Diffuse Nickel Hypersensitivity Reaction Post-cholecystectomy in a Young Female

Nickel, a silvery-hard metallic element used in corrosion-resistant alloys, is widely used in the medical field. Nickel has aided in medical advancements; however, it has been known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Retained foreign bodies due to surgical procedures may cause postoperative complications such as allergic reactions. This case involves a 30-year-old female presenting with non-specific symptoms involving multiple organ systems, notably with abdominal pain. Due to chronic symptoms, the patient was tested for metal allergies and diagnosed with hypersensitivity reactions to nickel surgical clips that were previously inserted during cholecystectomy. Subsequently, the patient had surgical removal of the foreign bodies, which led to significant improvement of her symptoms immediately. This case demonstrates a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to a foreign body involving multiple body systems and vague symptoms making the diagnosis challenging. It is important to carefully evaluate the patient's past medical history including history of any allergies. It also brings attention to the necessity of performing metal skin patch tests preoperatively for individuals with a history of any type of allergies.

Achromobacter xylosoxidans Subdiaphragmatic Collection as a Result of a Dropped Stone During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

After a cholecystectomy, dropped stones can serve as a nidus for abscess formation. Intrabdominal abscesses tend to cause irritation and inflammation of the peritoneum and are thus rarely asymptomatic. This report discusses a 38-year-old female complaining of a recurrent right upper quadrant pain that led to multiple hospital admissions. Her surgical history was significant for cholecystectomy six years back complicated by a retroperitoneal abscess which was drained twice. A computed tomography (CT) scan was done, and she was diagnosed with a subdiaphragmatic collection as a result of a dropped stone.

The Correlation Between Surgical Procedures and Quality of Life Among Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Perspective Saudi Study

INTRODUCTION

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is among the common prevalent diseases in Saudi Arabia. It is associated with several complications that sometimes necessitate surgical procedures. Those patients can also have a lower quality of life (QoL) due to several reasons. Our aim in this study is to highlight the association between sociodemographic data, clinical data, and SCD-related surgeries in patients with their QoL.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed using a validated Arabic version of the World Health Organization QoL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire distributed in electronic form. Male and female Arabic speakers (18+ years old) of Saudi origin were included in this study; those who did not meet these criteria were excluded.

RESULTS

We distributed 309 questionnaires to the targeted subjects; however, only 204 met our inclusion criteria. Our findings revealed 135 female respondents and 69 male respondents. Interestingly, splenectomy was not significantly associated with a difference in all aspects of QoL in SCD patients. However, the data showed significantly lower respective mean scores for physical health (p=0.002 & p=0.022) and overall QoL (p=0.024 & p=0.042) for those who underwent cholecystectomy and hip arthroplasty. In contrast, shoulder arthroplasty appeared to be associated with significantly lower mean scores for physical health (T=-2.597; p=0.010) and the environmental aspect of QoL (T=-2.016; p=0.045).

CONCLUSION

Cholecystectomy, hip arthroplasty, and shoulder arthroplasty were significantly associated with lower QoL in SCD patients.