Eosinophilic enteritis presenting as intestinal obstruction: case report and review of the literature

Eosinophilic enteritis (EE) is characterized by intense eosinophilic infiltrate of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical manifestations depend on the affected segment and intestinal layer. First-line treatment is systemic corticosteroids; surgery is reserved for complications. 84-year-old male patient with a history of right hemicolectomy and two episodes of intestinal obstruction presented to the ED with abdominal pain, distension, nausea, and vomiting. CBC showed leukocytosis and no eosinophilia. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed stenosis with thickening of the distal intestinal wall and partial intestinal obstruction. Colonoscopy found aphthous ulcers. Histopathology reported EE. The patient received budesonide and metronidazole, with resolution within 24 h.

Gallstone ileus, a rare cause of intestinal occlusion. A case report

Recurrent gallstone ileus has a recurrence of 2-8.2% with a mortality of 12-20%, secondary to an enteric or cholecystic gallstone. A male patient with a diagnosis of intestinal occlusion secondary to biliary ileus and cholecystoduodenal fistula, performing enterotomy and closure in two planes with drainage placement. Two months after presenting the clinical of intestinal occlusion, medical management began and an abdominal tomography was performed, finding an image suggestive of recurrent gallstone ileus, treated with laparotomy.

Wilkie's syndrome as a cause of bowel obstruction in adults: A case report

Background

The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome, also known as Wilkie's syndrome, is one of the rarest causes of small bowel obstruction.

Clinical case

A 36-year-old female patient, with a medical history of diabetes mellitus type 2, arrived at the emergency department with upper intestinal obstruction; a study protocol is made, integrating the diagnosis of Wilkie's syndrome. We performed a laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy, the patient did well in the post-operative period.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic duodenojejunostomy is a practical option to treat Wilkie's syndrome. It provides definitive treatment with the advantages and benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

Pediatric sigmoid volvulus due to Chagas disease

Exposure and infections by Trypanosoma cruzi are the fourth cause of loss of potential life years between parasitic and infectious diseases. We describe the case of a 11-year-old patient with intestinal occlusion, surgically treated with intestinal volvulus, the surgical specimen is sent to histopathology reporting Chagasic megacolon. The age range of presentation is a challenge in the absence of nonspecific symptoms. There is no pediatric statistical data that define trypanosomiasis in a latent or chronic state and will be diagnosed in adult stages due to the physiopathological alterations that they will present.

Postsurgical intestinal occlusion ileum-ileum double intussusception in eleven-month girl

Background

Postoperative intussusception is an unusual complication in children; the incidence is 0.01-0.25%.

Clinical Case

Female of 11 months who underwent colostomy, 48 h later presents abdominal pain, vomiting gastrobiliar and abdominal distension. A laparotomy was performed, finding a double ileo-ileal invagination 60 cm from the ileocecal valve.

Discussion

The postoperative intestinal invaginations are extremely rare and most of them occur within the first 7 days. The etiology of postoperative intussusception is unknown.

Conclusions

Postoperative children with intestinal occlusion, intussusception should be suspected and an immediate laparotomy should be performed.

[Gallstone ileus, surgical management review]

Background

Gallstone ileus (GI) represents a rare cause of mechanical intestinal occlusion, which is caused by the impaction of a gallstones at the gastrointestinal tract, being most frequently the terminal ileum; its etiology is due to the passage of a calculum through a biliary-enteric fistula. Due to its low incidence, diagnostic suspicion and adequate initial surgical treatment are essential for an adequate clinical evolution.

Objective

A bibliographic review on the current surgical management of GI was carried out and exemplified by the presentation a clinical case.

Clinical case

78-year-old male with bowel obstruction, upon undergoing a CT scan, a gallstone at the level of distal ileum is displayed, therefore, an exploratory laparotomy (ex lap) is performed with enterotomy and extraction of the calculus. The patient bestowed adequate postoperative clinical evolution, and the presence of a cholecystoduodenal fistula is documented by an upper endoscopy.

Discussion

GI represents an uncommon pathology, however, there is discrepancy in the literature regarding the initial surgical management, especially in whether or not a biliary procedure should be associated with emergency enterolithotomy.

