Pancreatic Encephalopathy- A Rare Complication of Severe Acute Biliary Pancreatitis

Background. Pancreatic encephalopathy is a rare complication of severe acute pancreatitis, with high mortality, being difficult to diagnose and treat, thus requiring continuous research regarding its management. Materials and Methods. Of 20 patients diagnosed with severe acute pancreatitis on admission at Department of Emergency and Admission (DEA), from January 1st 2010 to March 31st 2014, 5 cases complicated by pancreatic encephalopathy were analyzed using a descriptive observational, retrospective, single-centre study. Results. The study shows different types of diagnostic algorithm and therapeutical approaches, in correlation with morbidity and mortality rates. Conclusions. Our study highlighted the fact that speed is critical, early management being the key to outcome

Psychological Barriers in Long Term Non-Operative Treatment of Retroperitoneal Hematoma

The retroperitoneal hematoma can have, mainly, a traumatic etiology - blunt abdominal trauma (falls from height, road accidents, aggression of any kind, etc.), or open (incised wounds, puncture, penetration or gunshot wounds). Ruptured arterial aneurysms can cause hemorrhage in the retroperitoneal space. There is also spontaneous retroperitoneal trauma in patients with chronic treatment with anticoagulant or antiaggregant drugs (1). Hemorrhage in the retroperitoneal space can be iatrogenic, after surgical, open or laparoscopic, interventions (2, 3). A particular type of retroperitoneal hematoma is the psoas muscle hematoma in patients with chronic oral anticoagulant treatment (Acenocumarol, Warfarin)

Intestinal Obstruction Secondary to Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesions: the Tolerability of the Conservative Treatment

Introduction: The present study aims to determine the mean duration of the conservative management that can be tolerated by the patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to the postoperative peritoneal adhesions, in order to postpone the surgical intervention. Material and method: The data of the patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions were retrospectively collected and analysed. The number of readmissions, the type of the therapeutic management, the duration of the conservative treatment, the number of surgical reinterventions and the intraoperative aspect represented the studied variables. Results: 543 patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions, admitted in the Surgical Department of “Sfântul Pantelimon” Emergency Hospital from Bucharest, Romania, between January 2014 and July 2018, were enrolled in the study. 233 patients underwent conservative treatment, 310 patients being surgically treated. The mean interval necessary for the monitoring of the patients non- operatively treated was 7 days, within a range of 2 to 14 days. For the surgically treated cases, the mean monitoring interval was 5 days, within a range of 1 to 14 days. Among the patients that underwent surgical treatment, there were 276 cases of adhesiolysis, 31 cases of intestinal resection with anastomosis and 3 cases of intestinal resection with terminal ileo- or colostomy. Conclusion: Under strict monitoring, a signifi cant number of cases of intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions can, successfully, be treated using conservative management, within 7-10 days

Postoperative Peritoneal Adhesion Syndrome - a Challenging Issue in Laparoscopic Surgery

Introduction: The presence of the peritoneal adhesions during surgery represents an element that can negatively influence the intra- and postoperative evolution of the patients. This article aims to evaluate the impact of the peritoneal adhesions on the postoperative recovery of the patients. Material and method: The data of 1407 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2014 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were organized into two groups: the case group, consisting of patients for whom peritoneal adhesions were identifi ed during the surgical intervention, and the control group, with patients that had no postoperative peritoneal adhesions. The degree of association between the presence of the peritoneal adhesions and the operative time, the risk of laparoscopic conversion to laparotomy and the risk of intra- or postoperative complications was analyzed. Results: For 537 patients (38.16%) included in the study postoperative peritoneal adhesions were identifi ed at the time of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A direct association was observed between the presence of postoperative peritoneal adhesions and the risk of conversion, a longer operative time or period of hospitalization and the risk of postoperative ileus. Conclusions: Postoperative peritoneal adhesions represent an independent risk factor for the increasing morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Non-operative management of the sigmoid volvulus – case presentation

Sigmoid volvulus happens when the sigmoid wraps around itself and its mesentery. Sigmoid volvulus accounts for 2% to 50% of all colonic obstructions. This pathology generally affects adults, and it is more common in males. The etiology is multifactorial and controversial; the main symptoms are diffuse abdominal pain, distention and constipation, while the pregnant signs are abdominal distention and tenderness. Laboratory findings are not pathognomonic: abdominal X-ray radiographs show a dilated sigmoid colon and multiple intestinal air-fluid levels, abdominal CT and MRI demonstrate a whirled sigmoid mesentery. Flexible endoscopy reveals a spiral sphincter-like twist of the mucosa. The diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus is established by clinical, radiological, endoscopic, and sometimes operative findings. Although flexible endoscopic detorsion is advocated as the primary treatment choice, emergency surgery is required for patients who present with peritonitis, bowel gangrene, or perforation, or for patients whose non-operative treatment is unsuccessful. Although emergency surgery includes various non-definitive or definitive procedures, resection with primary anastomosis is the most commonly recommended procedure. After a successful non-operative detorsion, elective sigmoid resection and anastomosis is recommended. The overall mortality is 10% to 50%, while the overall morbidity is 6% to 24%

Cholelitiasis in an adult patient with mild hereditary spherocytosis – a case report

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is an inherited abnormality of the red blood cell, caused by defects in structural membrane proteins. The condition is dominantly inherited in 75% of people. The severity of the disorder is related to the type and amount of membrane disruption, which is genetically determined. A patient who suffers from this disorder is commonly found in a surgical ward when the disease becomes unmanageable by a hematologist. Surgeons encounter complications such as: jaundice, splenomegaly, gallstone sand severe anemia. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with a history of hereditary spherocytosis who presented at the emergency room for pain in the right upper quadrant, jaundice and anemia and was diagnosed with gallbladder stones and common bile duct obstruction