Unexpected Ground-Glass Opacities on Abdominopelvic CT of a Patient With a Negative SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Result and No Respiratory Symptoms Upon Admission

One of the biggest challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be the detection of asymptomatic and presymptomatic persons infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 may transmit the virus to others and may have subclinical lung abnormalities. Some hospitals use SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests for pre-admission screening testing because they are relatively inexpensive, have a rapid turnaround time, and can be performed at the point of care; however, antigen tests are generally less sensitive than nucleic acid amplification tests with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Moreover, as the local COVID-19 prevalence increases, the negative predictive value of antigen tests may decrease, meaning that the probability of having false-negative results may increase. We present a case of a patient who, prior to admission for a surgical procedure, had a negative antigen test result for SARS-CoV-2, had no respiratory symptoms, and had no suspected or known exposure to SARS-CoV-2; however, she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA after admission. The only factor that led the healthcare team to suspect SARS-CoV-2 infection was an unexpected finding of bilateral ground-glass opacities on an abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT), which was performed to assess the extent of a perianal abscess the patient presented. This case highlights the importance of using highly sensitive SARS-CoV-2 tests for pre-admission screening testing in the hospital setting.

The Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Appendectomy Within a Hernia

We present three cases where an inflamed incarcerated appendix was in a femoral, inguinal, and an umbilical hernia. All three patients underwent an appendectomy laparoscopically. The hernias in two of the patients (femoral and inguinal) were left unrepaired as the primary goal was to relieve the patients' symptoms and achieve source control. The hernia was repaired primarily in the patient with an umbilical hernia intraoperatively. At three months follow-up, none of the patients had a clinically visible hernia.

Major Bleed Post Minimally Invasive Surgical Repair of Inguinal Hernia

At our center, over 200 patients undergo minimally invasive repairs of inguinal hernias every year using a laparoscope and a robotic-assisted technique. In three patients who underwent a minimally invasive procedure for uncomplicated indirect inguinal hernia, the postoperative course was complicated with bleeding and required an exploratory laparotomy. Post-procedure, the patients developed tachycardia and hypotension with a drop in hemoglobin, for which the patients required surgical re-exploration in an emergent fashion. The factors leading to bleeding were analyzed and are reported herein to increase awareness and prevent the occurrence of these complications during inguinal hernia surgery.

Gluteal Compartment Syndrome After Prolonged Immobilization in Drug Abusers

Background

There has been an increasing incidence of drug abuse patients presenting with rhabdomyolysis after prolonged immobilization. Our study was to assess etiology and management challenges with patients presenting with gluteal compartment syndrome after drug abuse.

Methodology

We did a retrospective analysis of five patients who presented with gluteal compartment syndrome secondary to drug abuse over one year.

Results

We had a 100% association with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal injury necessitating hemodialysis. There was a frequent association with the involvement of additional compartments like thigh and leg.

Conclusion

Patients with drug overdose can present with unusual compartment syndrome involvement like the gluteal compartment. Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency and needs multidisciplinary involvement. 

Vascular Shunt for Small Vessel Trauma in a Polytrauma Patient

A 15-year-old male patient presented with multiple gunshot injuries. The patient underwent emergency lifesaving exploratory laparotomy and subsequently needed repair of his left upper limb ulnar artery injury. A shunt helped restore blood flow to the hand in a setting of damage control surgery in an exsanguinating patient with an ulnar artery injury having a massive disruption. After resuscitation, the patient underwent definitive repair of the artery using a vein interposition graft.

Delayed Presentation of Foot Compartment Syndrome

A 30-year-old male after consuming alcohol and drugs lost consciousness and passed out in his bathroom. After 10 hours, he was found immobilized stuporous on his bathroom floor and brought by emergency service to the emergency room. He was found to have compartment syndrome of the right lower limb and underwent emergency fasciotomy of three compartments of the thigh and four compartments of the leg. The postoperative course was complicated by acute kidney injury necessitating hemodialysis. On postoperative day three from the index fasciotomy patient was found to develop foot compartment syndrome despite not having foot compartment involved in the initial presentation. In opioid abuse, patients' additional compartments can get involved during the disease process, and it is essential to identify them with regular physical examination and use of biomarkers.

Isolated Injury to Prepuce After Motor Vehicle Collision

A four-year-old male restrained passenger in the rear seat was in a motor vehicle collision. He had pain and swelling in the tip of the penis with the inability to micturate. The patient on evaluation had an isolated injury of the prepuce. The patient underwent an evaluation to rule out underlying penile/urethra and associated injury of kidney and bladder. The patient had an isolated injury to prepuce, causing urinary retention for which he underwent circumcision.

Fulminant Ischemic Pancolitis: A Severe Variant of Ischemic Colitis

We present the case of a 75-year-old female with abdominal pain and a sudden change in mental status. She progressed rapidly with manifestations of acidosis without episodes of bloody bowel movements or diarrhea. The patient underwent emergent exploratory laparotomy, and a diagnosis of fulminant ischemic pancolitis was made with visual confirmation of infarcted colon from cecum to proximal rectum leading to subtotal colectomy and ileostomy. Postoperatively, the patient showed improved acidosis and mental status; unfortunately, over the subsequent days, the patient declined and was transferred to hospice and palliative care.