Conclusion

GI is associated with complications secondary to diagnostic delay and its late surgical resolution, although the initial treatment is aimed at resolving the intestinal obstruction through enterotomy and gallstone extraction, there is controversy regarding the preferred time for cholecystectomy and repair of biliary-enteric fistula, being the two-stage surgery the surgical procedure of choice, especially in patients with a high risk of complications.

[L-lactate as a serum marker of intestinal ischemia in patients with complicated intestinal obstruction]

BACKGROUND

The intestinal obstruction secondary to internal hernia is a diagnostic challenge. The absence of specific symptoms and signs during clinical examination often lead to underestimation of the severity and early surgical treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical presentation of two patients with internal hernia, describe the clinical, biochemical and radiological findings, with emphasis on the L-lactate as an early serum marker of intestinal ischemia.

CLINICAL CASES

Case 1: female, 44 years history of urolithiasis and 2 cesarean sections. Case 2: female, 86 year old with a history of open cholecystectomy, incisional and bilateral inguinal hernia repair with mesh placement. Both admitted with abdominal pain and intestinal obstruction data. The only significant laboratory finding was elevation of L-lactate. The abdominal films showed air-fluid levels, dilated loops of small intestine and colon. Abdominal contrast tomography showed free abdominal fluid id, internal hernia and torque of mesentery. In both cases, exploratory laparotomy was performed with bowel resection of ischemic segments, with uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal ischemia secondary to internal hernia is difficult lt to diagnose. In patients with a high suspicion, signs of intestinal obstruction by plain radiography, the elevation of L-lactate, could help in the early diagnosis of intestinal ischemia and immediate surgical treatment.

[Dysmorphic neonatal syndrome and Ogilvie syndrome]

BACKGROUND

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, or Ogilvie syndrome, is a motility abnormality characterised by rapid and progressive dilation of the large intestine. To achieve a diagnosis it is fundamental to exclude mechanical obstruction with imaging studies such as computer axial tomography. The combined incidence of Ogilvie and dysmorphic syndrome has not been described.

CLINICAL CASE

Female patient of 28 years old with a history of infant cerebral palsy came to emergency room with 4 days of intestinal obstruction. She had hypokalaemia that was reverted, but persisted with obstruction. Later after 72h with recovery of fluids and electrolytes and administration of prokinetics, the obstruction reversed. She was discharged with no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive medical treatment solves most cases. Promising results have been achieved with neostigmine. In the event of no response to drug therapy, the next step is endoscopic treatment. Even with high recurrence this is preferred due to its lower level of complications in contrast to surgical decompression. Neonatal dysmorphic syndrome is often associated with disorders of the central nervous system. So far, there have been no reports on the incidence of this disease with Ogilvie syndrome, although 9% of cases have been described as associated with neurological events. Conservative management in this disease is the initial approach. Interventions should be reserved for when conservative treatment fails.

[Intestinal carcinoid tumour: Case report]

BACKGROUND

Carcinoid of the small intestine, is a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor that rarely presents with clinical signs. This tumour can be associated with other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, presenting a wide range of symptoms. In some cases they have an aggressive and highly symptomatic behaviour; thus, clinical suspicion must be high to make an early diagnosis.

CLINICAL CASE

A 60 year-old male patient with Crohn's disease and gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to this disease within the last year. He presented with intestinal obstruction initially treated with conservative management with no improvement. Exploratory laparotomy was performed finding a mesenteric tumour that caused the bowel obstruction. Bowel resection with primary anastomosis was performed. The pathology report showed an intestinal carcinoid tumour with lymph node metastases. The patient recovered well, and was discharged without complications to continue medical treatment and follow-up by the Oncology department.

CONCLUSION

In almost 42% of the cases, the most common site of carcinoid tumours is the small intestine, and of these, 41% are presented as locoregional disease. Patients with Crohn's disease present a higher incidence. In these cases, the most common presentation is an acute intestinal obstruction (90%). Surgery is usually curative, and follow up is important as the symptoms of Crohn's disease can hide any recurrence.