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Non-traumatic acute abdomen: videolaparoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although videolaparoscopy has been considered a safe method for many elective procedures, its use in traumatic and non-traumatic acute abdomen needs to be evaluated. The aim of this article is to evaluate the role of videolaparoscopy in non-traumatic acute abdomen as a method of diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Between January 1992 and December 1996, 462 patients' charts were reviewed, retrospectively. Patients were admitted to the emergency room of São Rafael Hospital with symptoms of non-traumatic acute abdomen. Routine investigation of abdominal pain was performed in all patients, followed by videolaparoscopy. The laparoscopic procedures were done with four main purposes: diagnosis (ie, enteritis); diagnosis and treatment (ie, appendicitis); treatment only, when the diagnosis was known (ie, acute cholecystitis); and in cases where the conversion to conventional laparotomy was necessary, indicating the best incision. RESULTS: The vast majority of patients had inflammatory causes of acute abdomen (82.03%); others causes were hemoperitoneum (11.03%), bowel obstruction (3.25%), perforation of a hollow viscera (1.74%), vascular occlusion (1.3%), and negative laparoscopy (0.65%). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that laparotomy was necessary in only 7.14% of the patients. The videolaparoscopic approach was used for diagnosis (99.35%) and treatment (92.86%) of patients with acute abdomen.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Sonographic detection of pneumoperitoneum in patients with acute abdomen.

We describe five patients who presented with an acute abdomen in whom pneumoperitoneum was first detected by sonography. All five subsequently were proved to have a perforated viscus. In all cases, the pneumoperitoneum was seen as an echogenic line with a posterior ring-down or reverberation artifact between the anterior abdominal wall and the anterior surface of the liver. The finding was shown best in the right upper quadrant with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position. The echoes caused by the pneumoperitoneum overlapped the echoes of the lung during inspiration, but the echoes were separate during expiration. The probable cause of pneumoperitoneum was determined with sonography in four of the five patients: three had perforation of duodenal ulcer and one had perforation of gastric cancer. The fifth patient had a perforated ileum, which was not evident on the sonogram. Our experience with these patients suggests that the detection of pneumoperitoneum on sonography in patients with an acute abdomen is an important sign of a perforated viscus.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Expression and significance of toll-like receptor 2,4 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in acute abdomen patients associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

The changes of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, 4 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the acute abdomen patients associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and their potential significance were explored. A clinical study was performed on 103 acute abdomen patients in whom 65 were associated with SIRS. Forty healthy individuals served as normal controls. The mRNA expression of TLR2, 4 was detected by RT-PCR, and the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-6 by ELISA. The level of plasma endotoxin, hospital stay and mortality were measured. It was found that the endotoxin level was increased to varying degrees in all the acute abdomen patients, and the endotoxin level was and hospital stay longer in SIRS group than in non-SIRS group (P<0.01). TLR2 mRNA, TLR4 mRNA, IL-6 and TNF-alpha could be detected with low value in normal controls, but they were up-regulated markedly on the 1st day after admission. Then TLR4 mRNA, IL-6 and TNF-alpha were decreased gradually, but TLR2 mRNA maintained at a high level till the 5th day. These indexes above in SIRS group were higher than those in non-SIRS group (P<0.01). The results of correlation analysis revealed the expression of TLR2, 4 mRNA was positively correlated with the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and the hospital stay. The results of Logistic regression demonstrated that overexpression of TLR2, 4 mRNA might result in higher risk of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). It was concluded that in the acute abdomen patients associated with SIRS, the expression of TLR2, 4 in PBMCs was increased markedly, suggesting that TLR might play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute abdomen associated with SIRS.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Sonographic appearance of hemorrhagic ovarian cyst with acute abdomen by transvaginal scan.

