Savio John

Successful medical management of emphysematous gastritis with concomitant portal venous air: a case report

IntroductionThe causes of diffuse abdominal pain following pelvic surgery are numerous. We present a rare case of acute abdominal pain in a woman in the post-partum period.Case presentationA 25-year-old Caucasian woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 presented to our hospital with diffuse abdominal pain immediately after a cesarean section. The patient was acutely ill and toxic with a fever of 38.8°C, a pulse of 120 beats per minute and a distended abdomen with absent bowel sounds. A computed tomography scan showed air in the wall of the stomach and portal venous system. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics, bowel rest and total parenteral nutrition.ConclusionIt is rare for a case of emphysematous gastritis associated with portal venous air to be treated successfully without surgery. To the best of our knowledge, to date there has been no reported association of emphysematous gastritis with neurofibromatosis.

Hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy: A rare devastating complication of bariatric surgery.

The clinical manifestations of hyperammonemia are usually easily identifiable to the clinician when associated with liver disease and lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment. However, hyperammonemia-induced encephalopathy is rare in adults in the absence of overt liver disease, thus diagnosis is often delayed or missed leading to potentially life threatening complications. Without proper treatment, such patients can decompensate rapidly with poor outcomes including seizures, coma, and death. Early assessment of plasma ammonia levels in patients with normal hepatic function and characteristic symptoms of encephalopathy can lead to early intervention while investigating the underlying etiology. We describe a patient who presented with a 2-year progression of waxing and waning acute mental status changes after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. He was found to have elevated ammonia level as well as orotic aciduria; results consistent with a urea cycle disorder. After consulting neurology as well as toxicology, he ultimately improved after dietary protein restriction, sodium benzoate and lactulose therapy. While rare, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for late onset urea cycle disorders in symptomatic patients presenting with encephalopathy secondary to hyperammonemia.

An unusual presentation of cirrhotic pleural effusion in a patient with no ascites: a case report

Pleural effusion that develops in a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, in the absence of cardiopulmonary disease, is termed hepatic hydrothorax. Hepatic hydrothorax very rarely presents in the absence of ascites. Although the exact mechanism is somewhat controversial, pleural effusion occurs when ascitic fluid moves through diaphragmatic defects which are opened up by increased intra-abdominal pressure. We report a case report of cirrhotic pleural effusion in a patient with no clinical or radiographic evidence of ascites and discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of this condition.

Unusual Case of Acute Intestinal Obstruction

Chronic NSAID use can cause diaphragm like strictures within the bowel leading to intestinal obstruction. This rare entity is called diaphragm disease. Preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. NSAID related injury should be considered in patient with intestinal obstruction of unclear etiology. We hereby present an interesting case of a 46 years old lady with significant history of long term naproxen use, who presented with nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acute intestinal obstruction. She received a trial of conservative management which was unsuccessful. Exploratory laparotomy with segmental resection of ileum was done subsequently. Histopathology showed mucosal ulceration, inflammation and focal sub mucosal fibrosis consistent with diaphragm disease. Patient recovered well in the post operative period. Keywords NSAIDS; Acute Intestinal Obstruction; Diaphragm Disease

Gastroparesis as the initial presentation of pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Malignancy-associated gastroparesis is an under-reported entity and its diagnosis as a cause of cachexia or gastrointestinal symptoms is often missed in clinical practice. This case report highlights an unusual association of pulmonary adenocarcinoma with gastroparesis at presentation. Malignancy-associated gastroparesis should be added to the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with delayed gastric emptying of unknown aetiology and should prompt further radiological investigations. Early detection and treatment of underlying gastroparesis in patients with cancer is necessary to improve the quality of life and to avoid premature clinical deterioration due to intolerance to oral treatment.

Enterocolitis without diarrhoea in an adult patient: a clinical dilemma

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common causes of bloody diarrhoea in the USA. We report a case of a young woman who presented with a clinical picture reminiscent of acute appendicitis. Ultrasonography and CT of the abdomen performed subsequently revealed evidence of colitis. Quite unexpectedly, she had no symptoms of diarrhoea and the stool Gram stain and culture were negative. Nevertheless, due to high clinical suspicion of infectious colitis, appendectomy was deferred. Blood culture was later reported positive for Campylobacter species and the patient responded to quinolones. With this case report we try to highlight one of the unusual presentations of C jejuni infection, closely mimicking acute appendicitis in the absence of classical symptoms of bacterial enteritis. In such cases, a high index of suspicion, astute history taking skills and the proper use of imaging studies can save the patient from the surgical knife.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome : a rare diagnosis or easily missed entity?

### Learning Point for Clinicians The prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is not clear yet. The diagnosis of hepatopulmonary can be masked by other co-morbidities and the non-specific presentation. Although its presence is associated with high mortality, this condition is reversible after liver transplant. Awareness of diagnostic criteria for HPS is crucial amongst physicians. The diagnosis of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is often missed due to lack of suspicion. Patients with a diagnosis of HPS can be allocated extra points on the liver transplant wait list to enhance the possibility of receiving an organ. We present a 64-year-old male presented for evaluation of worsening ascites and shortness of breath. The oxygen saturation was 89% in the supine position and 86% when sitting up or standing. After ruling out all the obvious causes of worsening dyspnea, ABG, PFTs and Echo bubble study was performed which confirmed diagnosis of HPS. Established diagnosis of HPS in these patient advocates bad prognosis but at the same time also gives …

Polyarteritis nodosa presenting as profuse gastrointestinal bleeding

A 70-year-old man presented with acute onset of profuse bleeding per rectum. An urgent colonoscopy showed blood throughout the colon and distal ileum but failed to localise the source. Subsequent visceral arteriography revealed pseudoaneurysms of the branches of the superior mesenteric artery and left gastric artery. The bleeding stopped spontaneously and the aetiology of the bleeding was later found out to be secondary to polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). The presence of profuse gastrointestinal bleeding as the sole manifestation at presentation in PAN is under-reported. Early diagnosis of PAN in patients with haemodynamically significant bleeding is necessary as prompt initiation of immunosuppressive therapy helps prevent relapses. With this case report, we highlight one of the unusual presentations of PAN and the favourable response to immunosuppression with pulsed dose steroids.

Recurrent pneumonia in a 51-year-old woman due to congenital bronchoesophageal fistula.

Recurrent pneumonia in adults can be due to various etiologies. Congenital bronchoesophageal fistula may go undiagnosed in adult patients for many years. In cases of delayed recognition there is a long history of intermittent bouts of cough and choking after swallowing liquid, which may eventually