Les abdomens aigus d'étiologie parasitaire : analyse d'une série rétrospective de 135 cas

A, Pontón P, Molina GA, Constante JE, Delgado JA. Amebiasis, a rare cause of acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal emergencies, even though most cases of appendicitis will be due to obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, in rare occasions and mostly due to poor sanitary conditions a parasitic infection may cause appendicitis. Entamoeba histolytica is a common parasite and has a broad clinical spectrum from an asymptomatic disease to a life-threatening condition. In rare occasions, trophozoites can invade the appendiceal wall causing appendicitis. Preoperative diagnosis of acute amebic appendicitis is usually difficult, yet surgical treatment as in non-amebic appendicitis is the treatment of choice. However, due to the increased rate of postoperative complications associated with acute amebic appendicitis, a course of nitroimidazoles, and increased awareness in basic sanitary measures is usually recommended. We present a case of a 29-year-old woman, she presented with abdominal pain and appendicitis was suspected. After successful surgery, pathology confirmed acute amebic appendicitis.

[Volvulus of the small bowel due to ascaris lumbricoides package: about a case]

Nous rapportons un cas exceptionnel de volvulus nécrosé de l'intestin grêle dû à des ascaris adultes chez un enfant de 7 ans. A l'admission, l'enfant présentait le tableau d'occlusion intestinale qui évoluait depuis deux jours avec altération de l'état général. La radiographie de l'abdomen sans préparation retrouvait des niveaux hydroaériques de type grêlique et un aspect tigré évoquant le diagnostic d'une occlusion intestinale haute sur masse abdominale. Après la réanimation, le traitement chirurgical consistait en une laparotomie qui avait retrouvé un volvulus nécrosé de l'iléon terminale contenant des ascaris adultes. Une résection du grêle sur environ un mètre emportant le segment nécrosé suivie d'une iléostomie était réalisée. L'évolution a été favorable, l'anastomose iléo-colique fut réalisée quatre semaines plus tard. Au recul de deux ans l'enfant est indemne de tout symptôme.

Global disease burden of conditions requiring emergency surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical disease is inadequately addressed globally, and emergency conditions requiring surgery contribute substantially to the global disease burden.

METHODS

This was a review of studies that contributed to define the population-based health burden of emergency surgical conditions (excluding trauma and obstetrics) and the status of available capacity to address this burden. Further data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 and the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation online data.

RESULTS

In the index year of 2010, there were 896,000 deaths, 20 million years of life lost and 25 million disability-adjusted life-years from 11 emergency general surgical conditions reported individually in the Global Burden of Disease Study. The most common cause of death was complicated peptic ulcer disease, followed by aortic aneurysm, bowel obstruction, biliary disease, mesenteric ischaemia, peripheral vascular disease, abscess and soft tissue infections, and appendicitis. The mortality rate was higher in high-income countries (HICs) than in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (24.3 versus 10.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants respectively), primarily owing to a higher rate of vascular disease in HICs. However, because of the much larger population, 70 per cent of deaths occurred in LMICs. Deaths from vascular disease rose from 15 to 25 per cent of surgical emergency-related deaths in LMICs (from 1990 to 2010). Surgical capacity to address this burden is suboptimal in LMICs, with fewer than one operating theatre per 100,000 inhabitants in many LMICs, whereas some HICs have more than 14 per 100,000 inhabitants.

CONCLUSION

The global burden of surgical emergencies is described insufficiently. The bare estimates indicate a tremendous health burden. LMICs carry the majority of emergency conditions; in these countries the pattern of surgical disease is changing and capacity to deal with the problem is inadequate. The data presented in this study will be useful for both the surgical and public health communities to plan a more adequate response.

[Typhlitis: report of a case and review of the literature]

INTRODUCTION

Typhlitis is a rare condition, characterized by necrotizing inflammation of the colon. It occurs mainly in neutropenic patients receiving chemotherapy for leukemia.

EXEGESIS

We report the case of a 64-year-old woman with T-cell lymphocytic leukaemia, who exhibited asymptomatic reactivation of cytomegalovirus infection and developed subsequently typhlitis.

CONCLUSION

The pathological mechanisms of typhlitis remain unclear in neutropenic patients. The role of cytotoxic drugs as well as both bacterial overgrowth and translocation has been postulated. In our patient, asymptomatic reactivation of cytomegalovirus infection may have increased chemotherapeutic-agents-digestive toxicity.

Incidental parasitic infestations in surgically removed appendices: a retrospective analysis

Background

Appendiceal parasites can cause symptoms of appendiceal pain, independent of microscopic evidence of acute inflammation. The diagnosis of a parasitic infestation is generally achieved only after the pathologic examination of the resected appendices.

Patients/Methods

Pathology department records were reviewed for all patients who required an operation for symptoms of acute appendicitis between 2000 and 2006. The specimens which were pathologically diagnosed to contain parasites were reevaluated for features of acute inflamation, and parasite type. The medical records were reviewed in detail to achieve a diagnostic score(Eskelinen). Radiologic imaging findings were correlated, if present.

Results

Of the 190 appendectomies performed, 6 specimens (3,15%) were found to contain parasites(4 Enterobius vermicularis, 2 Taenia subspecies). Appendectomies with Taenia showed acute inflamation, while acute inflamation was absent in the ones with Enterobius vermicularis. The Eskelinen score was higher than the treshold in two cases with an acute inflamation, and in two without. Ultrasound scans, and a computed tomography scan were performed in 5 patients. In 3 of 4 bland appendices, results favored acute appendicitis.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites is not only made by examining the stool but the diagnosis can be made by histology from surgical specimens. Timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy might prevent probable future complications that may necessitate surgical procedures, at least in some of the patients. The clinical management of these infections is different from that for classical appendicitis.