Search

Abstract: Transmesentric hernias are a type of internal hernia, in which there is herniation of bowel loops through a defect in the mesentery. They present with a wide variety of symptoms without any specific radiological features, leading to a delay in diagnosis and high mortality rate. Here, we present a case series of four patients with this rare but fatal cause of small bowel obstruction. Three children presented to the emergency department with small bowel obstruction. The other baby was a preterm neonate with an antenatal scan showing small bowel obstruction. All children underwent emergency laparotomy and were found to have a mesenteric defect with herniation and gangrene of the small bowel. Resection anastomosis of the gangrenous segment and closure of the mesenteric defect were done. The differential for small bowel obstruction in children should include transmesentric hernia. Laboratory or imaging investigations are often inconclusive. Timely exploration can save lives in this rare but life-threatening condition., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 African Journal of Paediatric Surgery.)

Abstract: Gallbladder torsion is a rare cause of acute surgical abdomen. Early recognition and surgical intervention are important for reducing complications and improving postoperative patient outcomes, but standard imaging and laboratory evaluation typically are indistinguishable from those of acute cholecystitis. This article describes a patient with gangrenous cholecystitis secondary to torsion and summarizes recommendations for evaluation and management., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Physician Associates.)

Case: A 41-year-old man removed a tungsten carbide ring from his left index finger by cutting it off with a high-speed metal burr. The patient presented two days later with a pink and perfused left index finger with circumferential dry gangrene along the area of the ring, active flexor and extensor tendon excursion, and decreased sensation distally. Within 24 hours, the wound developed into wet gangrene and diffuse cyanosis requiring amputation., Conclusion: After reviewing previously documented methods to remove tungsten carbide rings, the authors conclude clinicians should be cognizant of the potential complications associated with the use of a high-speed metal burr., Competing Interests: Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSCC/C350)., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: A femoral hernia is an uncommon and acquired hernia in the groin. Its incidence in adults is 2%-8% of all abdominal wall hernias, and it has a female-to-male ratio of 1.8:1. It is usually found in elderly patients and is associated with increased morbidity due to delays in diagnosis leading to a high incidence of incarceration and strangulation. Accurate preoperative diagnosis of femoral hernia is challenging, especially in obese patients in whom a small femoral hernia can be hidden under the groin fat. Unlike an inguinal hernia, it rarely reduces on its own and if asymptomatic and small, is often unnoticed by the elderly obese patient. Femoral hernia is often unsuspected and overlooked in males as it is predominant among females. Delay in diagnosis can lead to intestinal gangrene and high morbidity. We present a case of an incarcerated left femoral hernia in an elderly obese male who presented with acute intestinal obstruction. He was managed with resection of the gangrenous segment and double barrel ileostomy. Although uncommon in males, a femoral hernia has a high incidence of strangulation, and therefore should always be ruled out as a cause of acute intestinal obstruction in elderly patients. Therefore, never forget to examine the groin in case of intestinal obstruction., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice.)

