Catastrophic Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPLS) was diagnosed in a 64-year-old male who was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. The clinical and radiological examinations showed pulmonary thromboembolism, and so thromboembolectomy was performed. Abdominal distention rapidly developed several days later, and the abdominal computed tomography (CT) abdominal scan revealed thrombus within the superior mesenteric artery with small bowel and gall bladder distension. Cholecystectomy and jejunoileostomy were performed, and gall bladder necrosis and small bowel infarction were confirmed. The anticardiolipin antibody was positive. Anticoagulant agents and steroids were administered, but the patient expired 4 weeks after surgery due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report here on a case of catastrophic APLS with manifestations of pulmonary thromboembolism, rapidly progressing GB necrosis and bowel infarction.

Catastrophic Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPLS) was diagnosed in a 64-year-old male who was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. The clinical and radiological examinations showed pulmonary thromboembolism, and so thromboembolectomy was performed. Abdominal distention rapidly developed several days later, and the abdominal computed tomography (CT) abdominal scan revealed thrombus within the superior mesenteric artery with small bowel and gall bladder distension. Cholecystectomy and jejunoileostomy were performed, and gall bladder necrosis and small bowel infarction were confirmed. The anticardiolipin antibody was positive. Anticoagulant agents and steroids were administered, but the patient expired 4 weeks after surgery due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report here on a case of catastrophic APLS with manifestations of pulmonary thromboembolism, rapidly progressing GB necrosis and bowel infarction.

Usefulness of Helical CT in the Diagnosis of Strangulation in Small Bowel Obstruction

PURPOSE: We wished to evaluate the usefulness of helical CT for the diagnosis of strangulation of the dilated small bowels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT scans of 31 patients with small bowel obstruction from various causes were reviewed retrospectively. Thirteen of these patients were confirmed as small bowel strangulation by surgery and pathology. Fourteen patients underwent surgery, but they had no strangulation. Three patients were reduced by using a nasogastric tube and one infant with intussusception was reduced by air reduction. The following CT findings of strangulation were evaluated: reduced bowel wall enhancement by visual assessment and measuring the HU, ascites, thickening of bowel wall, abnormal mesenteric vessel location and whirlpool appearance, and mesenteric venous engorgement. For the precise evaluation of reduced bowel wall enhancement, the HUs were measured by 1 mm2 of ROI, and the differences of HUs between the well enhanced bowel and poorly enhanced bowel were compared. RESULTS: For the diagnosis of strangulation, measurement of HU of the bowel wall could improve the sensitivity from 69% to 100%. The specificity of both methods, by visual assessment and measurement of HU, was 94%. Ascites had a sensitivity of 69% and specificity of 44%. Thickening of bowel wall had a sensitivity of 38% and specificity of 78%. Abnormal mesenteric vessel location and whirlpool appearance had a sensitivity of 38% and specificity of 83%. Mesenteric venous engorgement had a sensitivity of 31% and specificity of 72%. CONCLUSION:Measurement of HU of the bowel wall after contrast enhancement can be a useful method in the differential diagnosis between the strangulated and non-strangulated bowels in patients with small bowel obstruction.