Hemorrhagic ovarian cyst (HOC) which is one of the functional cysts, is often involved in acute abdomen leading to laparatomy intervention. The reason for this mainly lies in the fact that it is easily misdiagnosed as an organic mass because of the presence of lower abdominal pain and the variable appearance of ultrasonographic images at presentation. We analyzed 15 cases of HOC associated with acute abdomen, of which in 2 cases the disease was confirmed by laparotomy. The remaining 13 cases were followed-up clinically and by daily transvaginal sonography (TVS) from the first detection of the cyst until complete resolution. The TVS images showed a variety of changes; however, when the images or their magnified views were observed precisely, important diagnostic characteristics were found which were classified into 3 categories: type 1 images showed mixed hypoechoic and hyperechoic areas, the demarcation line between which appeared as a thin or thick septum-like echo of smooth formation; type 2 images showed hypoechoic background and vertical, horizontal, or lamellar thin or thick thread-like echoes with an overall reticular-like or sponge-like pattern; and type 3 images showed an overall hyperechoic and solid pattern. Type 1 and 2 images occurred more frequent (93.3%), and only 1 case had a type 3 image. In all image types, septum-like or thread-like echoes were seen, TVS type 1 and 2 images showed a clear division into hyperechoic and other areas with the passing of time which was finally changed into a cystic pattern and disappeared. Severe lower abdominal pain was present for 1 to 3 hours in 12 cases (80%), 4 to 6 hours in 2 cases (13.3%), and 11 hours in 1 case (6.7%). Other characteristics of HOC may be its most frequent occurrence in the young age group (10 to 20 years old, 80.0%) and in the luteal phase (84.6%). With operative cases, histopathological diagnosis was HOC. The clinical and particularly TVS findings described in the present study are of significant value in differential diagnosis of HOC with acute abdomen from other disorders presenting with acute abdomen.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Outcome of the acute abdomen in patients with previous spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have always posed difficulties for the diagnosis of an acute abdomen. The aim of the present study was to define this problem retrospectively at Princess Alexandra Hospital and to assess the results of treatment for these patients. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of 133 SCI patients admitted with an acute abdomen in the 16 years prior to this analysis at the Spinal Injuries Unit (SIU) of Princess Alexandra Hospital. There were 21 patients who conformed to the study criteria. All the patients had sustained traumatic SCI at or above the level of T11, more than 1 month prior to admission. RESULTS: There were 13 male and eight female patients. The time lapse between SCI and the onset of an acute abdomen ranged from 1.5 months to 27 years. The age range was 26-79 years. The majority of patients had C6 injuries (six patients). There were 18 patients with injury levels above T6 and three patients with injuries below this level. The time taken to diagnose the cause of the acute abdomen ranged between I day and 3 months. Investigations were found to be useful in making the diagnoses in 61.9% of cases. There were 14 patients who had surgical interventions. Five patients had surgical complications and there were two deaths in the study. The length of follow up was 1-132 months. The mortality in the study was 9.5%. CONCLUSION: An aggressive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of the acute abdomen in SCI patients with suspicious symptoms is recommended. A high index of suspicion should be maintained in those patients with pre-existing SCI who present with abdominal trauma.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Impact of CT on diagnosis and management of acute abdomen in patients initially treated without surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CT on the diagnosis and management of acute abdominal pain in patients who did not undergo surgery and to determine what population of patients would profit most from CT examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical data and CT reports of 91 patients with acute abdomen (41 men and 50 women, 22-96 years old) were analyzed retrospectively. The accuracies of clinical evaluation and CT in revealing the cause of acute abdomen were compared, and the effect of CT on patient management was assessed. Analysis included the entire population of patients and these subgroups: (1) patients who had symptoms for fewer than 24 hr versus patients who had symptoms for 24 hr or more and (2) patients who had a history of abdominal diseases versus patients who had no such history. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had signs or symptoms for fewer than 24 hr, and 62 patients had signs or symptoms for 24 hr or more. Fifty-nine patients had a history of abdominal disease, and 32 had no history of abdominal disease. In the entire population of patients, CT was superior to clinical evaluation for diagnosing the cause of acute abdomen (sensitivity was 90% for CT and 76% for clinical evaluation, p < .0005). Management was changed after CT in 25 patients (p < .0005). Similar differences were observed in the subgroups of patients with signs and symptoms for fewer than 24 hr, patients with signs and symptoms for 24 hr or more, and patients with no history of abdominal disease (p < .05). In the subgroup of patients with a history of abdominal disease, the differences between clinical evaluation and CT were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: CT is an excellent examination technique for patients with acute abdomen, regardless of the duration of signs and symptoms. CT is particularly useful in defining the cause and therapeutic strategy in patients with acute abdomen who have no history of abdominal disease.

