Small Bowel Internal Herniation through Acquired Defect of Vesicouterine Pouch- A Late Complication following Oophorectomy

Hollow viscus herniation through a defect between vesicouterine pouch following previous pelvis surgery is exceedingly rare. There was only 1 similar case reported in the English literature. In this current report, we describe a 84-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain. She had a history of previous gynecology surgery. Computed tomography of abdomen showed small bowel obstruction with transition zone at the pelvis. Laparotomy revealed small bowel loops trapped in the vesico-uterine space via a narrow defect about 1.5cm. The detailed clinical summary and operative management are described in the report.

Complicated Appendicitis: A Surgical Controversy Concerning Risk Factors, Diagnostic Algorithm and Therapeutic Management

By surgeon’s perspective, complicated appendicitis is defined as perforated appendicitis, periappendicular abscess, gangrenous appendicitis or peritonitis, noted on radiological studies upon hospital admission, operative reports or pathology results of the surgical specimen. Despite that this clinical condition is truly common in everyday surgical routine, its causes and risk factors are still unclear. Some parameters have been associated with complicated appendicitis, like older age, type 2 diabetes, symptoms for longer duration, appendicoliths/fecaliths, delays in surgery after onset of symptoms and after admission. Furthermore, currently, there is no standard diagnostic algorithm for complicated appendicitis. To be specific, radiological findings lack sensitivity, intraoperative assessment may overestimate it while, histopathological examination is regarded as more specific diagnostic method. In addition, the optimal treatment for complicated appendicitis remains controversial between an immediate surgical operation (laparotomy/laparoscopy) or a trial of nonoperative management. Hereby, by reviewing the current literature, we would aim to clarify the risk factors and the diagnostic procedure of complicated appendicitis as well as to compare the operative management with the conservative one according to the type of complicated appendicitis, the success rate and the postoperative complications.

The State of the Do-Not-Resuscitate Order in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the Middle East: A Retrospective Study

Objectives The Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order is part of most hospitals’ policies on the process of making and communicating decisions about a patient's resuscitation status. Yet it has not become a part of our society's ritual of dying in the Middle East especially among children. Given the diversity of pediatric patients, the DNR order continues to represent a challenge to all parties involved in the care of children including the medical team and the family. Methods This was a retrospective review of the medical charts of patients who had died in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary academic institution in Beirut, Lebanon within the period of January 2012 and December 2017. Results Eighty-two charts were extracted, 79 were included in the analysis. Three were excluded as one patient had died in the Emergency Department (ED) and 2 charts were incomplete. Most patients were male, Lebanese, and from Muslim families. These patients clinically presented with primary cardiac and oncological diseases or were admitted from the ED with respiratory distress or from the operating room for post-operative management. The primary cause of death was multiorgan failure and cardiac arrest. Only 34% of families had agreed to a DNR order prior to death and 10% suggested “soft” resuscitation. Most discussions were held in the presence of the parents, the PICU team and the patient's primary physician. Conclusions The DNR order presents one of the most difficult challenges for all care providers involved, especially within a culturally conservative setting such as Lebanon. As the numbers suggest, it is difficult for parents to reach the decision to completely withhold resuscitative measures for pediatric patients, instead opting for “soft” resuscitations like administering epinephrine without chest compressions.

Challenges of elderly patients with short bowel syndrome

Objective: This is a case report presenting two elderly patients; one with mesenteric ischemia and the second with gallstone ileus, in which their operative management has resulted in short bowel syndrome (SBS). Case: This pathology required prolonged post-operative care and monitoring with the management of different related complications. Conclusion: This case report will cover the pathophysiology, medical and operative management in addition to the acute and chronic complications of SBS

Incidence of Complicated Appendicitis during the COVID-19 Pandemic versus the Pre-Pandemic Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 2782 Pediatric Appendectomies

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted volume, management strategies and patient outcomes of acute appendicitis. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate whether the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in higher incidence of complicated appendicitis in children presenting with acute appendicitis compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. The secondary aim was to investigate the proportion of the patients treated by non-operative management (NOM). Methods: A systematic search of four scientific databases was performed. The search terms used were (coronavirus OR SARS-CoV-2 OR COVID-19 OR novel coronavirus) AND (appendicitis). The inclusion criteria were all patients aged <18 years and diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 periods. The proportion of children presenting with complicated appendicitis and the proportion of children managed by NOM was compared between the two groups. The Downs and Black scale was used for methodological quality assessment. Results: The present meta-analysis included thirteen studies (twelve retrospective studies and one cross-sectional study). A total of 2782 patients (1239 during the COVID-19 period) were included. A significantly higher incidence of complicated appendicitis (RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.33–2.01, p < 0.00001) and a significantly higher proportion of children managed via the NOM (RR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.45–2.61, p < 0.00001) was observed in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Conclusion: There is a significantly higher incidence of complicated appendicitis in children during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-COVID-19 period. Additionally, a significantly higher proportion of children was managed via the NOM during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic period.