Heterotopy ("Error loci") of the spiral loop of the ascending colon in cattle.

The term heterotopy of the spiral colon encompasses a dysmorphological condition in which the spiral loops of the ascending colon (SLACs) do not form an orderly spiraling mass adjacent to the left side of the mesojejunum. As a consequence, the spiral loops are spread over a larger surface, making them more or less movable. It has been hypothesized that the abnormal position of the spiral loops of the ascending colon might constitute a predisposing factor for an intestinal obstruction or an ileus condition. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anatomy of the spiral loops of the ascending colon in a population of healthy calves and to determine the prevalence of dysmorphism. The investigation was carried out on 1113 slaughtered veal calves. In 472 out of the 1113 calves, the spiral loops showed conformational aspects different from what has so far been described as normal in reference textbooks. In 91 calves the condition was definitely considered a pathological deviation from normality: in fact, the spiral colon had lost its typical spiral shape with random spacing between the loops, and it was nearly or completely detached from the mesojejunum. The lack of a broad attachment of the spiral loops of the ascending colon to the mesentery could provoke an alteration of the intestinal centre of gravity, enhancing the already asymmetrical distribution of weight between the jejunum and the descending colon.

Laparoscopic high anterior resection for triple colorectal cancers with persistent ascending and descending mesocolons: A case report.

Persistent mesocolon is an embryological anomaly of the colon resulting from failure of the primitive dorsal mesocolon to fuse with the parietal peritoneum. We herein present a case of laparoscopic high anterior resection for triple colorectal cancers with persistent ascending and descending mesocolons and a right-bound inferior mesenteric artery. Preoperative 3-D CT demonstrated that the sigmoid colon had shifted to the right abdomen and was located under the ascending colon. Moreover, the inferior mesenteric artery and vein traveled toward the right abdomen accompanied by the mesentery of the descending colon. Adhesiolysis between the ascending and sigmoid colon was initially performed, and the sigmoid colon was placed in its normal position. The inferior mesenteric artery was then divided with lymph node dissection using a medial approach, and high anterior resection was completed. An understanding of the anatomical characteristics of persistent mesocolon is important to ensure safe laparoscopic surgery.

Asociación de invaginación y malrotación intestinal con el Síndrome de Waugh / Association of invagination and intestinal malrotation with Waugh's síndrome

El síndrome de Waugh es una patología del neonato caracterizado por la asociación de una malrotación intestinal a una intususcepción. Existen pocos casos documentados en la literatura, lo que conlleva una baja incidencia. Presentamos el caso de un neonato femenino de 4 meses de edad quien fue llevada a tratamiento quirúrgico con oclusión intestinal y evolución posoperatoria favorable. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar el caso de un síndrome de Waugh en un lactante en cuyo cuadro se debe mantener una alta sospecha diagnostica, apoyándose con la toma de estudios de imagen complementarios ante un cuadro de dolor abdominal en pacientes lactantes cuya resolución diagnostica siempre resulta un reto para el médico. Si bien estas acciones podrán en un futuro reflejar un aumento en la incidencia de este síndrome, también es posible que el manejo de dicho síndrome se optimice. Paciente femenina de 4 meses de edad la cual fue sometida a tres intentos de desinvaginación hidrostática antes de pasar a laparotomía exploradora para corrección definitiva de su patología. La asociación de invaginación con mal rotación intestinal actualmente es subdiagnósticada, debido a la tendencia conservadora actual. Es importante realizar más estudios de imagen antes de iniciar con cualquier estrategia terapéutica, para no retrasar el manejo quirúrgico definitivo que este requiere. De esta manera se podrá ganar en la calidad de los pronósticos de los pacientes(AU)

Waugh's syndrome is a neonatal pathology characterized by the association of intestinal malrotation and intussusception. There is a low number of cases documented in literature, which implies low incidence. Here is a 4 months-old female neonate who was surgically treated because of intestinal occlusion, and her postoperative recovery was favorable. The objective was to present a Waugh's syndrome case in a newborn in which high diagnostic suspicion is important, supported by complementary imaging studies when we face abdominal pain in neonates whose diagnostic resolution is always a challenge to the physician. These actions may show an increase in the incidence of this syndrome in the future; it is also possible that the management of this disease be optimized. Hydrostatic disinvagination was performed three times in this patient before undergoing exploratory laparotomy for final correction of her pathology. The association of invagination and intestinal malrotation is poorly diagnosed at present, due to current conservative tendencies. However, it is important to perform more imaging studies before adopting any therapeutic strategy to avoid delays in the definitive surgical management of this disease(AU)

Asociación de invaginación y malrotación intestinal con el Síndrome de Waugh / Association of invagination and intestinal malrotation with Waugh's síndrome

