HCA Healthc J Med
December 2021
Description Radiographically-detected pneumoperitoneum in the setting of acute onset abdominal pain is a classic case among surgical emergencies. The spectrum of etiology ranges from benign to catastrophic, and the ability to differentiate depends in large part on the history and physical exam findings. Included among non-surgical types of pneumoperitoneum are (1) post-operative, (2) diagnostic/experimental, (3) gynecologic tract air entry, (4) the difference in intra- and extra-alveolar pressures, pneumothorax-associated and (5) miscellaneous.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall bowel obstructions (SBO) are a common surgical problem accounting for up half of all emergency laparotomies in the United States. SBO in the virgin abdomen (SBO-VA) presents surgeons with a unique predicament as historical teaching has mandated operative exploration in these situations due to their association with more sinister etiologies. More recent research has demonstrated that this may not be the case, with adhesive disease comprising the majority of SBO-VA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppendicitis is a common cause of right lower quadrant pain. However, appropriate diagnostic evaluation and a high clinical suspicion can reveal alternative etiologies that are not so commonly encountered. In this report, we present a rare case of an appendiceal collision tumor involving two distinct neoplasms as the source of the patient's pain and describe how thoughtful clinical maneuvering led to its diagnosis and treatment.
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