Complicated colonic diverticulitis at 34 weeks gestation

Peritonitis is a set of symptoms of varying etiology, usually with an accompanying infection, systemic and local changes within the peritoneal cavity. Colonic diseases, especially colon perforation, are one of the most common causes of peritonitis. The course of the disease may be turbulent due to sudden perforation. In case of limited peritonitis the disease is not as acute as the perforation hole is small and it can be sealed by the omentum and internal organs. Abdominal pain is usually located around the source of infection and is less severe. A 38-year-old patient at 34 weeks gestation was hospitalized in the obstetric-gynecological ward of the Health Care Center with a diagnosis of preterm delivery, urinary infection and renal colic. Due to increasing peritoneal symptoms and deteriorating general condition of the patient, a decision to perform immediately exploratory laparotomy combined with the Cesarean section was made. The surgeon indicated a place in the left mesogastrium that could correspond with a drained interintestinal abscess and also found a large amount of fibrin in the lower floor of the peritoneal cavity. The initial point of the abscess remained unknown and the patient received total parenteral nutrition for 10 days. On 5 postoperative day the drain was removed from the peritoneal cavity and since day 10 patient health was steadily improving. Bacteriological cultures revealed abundant growth of E. coli that showed sensitivity to the used antibiotics. On 22 postoperative day the patient and her child were discharged home in good condition. Five months later, the patient was admitted to the surgical ward with acute abdominal pain with the diagnosis of an abscess in her left mesogastric and subgastric area, perforation of sigmoid diverticulum and fecal fistula. Our case illustrates great difficulties in diagnosing diseases of the abdominal cavity during pregnancy because causes and symptoms may be typical of this condition, as well as of unrelated diseases, including: kidney problems, appendicitis, cholecystitis and bowel disease. Examination of the pregnant patient presents a challenge and the symptoms are uncharacteristic. Tension of the abdominal wall, as well as the muscles of the digestive and urinary tract are reduced and the topography of the internal organs changes during pregnancy. The interpretation of laboratory tests becomes more difficult. In our case, the initial local peritonitis, caused by microperforation of the diverticulum, ran a latent course and was masked by both pregnancy and renal colic symptoms, consequently leading to diffuse peritonitis. The presented case demonstrates the importance of the problem and forces obstetricians to be more vigilant in determining the diagnosis and decision-making, because of its meaning for the health and even the life of the patient and her child

The spectrum of malignancies among adult HIV cohort in Poland between 1995 and 2012 : a retrospective analysis of 288 cases

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the spectrum of AIDS-defining malignancies (ADMs) and non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADMs) in HIV-infected patients in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted among HIV-infected adult patients who developed a malignancy between 1995 and 2012 in a Polish cohort. Malignancies were divided into ADMs and NADMs. Non-AIDS-defining malignancies were further categorised as virus-related (NADMs-VR) and unrelated (NADMs-VUR). Epidemiological data was analysed according to demographic data, medical history, and HIV-related information. Results were analysed by OR, EPITools package parameters and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In this study 288 malignancies were discovered. The mean age at diagnosis was 41.25 years (IQR20-81); for ADMs 38.05 years, and for NADMs-VURs 46.42 years; 72.22% were male, 40.28% were co-infected with HCV. The risk behaviours were: 37.85% IDU, 33.33% MSM, and 24.31% heterosexual. Mean CD4+ at the diagnosis was 282 cells/mm(3) (for ADMs 232 and for NADMs-VUR 395). Average duration of HIV infection at diagnosis was 5.69 years. There were 159 (55.2%) ADMs and 129 (44.8%) NADMs, among whom 58 (44.96%) NADMs-VR and 71 (55.04%) NADMs-VUR. The most frequent malignancies were: NHL (n = 76; 26.39%), KS (n = 49; 17.01%), ICC (n = 34; 11.81%), HD (n = 23; 7.99%), lung cancer (n = 18; 6.25%) and HCC (n = 14; 4.86%). The amount of NADMs, NADMs-VURs in particular, is increasing at present. Male gender (OR = 1.889; 95% CI: 1.104–3.233; p = 0.024), advanced age: 50–60 years (OR = 3.022; 95% CI: 1.359–6.720; p = 0.01) and ≥ 60 years (OR = 15.111; 95% CI: 3.122–73.151; p < 0.001), longer duration of HIV-infection and successful HAART (OR = 2.769; 95% CI: 1.675–4.577; p = 0) were independent predictors of NADMs overall, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a Polish cohort NHL was the most frequent malignancy among ADMs, whereas HD was the most frequent among NADMs. Increased incidence of NADMs appearing in elderly men with longer duration of HIV-infection and with better virological and immunological control was confirmed. As HIV-infected individuals live longer, better screening strategies, especially for NADMs-VUR, are needed. The spectrum of cancer diagnoses in Poland currently does not appear dissimilar to that observed in other European populations