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Background Severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (SAH) patients with infections have a high short-term mortality rate. Gut microbiota dysbiosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SAH. Preliminary studies have demonstrated long-term benefits with healthy donor fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Data on FMT compared with pentoxifylline for SAH and relevant gut microbial changes are lacking in literature. Methods From January 2019 to February 2021, retrospective analysis of a single hospital's records revealed 47 SAH patients undergoing FMT (100 mL/day via nasoduodenal tube for 7 days) and 25 matched patients receiving pentoxifylline (400 mg/8 h for 28 days). The primary end point was a 6-month survival rate. Secondary end points included incidence of ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, infections, acute kidney injury, and gut microbiota changes between post-therapy groups. Biomarker discovery and network analysis were also performed to identify significant taxa of gut microbiota in post-treatment groups in retrospectively stored stool samples. Results All were males. The 6-month survival rate was higher in the patients undergoing FMT than in patients receiving pentoxifylline (83.0% vs 56.0%, P  =   0.012). At the end of 6-month follow-up, the incidences of clinically significant ascites (56.0% vs 25.5%, P  =   0.011), hepatic encephalopathy (40.0% vs 10.6%, P  =   0.003), and critical infections (52.0% vs 14.9%, P  <   0.001) in patients administered pentoxifylline were significantly higher than those in patients treated with FMT. At 3 months, biomarker analysis revealed a significant abundance of Bifidobacterium and Eggerthella in the FMT group and the pentoxifylline group, respectively. At 6 months, Bifidobacterium in the FMT group and pathogenic Aerococcaceae in the pentoxifylline group were notable. Network analysis showed beneficial taxa (Bifidobacterium) as a central influencer in those undergoing FMT at 6 months. Conclusions Healthy donor FMT improved survival rate and reduced liver-related complications compared with pentoxifylline. These clinical benefits were associated with favorable modulation of intestinal bacterial communities. Difficult-to-treat SAH patients may be safely bridged to transplantation using FMT. Controlled trials evaluating long-term outcomes are an unmet need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 38-year-old woman with a history of Crohn's disease, multiple bowel resections, and ileostomy placement presented to the hospital with symptoms of increased ileostomy output for 1 week. She reported that she was emptying her bag fifteen times a day as opposed to her normal 3–4 times a day. Upon workup, she was found to have an acute kidney injury (AKI), and stool studies were positive for Cryptosporidium. She was treated with nitazoxanide 500 mg p.o. BID for 3 days along with continued rehydration. The patient was discharged after creatinine (Cr) and electrolytes returned to baseline. She continued to have elevated ileostomy output, and 1 week later, she was readmitted for another AKI and worsening of symptoms. At this hospitalization, stool studies were negative for Cryptosporidium, and the gastroenterologist consult recommended evaluation for active Crohn's and Lomotil for possible short bowel syndrome. Eventually, her laboratory results improved, and she was discharged again before the full workup was completed. The patient's ileostomy output continued to remain high following the second hospital discharge, and she eventually returned with another AKI, her third visit in a month. The workup for active Crohn's was completed, with fecal calprotectin, serum cortisol, and small bowel follow-through all returning to normal. At this time, postinfectious inflammatory syndrome was suspected, and she was started on 60 mg of prednisone for 2 weeks. Steroid therapy elicited a significant response with normalization of her ileostomy output and return of laboratory results to baseline. The patient was discharged without return of symptoms at follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal volvulus is defined as a twisting of the bowel on its mesentery. It itself is a rare occurrence, with documented incidence of 1% as the cause of all small bowel obstruction, with further 0.82% of them being associated with intestinal malrotation. The classical radiographic feature described in literatures is the whirlpool sign. We herein report a rare presentation of congenital malrotation causing a small bowel obstruction in a 43-year-old man. The patient presented with acute abdominal pain and underwent an emergency laparotomy and resection of small and large bowel (total of 3 m with primary anastomosis), with an estimated 2.6 m of viable small bowel left. The patient had a prolonged recovery complicated by another relook operation, superior mesenteric vein thrombus and a high-output stoma with subsequent electrolyte derangements and acute kidney injury. He was discharged on Day 26 and had been seen in the outpatient department with good functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among patients with short bowel syndrome who commonly have kidney disease, kidney transplantation remains challenging. We describe the clinicopathologic course of a 59-year old man with short bowel syndrome secondary to Crohn's disease who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant that was complicated by recurrent acute kidney allograft injury due to volume depletion from diarrhea, ultimately requiring the placement of permanent intravenous access for daily volume expansion at home resulting in the