Antifungal Use in Perforated Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Western Australian Perspective

Background Perforated peptic ulcer disease has a high mortality rate, and there is consensus regarding the use of antifungals in the management of immunocompromised patients; however, there is variability in the utilization of antifungals in the non-immunocompromised cohort. This study aims to describe the current practice related to the use of antifungals in perforated peptic ulcer disease in Western Australia and to determine the peri-operative morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised cohort receiving antifungals. Methods Medical records of patients who underwent surgical repair of perforated peptic ulcer in all Western Australian tertiary hospitals between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, were reviewed retrospectively. Data regarding pre-operative patient factors such as age, gender, and comorbidities, post-operative outcomes such as intra-abdominal sepsis/bleeding, peri-operative antifungal prescription, and abundance of fungal growth on intra-operative samples were collected. Results The study included 359 patients. The antifungal prescription was variable. An American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 or more, presence of pre-operative shock and acidosis, and level of abundance of fungal growth on intra-operative samples were associated with antifungal prescription. Amongst the non-immunocompromised cohort, receiving antifungals was associated with higher morbidity. Conclusion The use of antifungals for patients with perforated peptic ulcer disease was variable. An ASA score of 3 or greater and pre-operative shock and acidosis are pre-operative factors predisposing patients to receiving antifungals. There was no difference in morbidity or mortality amongst immunocompromised patients regardless of antifungal prescription or non-prescription. However, in the non-immunocompromised cohort, those who received antifungals had a higher morbidity compared to those who did not.

Gastric Outlet Obstruction Secondary to Severe Thoracolumbar Scoliosis

A 78-year-old woman with a history of idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis presented with signs, symptoms, and imaging findings consistent with a gastric outlet obstruction secondary to the rib cage impinging on the pylorus of the stomach. She underwent an operative intervention and intra-operative findings were consistent with severe scoliosis with the right rib cage impinging on the pylorus, causing gastric outlet obstruction. A laparoscopic procedure was performed to pexy the greater curvature of the stomach to the left upper quadrant and a percutaneous endoscopic trans-gastric jejunostomy was inserted at the end. Thoracolumbar idiopathic scoliosis is a relatively benign common condition. However, with the increasing aging population and resultant higher incidence of progression to degenerative scoliosis, more patients are presenting with severe spinal and rib cage deformities that can cause rare intra-abdominal sequelae. We report the first case of a gastric outlet obstruction caused by the rib cage impinging on the pylorus in a patient with severe thoracolumbar scoliosis.

ECLAPTE: Effective Closure of LAParoTomy in Emergency-2023 World Society of Emergency Surgery guidelines for the closure of laparotomy in emergency settings

Laparotomy incisions provide easy and rapid access to the peritoneal cavity in case of emergency surgery. Incisional hernia (IH) is a late manifestation of the failure of abdominal wall closure and represents frequent complication of any abdominal incision: IHs can cause pain and discomfort to the patients but also clinical serious sequelae like bowel obstruction, incarceration, strangulation, and necessity of reoperation. Previous guidelines and indications in the literature consider elective settings and evidence about laparotomy closure in emergency settings is lacking. This paper aims to present the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) project called ECLAPTE (Effective Closure of LAParoTomy in Emergency): the final manuscript includes guidelines on the closure of emergency laparotomy.

Secondary extramedullary plasmacytoma in the absence of active multiple myeloma: a rare cause of small bowel obstruction

A 75-year-old woman with a history of multiple myeloma in remission presented with signs, symptoms and imaging findings consistent with a small bowel obstruction secondary to an intussusception. She underwent operative management, and intraoperative findings were consistent with an intussusception of mid small bowel as the cause of the small bowel obstruction. The offending portion of small bowel was resected, and histopathology confirmed a plasmacytoma deposit in the small bowel at the lead point of the intussusception. Secondary extramedullary plasmacytomas in the gastrointestinal system are rare but can have significant consequences like small bowel obstruction requiring operative management. We present a rare case that emphasizes the need to be highly suspicious for uncommon sequelae of multiple myeloma like secondary extramedullary plasmacytomas when managing patients with history of multiple myeloma in remission with concerning abdominal symptoms.