ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To establish the incidence of "diabetes-related death" (DRD) in children with known and unknown Diabetes Mellitus (DM) dying unexpectedly, and describe post-mortem (PM) biochemistry findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PM reports from the previous 16-year period were reviewed. Cases of DRD were extracted. All available demographic, clinical, and autopsy data including laboratory analyses was retrieved. RESULTS: 9/1376 (0.7%) DRD cases were identified. This was attributed to Diabetic Ketoacidosis in 7 and to Death in Bed Syndrome in 2. 4/9 cases were known diabetic and on insulin; whilst in 5/9 cases the diagnosis of DM was at PM. The mean age was 11.6 years (range 2.5-15). At PM, 4 cases were undernourished. The histology demonstrated pancreatic changes in keeping with DM in 3/9 and unremarkable pancreatic findings in 6/9. 3 cases also had autoimmune thyroiditis (1 also had myocarditis and Armanni-Ebstein nephropathy). Toxicological and biochemical analysis showed raised: ß-hydroxybutyrate in 6, ketone bodies in 5 cases and raised HbA1c in 3c. CONCLUSION: Type 1 DM is an infrequent but yet potentially preventable cause of death in children. Our findings highlight the value of routine biochemical and toxicological analysis in all PM examinations of infants and children dying suddenly and unexpectedly.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 , Diabetic Ketoacidosis , Humans , Child , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Diabetic Ketoacidosis/diagnosis , Diabetic Ketoacidosis/pathology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/diagnosis , Ketone Bodies/analysis , Insulin , 3-Hydroxybutyric AcidABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The incidence of common bile duct (CBD) stones is between 10% to 18% in people undergoing cholecystectomy for gallstones. Laparoscopic exploration of the CBD is now becoming routine practice in the elective setting, however its safety and efficacy in emergencies is poorly understood. METHODS: We analyzed our results for index emergency admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy within a specialist center in the United Kingdom. Data from all emergency cholecystectomies in our unit, between 2011 to 2016 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: In total, 494 patients underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy; 53 (10.7%) patients underwent common bile duct exploration (CBDE), with 1 conversion and 1 bile leak. Indications for CBDE were based on preoperative imaging (41 cases, 81%) or intra-operative cholangiogram (44 cases, 83%) findings. CONCLUSIONS: Index admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy and concomitant CBDE is safe and should be the gold standard treatment for patients presenting with acute biliary complications, reducing readmissions and the need for a 2-stage procedure.
