Superior mesenteric vein and portal vein thrombosis in a patient with COVID-19: a rare case.

A 68-year-old man was referred to the general surgeons on account of his abdominal pain of unknown cause. He had contracted COVID-19, 9 days prior. CT chest abdomen and pelvis revealed an extensive thrombus extending from the portal vein to the superior mesenteric vein. Further investigation ruled out haematological causes, and COVID-19 was determined to be the cause. He was treated with an extended course of therapeutic dose low molecular weight heparin under the guidance of the haematology team. He was discharged once he was clinically stable and pain-free, with a plan to be followed up by both the surgeons and haematologists. This case highlights the different ways in which COVID-19 presents, and the need for clearer guidance on the treatment and prevention of thromboembolism in COVID-19.

Stomach in a parastomal hernia: a rare complication of stomas.

Parastomal hernia (PSH) is one of the most known complications to end colostomies. However, PSH containing the stomach is rare: not many case reports were found in literature search. This case is a 92-year-old woman who was brought in by ambulance to the accident and emergency department with vomiting, abdominal distension, palpable mass on the left side of her abdomen and with reduced stoma effluent. Her abdominal CT scan showed a PSH containing a partially incarcerated gastric hernia. Although there are only few similar cases of PSH containing the stomach reported in the literature, an almost similar pattern in presentation of this unique case can be deduced following a thorough comparison of cases in the literature, which can be quite helpful both academically and clinically: they are often advanced in age and are usually women with end colostomies.

Cisplatin induced acute mesenteric ischaemia: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent, widely used in cancer therapies for numerous solid tumours. It is becoming more recognised that a potentially life-threatening complication of cisplatin is accelerated arterial and venous thrombosis. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We describe a case of a 62year-old with no risk factors for vascular disease who presented with thromboembolic acute mesenteric ischaemia of the small bowel during treatment with cisplatin for head and neck cancer. DISCUSSION: We review the literature on the incidence and pathogenesis of cisplatin induced arterial thrombosis and discuss current treatment options of acute mesenteric ischaemia detailing our management of this case. CONCLUSION: Cisplatin increases the risk of arterial thrombosis and this case report details acute mesenteric ischaemia secondary to its use. We hope to raise clinician awareness of this sequelae which can occur even in patients in the absence of other identifiable risk factors.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a mature cystic teratoma invading the sigmoid colon: a rare presentation.

We discuss a rare presentation of malignant teratoma in a 63-year-old woman who was admitted to accident and emergency with abdominal distension, bloody diarrhoea and peritonitis. CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed free air in the abdomen and a gas-fluid filled cavity measuring 12×6 cm in the mid-pelvis with possible fistulation that was suspicious for malignancy. A 10×12 cm ruptured dermoid cyst was found intraoperatively, which was adherent to the bowel wall. Bulky lymph nodes were also appreciated. The surgeon suspected a metastatic malignant teratoma, and a Hartmann's procedure, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoopherectomy were performed with clearance of the para-aortic lymph nodes. Subsequent histological analysis revealed a squamous cell carcinoma arising from an ovarian malignant teratoma. The patient went on to have carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy and is alive at 6 months follow-up.

Caecal schwannoma: a rare cause of per rectal bleeding in a 72-year-old man.

The presence of per rectal (PR) bleeding in elderly people usually alerts us to the possibility of colonic malignancy, particularly if a concomitant altered bowel habit is present, without a history of the symptom. We present a case where the cause of PR bleeding turned out to be a caecal schwannoma. Caecal schwannoma is a rare tumour of the gastrointestinal tract of mesenchymal origin and diagnosis prior to radical surgical resection is difficult. Endoscopic biopsy often fails to provide an adequate specimen and immunohistochemistry is essential to the diagnosis.

Unusual hernia in a colostomy closure site.

This is a case report of an interstitial hernia following previous transverse loop colostomy closure. There are no reported cases in the literature of gangrenous gall-bladder as the content of an interstitial hernia. This condition can present as a diagnostic challenge. We present a case with a previous reversal of a colostomy in the right upper quadrant presenting with a short history of a right iliac fossa mass and tenderness. Clinically, the patient was septic without any peritonitis. Subsequent computed tomography scan suggested the hernial sac contained gall-bladder and loops of bowel. At surgery, a gangrenous gall-bladder was found within an interstitial incisional hernia (between the external and internal oblique muscle). Retrograde cholecystectomy was performed and bowel and hernia were reduced. The hernia was repaired in layers and patient had an uneventful recovery.