RESUMEN El síndrome de Waugh es una patología del neonato caracterizado por la asociación de una malrotación intestinal a una intususcepción. Existen pocos casos documentados en la literatura, lo que conlleva una baja incidencia. Presentamos el caso de un neonato femenino de 4 meses de edad quien fue llevada a tratamiento quirúrgico con oclusión intestinal y evolución posoperatoria favorable. El objetivo del trabajo es presentar el caso de un síndrome de Waugh en un lactante en cuyo cuadro se debe mantener una alta sospecha diagnostica, apoyándose con la toma de estudios de imagen complementarios ante un cuadro de dolor abdominal en pacientes lactantes cuya resolución diagnostica siempre resulta un reto para el médico. Si bien estas acciones podrán en un futuro reflejar un aumento en la incidencia de este síndrome, también es posible que el manejo de dicho síndrome se optimice. Paciente femenina de 4 meses de edad la cual fue sometida a tres intentos de desinvaginación hidrostática antes de pasar a laparotomía exploradora para corrección definitiva de su patología. La asociación de invaginación con mal rotación intestinal actualmente es subdiagnósticada, debido a la tendencia conservadora actual. Es importante realizar más estudios de imagen antes de iniciar con cualquier estrategia terapéutica, para no retrasar el manejo quirúrgico definitivo que este requiere. De esta manera se podrá ganar en la calidad de los pronósticos de los pacientes(AU)

ABSTRACT Waugh's syndrome is a neonatal pathology characterized by the association of intestinal malrotation and intussusception. There is a low number of cases documented in literature, which implies low incidence. Here is a 4 months-old female neonate who was surgically treated because of intestinal occlusion, and her postoperative recovery was favorable. The objective was to present a Waugh's syndrome case in a newborn in which high diagnostic suspicion is important, supported by complementary imaging studies when we face abdominal pain in neonates whose diagnostic resolution is always a challenge to the physician. These actions may show an increase in the incidence of this syndrome in the future; it is also possible that the management of this disease be optimized. Hydrostatic disinvagination was performed three times in this patient before undergoing exploratory laparotomy for final correction of her pathology. The association of invagination and intestinal malrotation is poorly diagnosed at present, due to current conservative tendencies. However, it is important to perform more imaging studies before adopting any therapeutic strategy to avoid delays in the definitive surgical management of this disease(AU)

Echoendoscopic characterization of the human colon

PURPOSE: To characterize colon and rectum walls, pericolic and perirectal spaces, using endoscopic ultrasonography miniprobes. METHODS: Sixty individuals (50% males), aged 18-80, were included. Using 12 and 20 MHz endoscopic ultrasonography miniprobes, all different colon segments (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid) and rectum were evaluated according to the number and thickness of the different layers in intestinal wall, to the presence and (largest) diameter of vessels in the submucosa and of peri-intestinal nodes. RESULTS: The 20 MHz miniprobe identified a higher number of layers than the 12 MHz miniprobe, with medians of 7 and 5 respectively (p < 0.001). The rectal wall (p = 0.001), its muscularis propria (p < 0.001) and mucosa (p = 0.01) were significantly thicker than the different segments of the colon, which had no significant differences between them. Patients aged 41-60 presented thicker colonic wall and muscularis propria in descending (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004) and rectum (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01). Submucosal vessels were identified in 30% of individuals in descending and rectum, and in 12% in ascending. Adenopathies were observed in 9% of the colon segments and 5% in rectum. CONCLUSIONS: A higher frequency enabled the identification of a higher number of layers. Rectal wall is thicker than the one from all the segments of the colon and there are no differences between these, namely in the ascending colon. Moreover, periintestinal adenopathies were rarely identified but present in asymptomatic individuals. All together, these results describe for the first time features which are relevant during staging and therapeutic management of colonic lesions

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Left-sided acute appendicitis: a pitfall in the emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis continues to be a condition at high risk for missed and delayed diagnosis. It characteristically presents with right lower quadrant pain after vague epigastric or periumbilical discomfort. Left-sided appendicitis is an atypical presentation and has been reported rarely. The majority of these cases have been described to be associated with congenital midgut malrotation, situs inversus, or an extremely long appendix. We report a case of left-sided acute appendicitis occurring in a patient with a redundant and hypermobile ascending colon. OBJECTIVES: To alert emergency physicians to an anatomical anomaly that could delay the diagnosis of appendicitis. CASE REPORT: A 50-year-old man presented with fever and left lower abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed local tenderness over the left lower quadrant. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a redundant, floating, ascending colon and inflammatory appendix adhering to the descending colon over the left lower abdomen. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and perforated appendicitis with turbid ascites was found during the surgery. Appendectomy was performed and the patient recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSION: This case is presented to increase awareness among emergency physicians of this anatomical variant and atypical presentation of appendicitis.

Acute colonic obstruction from Ladd bands: a unique complication from intestinal malrotation.

In patients with intestinal malrotation, Ladd bands are known to cause obstruction of the duodenum and small bowel. However, acute obstruction of the colon from Ladd bands has not been previously described. We report a case of complete obstruction of the hepatic flexure of the colon secondary to a Ladd band in a previously healthy teenage boy.

[Abdominal pain caused by mobile caecum with strangulation]. / Buikpijn door mobiel caecum met strangulatie.

