Immediate Postoperative Parenteral Anticoagulant in the Patients with Mesenteric Infarction After Intestine Resection – A Retrospective Cohort Research in a Single Institute

Background: Bowel gangrene represents a major fatal event in acute mesenteric infarction. Intestinal resection is inevitable in patients with peritonitis and bowel gangrene. This retrospective study aimed to elucidate the benefit of postoperative parenteral anticoagulant in patients with intestinal resection. Methods: Patients with acute mesenteric infarction and bowel gangrene were recruited retrospectively between January 2007 and December 2019. All patients underwent bowel resection. They were categorized into two groups: patients without immediate enoxaparin (group A) and those with immediate enoxaparin (group B). Both 30-day and 90-day mortalities were analyzed.Results: A total of 85 patients were included, with 29 patients in group A and 56 patients in group B. Patients in group B had both lower 30-day mortality (16.1%) and 90-day mortality (37.5%), compared to patients in group A (30-day mortality: 51.7%, p=0.001; 90-day mortality: 65.5%, p=0.021). In the 30-day mortality multivariate analysis, patients in group B had a better outcome (odds ratio = 0.087, 95% confidence interval between 0.017 and 0.446, p = 0.003). In the 90-day mortality multivariate analysis, patients in group B also had a better outcome (odds ratio = 0.252, 95% confidence interval between 0.065 and 0.983, p = 0.047).Conclusion: Immediate postoperative parenteral anticoagulant improves short-term prognosis in patients with acute mesenteric infarction and intestinal resection.Trial registration: This research was retrospectively approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) I&II of Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH-IRB No.CE21256B) on July 28th, 2021. Informed consent waiver was also approved by IRB I&II of Taichung Veterans General Hospital. Declaration of Helsinki and ICH-GCP guidelines were followed during this study.

SP3.1.17 Assessment of the utility of CT to predict the requirement for resection at laparotomy in patients presenting with acute mesenteric arterial insufficiency

Introduction Mesenteric ischaemia as a consequence of arterial atherosclerosis is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Practice has been influenced by the rise in cross-sectional imaging. In Glasgow a policy of laparotomy for patients presenting with acute mesenteric ischaemia at the time of mesenteric revascularisation has been adopted. We have sought to define whether CT can predict visceral necrosis and a requirement for tissue resection at the primary revascularisation. Methods This was a retrospective review of interventions performed for mesenteric ischaemia. Radiological variables described in the context of mesenteric ischaemia were defined. The primary CT report was reviewed to define whether these features were recorded and whether a diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia was suggested. Imaging was then retrospectively reviewed with reference to the dataset by a radiologist. The radiologist was asked to offer a subjective opinion as to whether there was mesenteric infarction. These data were compared with laparotomy findings. Results There were 129 interventions performed for mesenteric ischaemia over the study period and 147 laparotomies. There was no specific radiological variable that was consistently reported in the primary or secondary CT review. However when bowel wall thinning, hypoattenuation or portal venous gas reported (independently) they seemed to be specific as in each case there was mesenteric infarction at laparotomy. Conclusion Even with retrospective radiological assessment there is no reliable feature that will predict mesenteric infarction and a requirement for tissue resection. As such a policy of laparotomy in patients who considered physiologically well enough would appear to be justified.

Assessment of the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in patients over 80 years old with giant cell arteritis

Objective To assess the efficacy and tolerance of tocilizumab (TCZ) in giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients over 80. Method GCA patients over 80 years old from the French Study Group for Large Vessel Vasculitis register who received TCZ were analyzed. Results Twenty-one GCA patients (median age 84 [81–90] years old, including nine over 85) received TCZ for the following nonexclusive reasons: glucocorticoid (GC)-sparing effect in 14, relapsing disease in 8, disease severity in 4, and/or failure of another immunosuppressant in 4. TCZ was introduced with GCs at diagnosis in 6 patients and at 8 [3–37] months after GC initiation in 15 others. After a median delay of 8 [2–21] months post-TCZ introduction, 14 (67%) patients were able to definitively stop GCs, including 6 who were GC-dependent before TCZ. At the last follow-up (median 20 [3–48] months), 11 (52%) patients had definitively stopped TCZ, and 2 additional patients had stopped but relapsed and resumed TCZ. Seven (33%) patients experienced 11 adverse events: hypercholesterolemia in 4 patients; infections, i.e., pyelonephritis, bronchitis, and fatal septic shock associated with mesenteric infarction following planned surgery (GCs were stopped for 1 year and TCZ infusions for 2 months), respectively, in 3 patients; moderate thrombocytopenia and moderate neutropenia in 2 patients; and a 5-fold increase in transaminase levels in another that improved after TCZ dose reduction. Conclusion TCZ remains a valuable GC-sparing option in the oldest GCA patients with an interesting risk-benefit ratio. Mild-to-moderate adverse events were observed in one-third of patients.