Abdomen, Acute↗

Primary omentitis as a cause of acute abdomen.

A 5-year-old boy admitted with localized lower abdominal pain and tenderness simulating acute appendicitis underwent surgery, and primary omentitis without appendicitis or other cause of an acute abdomen was diagnosed. The absence of other concomitant signs and symptoms of acute abdomen was remarkable. This is the first case of primary omentitis as a cause of acute abdomen in the English-language literature.

Abdomen, Acute↗

[Value of laparoscopy in diagnosis and therapy of the acute abdomen].

While diagnostic laparoscopy is a well established tool, therapeutic laparoscopy for acute abdominal disorders has recently been made possible by video-endoscopic techniques. From July 1989 to April 1992, 243 laparoscopic interventions were carried out in patients with an acute abdomen. After a pilot phase, patients with acute appendicitis were entered into a randomized trial, those with acute cholecystitis were operated within the next day list. Among the 243 operations were 202 appendectomies, 12 closures of perforated peptic ulcers, 4 successful interventions for intestinal obstruction, 4 irrigations for intraabdominal abscesses and 35 further operations, some of which had to be finished as laparotomies. Laparoscopic appendectomy was less painful but technically more difficult. In cases which needed bowel resection for ischemic necrosis or diverticular disease, conversion to open surgery had to be performed. Laparoscopic treatment of acute abdominal disorders including peritonitis can be effective and beneficial in one out of two patients. Adequate surgical training, expertise and respect to the safety of the patient are mandatory. The application of endoscopic suture devices will further enlarge the spectrum of laparoscopic treatment options for the acute abdomen.

Abdomen, Acute↗

A comparative study of pre-operative with operative diagnosis in acute abdomen.

In this observational study (from August 2000 to January 2001) 102 patients of all age group with non-traumatic acute abdomen were studied to see the negative laparotomy rate and the diagnostic accuracy and predictive values of different investigations in acute abdomen. The disease was most common in the age group 20-29 years with male predominance. More than half of the acute abdomen was due to the acute appendicitis. Neutrophil leucocyte count had the highest sensitivity (91.5%) while Plain X-ray abdomen showed the highest specificity (88.8%) and positive predictive value (88.6%) in diagnosing acute abdomen. Urinalysis showed the highest negative predictive value (93.3%). Overall diagnostic accuracy was 78.4%, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Diagnostic accuracy was highest in bowel obstruction (82.4%) and lowest in peritonitis due to viscus perforation (69.0%). Negative laparotomy rate was 17.6% in the study, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was highest with peritonitis due to viscus perforation (20.7%), and lowest in bowel obstruction (11.8%).

Abdomen, Acute↗

Informed consent and general surgeons' attitudes toward the use of pain medication in the acute abdomen.

To determine general surgeons' attitudes about the use of pain medications in the acute abdomen, a questionnaire was mailed to all practicing general surgeons in Iowa. The questionnaire sought to determine the frequency with which pain medications were administered either before informed consent was obtained or before the patient with an acute abdomen was examined, and, in cases when pain medications were withheld, the reasons for withholding. The response rate was 72% (131 of 182). Seven percent of patients with an acute abdomen received pain medications by a general surgeon before being seen and 22% received pain medication by another physician in the emergency department (ED). Fifty-three percent of general surgeons responded that they believe pain medications preclude a patient from signing a valid informed consent; 78% reported that concerns about informed consent enter into their decision to withhold pain medications. Sixty-seven percent agreed that pain medications interfere with diagnostic accuracy, and 82% consider diagnostic accuracy when deciding to withhold pain medication.

Abdomen, Acute↗

[Imaging of acute abdomen. Contribution of new radiological methods and practices].

The acute abdomen is a sudden clinicoradiologic problem that may be resolved promptly by an excellent collaboration between the referring physician and the radiologist. The advent of CT and US has modified the diagnostical approach of acute abdomen. As diagnosis should be assessed in the shortest time with the greatest care and accuracy, it is necessary to choose the appropriate available examinations, reducing the time needed to establish a diagnosis and decreasing the number of examinations required. Thus, this paper is geared toward the determination and the choice of the more accurate procedure for the clinical presentation of acute abdominal emergencies.

Abdomen, Acute↗