Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate-Induced Gastric Pneumatosis: A Rare Side Effect

Kayexalate has been used in the USA since 1975 for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Prior case reports have shown that sorbitol added to kayexalate has been known to cause rare side effects of colonic necrosis. We present a unique case report of gastric pneumatosis as a complication of kayexalate.

Kayexalate-Induced Esophageal Ulceration in a Patient with Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Review of the Literature

Hyperkalemia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities encountered in clinical practice. The treatment of hyperkalemia includes removal of excess potassium from the body using cation exchange resins, e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate) is one of the most practiced modalities in clinical medicine. Colonic mucosal necrosis and perforation are the serious gastrointestinal side effects associated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) use, which have been reported with or without concomitant use of sorbitol. However, the catastrophic bleeding esophageal ulcer has been rarely described in our literature search. Due to the risk of colonic necrosis, the FDA has issued a warning to avoid concomitant sorbitol use with Kayexalate. We present an individual with acute hematemesis due to bleeding esophageal ulcer immediately after treatment with Kayexalate therapy. Though the exact mechanism by which Kayexalate causes esophageal ulcer to be elucidated, nonetheless it is worthwhile to be vigilant about its potential adverse effects. Our case highlights the rare but certainly the life-threatening complication of Kayexalate therapy.

Colonic necrosis of vague aetiology presenting scarce clinical and radiological symptoms: a case report

Spontaneous colonic necrosis is very uncommon in a patient without predisposed disorders such as end-stage renal failure in dialysed patients, serious cardiac failure, sepsis, post-traumatic shock, and vascular surgery within an abdominal aorta. This paper presents the case of an elderly patient in whom necrosis of almost the whole colon had occurred within 2 days. At presentation the patient had no clinical symptoms or signs suggesting serious abdominal disease. There was also a lack of biochemical abnormalities and changes in angio-CT. Due to deterioration of the patient’s general condition, he underwent surgery which revealed necrosis of almost the whole colon. The necrotic colon was resected, followed by a terminal ileostomy. Despite the operation, the patient died 2 days after.

A fatal case of amphetamine induced ischaemic colitis

Amphetamine induced ischaemic colitis is an exceedingly rare presentation of amphetamine toxicity. The cases reported in the literature have described mild or transient disease. We present a fatal case of ischaemic colitis induced by amphetamine use in a 44-year-old woman who presented in extremis after a cardiac arrest en route to the emergency department. A short history of headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and agitation preceded her admission. Imaging revealed changes consistent with ischaemic colitis. Emergency laparotomy revealed widespread colonic necrosis necessitating a subtotal colectomy. Despite aggressive resuscitation and inotropic support from arrival, the patient deteriorated intraoperatively and died in the immediate postoperative period. Histology showed arterial type ischaemia/reperfusion injury of the area supplied by the superior mesenteric artery. The patient’s serum amphetamine level was 0.52mg/l (peak therapeutic levels <0.2mg/l). The postmortem examination concluded that amphetamines were the likely cause of the vasospasm, leading to profound colonic ischaemia.

Colonic Necrosis Following Laparoscopic High Anterior Resection for Sigmoid Colon Cancer: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report a patient who experienced colonic necrosis after laparoscopic high anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer, and review the literature to evaluate the clinical features of colonic necrosis following surgery for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer. A 76-year-old man with sigmoid colon cancer underwent laparoscopic high anterior resection. The operation included high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery and end-to-end anastomosis using circular staples. Pathology findings revealed a pT4N2M0 lesion. Beginning on postoperative day (POD) 1, the patient experienced a high, spiking fever, and gradually developed leukocytosis and high inflammatory condition. The patient complained of abdominal distention, but had no signs of peritonitis. Abdominal computed tomography on POD4 showed wall thickness of the proximal colon from the anastomosis site and ascites with free air. An anastomotic leakage was suspected. Emergency laparotomy revealed a disrupted anastomosis without feces in the abdomen and a gangrenous 15 cm segment of the colon proximal to the anastomosis. The affected area of the colon was excised and Hartmann's procedure was performed. His postoperative period was uneventful. Our review of the literature demonstrates that elderly male patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary complications undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery with high ligation have high risk of postoperative colonic necrosis. We experienced colonic necrosis following laparoscopic high anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer and required immediate resection. Elderly male patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary complications undergoing laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery with high ligation should be carefully monitored for postoperative colonic necrosis.