Rationale: Puerperal sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by infection that can rapidly progress to multisystem infection and toxin-mediated shock. Symmetrical peripheral gangrene is defined as symmetrical distal ischemic damage in two or more sites in the absence of major vascular occlusive disease. The syndrome is devastating and rare. In this study, we introduce a case of puerperal septicemia complicated by symmetrical peripheral gangrene., Patient Concerns: A 23-year-old woman delivered a live female infant vaginally after cervical balloon dilatation at 39 weeks of gestation. Persistent hyperthermia developed on the first postpartum day. After experiencing ventricular fibrillation, acute liver failure, and acute pulmonary edema, she developed blackened extremities on the 5th postpartum day., Diagnoses: Puerperal septicemia complicated by symmetrical peripheral gangrene., Interventions: Upon transfer to our hospital, the patient was enrolled in the intensive care unit and underwent anti-infective and amputation surgery., Outcomes: After the surgery, the patient recovered well and was successfully discharged from the hospital., Lessons: Early detection and timely treatment is the best way to reduce the mortality and sequelae of puerperal sepsis. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of comorbid symmetrical peripheral gangrene when sepsis patients present with hepatic impairment., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Ileo-ileal knotting is a very rare cause of small bowel obstruction, and only a few reports have been published. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is one of the most common emergency surgical conditions that require urgent evaluation and treatment and is one of the leading causes of emergency surgical admission. There are many causes of SBO that are known in general surgical practice, and these causes are different in the developing and developed worlds., Clinical Presentation: In this article, we present a case of acute gangrenous SBO secondary to ileo-ileal knotting in a 37-year-old Ethiopian female patient after she presented with severe abdominal cramp, vomiting, and abdominal distension of 4 hours duration. The patient was operated on intraoperatively; she had gangrenous small bowel obstruction caused by ileo-ileal knotting. Later, the patient was discharged and improved after 12 days of hospital stay., Conclusion: Ileo-ileal knotting should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute small-bowel obstruction. The diagnostic difficulty and the need for urgent treatment of this condition to yield optimal results are discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study investigated the effect of L-PRF on promoting full-thickness skin grafting for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer wounds and attempted to characterize the mechanism. In a retrospective study, we centrifugated 10-20 ml of venous blood at 1006.2 g for 20 min. The fibrin clot between the top oligocellular plasma layer and the bottom erythrocyte layer was extracted and directly used, without compression, to cover the wound after debridement. Patients who received L-PRF before skin grafting underwent surgery earlier than patients in the control group. Skin necrosis occurred in 7 patients (28%) in the L-PRF group and 16 (64%) in the control group. The difference was statistically significant, P < .05. The postoperative infection rate in the control group (56%) was significantly higher than that in the L-PRF group (24%), P < .05. During a mean follow-up of 1 year, ulcer recurrence occurred in 9 patients (36%) in the control group compared with 4 patients (16%) in the L-PRF group, P < .05. The final amputation rate was also higher in the control group (48%) than in the L-PRF group (20%). The difference is statistically significant, P < .05. The Maryland scale score and SF-36 score of the two groups of patients after treatment were significantly better than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). The L-PRF group (94.80 ± 4.14) had better foot scores at the last follow-up after treatment than the control group (88.84 ± 5.22) (P < .05). The results showed that L-PRF played a positive role in the treatment of Wagner grade 4 ulcer gangrene with free full-thickness skin grafts.

Background: Gangrenous sigmoid volvulus has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to compare sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) with sigmoid resection and end colostomy (Hartmann's procedure) for gangrenous sigmoid volvulus., Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis study design was employed to summarize retrospective cohort, prospective cohort, and randomised control trial studies published from inception to march 31, 2023. Searching was performed on Medline, CINAHAL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to locate eligible articles. Data searching, selection and screening, quality assessment of the included articles, and data extraction were done by two separate reviewers. RevMan 5.4 software with a fixed-effect Mantel-Haenszel model and Stata version 14 were used to analyze the data. The protocol registered on PROSPERO registration website (CRD42023413367)., Results: Ten cohort studies and one randomised control trial with 724 patients were found; all of them were rated as being of moderate quality. The overall mortality after RPA was 15% (95%CI: 11-19%), and after Hartmann's procedure it was 19% (95%CI: 15-23%). Resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) for gangrenous sigmoid volvulus had slightly lower mortality rate than stoma (OR=0.98(95%CI: 0.68-1.42), p=0.07, I 2 =43%), which had no statistically significant difference. Resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) had a slightly higher morbidity rate than Hartmann's procedure (OR=1.01(95%CI: 0.66-1.55), p=0.30, I 2 =18%), which had no statistically significant difference., Conclusion: Sigmoid resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) and Hartmann's procedure had no significant differences in mortality and morbidity for the treatment of gangrenous sigmoid volvulus. Choice of the intervention for gangrenous sigmoid volvulus should be individualized with consideration of different detrimental factors., (© 2023 Atalel Fentahun Awedew, et al.)