recovery of allograft function. Teduglutide treatment at 1.8 years post-transplant led to a dramatic decrease in diarrhea. A literature review of similar cases yielded 18 patients who underwent 19 kidney transplants. Despite high rates of complications, at the time of last follow-up (median 2.1 years [0.04-7]), 94% of the patients were still alive and 89% had functioning allografts, with a median eGFR of 37.5 [14-122] ml/min/1.73m2. In conclusion, despite high rates of complications, kidney transplantation in patients with short bowel syndrome is associated with acceptable short- and midterm outcomes. Further, we report for the first time the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-2 analogue teduglutide for short bowel syndrome in a kidney transplant recipient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among patients with short bowel syndrome who commonly have kidney disease, kidney transplantation remains challenging. We describe the clinicopathologic course of a 59-year old man with short bowel syndrome secondary to Crohn's disease who underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant that was complicated by recurrent acute kidney allograft injury due to volume depletion from diarrhea, ultimately requiring the placement of permanent intravenous access for daily volume expansion at home resulting in the recovery of allograft function. Teduglutide treatment at 1.8 years post-transplant led to a dramatic decrease in diarrhea. A literature review of similar cases yielded 18 patients who underwent 19 kidney transplants. Despite high rates of complications, at the time of last follow-up (median 2.1 years [0.04-7]), 94% of the patients were still alive and 89% had functioning allografts, with a median eGFR of 37.5 [14-122] ml/min/1.73m2. In conclusion, despite high rates of complications, kidney transplantation in patients with short bowel syndrome is associated with acceptable short- and midterm outcomes. Further, we report for the first time the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-2 analogue teduglutide for short bowel syndrome in a kidney transplant recipient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 53-year-old man developed a Legionella pneumophila pneumonia complicated by rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and protracted ileus. Risk factors were smoking and chronic alcoholism, but the patient had no history of previous abdominal surgery. Hemodialysis was required for a period of 5 weeks with a full renal recovery. Pneumonia required respiratory support but for a limited period of 6 days. The protracted course of the ileus led to explorative laparotomy despite negative computed tomography findings. No cause of mechanical obstruction was found at surgery and common etiologies of intestinal obstruction were excluded. Parenteral nutrition was needed for a total of 4 weeks, before recovery of intestinal motility. This case illustrates the apparent discrepancy between the pulmonary symptoms and the extrapulmonary manifestations that could be seen as a consequence of an exaggerated immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The ingestion of caustic substances represents a medical/surgical emergency, the severity of the lesions usually depends on the nature and quantity of the ingested product, and the treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. Aim and methods. to retrospectively analyze the profile of the patients with caustics ingestion from Bihor Emergency Clinical County Hospital between 1st of January 2013 and 31st of December 2023. We carefully analyzed the files of the aforementioned patients for clinical, biological, endoscopic, therapeutic as well as the evolving patterns. Results. We included 42 patients, with a clear male predominance, M/F ratio of 1.62. The mean age was 34.6 years ±14.2, rural/urban ratio 24/18. From the studied group, 12 patients (28.5%) were known and followed-up with a psychiatric illness. Accidental ingestions were less frequent n=13 (31%) than voluntary ingestions n=29(69%). Among the substances, HCl/bleach was the most used n=20 (47.6%), followed by ethylene glycol n=12 (28.6%), NaOH n=5 (11.9%), H2SO4 n=2 (4.8%), unknown substance n=3 (7.1%). At admission, 23 (54.8%) patients presented oropharyngeal lesions, vomiting in 32 cases (76.2%), epigastric pain in 32 cases (76.2%), esophageal syndrome in 10 cases (23.8%), hematemesis in 4 cases (9.5%), peritoneal syndrome in 3 cases (7.1%), acute renal failure in 7 cases (16.7%). After excluding a surgical emergency, the UGIE performed in the first 24 hours after admission, showed according to the Zargar classification: grade I esophageal lesions -7 cases (16.7%), grade II -18 cases (42.9%), grade III - 6 cases (14.3%) and grade IV -3 (7.1%). Grade I gastric lesions were observed in 18 patients (42.8%), grade II in 4 patients (9.5%), grade III in 13 patients (31%), grade IV in 2 (4.8%). All patients received medical treatment (PPI, metoclopramide) and parenteral nutrition according to severity. Early pneumomediastinum after UGIE was observed in 3 patients (7.1%). The in-hospital mortality rate was (16.7%). A predictive factor for unfavourable prognosis is hyperleukocytosis (p=0.018). There is no significant correlation between the amount ingested (p=0.8) or age (p=0.6) and the evolution of the patients or between the product ingested and the severity of esophageal/gastric involvement at admission. Conclusion. In our study, the epidemiological profile of caustic ingestion was dominated by the voluntary ingestion of HCL/bleach, the symptomatology was mainly digestive, and hyperleukocytosis represented an unfavourable prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]