Hepatic vein and inferior vena caval thrombus extending into the right atrium: A rare complication of amoebic liver abscess

Amoebic liver abscess is an endemic in developing countries but few cases of associated vascular complications have been reported. The authors report a very rare vascular complication of hepatic veins and inferior vena caval (IVC) thrombosis extending into the right atrium in a young male with large amoebic liver abscess. Optimal result was achieved with early diagnosis on CT scan, percutaneous drainage of abscess, intravenous metronidazole, peri-operative anticoagulation, sternotomy and thrombectomy

Intussusceptions in adults: Clinical features and operative procedures

Objective: To determine the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of adult patients with intussusceptions. Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1988 to December 2008. Methodology: Medical records of patients with diagnosis of intussusceptions in adults (above 15 years of age) from January 1988 to December 2008 were retrieved through ICD 9 coding system. Patients with complete records were included in the study and those with incomplete medical record or under 30 days follow-up were excluded. Data was analyzed on SPSS version 16. The treatment outcomes were hospital stay, 30 days-morbidity, mortality and recurrence of intussusceptions during follow-up period. Results: The mean age of the 19 patients was 37 years with male predominance. Most patients presented with acute bowel obstruction. In 14 patients, small bowel were involved. CT scan diagnosed intussusception in 10 out of 12 patients. Benign lead point were found in 80% cases. Eighteen patients were treated surgically. Fourteen (70%) patients underwent resection with primary anastomosis while in 4 patients only reduction was done. In resection group, 11 patients had resection after reduction and in 3 patients only resection was done. There was no recurrence in resection group. One recurrence was noticed in the reduction group and one patient died of advanced gastrointestinal malignancy in the nonoperative group. Conclusion: Intussusception is a rare cause of acute intestinal obstruction in adult population. CT scan is a promising diagnostic tool to establish pre-operative diagnosis. Early surgical resection could achieve optimal outcome. Small bowel intussusception could be reduced before resection if there is no doubt about bowel viability. In most of the patients the lead point could be benign disease

Rhizopus necrotizing fasciitis of caesarean wound: A rare life threatening condition

Mucormycosis is a rare cause of necrotizing fasciitis in immunocompromised patients. We report a young female, who developed rhizopus necrotizing fasciitis of caesarean wound. The lady died secondary to non-responding sepsis and irreversible multi-organ failure. High index of suspicion can lead to early diagnosis by frozen section of histopathology and fungal culture technique. Aggressive surgical debridement and intravenous anti-fungal medication is the main stay of treatment. A delay in diagnosis and treatment may cause multi-organ failure leading to high mortality

Abdominal angina: A rare cause of chronic abdominal pain

We report here a case of chronic postprandial abdominal pain and weight loss of more than one year duration. He was diagnosed to have abdominal angina (chronic mesenteric ischemia) on CT angiography. Open surgical revascularization procedure-right common iliac mesenteric polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass graft achieved positive short and longterm outcome with follow-up of twenty two months

A unique variant of intestinal tuberculosis

Duodenum is a rare site of involvement in intestinal tuberculosis. We report a 19 years old boy who presented with nonbilious vomiting and weight loss. His workup showed stricture in ascending colon, multiple liver abscesses with pneumobilia on CT scan. Upper GI endoscopy revealed stricture in 2nd part of duodenum distally. He was operated and duodenojejunostomy with limited right hemicolectomy (for stricture in this part of gut) were done. Biopsy report was suggestive of tuberculosis. Antituberculous treatment was started. He responded well and gained 20 kg weight at 3 months follow-up

Non-traumatic right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm: An unusual cause of hemobilia and obstructive jaundice

Most hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms (HAPA) are post traumatic, and non-traumatic pseudoaneurysm is rarely reported. It is a potentially life threatening vascular disorder and difficult to diagnose before rupture. Early diagnosis and prompt nonoperative intervention of this lesion could be life saving. The authors report the case of a patient with hemobilia caused by ruptured right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and subsequently developed right hepatic duct stricture, which has not been reported previously. This patient was successfully treated with endovascular stent graft of pseudoaneurysm and endoscopic stenting of right hepatic duct stricture

