Endometriosis de la pared abdominal en una paciente con antecedente de histerectomía. Reporte de caso / Abdominal wall endometriosis in a patient with a history of hysterectomy. Case report

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: La endometriosis de la pared abdominal implica la coexistencia de tejido endometrial en la superficie peritoneal parietal; la incidencia reportada es de 0.03 a 3.5%. Su causa aún no está debidamente esclarecida. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente de 35 años, con antecedentes ginecoobstétricos de: tres embarazos, tres cesáreas, última cinco años previos a la intervención, en la que se practicó una histerectomía obstétrica indicada por sangrado transoperatorio. El padecimiento actual se inició 24 horas previas a su ingreso a Urgencias, con dolor espontáneo en la fosa iliaca derecha, de difícil relación con los ciclos menstruales debido al antecedente quirúrgico, acompañado de aumento de volumen y náuseas. En la exploración inicial se identificaron dos masas intraabdominales que se confirmaron en la tomografía computada, situadas por encima de la aponeurosis. Se procedió a la intervención quirúrgica para extirpación de ambas masas. El estudio histopatológico reportó: tumores compatibles con endometriosis. CONCLUSIÓN: La endometriosis es un padecimiento con alta prevalencia en el mundo, no así en su ubicación en la pared abdominal. A pesar de que aún no se conoce con certeza su causa, se sabe que la inoculación directa (muchas veces debida a un procedimiento ginecológico quirúrgico) y la proliferación celular tienen participación relevante en su origen.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Abdominal wall endometriosis is the coexistence of endometrial tissue on the parietal peritoneal surface with a reported incidence of 0.03 to 3.5%. Its cause is not well understood. CLINICAL CASE: 35-year-old female patient with a gyneco-obstetric history of: three pregnancies, three cesarean sections, last five years prior to surgery, in which an obstetric hysterectomy was performed, indicated by transoperative bleeding. The current presentation began 24 hours before her admission to the emergency department with spontaneous pain in the right iliac fossa, difficult to relate to menstrual cycles due to her surgical history, accompanied by increased volume and nausea. Initial examination revealed two intra-abdominal masses, confirmed by computed tomography, located above the aponeurosis. Surgery was performed to remove both masses. Histopathologic examination revealed tumors compatible with endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis is a very common disease in the world, but not in the abdominal wall. Although its cause is still not known with certainty, it is known that direct inoculation (often due to gynecologic surgery) and cell proliferation play a relevant role in its origin.

The effect of intrathecal baclofen single injection on neuropathic pain

BACKGROUND: Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid B-receptor agonist, which is usually used for patients with spasticity or patients with nerve injury inducing both spasticity and neuropathic pain. Both oral administration and intrathecal injection via a continuous infusion pump are common treatment methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a series of three individual injections of intrathecal baclofen for neuropathic pain without spasticity. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with neuropathic pain were treated with a series of three monthly individual injections of intrathecal baclofen without pump implantation A dose of 50 µg of baclofen was used. 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) scores of spontaneous pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia were recorded a week after each injection. Vital signs were monitored to detect any hemodynamic changes, and a myelogram was performed to detect any undesirable cerebrospinal fluid leakage. All patients were hospitalized for at least one day following each injection for close observation and to control any adverse effects. RESULTS: VAS scores of spontaneous pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia decreased significantly (P < 0.001). The major complications were general weakness, sleepiness, and urinary retention; most of these resolved within one day without any further serious symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A series of three individual intrathecal baclofen injections was effective for those patients who suffered from neuropathic pain without spasticity or dystonia; no serious complications were observed. However, the average satisfaction score recorded for spontaneous pain was lower than those for allodynia and hyperalgesia.

Calcium Ions are Involved in Modulation of Melittin-induced Nociception in Rat: I. Effect of Voltage-gated Calcium Channel Antagonist

Melittin-induced nociceptive responses are mediated by selective activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibers and are modulated by excitatory amino acid receptor, cyclooxygenase, protein kinase C and serotonin receptor. The present study was undertaken to investigate the peripheral and spinal actions of voltage-gated calcium channel antagonists on melittin-induced nociceptive responses. Changes in mechanical threshold and number of flinchings were measured after intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of melittin (30microg/paw) into mid-plantar area of hindpaw. L-type calcium channel antagonists, verapamil [intrathecal (i.t.), 6 or 12microg; i.pl.,100 & 200microg; i.p., 10 or 30 mg], N-type calcium channel blocker, omega-conotoxin GVIA (i.t., 0.1 or 0.5microg; i.pl., 5microg) and P-type calcium channel antagonist, omega-agatoxin IVA (i.t., 0.5microg; i.pl., 5microg) were administered 20 min before or 60 min after i.pl. injection of melittin. Intraplantar pre-treatment and i.t. pre- or post-treatment of verapamil and omega-conotoxin GVIA dose-dependently attenuated the reduction of mechanical threshold, and melittin-induced flinchings were inhibited by i.pl. or i.t. pre-treatment of both antagonists. P-type calcium channel blocker, omega-agatoxin IVA, had significant inhibitory action on flinching behaviors, but had a limited effect on melittin-induced decrease in mechanical threshold. These experimental findings suggest that verapamil and omega-conotoxin GVIA can inhibit the development and maintenance of melittin-induced nociceptive responses.

Role of different peripheral components in the expression of neuropathic pain syndrome

Peripheral nerve injury frequently leads to neuropathic pain like hyperalgesia, spontaneous pain, mechanical allodynia, thermal allodynia. It is uncertain where the neuropathic pain originates and how it is transmitted to the central nervous system. This study was performed in order to determine which peripheral component may lead to the symptoms of neuropathic pain. Under halothane anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to neuropathic surgery by tightly ligating and cutting the tibial and sural nerves and leaving the common peroneal nerve intact. Behavioral tests for mechanical allodynia, thermal allodynia, and spontaneous pain were performed for 2 weeks postoperatively. Subsequently, second operation was performed as follows: in experiment 1, the neuroma was removed; in experiment 2, the dorsal roots of the L4-L6 spinal segments were cut; in experiment 3, the dorsal roots of the L2-L6 spinal segments were cut. Behavioral tests were performed for 4 weeks after the second operation. Following the removal of the neuroma, neuropathic pain remained in experiment 1. After the cutting of the L4-L6 or L2-L6 dorsal roots, neuropathic pain was reduced in experiments 2 and 3. The most remarkable relief was seen after the cutting of the L2-L6 dorsal roots in experiment 3. According to the fact that the sciatic nerve is composed of the L4-L6 spinal nerves and the femoral nerve is composed of the L2-L4 spinal nerves, neuropathic pain is transmitted to the central nervous system via not only the injured nerves but also adjacent intact nerves. These results also suggest that the dorsal root ganglion is very important in the development of neuropathic pain syndrome.