-
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces species. While it commonly affects the cervicofacial region, thorax, and abdomen, appendicular...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Actinomycosis is a rare, chronic bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces species. While it commonly affects the cervicofacial region, thorax, and abdomen, appendicular involvement is extremely uncommon. This case report details the presentation, diagnosis, and management of a 45-year-old female patient with acute appendicitis secondary to actinomycosis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 45-year-old woman, with an 8-year intrauterine device history, presented with three-day right iliac fossa pain, vomiting, and stable vital signs. Laboratory tests revealed an inflammatory syndrome. Suspecting acute appendicitis, a CT scan confirmed a swollen 10 mm appendix. Laparoscopic surgery revealed a phlegmonous appendix, leading to an uncomplicated appendectomy. Pathological examination confirmed actinomycotic granules, supporting the diagnosis of actinomycosis appendicitis. The patient received 18 million units of intravenous penicillin G daily for 6 weeks followed by a 6-month course of oral amoxicillin (1 g three times daily) thereafter, showing favorable progression with no symptoms. Normal clinical and ultrasound follow-ups were observed at one year.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Appendiceal actinomycosis is a rare condition. Women, especially those with intrauterine contraceptives, experience an increase in cases due to chronic inflammation. Typically underdiagnosed, actinomycosis mimics other conditions, presenting with nonspecific symptoms. Laboratory results offer limited assistance, and histological confirmation is crucial. Histopathological examination is mandatory for diagnosis confirmation. Management involves surgical resection and prolonged penicillin-based antibiotics, providing a favorable prognosis with low mortality.
CONCLUSION
This case underscores the importance of considering rare etiologies, such as actinomycosis, in the differential diagnosis of appendicitis. Timely recognition and management are crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
PubMed: 38941730
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109975 -
Asian Journal of Surgery Jun 2024
PubMed: 38942632
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2024.06.049 -
Pediatrics and Neonatology Jun 2024
PubMed: 38942614
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2024.06.003 -
Medicine Jun 2024Appendicitis is an inflammation caused by obstruction of the appendiceal lumen or termination of blood supply leading to appendiceal necrosis followed by secondary... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Appendicitis is an inflammation caused by obstruction of the appendiceal lumen or termination of blood supply leading to appendiceal necrosis followed by secondary bacterial infection. The relationship between TYROBP gene and the nursing of appendicitis remains unclear. The appendicitis dataset GSE9579 profile was downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database generated from GPL571. Differentially expressed genes were screened, followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction network, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database analysis, and immune infiltration analysis. Heatmaps of gene expression levels were plotted. A total of 1570 differentially expressed genes were identified. According to gene ontology analysis, they were mainly enriched in organic acid metabolic process, condensed chromosome kinetochore, oxidoreductase activity. In Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome analysis, they mainly concentrated in metabolic pathways, P53 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway. The soft threshold power in weighted gene co-expression network analysis was set to 12. Through the construction and analysis of protein-protein interaction network, 5 core genes (FCGR2A, IL1B, ITGAM, TLR2, TYROBP) were obtained. Heatmap of core gene expression levels revealed high expression of TYROBP in appendicitis samples. Comparative Toxicogenomics Database analysis found that core genes (FCGR2A, IL1B, ITGAM, TLR2, TYROBP) were closely related to abdominal pain, gastrointestinal dysfunction, fever, and inflammation occurrence. TYROBP gene is highly expressed in appendicitis, and higher expression of TYROBP gene indicates worse prognosis. TYROBP may serve as a molecular target for appendicitis and its nursing.
Topics: Appendicitis; Humans; Protein Interaction Maps; Data Mining; Toxicogenetics; Gene Regulatory Networks
PubMed: 38941398
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038667 -
Przeglad Gastroenterologiczny 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has had an influence on the number of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with surgical conditions.
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an influence on the number of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with surgical conditions.
AIM
To evaluate the number of patients presenting with acute appendicitis (AA) and the percentage of complicated appendicitis before and after the COVID-19 disease outbreak.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This is a retrospective study based on the data of all patients presenting with AA to the ED of a tertiary COVID referral university hospital in Greece. We analysed the number of patients treated with AA, patient characteristics, and the proportion of patients with complicated appendicitis, and we compared the 2 groups of patients treated 12 months before and 12 months after COVID-19 onset in Greece.