Splenic abscess: Outcome and prognostic factors

Objective: To determine the spectrum of presentation, treatment outcome and prognostic factors of splenic abscess in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Case-series. Place and Duration of Study: Department of General Surgery, the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July 1988 to July 2007. Methodology: The records of 27 patients with splenic abscess, diagnosed from 1988 to 2007, were retrieved through ICD-10 coding system. The demographic data, physical and radiological findings, treatment modalities, bacteriology reports, morbidity and mortality were collected on a proforma. Results: There were 12 males and 15 females with a mean age of 43.52+/-17.49 years. Common symptoms were fever (92.6%), abdominal pain (55.6%) and malaise (29.6%). Majority of patients (89%) had leukocytosis and 63% patients had associated diseases with which they were admitted. The most common pathogenic organism was Staphylococcus species and gram-negative rods. Ultrasound was used as a preliminary diagnostic modality, which was often followed by CT scan. Thirteen patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics, 8 underwent percutaneous drainage and 6 patients required splenectomy with respective survival rates of 84%, 87.5% and 83%. Mortality rate was 14.81% but no statistically significant difference between 3 treatment groups was manifested. There was significant difference between treatment groups regarding the size of the abscess (p=0.01) and hospital stay (p=0.04). Splenectomy was done when abscess size was \u3e10 cm and hospital stay were increased in the radiological drainage group. Conclusion: Splenic abscess is an uncommon surgical entity. High index of suspicion and liberal use of radiological studies is essential for timely diagnosis. Most of the patients could be cured with non-operative treatment. Splenectomy is a safe procedure for patients with abscess size more than 10 cm and patients not responding to non-operative treatment

Acute mesenteric, portal and inferior vena cava, venous thrombosis, anticoagulation

The prevalence and clinical spectrum of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (AMVT) in Pakistan is largely unknown. The authors report two patients with acute mesenteric, portal and inferior vena cava venous thrombosis confirmed on CT imaging. The diagnoses were established within 24 hours of presentation and both patients were successfully treated with therapeutic heparin during hospital admission and continued on oral warfarin because of hypercoagulable state. The protocol that we currently use is evidence based and is leading to optimal outcome

Delayed surgical therapy reduces mortality in patients with acute necrotizing pancreatitis

Objective: To review the trends in management and analyze the factors influencing outcomes of acute necrotizing pancreatitis.Methods: It wa a retrospective analytical study. All adult patients with computed tomography with proven necrotizing pancreatitis managed at the department of surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi were included in this study extending from January 1998 to January 2008. Outcome variables were hospital stay, complication rate and in-hospital mortality. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. For comparison, Pearson chi-square test, Fisher\u27s exact test, t-test and ANOVA were used, where applicable. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of 1479 patients, 47 patients were included. Median age was 48 (range: 38-56) years with 31(66%) males and 16(34%) females. Overall out of 18(38%) that underwent necrosectomy, 16 had infected acute necrotizing pancreatitis while the rest were negative. Computed Tomography and/or FNAC identified 18 infective acute necrotizing pancreatitis patients, 16 underwent necrosectomy, one patient expired without surgery and the other was managed conservatively. Enteral nutrition was widely used with rising trend of oral feeding from 2006 onwards. Complication rate was 63%. Overall mortality remained 9/47(19.7%), where in infected ANP as well as in postoperative patients, mortality was 7/18 (38.9%). The patients with early pancreatic necrosectomy had prolonged hospital stay, more complications and statistically significant increase in in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Better outcomes were achieved in infected acute necrotizing pancreatitis with delayed pancreatic necrosectomy and the other contributing factor could be early enteral nutritional therapy

Acute mesenteric, portal and inferior vena cava (IVC) venous thrombosis: optimal outcome achieved with anticoagulation

The prevalence and clinical spectrum of acute mesenteric venous thrombosis (AMVT) in Pakistan is largely unknown. The authors report two patients with acute mesenteric, portal and inferior vena cava venous thrombosis confirmed on CT imaging. The diagnoses were established within 24 hours of presentation and both patients were successfully treated with therapeutic heparin during hospital admission and continued on oral warfarin because of hypercoagulable state. The protocol that we currently use is evidence based and is leading to optimal outcome