Acute appendicitis mimicking intestinal obstruction in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease of the secretory glands caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. The clinical manifestations of CF are repetitive lung infections, biliary cirrhosis, pancreatic abnormalities, and gastrointestinal disorders. We report a 21-year-old Taiwanese man with CF who had abdominal pain for 2 days. The diagnosis of CF had been confirmed by peripheral blood analysis of the CFTR gene 5 years before admission. He presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and crampy abdominal pain, which is atypical for acute appendicitis. The physical examination and a series of studies revealed intestinal obstruction, but acute appendicitis could not be ruled out. After conservative treatment, together with empiric antibiotics, the refractory abdominal pain and leukocytosis with a left-shift warranted surgical intervention. A diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a swollen, hyperemic appendix, a severely distended small intestine, and serous ascites. The laparoscopic procedure was converted to a laparotomy for open disimpaction and appendectomy. He was discharged on the eighth postoperative day. The histologic examination of the appendix was consistent with early appendicitis. In conclusion, acute abdominal pain in adult CF patients is often associated with intestinal obstruction syndrome. The presentation of concurrent appendicitis may be indolent and lead not only to diagnostic difficulties, but also a number of therapeutic choices.

Intussusception secondary to a giant appendiceal mucocele: preoperative diagnosis by multi-slice computed tomography.

We describe a rare case of a giant appendiceal mucocele as the leading point with ileocolic intussusception and the cause of acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain in an adult patient, which is correctly diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) imaging before surgery.

Pneumatosis intestinalis: a rare manifestation of acute appendicitis.

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), the presence of gas within the bowel wall, is a rare condition. To our knowledge, only two cases of PI secondary to acute appendicitis have been reported in the literature. We present a new case of a 46-year-old man who complained of abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distension for 4 days and oliguria for 1 day. In the Emergency Department, his abdomen was markedly distended and showed peritoneal signs. Preoperative blood culture grew Bacteroides fragilis. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed marked bowel distension, bubble-like intramural gas scattered in the proximal small bowel, and localized fluid accumulation in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Small bowel ischemia was interpreted preoperatively. Emergency laparotomy revealed that the appendix was gangrenous and perforated, with local abscess formation but no bowel infarction. Hence, only appendectomy was performed, with subsequent uneventful patient recovery. The presence of PI may not always be an ominous sign; rather, it depends on the severity of any underlying diseases.

Maternal osteoporosis after prolonged magnesium sulfate tocolysis therapy: a case report.

Tocolysis therapy with magnesium sulfate is known to affect calcium homeostasis. Prolonged infusion of magnesium sulfate (MgSO(4)) has been used for the treatment of refractory preterm labor, and has been reported to change maternal calcium homeostasis and possible mineralization. In this case report, we present a woman in her mid thirties who had undergone intravenous MgSO(4) tocolysis therapy, and developed osteoporosis leading to significant morbidity after delivery. The laboratory investigation, including the bone scan, magnetic resonance image, indices of bone turnover, and the results of 2 years of follow-up of bone mineral density, are also reported. This case report supports the existence of a possible association between prolonged intravenous magnesium tocolysis and maternal osteoporosis. To prevent osteoporosis, it is important to avoid a prolonged period of MgSO(4) tocolysis. In cases of prolonged MgSO(4) treatment and bedrest, physicians should be aware of the risk of osteoporosis. The recommended management is also discussed in this report.

The use of ultrasonography in evaluating adults with febrile urinary tract infection.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease. Controversy exists about the role of radiological evaluation in the patient with urinary tract infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2001 to December 2001, patients with febrile UTI admitted to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi were prospectively evaluated by ultrasonography. The inclusion criteria of febrile UTI was a body temperature of more than 38 degrees C with a bacterial count of 10(3) or more per mL in a freshly voided midstream or catheterized urine. RESULTS: A total of 94 patients were evaluated and all patients recovered. Major abnormal sonograms were present in 17 (18%) of the patients. A history of urolithiasis and a duration of fever > or = 3 days after admission were statistically significant clinical parameters in predicting major abnormal sonogram. Although diabetes mellitus was not statistically significant in predicting major abnormal sonogram, diabetic patients had 2.5 times the likelihood of major structural abnormalities than nondiabetic patients. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic study of patients with febrile UTI should be limited only to those with a duration of fever > or = 3 days and a history of urolithiasis. Ultrasonographic study should also be considered in febrile UTI patients with diabetes mellitus.

Axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein graft fistula in chronic hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Vascular access failure is a severe and common complication for hemodialysis patients. The possible vascular access sites are limited in dialysis patients. Axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is one of the possibilities. However, the clinical outcome of this procedure is still un-defined. OBJECT: The purpose of this study is to review the clinical outcome of axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein AVF as a hemodialysis vascular access. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed native or graft arteriovenous fistula records for chronic hemodialysis patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from January 1986 to March 2001. Records were reviewed for all chronic hemodialysis patients, with more than 2000 individuals receiving more than 10,000 fistulas. Eight patients received axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein AVF. RESULTS: The mean age for these patients was 61.7 +/- 16.3 year-old at time of surgery. All patients had received multiple native or graft arteriovenous fistula creation. The 2-year and 4-year AVF graft survival is 87.5% and 43.8% respectively. One patients developed brachial plexopathy after operation. Another patient had venous hypertension distal to the AVF site. Both patients were managed conservatively. There is no AVF-related mortality in these patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that axillary artery to contralateral axillary vein graft fistula may be a feasible alternative choice for chronic hemodialysis access.

Extra-renal abscess in chronic hemodialysis patients.

AIM: Infectious disease represents one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Extra-renal abscess constitutes a specific form of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate and analyze the clinical characteristics of extra-renal abscess in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS: We retrospectively studied the extra-renal abscess among chronic hemodialysis patients in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The records of 2,168 chronic hemodialysis patients from October 1986 to January 2000, were studied. The clinical features were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients who were enrolled during the study period developed extra-renal abscess. Ten of them were male. The mean age was 59.2 +/- 11.8 years old. More than half of the patients had diabetes (53.6%, 9/16). The locations of extra-renal abscess in these patients were liver (8/16), lung (5/16), spleen (1/16), perianal region (1/16), psoas muscle (1/16), and prostate (1/16). One patient had concurrent liver and spleen abscesses. All patients presented with fever and chills. Laboratory studies revealed leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia in 2/3 of the patients. The patients were associated with malnutrition status with lower serum albumin level (2.94 +/- 0.55 gm/dL) and lower nPCR (normalized protein catabolism rate; 0.84 +/- 0.11 gm/Kg/day) comparing to the other hemodialysis patients (albumin: 4.05 +/- 0.47 gm/dL; nPCR: 1.14 +/- 0.31gm/kg/day). There was no significant difference in kt/V between the patients with (1.28 +/- 0.34) or without abscess formation (1.47 +/- 0.36). The major causative pathogen was Klebsiella pnewnoniae. Parenteral antibiotic treatment is sufficient to treat most of the diseases, except 2 patients who needed surgical intervention. Twelve patients recovered after 2-3 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicated that extra-renal abscess is rare in chronic hemodialysis patients. The abscesses occurred mostly in liver. Diabetes mellitus and poor nutrition status were the important predisposing factors. Gram-negative bacilli, K. pneumoniae, were the major pathogen. Most of the patients responded to parenteral antibiotics and surgical draining.

Primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the lung.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma has been well documented in the somatic soft tissue and bone. It is a rare subtype of chondrosarcoma characterized by the presence of islands of chondroid or by less osteoid tissue enmeshed within dense sheets of primitive small blue mesenchymal cells with hemangiopericytoma-like vessels, or by both. The vast majority of previously published pulmonary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma was metastatic. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of primary pulmonary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma has been described in the literature. Herein, we report the second case of primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the lung and emphasize that biopsy may yield only nonspecific small blue cells, whereas a detailed evaluation of the resected specimen allows definite diagnosis of this rare lung tumor.

Early diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in female patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty with measurement of P-selectin activation.

BACKGROUND: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) remains a leading cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although patients with previous thrombotic episodes are inherently at a higher risk for subsequent episodes of DVT, it remains difficult to predict such an occurrence and to make a diagnosis in early stages. One potentially useful assay that can be used in the determination of changes of coagulation among patients who undergo arthroplasty is platelet activation. The goal of this study was to establish a predictive value for DVT with measurement of P-selectin levels that could help in planning appropriate perioperative management strategies for patients at high risk for DVT. METHODS: A total of 52 patients who underwent TKA with general anesthesia underwent contrast venography on the 5th postoperative day. Platelet activation before and after operation was measured with platelet surface expression of P-selectin with flow cytometry in these two groups of patients for TKA. None of the patients underwent any anticoagulation therapy. RESULTS: Nineteen of the 52 patients for TKA showed radiologic evidence of DVT, whereas 33 patients for TKA had no radiologic signs of DVT. There was no difference in platelet activation at baseline, which was 1 hour before induction of anesthesia, between the two groups (P >.05) as measured with P-selectin assays. Differences were noted between the two groups on the 5th day after operation, wherein P-selectin was expressed in only 2.72% +/- 0.9% (mean +/- standard deviation) of platelets in patients for TKA with healthy venogram results. This differed significantly from platelets in patients for TKA with DVT, who had P-selectin expression of 6.56% +/- 3.1% (mean +/- standard deviation; P <.01). Sensitivity for the diagnosis of DVT with P-selectin assay was calculated to be 74%, and specificity was found to be 94%. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that radiologically confirmed DVT in patients for TKA surgery with general anesthesia is associated with an elevated number of activated platelets. Perioperative assessment of P-selectin may predict the early onset of DVT in patients who undergo high risk surgical procedures like TKA. This laboratory assay may help prevent the occurrence of the fatal events caused by DVT with use of early therapeutic intervention, such as heparinization.