Acute Mesenteric Infarction: The Chameleon of Acute Abdomen Evaluating the Quality of the Diagnostic Parameters in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia

<b><i>Introduction/Objective:</i></b> Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is difficult to diagnose. Since the established parameters have low sensitivity and specificity, the aim of this study is to analyze the diagnostic quality of the established parameters of AMI. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> All patients that underwent emergency surgery due to suspected diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf between 2008 and 2014 were evaluated. Overall, 275 patients were enrolled and pre-, intra- and postoperative data were evaluated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In 200 patients, a mesenteric ischemia was confirmed intraoperatively, and 75 patients had no ischemia. Comparing these groups, the rate of patients with pH &#x3c; 7.2 (25 vs. 12%; <i>p</i> = 0.021) and elevated mean CRP level (175 ± 117 mg/L vs. 139 ± 104 mg/L; <i>p</i> = 0.019) was significantly higher in ischemic patients. There was no significant difference in the level of preoperative lactate. Concerning abdominal CT scan, a sensitivity and specificity of 61 and 68%, respectively, was found. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> New diagnostic parameters are needed. So far, explorative laparotomy is the only reliable diagnostic method to detect mesenteric infarction.

Gut Microbiota Restricts NETosis in Acute Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Objective: Recruitment of neutrophils and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to lethality in acute mesenteric infarction. To study the impact of the gut microbiota in acute mesenteric infarction, we used gnotobiotic mouse models to investigate whether gut commensals prime the reactivity of neutrophils towards formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETosis). Approach and Results: We applied a mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury model to germ-free (GF) and colonized C57BL/6J mice. By intravital imaging, we quantified leukocyte adherence and NET formation in I/R-injured mesenteric venules. Colonization with gut microbiota or monocolonization with Escherichia coli augmented the adhesion of leukocytes, which was dependent on the TLR4 (Toll-like receptor-4)/TRIF (TIR-domain–containing adapter-inducing interferon-β) pathway. Although neutrophil accumulation was decreased in I/R-injured venules of GF mice, NETosis following I/R injury was significantly enhanced compared with conventionally raised mice or mice colonized with the minimal microbial consortium altered Schaedler flora. Also ex vivo, neutrophils from GF and antibiotic-treated mice showed increased LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced NETosis. Enhanced TLR4 signaling in GF neutrophils was due to elevated TLR4 expression and augmented IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor-3) phosphorylation. Likewise, neutrophils from antibiotic-treated conventionally raised mice had increased NET formation before and after ischemia. Increased NETosis in I/R injury was abolished in conventionally raised mice deficient in the TLR adaptor TRIF. In support of the desensitizing influence of enteric LPS, treatment of GF mice with LPS via drinking water diminished LPS-induced NETosis in vitro and in the mesenteric I/R injury model. Conclusions: Collectively, our results identified that the gut microbiota suppresses NETing neutrophil hyperreactivity in mesenteric I/R injury, while ensuring immunovigilance by enhancing neutrophil recruitment.

Acute Abdomen: An Enigma

Mesenteric infarction is a surgical emergency presenting as acute abdomen. Here we present a case of unexpected diagnosis of acute mesenteric infarction. He underwent emergency laparotomy with resection of the gangrenous bowel and end- end anastomosis of remaining 140 cm small bowel left. In two weeks period patient develop recurrence of disease which was successfully managed with conservative treatment. Further detailed investigation revealed the bizarre arterial anatomy with occlusion at multiple sites.Nepalese Medical Journal, vol.1, No. 1, 2018, Page: 48-50

MI: Not a Heart Attack but a Gut Attack

Mesenteric ischemia and infarction are infrequent but often deadly conditions in acute and critically ill patients. Mesenteric ischemia may be a primary admission diagnosis or may develop secondary to another diagnosis. Having a high index of suspicion for patients at risk of mesenteric ischemia and mesenteric infarction can alter a poor outcome. This article reviews the pathophysiology, risk factors, assessment, medical and nursing diagnoses, as well as collaborative management for mesenteric ischemia. Early identification of patients at risk and the appropriate diagnostic testing are stressed. Nurses armed with the knowledge of this condition are better able to provide safe care to their patients.