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department of the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Curaçao for acute diffuse abdominal pain. Her medical history revealed an 'irritable bowel syndrome' with symptoms of chronic progressive abdominal pain. Plain abdominal radiography and computed tomography showed a substantially dilated bowel with torsion of the organ structures and suspected strangulation of the colon. Perioperative examination revealed a distended mobile caecum and right hemicolon. There was also strangulation and herniation of both structures through the foramen of Winslow around the hepatoduodenal ligament, protruding through the minor omentum. After destrangulation and closure of the herniation a caecopexy with an additional appendectomy was performed. Mobile caecum is defined as a failure of the right colon to fuse to the posterior parietal peritoneum. The symptoms of chronic abdominal pain may have been the result of the pre-existing mobile caecum.

[Segmental absence of the muscularis propria layer in the colonic wall--a rare cause of colonic perforation during pregnancy]. / Segmentální absence muscularis propria steny tracníku - vzácná prícina perforace tracníku v tehotenství.

Segmental absence of intestinal musculature (SAM) may, rarely, present with symptoms of ileus or intestinal perforation. Most commonly, the disorder presents with signs of intestinal disorders in newborns. Colonic perforations are then rare in adulthood. In this study, the authors present a case of a young female patient, operated for right abdominal pains when she was 30 weeks pregnant. Although no advanced appendicitis was confirmed, appendectomy was performed. Five days later, surgical revision was indicated for signs of septic condition and abdominal pain. Two perforations of the ascending colon and diffuse peritonitis were found. Section and right-sided hemicolectomy were performed. The final identification of the cause was based on histological examination of the resecate. The perforations were located at the sites, where the intestinal muscular layer was absent. This finding has also got forensic consequences. It revealed a rare cause of colonic perforation, which is undetectable on examination and confirmed that no mistakes were made during the first procedure. The authors did not find any literature data on colonic perforations due to the colonic muscle layer absence during pregnancy.

Mobile caecum and ascending colon syndrome in a Nigerian adult.

A mobile caecum and ascending colon is a rare congenital abnormality. Its presentation as a cause of right lower abdominal pain in an adult is usually mis-diagnosed as acute appendicitis. A 42-year-old civil servant presented with a 2-year history of recurrent right lower quadrant pain of the abdomen. The pain was sharp in nature and persistent in the last 2 weeks and centered mainly in the right side of the abdomen. No other associated symptoms were noted. Laboratory investigations did not reveal obvious abnormality. A diagnosis of acute on chronic lower quadrant pain of unknown etiology was made. The patient was resuscitated and had exploratory laparatomy. No abnormalities were found other than the caecum and the whole ascending colon, which were unattached to the posterior peritoneum. Appendectomy and caecopexy, using a lateral peritoneal flap were performed. The diagnosis of mobile caecal syndrome should be considered in patients with chronic right lower quadrant pain, and appendectomy and caecopexy offers a great relief.

Duplicación cólica tubular total en un neonato con sangrado rectal: valor de la endoscopia en el diagnóstico y tratamiento / Total tubular colonic duplication in a neonate with rectal bleeding: value of the endoscopy in the diagnose and treatment

La duplicación intestinal es una malformación congénita rara y dentro de ésta, la duplicación cólica y tubular (DC) es la más infrecuente. En neonatos existen pocos casos descritos. Es difícil hacer un diagnóstico antes de la cirugía y no existe un tratamiento quirúrgico estándar. Presentamos el caso de un neonato con rectorragia que presentó una duplicación cólica total requiriendo múltiples pruebas complementarias antes del diagnóstico que fue hecho por colonoscopia. En la laparotomía se encontró una duplicación tubular de colon ascendente, transverso y descendente con comunicación proximal y distal. Debido a la extensión de la duplicación se realizó exclusión del segmento duplicado, pero posteriormente, ante cuadro suboclusivo por estenosis de la luz distal del colon sano se realizó sección parcial del tabique común por colonoscopia. Destacamos que, aunque infrecuente, es necesario considerar la DC en el diagnóstico diferencial de rectorragias en el niño y la importancia de la endoscopia como diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta malformación (AU)

Gastrointestinal duplication is an infrequent congenital abnormality. Colonic and tubular duplications are the least common. In neonates there are few described cases. It´s difficult to identify the duplication preoperatively and a standard surgical approach has not been developped. We report a neonate with bleeding of the digestive tube who presented a colonic duplication who required multiple diagnostic test before the diagnosis was made for colonoscopy. Laparotomy showed a total tubular duplication of the right, transverse and left colon with proximal and distal communication. Exclusion of the duplicated segment was performed, but three months after the operation, subocclusion due to stenosis of the colonic distal loop was developed. This finding was confirmed by a second colonoscopy and septum was partially removed. The study implies that CD, though uncommon, should be included in the differential diagnosis of rectal bleeding and the importance of the colonoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of this malformation (AU)

Left-sided acute appendicitis with intestinal malrotation.

Intestinal malrotation is a rare anomaly of rotation and fixation of the midgut. Left-sided appendicitis occurs in association with two types of congenital anomalies, situs inversus and intestinal malrotation. We describe a rare case of left-sided acute appendicitis with intestinal malrotation in a 14-year-old boy, in which computed tomography (CT) was useful for a preoperative diagnosis.