Perforated viscus presenting with gas in the soft tissues (subcutaneous emphysema)

Subcutaneous Emphysema Caused by an Extraperitoneal Diverticulum Perforation: Description of Two Rare Cases and Review of the Literature

The onset of colon diverticular disease is a frequent event, with a prevalence that increases with age. Amongst possible complications, free peritoneal perforation with abscess formation may occur. We herein describe two rare presentations of an extraperitoneal sigmoid diverticulum perforation. Our first patient, an 89-year-old female with no signs of distress, developed a subcutaneous abscess and emphysema in an incisional hernia following an appendectomy through a McBurney incision. The second patient, an 82-year-old female, was in general distress at the time of her admission and had a more advanced infection following the occurrence of a sigmoid perforation in a hernial sac. Complicated diverticulitis has a known course and evolution, but with an extraperitoneal presentation, this etiology is not expected. A computed tomography (CT) scan should be completed if the patient is hemodynamically stable, and wide debridement should be performed. Subcutaneous emphysema with an acute abdomen may be a sign of sigmoid perforation. Clinicians should keep this etiology in mind, regardless of the initial presentation.

Pelvic primary staphylococcal infection presenting as a thigh abscess

Intra-abdominal disease can present as an extra-abdominal abscess and can follow several routes, including the greater sciatic foramen, obturator foramen, femoral canal, pelvic outlet, and inguinal canal. Nerves and vessels can also serve as a route out of the abdomen. The psoas muscle extends from the twelfth thoracic and fifth lower lumbar vertebrae to the lesser trochanter of the femur, which means that disease in this muscle group can migrate along the muscle, out of the abdomen, and present as a thigh abscess. We present a case of a primary pelvic staphylococcal infection presenting as a thigh abscess. The patient was a 60-year-old man who presented with left posterior thigh pain and fever. Physical examination revealed a diffusely swollen left thigh with overlying erythematous, shiny, and tense skin. X-rays revealed no significant soft tissue lesions, ultrasound was suggestive of an inflammatory process, and MRI showed inflammatory changes along the left hemipelvis and thigh involving the iliacus muscle group, left gluteal region, and obturator internus muscle. The abscess was drained passively via two incisions in the posterior left thigh, releasing large amounts of purulent discharge. Subsequent bacterial culture revealed profuse growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The patient recovered uneventfully except for a moderate fever on the third postoperative day.

Thigh infection and subcutaneous emphysema: an emergency, review of literature and case discussion

Thigh infection associated with local emphysematous signs on presentation to the emergency room should alert the medical staff at once of potential complication associated with it. The infection may be associated with underlying bowel pathology and has a high mortality rate. Hence, emergency treatment should be instituted. We discuss a case with this uncommon presentation, treatment administered and relevant literature.

"Flatus profuse present in the muscles": subcutaneous emphysema of the lower abdominal wall and thighs, described in 1593 by fabricius hildanus

BACKGROUND

Between 1598 and 1641, 600 medical and surgical observations made by the famous German surgeon Guilhelmius Fabricius Hildanus (1560-1634) were published in his Observationum et curationum chirurgicarum centuriae I-VI.

METHODS

Review of the extant document for evidence of infection-related cases.

RESULTS

One of the case reports, published as Observatio LXX in the fifth Centuria, bears the title (in translation) Of flatus, profuse present in the muscles. This case report probably is the earliest accurate description of subcutaneous emphysema of the lower abdomen and thighs secondary to a retroperitoneal abscess.

CONCLUSION

The presence of gas in the superficial tissues of the abdominal wall or thighs is a rare feature and can be a late sign of an otherwise-obscure intra-abdominal abscess with gas-producing bacteria. Fabricius Hildanus almost certainly was the first to document this rare feature in 1593, and judged it important enough to describe in his Centuriae.

