ABSTRACT
Background: Acute sigmoid volvulus is a surgical emergency with closed-loop obstruction of the colon that often requires emergency laparotomy, which is associated with a multitude of post-operative complications. Although sigmoid volvulus is the main cause of intestinal obstruction in Ethiopia, local studies of its management outcomes are limited. Objective: To assess the magnitude and predictors of adverse perioperative outcomes of emergency laparotomy for acute sigmoid volvulus in the Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (DMCSH), Amhara region, Ethiopia in 2023. Methods: This was a retrospective follow-up study. Descriptive statistics were used to measure perioperative outcomes and other study variables. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify the predictors of adverse surgical outcomes. Associations were considered significant at p < 0.05 (95% confidence interval). Results: In total, 170 study participants were enrolled, with a response rate of 91.4%. Forty-nine patients (28.8%) developed perioperative adverse outcomes. Pneumonia (29 patients, 28.1%), surgical site infection (19 patients, 18.4%), and wound dehiscence (10 patients, 9.7%) were the most common complications. Pre-operative shock [AOR: 3.87 (95% CI: (1.22, 12.28))], pus or fecal matter contamination of the peritoneum [AOR: 4.43 (95% CI: (1.35, 14.47)], and a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score [AOR: 2.37 (95% CI: (1.05, 5.34))] were identified as predictors of perioperative adverse events. Conclusion: The perioperative adverse outcomes in this study were higher than those reported in Ethiopian national and global reports following emergency laparotomies. Hypotension at presentation, pus and/or fecal matter contamination of the peritoneum, and higher ASA scores are strong predictors of increased perioperative adverse outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers and institutions involved in the delivery of emergency surgical care should emphasize the importance of early surgical intervention, adequate resuscitation, and patient monitoring to improve perioperative outcomes.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Renal angiomyolipoma (AML), which is a rare solid kidney tumor with benign characteristics, also known as a renal hamartoma, can exhibit various clinical symptoms and severe consequences may arise if the lesion becomes large. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 58-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital, with general fatigue, abdominal swelling, and epigastric fullness. Upon examination, a large mass was palpated, which occupied almost the entire right abdomen. The abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a large right renal mass measuring 22 × 18 × 8 cm, which was exophytic and heterogeneous with a large fat component and an enhancing solid part. The tumor was successfully excised through a generous right subcostal incision with left-side extension. The total weight of the resected specimen was 2500 g, which appears to be the largest angiomyolipoma ever resected in Ethiopia. DISCUSSION: Renal AML, a benign tumor derived from mesenchymal components, is sometimes referred to as a "hamartoma" due to its variable makeup. The most common complaints of patients with renal AML are lower back pain, hematuria, and physical finding of hypotension (shock), though patients with giant AML, as in this case, may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms due to the mass' compression. CONCLUSION: Although treatment options requiring contemporary medical technologies and skilled manpower are difficult to offer in set ups of resource-limited countries, such as the one we reported from, giant renal angiomyolipoma can be treated safely with open nephrectomy.
