

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis, previously referred to as cocoon bowel, is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction that often results in obstruction due to the development of a fibrous enhancing membrane that encases multiple small bowel loops. We present a case of a patient who presented to our institution with abdominal distension and guarding. Computed tomography was obtained which revealed findings concerning for sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis. Sonographic imaging was also obtained and provides correlative imaging.

[Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of ileus]

Partial or total encapsulation of bowel in a membrane-like sac is a rare cause of mechanical bowel obstruction. Three different types of encapsulation have been described: a congenital, a secondary and an idiopathic or "abdominal cocoon". The present case describes a 34-year-old male, who was admitted with small bowel obstruction caused by an "abdominal cocoon", which was successfully treated by surgery. Precise preoperative diagnosis is often missed, but a computed tomography visualizing bowel loops enclosed in a membrane is a characteristic finding.

Chronic abdominal pain in a patient on maintenance peritoneal dialysis

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is an uncommon but one of the most serious complications in patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). The diffuse thickening and sclerosis of the peritoneal membrane that characterizes EPS leads to decreased ultrafiltration and ultimately to bowel obstruction. Given that the prognosis of established EPS is poor, early recognition of the preceding symptoms is essential. Computed tomography of the abdomen is a reliable and noninvasive diagnostic tool. Typical computed tomography features of EPS include peritoneal calcification, bowel wall thickening, peritoneal thickening, loculated fluid collections, and tethered bowel loops. These findings are diagnostic of EPS in the appropriate clinical setting. Here we present a case report of chronic abdominal pain in a patient on maintenance PD representing a case of EPS.

Left paramesocolic hernia presenting as post appendicectomy abdominal cocoon

We describe a rare case of left mesocolic hernia presenting as post appendicectomy intestinal obstruction in a girl. Laparotomy confirmed partial peritoneal encapsulation of upper small bowel due to herniation of jejunal loops into the left mesocolic hernia sac. Reduction of contents, resection of the sac and repair of the defect concluded the procedure uneventfully.

CT in predicting abdominal cocoon in patients on peritoneal dialysis

AIM

To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) signs of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) as predictive factors for the evolution to abdominal cocoon (AC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical features and CT signs of 90 patients on PD were retrospectively reviewed. According to the clinical features, they were divided into three groups (asymptomatic, moderate, or severe). Clinical results were correlated with previously reported CT signs of EPS, i.e., peritoneal thickening, peritoneal calcifications, loculated fluids, small bowel faeces sign, small bowel obstruction, clustered bowel loops, pseudo sac, signs of bowel ischaemia or necrosis. AC was defined at CT by the association of clustered bowel loops and a pseudo sac. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test and the t-test.

RESULTS

Although demonstrated in symptomatic patients (p=0.041), the occurrence of AC was not correlated with the severity of the symptoms (p=0.16). Among the CT signs, the presence of loculated fluids (p=0.011), a small bowel faeces sign (p=0.002); and small bowel obstruction (p=0.0001) were found to be statistically correlated with the appearance of an AC. Moreover, the association of loculated fluids, small bowel faeces sign, small bowel obstruction was extremely sensitive and specific in the development of AC (sensitivity=67%, specifity=100%, positive predictive value=100%, negative predictive value=96%).

CONCLUSION

CT should be carried out in every symptomatic patient on PD. Indeed, the association of loculated fluid, small bowel faeces sign, and small bowel obstruction enables the prediction of the development of AC, which is likely to curtail PD and require surgery.

Incidence of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis at a single U.S. university center

Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a life-threatening complication of peritoneal dialysis. Few data are available from the United States about the incidence of EPS over time. To examine that question, we retrospectively examined our PD registry, in existence for 30 years, to identify patients with EPS. All other data were collected prospectively. We asked a radiologist to review all computed tomography (CT) scans taken at the time of EPS diagnosis. Incidence of EPS in our 676 patients was 1.2%, but rose to 15% after 6 years, and 38% after 9 years on PD. Peritonitis rates were not high in patients that developed EPS. Scoring of CT scans confirmed the diagnosis of EPS in all patients. Treatment was variable, but in recent years, steroids and tamoxifen were generally used when EPS was recognized. Mortality related to EPS was 38%. Several years after diagnosis, 3 patients are still alive; none is on total parenteral nutrition. In summary, the risk of EPS is low early in the course of PD, but increases progressively at 6 years and beyond. Imaging by CT is useful for diagnosing EPS. Our preliminary results suggest that steroids and tamoxifen are beneficial. Multicenter studies on this serious problem are needed.

Computed tomographic findings characteristic for encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography (CT) is often used to confirm the diagnosis of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) but there is no consensus on specific CT abnormalities. To establish CT findings characteristic for EPS, we compared CT findings between EPS patients and long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients without EPS.

METHODS

We included as cases all EPS patients in our center from 1996 to 2008 that underwent a CT scan at the time of diagnosis. Controls were all other long-term PD patients (PD duration > or = 4 years) without EPS that had a CT scan for different reasons. The CT scans were blindly and independently reviewed by 3 radiologists: 2 abdominal radiologists with PD knowledge (Observers 1 and 2) and 1 radiologist without PD experience (Observer 3).

RESULTS

We included 15 EPS patients and 16 controls. Observer 1 found 6 CT findings that were significantly more often present in EPS than in controls (p < or = 0.05): peritoneal enhancement, thickening, and calcifications; adhesions of bowel loops; signs of obstruction; and fluid loculation/septation. Observer 2 scored almost identically but Observer 3 scored differently. The sensitivity and specificity of a combination of specific CT findings were, respectively, 100% and 94% for Observers 1 and 2, and 79% and 88% for Observer 3.

CONCLUSION

CT scans showed characteristic abnormalities that were significantly more often present in EPS patients compared to long-term PD control patients. CT can be used to confirm the diagnosis of EPS when experienced radiologists apply a combination of specific CT findings.