Avaliação por ressonância magnética das fístulas perianais: ensaio iconográfico / Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of perianal fistulas: iconographic essay

A fístula perianal é uma condição incomum com tendência a recorrência, que usualmente é decorrente de infecção prévia não observada à cirurgia. A ressonância magnética mostra com acurácia a anatomia da região e a relação da fístula com o diafragma pélvico e a fossa isquiorretal, classificando-a em cinco tipos. A ressonância magnética é superior a qualquer outra modalidade para a detecção de focos infecciosos na região perianal, incluindo a exploração cirúrgica. Tem a capacidade de guiar o procedimento cirúrgico, reduzindo a taxa de recorrência em 75 por cento em pacientes com doença complexa.

Fistula in ano is an uncommon condition that has a tendency to recur despite seemingly appropriate surgery. Recurrent fistula in ano is usually caused by infection that was missed during surgical exploration. Magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to accurately demonstrate the anatomy of the perianal region as well as the fistula's relationship with the pelvic diaphragm and ischiorectal fossa, allowing the classification of fistulas into five types. Magnetic resonance imaging depicts infectious foci in the perianal region better than any other investigation modality, including surgical exploration. Magnetic resonance image-guided surgery helps to reduce postoperative recurrence by 75 percent in patients with complex disease.

Tratamiento médico del absceso esplénico: presentación de un caso / Splenic abscess medical treatment: presentation of a case

Presentamos un caso de absceso esplénico demostrado por ultrasonografía y tomografía axial computarizada, el cual fue satisfactoriamente tratado con antibióticos solamente. La resolución del absceso fue confirmada posteriormente por tomografía. Se revisa la literatura y se comparan los hallazgos clínicos y posibilidades terapéuticas de este caso con los descritos en otras series

Intraperitoneal abscesses: diagnostic dilemmas and therapeutic options.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of intraperitoneal abscesses is difficult, resulting in delay in treatment and poor prognosis. Although recent advances in the management have led to significant improvement in prognosis, the choice of therapeutic modality is unclear. AIMS: The role of clinical features and investigations in the diagnosis of intraperitoneal abscesses was studied. The relation of prognosis to delay in diagnosis was also analyzed. Also assessed was the efficacy of various therapeutic modalities. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients diagnosed to have intraperitoneal abscesses were analyzed. Abscesses were analyzed. Abscesses were divided on the basis of ultrasonography findings into simple and complex (with or without fecal fistula). The following points were evaluated: clinical features, and hematological, biochemical and microbiological reports, imaging findings and the role of therapeutic modalities like percutaneous aspiration (single or multiple), catheter drainage and operative drainage (transperitoneal, extraperitoneal and percutaneous). RESULTS: Clinical features and hematological investigations, though sensitive, were non-specific in diagnosis. Klebsiella was the commonest organism cultured, followed by Proteus, E coli and Pseudomonas. Blood culture was positive in only 6 percent of cases. Real-time ultrasonography had an accuracy of 84%. Contrast X-rays were required in 43% of cases. All the deaths (4 of 30) occurred when the diagnosis and treatment were delayed by more than 4 days. USG-guided aspiration (single and multiple) and USG-guided catheter drainage were effective in simple abscesses but failed in complex abscesses. Transperitoneal operative drainage was successful in 15 of 18 cases (6 of 8 simple abscesses and 9 of 10 complex abscesses). The mortality in patients with simple and complex abscesses was 2 of 17 and 2 of 13 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection with consequent early treatment is vital for good prognosis of intraperitoneal abscesses. Early diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and appropriate use of imaging modalities. USG-guided percutaneous drainage is effective for simple abscesses whereas complex abscesses require operative drainage, sometimes in combination with initial USG-guided drainage.