Background: Banded Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (BRYGB) is associated with complications known with the bypass along with specific complications related to the band. Roux-limb gangrene, due to herniation between the gastric pouch and band, however, has no mention in literature., Methods: We report this potentially fatal complication of BRYGB and its management in a series of 3 patients., Results: All 3 patients were women, 35-45 years, with a BRYGB (roux limb-150 cm, biliopancreatic limb-100 cm) using a MiniMizer or a Fobi ring with 2-point fixation to the gastric pouch 2 cm above the gastrojejunostomy. All patients presented 3-4 years post-BRYGB, with an average total body weight loss (TWL%) of 41.28%. To discuss video of a single case, a 35-year-old female presented with abdominal pain, hematemesis and signs of abdominal tenderness and guarding. X-Ray abdomen showed distended small bowel loops and CT-scan revealed ischemic small bowel loops with free fluid. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed alimentary/roux limb (AL) gangrene, from the gastrojejunostomy to the jejunojejunostomy. The entire AL had herniated between the gastric pouch and band which had formed an obstructive ring around the herniated bowel loop and led to compromise of blood supply and gangrene. Resection of gangrenous bowel with reversal of BRYGB was done., Conclusion: Early diagnosis and timely management may save a patient from gangrene. It also raises questions: Is a 2-point fixation of the band to the gastric pouch insufficient? Does a longer roux limb make it prone to herniating in the space between the gastric pouch and band?, (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Digital gangrene is frequently encountered in patients who have diabetes with peripheral vascular compromise, with or without superimposed infection. Preoperative laboratory values and radiographic images are important to determine a proper course of action. Equally important is a thorough history taking to confirm or rule out systemic entities and preexisting conditions that can aggravate or predispose one to the development of digital gangrene. A patient with diabetes presented with a rare and unusual case of digital gangrene, as he clinically had strong pedal pulses. Preoperative workup revealed a suspicion of polycythemia, which was subsequently confirmed. The patient underwent several days of phlebotomy until his hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were brought down to optimized levels before a digital amputation was performed. He went on to heal uneventfully, and he is currently being closely followed by oncology/hematology colleagues with periodic phlebotomy.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a clinical syndrome related to peripheral artery disease (PAD) that is marked by ischemic rest pain or tissue loss such as nonhealing ulcers or gangrene. Without revascularization CLI carries a 30-50% risk of major limb amputation within 1 year. Initial surgical revascularization is recommended for patients with CLI who have a greater than 2-year life expectancy. We present the case of a 92-year-old male with severe peripheral artery disease with gangrene of bilateral toes who underwent right popliteal to distal peroneal bypass via the posterior approach using ipsilateral reversed GSV. The posterior approach provides excellent exposure and should be considered in distal surgical revascularization where the popliteal artery serves as inflow and distal peroneal artery as target outflow vessel.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a prothrombotic state caused by the buildup of platelet factor 4 antibodies with decreased platelet count caused by heparin therapeutic or prophylactic therapy. It is important to detect this complication, especially in critically ill patients and cardiac patients. Detection of HIT can be demonstrated by positive antibodies in a HIT panel. Based on clinical and laboratory findings, heparin use should be discontinued with immediate transition to alternative anticoagulation therapies. Thromboembolic events can be an adverse effect of HIT and can cause local tissue necrosis, especially in the lower extremity. This case is a retrospective medical record review of a 52-year-old man who was initially admitted as an outpatient for coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement who developed digital gangrene from HIT. This case emphasizes the rare adverse effects of HIT and the need for timely consultation for surgical treatment of limb ischemia/gangrene.

