Elective laparoscopic sigmoidectomy with preservation of the superior rectal artery prior to endoscopic decompression in sigmoid volvulus

Sigmoid volvulus is a frequent cause of intestinal obstruction. Its management has evolved with the use of laparoscopic surgery, achieving an elective sigmoid resection with anastomosis after a flexible endoscopic detorsion. A female patient was admitted to the emergency room with abdominal pain, distention, and constipation. The abdominal computed tomography showed a whirled sigmoid mesentery in addition to dilated sigmoid loops, and coffee bean sign. The patient successfully underwent a flexible endoscopic detorsion and was scheduled for elective sigmoid colectomy with rectal superior artery preservation and primary anastomosis. During the sigmoid resection, the superior rectal artery preservation is related to a better prognostic, with less bleeding, anastomotic leakage, and hospital stay. Currently, there are few reports of the laparoscopic preservation of the superior rectal artery in patients with sigmoid volvulus. (AU)

Primary Aortoenteric Fistula to the Sigmoid Colon in Association with Intra-abdominal Abscess / 대한소화기학회지

Primary aortoenteric fistula (PAEF) is a rare but catastrophic cause of massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Diagnosis of PAEF is difficult to make and is frequently delayed without strong clinical suspicion. Timely surgical intervention is essential for patient's survival. We report on a case of an 86-year-old woman with no history of abdominal surgery, who presented with abdominal pain. Initially, computed tomography scan showed an intra-abdominal abscess, located anterior to the aortic bifurcation. However, she was discharged without treatment because of spontaneous improvement on a follow-up computed tomography scan, which showed a newly developed right common iliac artery aneurysm. One week later, she was readmitted due to recurrent abdominal pain. On the second day of admission, sudden onset of gastrointestinal bleeding occurred for the first time. After several endoscopic examinations, an aortoenteric fistula bleeding site was found in the sigmoid colon, and aortography showed progression of a right common iliac artery aneurysm. We finally concluded that intra-abdominal abscess induced an infected aortic aneurysm and enteric fistula to the sigmoid colon. This case demonstrated an extremely rare type of PAEF to the sigmoid colon caused by an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm, which has rarely been reported.

Perforated Sigmoid Colon Cancer within an Irreducible Inguinal Hernia: a Case Report

A perforated sigmoid colon cancer within an inguinal hernia is extremely rare. This unexpected finding is usually discovered during surgery and causes an unavoidable septic evolution. Here, we describe the case of an 84-year-old man who presented with fever, abdominal distension, and a painful, enlarged, left scrotum. A CT showed a left, incarcerated, inguinal hernia containing a perforated sigmoid adenocarcinoma (which was confirmed by histopathology). The possibility of an irreducible inguinal hernia in association with perforated sigmoid colon cancer should be considered in the array of diagnoses. A pre-operative CT scan would be helpful in facilitating an accurate diagnosis.

Idiopathic intussusception in infancy and childhood

Idiopathic intussusception is an important cause of abdominal pain, bleeding per rectum and intestinal obstruction in infancy and childhood. This aim of this study was to undertake a retrospective review of all children who presented with idiopathic intussusception over a 17-year period. The medical records of children who presented with idiopathic intussusception from January 1984 through December 2000 at King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were reviewed. The data obtained included age, sex, clinical presentation, diagnostic investigations, mode of treatment, length of hospital stay and results. Thirty-three children [21 male, 12 female] presented with 37 episodes of intussusception. Their mean age was 8.4 months [range 5 hours to 36 months]. The clinical features included rectal bleeding [81%], vomiting [78%], abdominal colic/pain [65%] and abdominal mass [62%]. All cases were ileocolic intussusception with no leading point. Barium enema was attempted in 36 cases with success in 20 [56%]. Laparotomy was required in 16 cases, manual reduction being successful in 11 [30%] and 6 [16%] had bowel resection. At surgery, after attempted barium reduction, 9 [56%] cases had the intussusception already reduced to the cecum. Seventy% of the cases presented within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. The 4 recurrences in 3 children had successful enema reduction. There was no mortality but 3 operative cases required late surgery for adhesive intestinal obstruction including one requiring bowel resection. Idiopathic intussusception commonly presents as an ileo-colic type but is uncommon in our institution. The clinical features are classical, rectal bleeding being the most common. The majority presented within 24 hours of onset of symptoms and barium enema reduction was successful in 20 out of 36 cases in which it was attempted. Since most intussusceptions were already in the cecum at surgery after failed enema reduction, a repeat or delayed enema reduction could be considered in stable cases. Recurrent intussusception occurred in 3 non-operated cases and adhesive intestinal obstruction in 3 laparotomy cases