RESULTS
A total of 152 patients were included in this study. There was a significant decrease in the number of patients presenting with AA after COVID-19 onset in Greece. Respectively, 91 and 61 patients were subjected to appendectomy 12 months before and after COVID-19 onset. Comparing the 2 groups of patients, there was a statistically significant increase in the operation time ( = 0.01) after COVID-19 onset, whereas the percentage of complicated appendicitis, the duration of symptoms before presenting to the ED (< 24 h, > 24 h), and the type of operation (laparoscopic, open, converted) did not differ significantly between the 2 groups of patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The number of patients presenting to the ED with AA decreased after COVID-19 onset, most likely because patients hesitated to seek help in a COVID-19 referral hospital.
PubMed: 38939065
DOI: 10.5114/pg.2023.129495 -
Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open 2024The decision to undertake a surgical intervention for an emergency general surgery (EGS) condition (appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, hernia, peptic ulcer,...
BACKGROUND
The decision to undertake a surgical intervention for an emergency general surgery (EGS) condition (appendicitis, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, hernia, peptic ulcer, bowel obstruction, ischemic bowel) involves a complex consideration of factors, particularly in older adults. We hypothesized that identifying variability in the application of operative management could highlight a potential pathway to improve patient survival and outcomes.
METHODS
We included adults aged 65+ years with an EGS condition from the 2016-2017 National Inpatient Sample. Operative management was determined from procedure codes. Each patient was assigned a propensity score (PS) for the likelihood of undergoing an operation, modeled from patient and hospital factors: EGS diagnosis, age, gender, race, presence of shock, comorbidities, and hospital EGS volumes. Low and high probability for surgery was defined using a PS cut-off of 0.5. We identified two model-concordant groups (no surgery-low probability, surgery-high probability) and two model-discordant groups (no surgery-high probability, surgery-low probability). Logistic regression estimated the adjusted OR (AOR) of in-hospital mortality for each group.
RESULTS
Of 375 546 admissions, 21.2% underwent surgery. Model-discordant care occurred in 14.6%; 5.9% had no surgery despite a high PS and 8.7% received surgery with low PS. In the adjusted regression, model-discordant care was associated with significantly increased mortality: no surgery-high probability AOR 2.06 (1.86 to 2.27), surgery-low probability AOR 1.57 (1.49 to 1.65). Model-concordant care showed a protective effect against mortality (AOR 0.83, 0.74 to 0.92).
CONCLUSIONS
Nearly one in seven EGS patients received model-discordant care, which was associated with higher mortality. Our study suggests that streamlined treatment protocols can be applied in EGS patients as a means to save lives.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
III.
PubMed: 38933602
DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2023-001288 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024-The objective was to compare the effectiveness of observation in standard-of-care computed tomography (CT) in adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA)....
Observation Safely Reduces the Use of the Computerized Tomography in Medium-to-Low-Risk Patients with Suspected Acute Appendicitis: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
-The objective was to compare the effectiveness of observation in standard-of-care computed tomography (CT) in adult patients with suspected acute appendicitis (AA). -Patients with clinically suspected AA and inconclusive diagnosis after primary clinical examination, laboratory examination, and transabdominal ultrasound (TUS) were eligible for the study, and they were randomized (1:1) to parallel groups: observation-group patients were observed for 8-12 h and then, repeated clinical and laboratory examinations and TUS were performed; CT group (control group) patients underwent abdominopelvic CT scan. The study utilized Statistical Analysis System 9.2 for data analysis, including tests, logistic regression, ROC analysis, and significance evaluation. Patients were enrolled in the study at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos in Lithuania between December 2018 and June 2021. -A total of 160 patients (59 men, 101 women), with a mean age of 33.7 ± 14.71, were included, with 80 patients in each group. Observation resulted in a reduced likelihood of a CT scan compared with the CT group (36.3% vs. 100% < 0.05). One diagnostic laparoscopy was performed in the observation group; there were no cases of negative appendectomy (NA) in the CT group. Both conditional CT and observation pathways resulted in high sensitivity and specificity (97.7% and 94.6% vs. 96.7% and 95.8%). -Observation including the repeated evaluation of laboratory results and TUS significantly reduces the number of CT scans without increasing NA numbers or the number of complicated cases.