Background: The mortality rate of gangrenous/perforated appendicitis is higher than that of uncomplicated appendicitis. However, non-operative management of such patients is ineffective. This necessitates their careful exam at presentation to identify gangrenous/perforated appendicitis and aid surgical decision-making. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new scoring model based on objective findings to predict gangrenous/perforated appendicitis in adults., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 151 patients with acute appendicitis who underwent emergency surgery between January 2014 and June 2021. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify independent objective predictors of gangrenous/perforated appendicitis, and a new scoring model was developed based on logistic regression coefficients for independent predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test were performed to assess the discrimination and calibration of the model. Finally, the scores were classified into three categories based on the probability of gangrenous/perforated appendicitis., Results: Among the 151 patients, 85 and 66 patients were diagnosed with gangrenous/perforated appendicitis and uncomplicated appendicitis, respectively. Using the multivariate analysis, C-reactive protein level, maximal outer diameter of the appendix, and presence of appendiceal fecalith were identified as independent predictors for developing gangrenous/perforated appendicitis. Our novel scoring model was developed based on three independent predictors and ranged from 0 to 3. The area under the ROC curve was 0.792 (95% confidence interval, 0.721-0.863), and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good calibration of the novel scoring model (P = 0.716). Three risk categories were classified: low, moderate, and high risk with probabilities of 30.9%, 63.8%, and 94.4%, respectively., Conclusions: Our scoring model can objectively and reproducibly identify gangrenous/perforated appendicitis with good diagnostic accuracy and help in determining the degree of urgency and in making decisions about appendicitis management., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Sigmoid volvulus is a pathology that can be mortal because it is frequently encountered in elderly patients. In case of bowel gangrene, mortality and morbidity increase further. We planned a retrospective study, in which the effectiveness of the model was evaluated by creating a model that aims to predict whether intestinal gangrene is present in patients with sigmoid volvulus only by blood tests and thus to quickly guide treatment methods., Methods: In addition to demographic data such as age and gender, laboratory values such as white blood cell, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), potassium, and colonoscopic findings and whether there was gangrene in the colon during the operation were evaluated retrospectively. In the analysis of the data, independent risk factors were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyzes as well as Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed for statistically significant continuous numerical data, and cutoff values were determined and Malatya Volvulus Gangrene Model (MVGM) was created. The effectiveness of the created model was again evaluated by ROC analysis., Results: Of the 74 patients included in the study, 59 (79.7%) were male. The median age of the population was 74 (19-88), and gangrene was detected in 21 (28.37%) patients at surgery. In univariate analyzes, leukocytes <4000/mm3 and >12000/mm3 (OR: 10.737; CI 95%: 2.797-41.211, p=0.001), CRP ≥0.71 mg/dl (OR: 8.107 CI 95%: 2.520-26.082, p<0.0001), potassium ≥3.85 mmoL/L (OR: 3.889; 95% CI): 1.333-11.345, p=0.013), and LDH ≥288 U/L (OR: 3.889; CI 95%: 1.333-11.345, p=0.013), whereas, in multivariate analyzes, only CRP ≥0.71 mg/dL (OR: 3.965; CI 95%: 1.071-15.462, p=0.047) was found to be an independent risk factor for bowel gangrene. The strength of MVGM was AUC 0.836 (0.737-0.936). In addition, it was observed that the probability of bowel gangrene increased approximately 10 times if MVGM was ≥7 (OR: 9.846; 95% CI: 3.016-32.145, p<0.0001)., Conclusion: Besides being non-invasive compared to the colonoscopic procedure, MVGM is a useful method for detecting bowel gangrene. In addition, it will guide the clinician in taking the patients with intestinal loop gangrene to emergency surgery without wasting time in the treatment steps, as well as avoiding complications that may occur during colonoscopy. In this way, we think that morbidity and mortality rates can be reduced.

Medicaid coverage among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) has been associated with higher rates of primary amputations. We sought to determine the relative contributions of clinical, demographic, and hospital factors to leg amputations among Texas Medicaid patients. Patient-level data were used to identify patients who underwent treatment for PAD-related foot complications in Texas. Patients were categorized into groups by insurance provider (Medicaid, Medicare, dual-enrollee, commercial, and provider network). Individual- and area-level multivariate analyses were used to find associations with primary amputation. Of 21,592 patients identified, 8.8% were covered by Medicaid, 35.3% by Medicare, 27.8% by Medicare and Medicaid, 7.3% by commercial insurance, and 20.7% by a provider network. Compared with commercially insured patients, Medicaid patients more often underwent amputation (33% v 49%), were categorized as Black or Hispanic (45% v 64%), presented with gangrene (61% v 71%), were admitted through an emergency department (61% v 73%), and were admitted to a safety net hospital (3% v 16%). They had lower relative rates of outpatient evaluation (1.33 v 0.55) and their hospitalizations were less centralized (Gini coefficient 0.43 v 0.39) (P < .001 for all). Amputations among Medicaid patients were associated with infection and gangrene, care at safety net hospitals, rate of outpatient visits, and Black and Hispanic race, even after risk-adjustment (P < .001). Leg amputations among Medicaid patients were associated with race, disease severity, hospital characteristics, and outpatient evaluation rates, but not with provider density and location. Focusing efforts on preventative care and early outpatient referrals could help address this disparity., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The Society for Vascular Surgery Threatened Limb Classification System ('WIfI') is used to predict risk of limb loss and identify peripheral artery disease in patients with foot ulcers or gangrene. We estimated the diagnostic sensitivity of multiple clinical and noninvasive arterial parameters to identify chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI)., Methods: We performed a single-center review of 100 consecutive patients who underwent angiography for foot gangrene or ulcers. WIfI stages and grades were determined for each patient. Toe, ankle, and brachial pressure measurements were performed by registered vascular technologists. CLTI severity was characterized using Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS stages) and angiosomes. Medial artery calcification in the foot was quantified on foot radiographs., Results: GLASS NA (not applicable), I, II, and III angiographic findings were seen in 21, 21, 23, and 35 patients, respectively. A toe-brachial index < 0.7 and minimum ipsilateral ankle-brachial index < 0.9 performed well in identifying GLASS II and III angiographic findings, with sensitivity rates 97.8% and 91.5%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy rates of noninvasive measures peaked at 74.7% and 89.3% for identifying GLASS II/III and GLASS I+ angiographic findings, respectively. The presence of medial artery calcification significantly diminished the sensitivity of most noninvasive parameters., Conclusions: The use of alternative noninvasive arterial testing parameters improves sensitivity for detecting PAD. Abnormal noninvasive results should suggest the need for diagnostic angiography to further characterize arterial anatomy of the affected limb. Testing strategies with better accuracy are needed.

