Massive Pneumoperitoneum After Scuba Diving

Pneumoperitoneum usually indicates rupture of a hollow viscus and considered a surgical emergency. But air may also enter the peritoneum from the lung or the genital organs in female without visceral perforation. While scuba diving, the rapid ascent is usually controlled by placing in a decompression chamber and the excess gas volume is exhaled. Failure to allow this excess gas to escape will result in overdistension of air passage, which may rupture resulting in pulmonary interstitial emphysema or, if air enters the circulation, air embolus can occur. Pneumo-peritoneum is a rare complication of diving accidents. While the majority of cases are not related to an intraabdominal catastrophy, more than 20% have been the result of gastric rupture. We report a 42-yr-old male patient with massive pneumoperitoneum after scuba diving, who presented himself with dyspnea and abdominal distension. Knowledge of this rare condition and its benign course may allow the emergency physician and surgeon to order appropriate studies to help avoid unnecessary surgical treatment. It is important to determine promptly whether the air emanated from a ruptured viscus or was introduced from an extraperitoneal source. Free air in the abdomen does not always indicate a ruptured intra-abdominal viscus.

Clinical Utility and Role of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography in the Evaluation of Choledocholithiasis Prior to Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

PURPOSE: To compare the findings of MR cholangiography with those of ultrasound and biochemistry in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis, and to evaluate the clinical utility and role of MR cholangiography prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the radiologic findings and clinical records of 103 consecutive patients in whom choledocholithiasis was suspected and who underwent both ultrasound and MR cholangiography. For MR imaging, a 1.5T unit was used, and axial T1-FLASH, True FISP, and oblique coronal HASTE and RARE images were obtained. Initial biochemical values (AST, ALT, total bilirubin) were correlated with the findings of MR cholangiography. RESULTS: Choledocholithiasis was present in 36 of 103 patients: overall, there were 34 true-positive, 63 truenegative, four false-positive, and two false-negative results. In the detection of choledocholithiasis, MR cholangiography showed the following characteristics: sensitivity, 94%; specificity, 94%; positive predictive value, 89%; negative predictive value, 96%; accuracy, 95%. Calculi in the common bile duct were detected in 3 of 33 patients (9%) in whom ultrasound showed that the caliber of the common bile duct was normal and whose laboratory findings were normal, and in 12 of 43 (28%) of those whose common bile duct was dilatated or whose laboratory values were abnormal. Calculi were present in the common bile duct of 21 of 27 patients (78%) with abnormal laboratory values and abnormal ultrasound findings. CONCLUSION: Choledocholithiasis was detected in 25% of patients without clinical suspicion and was not present in 25% of patients with strong clinical suspicion. In patients with this condition, MR cholangiography is noninvasive and accurate, and we suggest that in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis, it should be a routine diagnostic procedure prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Clinical Experience in Liver Transplantation

We have performed 10 primary liver transplantations between August 1993 and September 1995 in patients with end stage liver disease at Department of Surgery, Catholic University, Medical College. Donor and recipient operations were performed using modified techniques described by Starzl et al. Cyclosporine and prednisone were used as the principal immunosuppressive regimen and cyclosporine levels were monitored daily with dosage adjustment. when acute rejection was suspected based on clinical parameters, methylprednisolone was given for 2 days and if there was no response, we treated with the OKT3 monoclonal antibody. Our clinical results were as follows : 1. Mean age of donors was 32 years, ranging from 17 to 50 years, eight males, 2 females. The causes of brain death were traffic accident in 5 cases, falling down in 3 cases, and others (CVA, brain tumor). 2. Mean age of recipient was 41 years, ranging from 18 to 57 years and all were male. The indications of liver transplantation were liver circhosis related to viral hepatitis in 9 cases and alcoholic cirrhosis in one. 3. In arterial reconstruction, aortic carrel patch of common hepatic artery was sewn to hepatic-gastroduodenal bifurcation (5 transplants), to supraceliac aorta (3 transplants), and to infrarenal aorta (2 transplants). The biliary anastomosis was a choledochocholedochostomy with T-tube stent in nine and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy in one transplant. 4. Average length of operation was 9 hours 28 minutes (range 7. 6-12 hours), and liver ischemia 6 hours 14 minute. An average requirements of packed red cell were 21.2 unit (range 12-31 units) 5. The surgical complication occurred in 3 patients (postoperative bleeding, hepatic arterial thrombosis and bile peritonitis), acute rejection in 5 patients, bacterial infection in 5 patients and coma in 2 patients. 6. Of the 10 patients, 6 are alive ranging from 15 days to 27 month and four patients died in the early postoperative period : one of postoperative bleeding, one of hepatic arterial thrombosis, one of acute rejection and one of neurologic complication. 7. In the consideration of prognostic factors from donor, the dosage of vasopressor and liver enzyme but not donor age were significant in early postoperative mortality. As perioperative parameters of recipients, preoperative general status, serum BUN, bilirubin, and reversibility of respiratory, renal and graft function within the first week following transplant were important.