Thyroid Abscess After Fine Needle Aspiration with Spontaneous Rupture into the Trachea : A Case Report

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid is a well-tolerated minimally invasive procedure. Thyroid abscess, as a complication of FNA in an immune-competent adult, is extremely rare. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, for which treatment is intravenous antibiotics, drainage, and sometimes surgery. Here we present a case of thyroid abscess in an otherwise healthy man who presented with neck pain, rapidly increasing neck swelling, difficulty in swallowing, and hoarseness of the voice that developed two weeks after diagnostic FNA of a thyroid nodule which had been present for ten months. Despite antibiotic treatment, the abscess ruptured into the trachea, requiring surgical intervention. This highlights the importance of maintaining asepsis during FNA of the thyroid. Timely diagnosis of a thyroid abscess is essential to avoid life-threatening airway complications.

Transcranial lateral perforating gunshot injury through skull base presenting without residual damage: A fortunate survivor / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

We reported a case of a 32 years old male presenting with a perforating gunshot injury in craniocerebral region 3 h after the assault. The bullet entered above the right zygomatic arch, travelling through the coronal plane, and exited from the left zygomatic arch. The patient was fully conscious at presentation and developed facial nerve palsy during his hospital stay. Non-contrast CT scan of the head revealed fractures of the right orbit, bilateral maxilla, bilateral pterygoid plates, ethmoid air cells, vomer and left zygoma, and without any cerebral damage. He was treated conservatively and the facial palsy was resolved. The patient survived without any complications. Such case has not been described in the available literature till date.

Role of gum chewing on the duration of postoperative ileus following lleostomy closure done for typhoid ileal perforation: a prospective randomized trial

There is ample evidence in the recent literature that gum chewing after elective colonic anastomosis decreases postoperative ileus [POI]. But there are very few studies on small bowel anastomosis done in relaparotomy cases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gum chewing on the duration of POI following small bowel anastomosis performed for the closure of intestinal stoma, made as temporary diversion in the selected cases of typhoid perforation peritonitis. Hundred patients undergoing elective small bowel anastomosis for the closure of stoma were randomly assigned to the study group [n=50] and the control group [n=50]. The study group patients chewed gum thrice a day for 1 h each time starting 6 h after the surgery until the passage of first flatus. The control group patients had standard postoperative treatment. Study and control group patients were comparable at inclusion. The mean time for the appearance of bowel sounds as well as the passage of first flatus was significantly shorter in the study group [P=0.040, P=0.006]. The feeling of hunger was also experienced earlier in study group cases [P=0.004]. The postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the study group, but the difference was not significant [P=0.059]. The cases of relaparotomy requiring additional adhesiolysis and small bowel anastomosis for stoma closure are benefited by postoperative gum chewing