Aims: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most performed procedures. The effects of peritoneal lavage (PL) and the reasons to perform it have not been cleared and all meta-analyses didn't show a statistical advantage to prevent infectious complications. This study aims to investigate surgeons' perceptions during LA, comparing intraoperative findings with histological results, and exploring how surgeons' subjectivity influences the decision-making process on PL., Methods: Data were extracted from the two-year data lock from REsiDENT-1 registry, a prospective resident-led multicentre observational trial. This study investigates the relationships between PL and postoperative intraabdominal abscesses (pIAA) introducing a classification for AA to standardize the intraoperative grading. We included pre, intra, and postoperative variables. We applied our classification proposal, used a five-point Likert scale (Ls) to assess subjective LA difficulty and ran a concordance analysis between the assessment of AA and histology. Subsequently, a multivariate logistic regression model was built to find factors influencing PL., Results: 561 patients were enrolled from twenty-one hospitals and 51 residents. 542 procedures were included in the logistic regression analysis and 441 in the concordance analysis, due to missing data. PL was used in 222 LA (39, 6%). We discovered a moderate positive monotonic relationship between surgical evaluation and histology, p < 0.001. Despite this, the reliability of the surgeon's assessment of appendicitis is progressively lower for gangrenous and perforated forms. The increasing grade of contamination, the increasing grade of subjective difficulty and the intraoperative finding of a gangrenous or perforated appendicitis were independent predictors of PL., Conclusion: This study shows how surgeons' evaluation of AA severity overestimated more than half of gangrenous or perforated appendices with the perception of a challenging procedure. These perceptions influenced the choice of PL. We proved that the evaluation during LA could be affected by subjectivity with a non-negligible impact on the decision-making process., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection has made certain adjustments to modern emergency medicine. Systemic endothelial dysfunction following COVID-19 largely determines hemostatic disorders. Numerous studies revealed that intense platelet adhesion followed by platelet aggregates in COVID-19 patients and functional disorders of fibrinolysis system are combined with activation and severe endothelial dysfunction. The last one inevitably leads to thrombosis and adverse vascular events. There are a lot of studies devoted to deep vein thrombosis and fatal massive pulmonary embolism under COVID-19 infection. However, there are no descriptions of mesenteric thrombosis followed by intestinal wall necrosis. Our experience is based on the treatment and follow-up of 14 patients with venous gangrene of small intestine under COVID-19-induced severe endothelial dysfunction. We present a 40-year-old man with coronavirus infection complicated by ileum gangrene and subsequent favorable outcome.

