Isolated Perforation of Multiple Jejunal Diverticulae: A Very Rare Cause of Acute Abdomen.

Isolated jejunal diverticular (JD) perforation is extremely rare; it usually presents as a diagnostic dilemma and is often discovered incidentally on laparotomy. Most of these perforations are single. Literature has revealed only one case of multiple small bowel diverticular perforations. We report the first case of simultaneous perforation of four jejunal diverticulae in an 85-year-old male. Small bowel resection and primary anastomosis were performed. The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery. This case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and timely management to reduce the morbidity and mortality of these patients. It should be included in the differential diagnosis in all elderly patients presenting with acute abdomen.

Primary Retroperitoneal Serous Cyst Adenoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Primary retroperitoneal serous cyst adenomas (PRSCs) are extremely rare thin-walled cystic lesions whose pathogenesis is not well understood. Clinical presentation varies depending on the lesion's size and location, i.e., larger lesions compress adjacent organs, giving the impression of malignancy. Although advances in imaging techniques enable to identify various characteristics of retroperitoneal cystic lesions, there are no pathognomonic signs to confirm the diagnosis. The exact diagnosis is based on the histology after complete surgical excision. An open surgical approach is considered the traditional method of complete resection; however, laparoscopic techniques have increasingly been employed. Diagnostic aspiration is discouraged due to the potential risk of seeding if the lesion is malignant. We present the case of a 51-year-old woman who underwent complete excision of a large right retroperitoneal cyst, histologically confirmed as PRSC with a review of the background and management options of this phenomenon.

Acute Gastric Dilatation With Ischemia and Perforation Requiring Emergency Total Gastrectomy: A Case of Suspected Abdominal Compartment Syndrome.

Acute gastric dilatation is an uncommon surgical pathology, leading to gastric ischemia, necrosis, perforation, sepsis, and death if untreated. While rare, the development of abdominal compartment syndrome is also a devastating complication of this entity. We present a case of a 42-year-old male with a history of gastric volvulus, presenting with severe acute abdominal distension and multi-organ failure. A diagnosis of acute gastric dilatation was made, with suspicion of abdominal compartment syndrome. Emergency laparotomy was performed when nasogastric decompression failed. Total gastrectomy without anastomosis was performed due to the patient's hemodynamic instability. However, he demised shortly after on the operating table. This case report demonstrates that even with rapid diagnosis and management, acute gastric dilatation continues to be associated with high mortality.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Breast: A Potentially Lethal Surgical Emergency.

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the breast is an extremely rare event in surgical practice. It is considered the most aggressive form of soft tissue infection and a true surgical emergency. It is also associated with a high risk of mortality if not diagnosed promptly. Few cases have been documented in the literature; the exact etiology and risk factors vary from those involving the limbs, trunk, and perineum. Early recognition, prompt surgical treatment, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy are crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality. These reports present cases of NSTIs in breasts with unique etiologies and challenges in their management.

Congenital Dual Internal Hernias Causing Small Bowel Obstruction in a Man with no Prior Surgical History: A Report of a Very Rare Case.

BACKGROUND Internal hernias involve protrusion of the small bowel through a peritoneal or mesenteric space in the abdominal or pelvic cavity. Congenital internal small bowel hernias are rare and patients with them usually present with small bowel obstruction (SBO) at a young age, whereas in older patients, internal small bowel hernias usually are acquired secondary to previous surgery. The present report is of a rare case of SBO due to dual congenital internal small bowel hernias in a 51-year-old man with no history of abdominal surgery. CASE REPORT We report a case of dual congenital internal hernias of the small bowel in a patient who presented with symptoms and signs of SBO. He had no history of abdominal trauma, surgery, or comorbid conditions. His abdomen was mildly distended with minimal tenderness in the upper left quadrant but there was no guarding or rebound tenderness. Abdominal X-rays confirmed the SBO. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the patient's abdomen revealed SBO with transition at 2 points, suggestive of a closed-loop obstruction. However, the exact cause of the SBO was confirmed at laparotomy, which revealed dual internal hernias (intramesosigmoid and paraduodenal). The hernias were managed individually and the patient had a successful outcome after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Although the present report is of a rare presentation of internal small bowel hernia, the case underscores that patients with this condition may present with SBO. Successful surgical management requires knowledge of the intra-abdominal peritoneal spaces and management of the hernia sac.

The caged bird sign of achalasia: A case series describing a new radiologic sign that can be reliably used in a resource-poor setting to diagnose achalasia.

INTRODUCTION: Achalasia is an uncommon oesophageal motility disorder caused by failed relaxation of a hypertensive lower oesophageal sphincter in response to swallowing. It often manifests clinically with symptoms such as dysphagia, regurgitation, and weight loss. Manometry is considered the gold standard diagnostic test in diagnosing this condition. However, it is not always accessible, especially in the resource-limited setting. Other radiological adjuncts, such as barium oesophagram, often show features that are highly suggestive of achalasia: the bird-beak appearance of the distal oesophagus, and a dilated oesophagus (megaoesophagus) containing food residue, which may then progress to become tortuous (sigmoid) or aperistaltic. Thus, the use of these tests play a significant role in the identification of this condition. CASE PRESENTATION: Three patients were diagnosed with achalasia at the San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad and Tobago. Together with characteristic symptoms, barium oesophagrams demonstrated features of achalasia, bearing a close resemblance to those of a caged bird. The barium oesophagrams were scrutinized by a fellowship trained, upper GI advanced laparoscopic surgeon, and the consistent features described were noted. CONCLUSION: In the setting where manometry is not accessible, barium oesophagram plays an important role. We propose that recognition of easily identifiable features such as the "caged bird sign of achalasia" on this imaging modality can assist in the diagnosis of this entity.

Symptomatic pneumatosis intestinalis (including portal venous gas) after laparoscopic total colectomy.

The development of intramural intestinal gas may indicate a serious postoperative complication and therefore any radiological indication of such "pneumatosis intestinalis" (PI) in an unwell patient after surgery should put the clinical team on high-alert. However immediate recourse to relook laparotomy may not be always necessary and, further, in some cases may possibly accelerate the deterioration especially if it proves to be non-therapeutic. Careful and close clinical monitoring, as is described in this clinical report, may allow discriminative identification of those in whom this finding is in fact transient and therefore benign and who therefore can be successfully treated without operative re-intervention. We describe the presenting features and background scenario of PI early after laparoscopic total colectomy for medically refractory, severe ulcerative colitis and detail the critical postoperative decision pivots.