An Audit on Gastrointestinal Perforation in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital Based in Northern Part of India: A Study of 100 Cases

Background: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients of perforation peritonitis: To find out the incidence of gastro intestinal perforation in various age groups, sex, riral or urban, socio economic status, To find out the various causes and sites of gastra intestinal perforartions, To determine various types of procedures being done to treat gastro intestinal perforations.Methods:The study population consisted of 100 patients of perforation peritonitis admitted at surgical wards of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. Patients underwent necessary investigations such as Blood counts, biochemical analysis and urine analysis. X-ray Abdomen and chest / USG Abdomen/Pelvis CT-Abdomen (as and when required). All diagnosed patients were subjected to surgery. In all cases, operative findings and postoperative course were followed up for three months. Final outcome was evaluated on the basis of clinical, operative and radiological findings. In pre-pyloric and duodenal perforation, GRAHAM’S PATCH REPAIR carried out. In Ileal and Jejunal perforations, primary closure or exteriorization done depending upon the condition of the gut and duration of the symptoms. The patient outcome was assessed by duration of hospital stay, wound infection, wound dehiscence, leakage/entero-cutaneous fistula, intra-abdominal collection/abscess, ileostomy related complications and reoperation. Wound infection was graded as per SSI grading.Results:Most common age group for perforation was 21-40 years (50%) followed by 41-60 (33%) years in present study. Mean age of the patients is 37.91 + 13.15 years with male predominance (78%) in our study. 4% of the patients were of upper socio-economic status while 32% of the patients were of middle and 64% of the patients were of lower socio-economic status.Abdominal pain was seen in 100% of the patients while abdominal distension was present in 69% of the patients. Nausea/Vomiting was seen in 61% of the patients while Fever and Constipation was seen in 53% and 86% of the patients respectively. Diarrhoea was seen in 3% of the patients. Tenderness, guarding & rigidity, distension, obliteration of liver dullness and evidence of free fluid were present in 100% of the patients. Bowel sounds were not detected in all the patients. Most common perforations were Duodena(37%), Ileal (25%), Gastric (25%) followed by Appendicular (9%), Jejunal (4%) and Colonic perforation (2%). The most common etiology of gastrointestinal perforations was Peptic ulcer followed by Typhoid, Appendicitis, Tuberculosis, Trauma, Malignancy and non-specific infection.In Gastric perforations, Peptic ulcer was the most common cause of perforation followed by Trauma. In Ileal perforations, Typhoid was the most common cause of perforation followed by Tuberculosis and non-specific infection. In Appendicular perforations, most common cause was Appendicitis. In Jejunal perforations, most common cause was Trauma. In Colonic perforations, most common cause was Malignancy.Conclusions:The incidence of gastrointestinal perforations was common in 21-40 years age group followed by 41-60 years age group with male preponderance in our study. The most common site of perforations was Gastro-duodenal followed by Ileal perforations and the most common cause for these perforations was peptic ulcer followed by typhoid. The most common procedure done to treat gastrointestinal perforations was primary closure, resection and anastomosis, appendectomy and stoma formation. However, small sample size and short follow up period were the limitations of the present study.

Potentially harmful materials in the feces of wild ring-tailed coatis (Nasua nasua) and health implications

ABSTRACT: In ecological parks, the proximity to tourist activities facilitates the exploration of garbage by coatis, with possible serious consequences for the animals health . We described the contents of wild coatis feces from three ecological parks. After analyzing 62 samples, fragments of plants and animals were identified in all feces. In the feces of two parks, seeds were present between 36.4% and 48.6% of the samples. Arthropod fragments were identified in 100% of the samples from two parks, but only 87.3% in a third park. Scales, bones or bird feathers were present in some samples. Undigested material of industrial origin was detected in 34.3% to 54.5% of the samples, such as fragments of paper, string, plastic, aluminum, latex and glass. Results are in line with other studies on the diet of wild coatis, but the intake of foreign bodies, potentially harmful to health, is described for the first time. Clinical problems resulting from ingesting waste can be dental fractures, mucosal erosions, intestinal perforation, peritonitis, impaction, diarrhea, weight loss, intoxication and infections. Coatis in the three parks are at risk of health, and actions are needed to avoid clinical and potentially fatal problems. Four actions are recommended to avoid ingesting foreign bodies: increasing the environmental education of visitors; improving the storage of waste generated in parks; periodically monitor the health of coatis, in order to make interventions when possible; make a permanent program to study the ecology of species in the three parks.

Spectrum of presentation and prognostic factors in non-traumatic small bowel perforations

Background: The small bowel perforation peritonitis is one of the main causes of generalized acute peritonitis in developing countries.The aim is to find out the prognostic factors affecting the mortality and morbidity of non-traumatic small bowel perforations.Methods: A total of 50 patients of any age and either gender of non-traumatic small bowel perforation peritonitis were included and studied prospectively. The prognostic evaluation was assessed by the impact of pre-operative prognostic factors and per operative findings on post-operative complications and mortality.Results: One third of the patients were of 20-30 years of age followed by 18% who belonged to 10-20 years age group. Operative findings revealed mean duration of surgery was 2 hours. Majority of patients (33) had bilio-purulent peritonitis. Post-operative pulmonary complication revealed 56% (28 out of 50) patients were having pulmonary complications. Post-operative wound complication showed surgical site infection as the most common complication noted and managed by sending wound culture and changing antibiotics. Second most common was burst abdomen managed initially by dressing and thereafter secondary wound closure. Delay in intervention (DII) had significant correlation with world society of emergency surgery (WSES) score and amount of peritoneal fluid.Conclusions: Most common cause of non-traumatic small bowel perforation was typhoid ileal perforation with most common presentation being pain abdomen. The significant factors defining the outcome of these patients were volume of intra-peritoneal fluid (purulent/fecal) >1000 ml, WSES score >6 and Mannheim’s peritonitis index (MPI)>18.