Introduction: Digital ischemia with subsequent severe pain and tissue loss is often difficult to treat, with no obvious guidelines or strong evidence in the literature to support a specific treatment modality. Patients who fail medical treatment remain with very limited surgical options due to the difficulty of any intervention in this "no man's land" area of the hand, as described since 1918. Extended distal periarterial sympathectomy is reported as an effective treatment option since the eighties of last century. The procedure entails large incisions and major technical difficulties. In this study, we describe a less invasive approach with very promising results and equally high success rates., Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study. All patients with severe digital ischemia manifesting with bluish discoloration, ulceration, and/or dry gangrene who failed medical treatment underwent distal periarterial sympathectomy for the radial and ulnar arteries, with added digital sympathectomy in very severe cases. Primary endpoints were ulcer healing and improvement in pain scores assessed by Visual Analog Scale pain scoring system. Secondary endpoints included complications and amputation rates., Results: This study recruited 17 patients between January 2019 and January 2020. The mean follow-up was 14.6 months. The mean age was 33.71 (±SD 13.14) years. 41% were males. 59% suffered from vasculitis, 35% of patients had dry gangrene, and 71% had ulcers. Periarterial radial and ulnar sympathectomy was performed for all cases, with digital sympathectomy for 12 fingers. We had 50% complete ulcer healing within 1 month ( p = 0.031), and 100% were completely healed at 6 months ( p < 0.001). Pain scores showed significant reductions at 1 ( p = 0.001) and 6 months ( p < 0.001) of follow-up., Conclusion: Distal periarterial sympathectomy demonstrates high success rates in terms of pain relief and ulcer healing in severe digital ischemia.

In the IV drug user (IVDU) population injection may inadvertently be intra-arterial or in the subcutaneous tissue causing a various range of complication ranging from simple cellulitis to artero-venous embolization. We present here a case of a full hand mummification and necrosis following repeated injection of chopped midazolam at the elbow, forearm and hand. A 36 year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 24 months history of slowly progressive necrosis to his right. Dry necrosis had progressively evolved into gangrene with almost spontaneous amputation at the level of the wrist. Surgical intervention was performed urgently with amputation at the proximal forearm level. No early complications were detected, and the patient did not show up at least follow-up. The present case represents an example of progressive microembolisation initially involving the hand and progressively affecting the whole forearm in an impressive mummification process over a 2-year period. Minimal but repetitive distal drug embolization can give silent and initially negligible symptoms, before clear signs of tissue sufferance are detected. When dealing with patients with IVDU history, anamnestic record of eventual use of chopped/pulverized should be performed. Careful examination of the limb should be always conducted, considering the risk of silent embolization and long term potentially devastating consequences.

Background: Transmetatarsal amputations are limb salvage surgical procedures that preserve limb length and functional ankle joints. Indications for transmetatarsal amputations include forefoot trauma, infection, and ischemia. Prior research demonstrates patients who undergo transmetatarsal amputations have a lower 2-year mortality rate compared to those who undergo more proximal amputations. The aim of this study was to determine whether primary closure of a transmetatarsal amputation is a superior treatment compared to secondary healing of a transmetatarsal amputation for forefoot abnormality of infection, gangrene, or chronic ulceration., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients aged 18 years or older requiring a transmetatarsal amputation because of forefoot abnormality between September of 2011 and December of 2019. Foot and ankle surgeons performed transmetatarsal amputations. Outcome variables measured included healing time of transmetatarsal amputation site, recurrent infection, recurrent gangrene, and the need for revision surgery or higher level amputations., Results: Of the original 112 patients, 76 met the inclusion criteria; 47 of these had primary closure of transmetatarsal amputation and 29 of these had an open transmetatarsal amputation performed. Primarily closed transmetatarsal amputations resulted in a significantly greater overall healing rate of 78.8% (37 of 47) compared to open transmetatarsal amputations, with a healing rate of 37.9% (11 of 29) (P < .01). Closed transmetatarsal amputations were statistically significantly less likely than open transmetatarsal amputations to have recurrent gangrene, require revision pedal operations, or progress to higher level amputations., Conclusions: Our research demonstrated that primary closure of transmetatarsal amputations is a superior treatment compared with secondary healing of transmetatarsal amputations in specific cases of infection, dry gangrene, or chronically nonhealing ulcerations.