PubMed: 38929896
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123363 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024This study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical, pathological, and surgical characteristics of acute appendicitis (AA) at the University...
BACKGROUND
This study aims to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical, pathological, and surgical characteristics of acute appendicitis (AA) at the University Hospital Centre (UHC) Zagreb.
METHODS
This retrospective study analyzed demographic, clinical, and surgical data from consecutive AA patients. Data were collected from an electronic database for two periods: 1 January to 31 December 2019 (pre-COVID-19), and 11 March 2020, to 11 March 2021 (COVID-19 pandemic).
RESULTS
During the two study periods, 855 appendectomies were performed, 427 in the pre-pandemic, and 428 during the pandemic. Demographic data were comparable between groups. There was statistically no significant difference in the type of appendectomy ( = 0.33) and the median hospital length of stay (3; (2-5) days, = 0.08). There was an increase in the conversion rate during the pandemic period (4.2% vs. 7.7%, = 0.03). The negative appendectomy rate and the incidence of perforated AA did not differ significantly ( = 0.34 for both).
CONCLUSIONS
We did not observe a significant increase in the rate of AA complications during the COVID-19 pandemic at the UHC Zagreb. This may be attributed to two factors: (1) AA was diagnosed and treated as an emergency, which remained available during the pandemic, and (2) diagnostic and therapeutic protocols remained unaltered. We recommend a laparoscopic approach even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PubMed: 38929221
DOI: 10.3390/children11060641 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Acute appendicitis is a common abdominal emergency observed in emergency departments (ED). Distinguishing between uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis is important...
BACKGROUND
Acute appendicitis is a common abdominal emergency observed in emergency departments (ED). Distinguishing between uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis is important in determining a treatment strategy. Serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is an inflammatory biomarker. We aimed to determine the role of VCAM-1 in predicting complicated appendicitis in children.
METHODS
Pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis admitted to the ED were enrolled in this prospective study. Pre-surgical serum VCAM-1 was tested in children with acute appendicitis within 72 h of symptoms (from day 1 to day 3). Serum VCAM-1 levels were further analyzed and compared between patients with and without complicated appendicitis.
RESULTS
Among the 226 pediatric appendicitis patients, 70 had uncomplicated appendicitis, 138 had complicated appendicitis, and 18 had normal appendices. The mean serum VCAM-1 levels in patients with perforated appendicitis were higher than in those with simple appendicitis ( < 0.001). On day 1 to day 3, the mean VCAM-1 levels in patients with complicated appendicitis were all significantly higher than in those with uncomplicated appendicitis (all < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Serum VCAM-1 levels may be helpful in differentiating uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis in children and could predict appendiceal perforation.
PubMed: 38928671
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14121256 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The identification of pediatric appendicitis is challenging due to the lack of specific markers thereby several factors are included in the diagnostic process such as...
The identification of pediatric appendicitis is challenging due to the lack of specific markers thereby several factors are included in the diagnostic process such as abdominal pain, ultrasonography and altered laboratory parameters (C reactive protein, absolute neutrophil cell number and white blood cell number). The glycosylation pattern of serum N-glycome was analyzed in this study of 38 controls and 40 patients with pediatric appendicitis. The glycans were released by enzymatic deglycosylation followed by fluorescent labeling and solid-phase extraction. The prepared samples were analyzed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with fluorescence and mass-spectrometric detection. The generated data were analyzed by multiple statistical tests involving the most important laboratory parameters as well. Significant differences associated with the examined patient groups were revealed suggesting the potential use of glycosylation analysis supporting the detection of pediatric appendicitis.
Topics: Humans; Glycosylation; Appendicitis; Child; Male; Female; Adolescent; Polysaccharides; Biomarkers; Child, Preschool
PubMed: 38928139
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126432