ROLE OF USG IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ABDOMEN

Background: The main goal of imaging in acute abdomen is to narrow down the differential diagnosis and for prompt treatment. Material and methods: This study was done on patient presented with acute abdomen in Department of Radiodiagnosis, SMS Medical College & Associate Group of Hospitals, Jaipur. Scout X-ray done in 100 patients. Scout X –Ray film gives lots of information and very helpful in diagnosing perforation and intestinal obstruction. Results: USG was able to diagnose 94% cases of perforation peritonitis. intes­tinal obstruction was diagnosed only in 73.17% of cases with USG. Conclusion: This study shows that simple X-Ray plays an important role in definite diagnosis of acute abdomen as compare to USG. Keywords: Ultrasound, X- Ray, Acute Abdomen

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PERITONITIS ASSOCIATED HYPERLACTAMIA FOR EVALUATING MORTALITY IN SECONDARY PERITONITIS

Lactate levels are normally maintained at less than 1.5 mmol/L using a delicate balance between production and clearance (by liver and kidneys). Hyperlactemia has shown correlation with higher mortality. In our study on 30 indoor patients of perforation peritonitis in SMS medical college, Jaipur – we found that higher lactate level (> 4) is associated with higher ventilator need (80%) and hence higher mortality (60%). Keywords: Hyperlactemia.

Surgical Management of Intussusception in Children: A Retrospective Review of 212 Cases

Objectives The primary objective of this study was to analyze and review the demographics of children operated upon for intussusception. Secondary objectives were to review the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures performed, postoperative complications, and outcome. Materials and Methods It is a single-institution, retrospective study and consists of children below the age of 12 years. This study was conducted at the author’s department of pediatric surgery for the past 21 years, from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2020. Results During the study period, 212 children were operated upon for intussusceptions and included 146 (68.86%) boys and 66 (31.13%) girls. This review consisted of infants 158 (74.52%), and children of 1 to 5 years of age (30; 14.15%), and 6 to 12 years of age (24; 11.32%). Clinically, 177 (83.49%) children presented with the features of acute intestinal obstruction, and the remaining 35 (16.5%) presented with features of perforation peritonitis. Primary (idiopathic) intussusception was documented in 188 (88.67%) of the cases. Gangrenous bowel was evident in 98 (46.22%) children. Sixty-two percent of the cases required bowel resection. Surgical procedures were executed in children for intussusception in the following order of frequency: (1) operative reduction with or without serosal tear/bowel perforation repair, n = 81 (38.2%); (2) resection of diseased ileum and ileoileal anastomosis, n = 52 (24.52%); (3) resection of diseased ileum ± part of colon and an ileostomy, n = 36 (16.98%); and (4) resection of diseased ileum, cecum, part of colon, and ileocolic (ileo-ascending or ileo-transverse) anastomosis, n = 43 (20.28%). Postoperatively, 9 (4.24%) children required reexploration for the management of their complications. Twenty-one (9.9%) children died during the postoperative period. Conclusion Intussusception remains the most common cause of acute intestinal obstruction in infants and young children. Delay in the referral, diagnosis, and seeking treatment were significantly associated with bowel gangrene, required bowel resection during the surgical therapy, and also culminated in significantly higher mortalities.

Spectrum of gastrointestinal perforation peritonitis in 462 consecutive patients in tertiary care institute of North India

Background: Gastrointestinal perforation is one of the common surgical emergencies in developing countries. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and is aided by radiological investigations. This study was designed to highlight the spectrum of hollow viscus perforation peritonitis in terms of etiology, clinical presentations, site of perforation, surgical treatment, postoperative complications, and mortality.Methods: The study was a hospital‑based observational study and included 462 patients of perforation peritonitis (diffuse or localized) who were studied retrospectively in terms of cause, site of perforation, surgical treatment, complications, and mortality. Only those patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy for management of perforation peritonitis were included.Results: Overall stomach was the most common site of perforation (33%). Ileum (26%) was the second common site of perforation. Duodenal perforations were seen in 88 (19%) cases whereas appendicular perforations were seen in 46 (10%) cases. Colonic perforations were least common. Acid peptic disease was the most common etiology of stomach perforations. Enteric fever (63%) was the most common etiology of jejuno-ileal perforation. Other causes include tuberculosis (23%), trauma (8%), malignancy (3%) and idiopathic in rest. Males were six times more commonly affected than females. Peak incidence was noted in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life.Conclusions: Spectrum of perforation peritonitis cases in developing world is different from developed countries The Western literature suggests that foreign body, ischemia, radiotherapy, diverticula, and Crohn’s disease are the main causes of perforations. In contrast to this, infection is the most common cause for perforations in developing countries.

Operated case of tubercular meningitis with hydrocephalus in an immunocompromised patient and acute abdomen-management controversy: a case report

Tuberculosis is a very common infectious disease in developing countries like India. Most common form includes pulmonary tuberculosis. Other common forms are tubercular meningitis and intestinal tuberculosis. Hydrocephalus is one of the commonest complications of tubercular meningitis. We present a HIV positive case who had tubercular meningitis with hydrocephalus and was operated for ventriculoperitoneal shunting, later developed intestinal tuberculosis with perforation peritonitis. The presentation of an acute abdomen with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt requires skillful diagnostic workup and management. Apart from complications caused by the shunt, primary abdominal pathological conditions must be taken into consideration. Tuberculosis has multiple presentations all of which should be kept in mind.