Management of infected pancreatic necrosis in the setting of concomitant rectal cancer: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatitis with infected necrosis is a severe complication of acute pancreatitis and carries with it high rates of morbidity and mortality. The management of infected pancreatic necrosis alongside concomitant colorectal cancer has never been described in literature. CASE SUMMARY: A 77 years old gentleman presented to the Emergency Department of our hospital complaining of ongoing abdominal pain for 8 h. The patient had clinical features of pancreatitis with a raised lipase of 3810 U/L, A computed tomography (CT) abdomen confirmed pancreatitis with extensive peri-pancreatic edema. During the course of his admission, the patient had persistent high fevers and delirium thought secondary to infected necrosis, prompting the commencement of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with Piperacillin/Tazobactam. Subsequent CT abdomen confirmed extensive pancreatic necrosis (over 70%). Patient was managed with supportive therapy, nutritional support and gut rest initially and improved over the course of his admission and was discharged 42 d post admission. He represented 24 d following his discharge with fever and chills and a repeat CT abdomen scan noted gas bubbles within the necrotic pancreatic tissue thereby confirming infected necrotic pancreatitis. This CT scan also revealed asymmetric thickening of the rectal wall suspicious for malignancy. A rectal cancer was confirmed on flexible sigmoidoscopy. The patient underwent two endoscopic necrosectomies and was treated with intravenous antibiotics and was discharged after 28 d. Within 1 wk post discharge, the patient commenced a course of neoadjuvant radiotherapy and subsequently underwent concomitant chemotherapy prior to undergoing a successful Hartmann's procedure for treatment of his colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the efficacy of endoscopic necrosectomy, early enteral feeding and targeted antibiotic therapy for timely management of infected necrotic pancreatitis. The prompt resolution of pancreatitis permitted the patient to undergo neoadjuvant treatment and resection for his concomitant colorectal cancer.

Spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation post-cardiac transplantation.

Spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation is a rare radiological and clinical phenomenon with life-threatening consequences. In the setting of recent cardiac transplantation, the condition is increasingly uncommon and difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We describe a case of spontaneous acalculous gallbladder perforation in an intensive care unit (ICU) patient, most likely due to a combination of cardiac transplantation and immunosuppression. There are no such documented cases in the literature with an established preoperative diagnosis, to the best of our knowledge. Abdominal CT and targeted ultrasound proved complimentary in establishing the diagnosis, facilitating successful and timely treatment with urgent cholecystectomy.

Computed tomography features in enteric fever.

INTRODUCTION: Enteric fever is a common infection in endemic areas; however, there are few reports describing the computed tomography (CT) manifestations of enteric fever. We aim to describe and illustrate CT findings in enteric fever in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective search of medical records in our institute for patients with positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi, and Salmonella paratyphi organisms yielded 39 cases. Among these patients, 12 had undergone a CT study of the abdomen. The CT images, laboratory and clinical findings of these 12 patients were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common clinical presentation was fever (100%). Typical features of gastroenteritis were present in only over half of the patients. Liver function tests were abnormal in all patients. The most common abdominal manifestations on CT were the presence of mesenteric lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly (75%). Other features were circumferential small bowel wall thickening (58.3%) and free intraperitoneal fluid (50%). Three patients were found to have complications; one with bleeding from terminal ileal ulceration, another with an ileal perforation and the third with renal abscess formation. CONCLUSION: CT is useful in evaluating enteric fever in patients with severe forms of presentation, a longer clinical course or less specific symptoms. Although the imaging features overlap with other abdominal infections, when combined with clinical features, travel history to endemic areas and presence of transaminitis, the diagnosis of enteric fever should be considered. CT in particular, is useful for the detection of complications such as perforation, bleeding and abscess formation.

Spectrum of imaging findings in Salmonella infections.

OBJECTIVE: Radiologic findings in Salmonella infections are not well described. In most patients, Salmonella infections produce mild and self-limiting clinical manifestations and therefore are treated empirically with antibiotics. Radiologic investigations are usually performed for patients with severe clinical manifestations or complications and for patients with unusual findings. CONCLUSION: This pictorial essay illustrates various imaging findings in culture-proven cases of Salmonella infection, described broadly as common and uncommon manifestations.