Acute appendicitis presenting as thigh abscess in a child: a case report

A case of retrocecal appendicitis is described in a 6-year-old male child who presented with thigh abscess. The presence of a positive psoas stretch test, feculent discharge, an enteric growth on bacteriological examination, and intraabdominal fluid collection on abdominal ultrasound provided clues to the presence of an intraabdominal source of sepsis. Laparotomy revealed a perforated retrocecal appendix with surrounding collection communicating into the thigh. Appendectomy with drainage of retroperitoneal and thigh collections under adequate antibiotic coverage resulted in a satisfactory recovery. We describe our experience with the present case and discuss the pertinent literature.

Subcutaneous emphysema of the lower extremity of abdominal origin

Three cases of subcutaneous emphysema of the lower extremity due to abdominal disease are reported. These were due to (a) perforation of the sigmoid, (b) perirectal abscess, and (c) non-traumatic metastatic gas gangrene due to emphysematous cholecystitis. The mechanisms and anatomical pathways are discussed.

Thigh abscess. An uncommon presentation of intraabdominal sepsis

Abscesses of the thigh are rare and, although easily diagnosed, their cause is often obscure. We present two cases of thigh abscesses which resulted from the extension of intraabdominal sepsis. A review of the literature reveals only 46 previously reported cases. The underlying pathologic abnormality is usually a retroperitoneal perforation of a colorectal neoplasm or diverticular disease, whereas origin from the small bowel or appendix is distinctly less common. Routes of extension of infection into the thigh can be either direct, through the subcutaneous tissues, or through naturally occurring defects in the abdominal wall. These include: (1) along the psoas muscle deep to the inguinal ligament; (2) through the femoral canal; (3) by way of the obturator foramen; and (4) through the sacrosciatic notch. The two cases presented are unusual in that they both followed radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection, which opens up these natural avenues to the spread of intraabdominal infection. The overall mortality in the literature is high (53 percent), but recognition of an abdominal source and appropriate treatment combined with local drainage of the thigh abscess appears to improve survival.

Unusual presentation of carcinoma of the vermiform appendix: a report of two cases

Two unusual presentations of perforated mucoid adenocarcinoma of the appendix are described. One patient presented with a large periappendicular abscess that extended into the gluteal region, the other with a retroperitoneal abscess and abscesses in the right flank and groin. Recognition of the source of the abscess may be difficult but is essential for the prevention and elimination of the sepsis which may be life-threatening. The presence of mucin in the drained pus is highly suggestive for perforated bowel carcinoma. A high index of suspicion and the performance of prompt diagnostic procedures may bring early surgical treatment and better results.

Unusual presentations of carcinoma of the right colon

Two unusual presentations of carcinoma of the right colon are described. One of the two patients presented with a right gluteal abscess and the other presented with a colocutaneous fistula to the anterior abdominal wall at the site of a previous appendectomy scar. Despite extensive local tumor invasion of adjacent structures in both cases, all the regional lymph nodes were free of cancer and the tumors were of low-grade malignancy. A review of the literature indicates that bulky colonic tumors with extensive local invasion and negative mesenteric lymph nodes have a relatively good prognosis if adequate resection is performed.

Subcutaneous emphysema of the abdominal wall from diverticulitis with necrotizing fasciitis

The case history of a patient with subcutaneous emphysema of the abdomen from sigmoid diverticulitis is presented. The mechanisms for developing abdominal wall emphysema are reviewed. Thus when the gas originates from the gastrointestinal tract, mechanical factors are mainly responsible for this phenomenon. These inculde a direct communication through a colonocutaneous fistula. Gas may, however, also be spread into the abdominal wall by high intraintestinal pressures. Infection with gas-producing organisms may be associated with subcutaneous emphysema. This is particularly true when the emphysema develops 48 h or longer after onset of symptoms. Infection, however, is not the major cause for gas in these tissues.

Carcinoma of the large bowel presenting as a subcutaneous abscess of the thigh : a report of 4 cases

Four cases of carcinoma of the distal large bowel are described in which the presenting feature was a subcutaneous abscess of the lateral aspect of the thigh. The high morbidity and mortality of this presentation are discussed and the literature is reviewed.