Purpose: Gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) is a severe type of acute cholecystitis that implies higher mortality and morbidity rates than uncomplicated cholecystitis. The characteristics of GC are various for each case. However, preoperative predictors of GC with extensive necrotic change have not been investigated well., Methods: A total of 239 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with GC underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our hospital between January 2013 and December 2021. Of these, 135 patients were included in this study and were subdivided into the extensive necrosis group (patients with necrotic change extending to the neck of the gallbladder, n = 18) and the control group (patients with necrotic change limited to the fundus or body, not extending to the neck, n = 117) according to each operation video. Patient characteristics and perioperative factors predicting extensive necrotic change were investigated., Results: Pericholecystic fat stranding (83.3 vs. 53.8%, p = 0.018) and absence of wall enhancement on preoperative CT images (50.0 vs. 24.7%, p = 0.026) were significantly associated with extensive necrosis. Seven of 18 patients in the extensive necrosis group showed necrotic changes beyond the infundibulum. The absence of wall enhancement on preoperative CT images (71.4 vs. 28.8%, p = 0.018) was significantly associated with necrotic changes beyond the infundibulum., Conclusions: Pericholecystic fat stranding and absence of wall enhancement on preoperative enhanced CT are predictors of extensive necrotic change in patients with GC. In addition, the absence of wall enhancement also predicts the presence of necrotic changes beyond the infundibulum., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER).)

Introduction: Since the second half of the 20th century, an association between the occurrence of Clostridium septicum and Streptococcus gallolyticus infections in patients with colorectal cancer has been described in specialist literature. Infections are manifested by bacteremia, septic embolism, cellulitis, myonecrosis, and gas gangrene of the limbs., Material and Methods: The authors present a case of a rare association between lower limb gangrene caused by the septic embolization of a Clostridium septicum infection and malignancy of colon ascendens in a polymorbid patient. Gangrene of the lower limb led to septic shock requiring acute amputation treatment. After managing the acute condition, the patient was operated on for a malignant colon tumour., Discussion: The process of carcinogenesis often takes years and is almost asymptomatic. The occurrence of S. bovis/S. equinus (SBSEC) and C. septicum bacteremia, respectively, is relatively rare, but their presence is often associated with the occurrence of malignancy, most often of the lower gastrointestinal tract. This paraneoplastic symptom may be the first manifestation of a malignant disease. The effect of exotoxins can lead to sepsis or even septic shock with a mortality of 48-56%., Conclusion: Clostridium septicum and Streptococcus gallolyticus infections are rare in clinical practice. However, their presence can be a first paraneoplastic symptom, and therefore the doctor should look for a possible oncological disease when they are detected. The main diagnostic methods include colonoscopy and imaging, especially CT scan.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common surgery performed by cardiothoracic surgeons worldwide. Risks of CABG include neurological outcomes, deep vein thrombosis, renal or gastrointestinal injury, and death. Perioperatively, some patients may need intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) use to help assist with cardiac function. In this case, a 75-year-old man presented with multivessel myocardial infarction requiring IABP for cardiac assistance prior to undergoing CABG. Eighteen days after his CABG, his toes turned black at home. A CT angiogram showed aortic atherosclerosis, right tibioperoneal trunk stenosis, mild atherosclerotic right proximal anterior tibial artery stenosis, and multifocal occlusive lesions in the right and left infrapopliteal vessels. Vascular surgery performed balloon angioplasty of the right anterior tibial artery and podiatry performed a transmetatarsal amputation of the dry gangrene. The aim of this case report is to present a rare complication of CABG with peri-operative IABP use and to highlight the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of dry gangrene.

Gangrenous cholecystitis is a kind of acute cholecystitis, whose course of disease progresses rapidly, early diagnosis is difficult and mortality is high, and clinicians are prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in clinical work.However, gangrenous cholecystitis has been ignored in various guidelines.This paper systematically summarized the pathogenesis, pathological manifestations, epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and treatment of gangrenous cholecystitis, hoping to provide a complete and clear diagnosis and treatment process for clinicians.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine associations between pre-operative factors and gangrenous cholecystitis. Gangrenous cholecystitis represents a severe spectrum of cholecystitis and is associated with an increased risk of complications. Early recognition and diagnosis of gangrenous cholecystitis can optimize prioritization for surgery and improve outcomes., Methods: A retrospective case-control study was undertaken. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities, pre-operative biochemical and ultrasound findings as well as post-operative outcomes were assessed. Four hundred and fourteen patients who underwent an emergency cholecystectomy between 2018 and 2020 were reviewed., Results: One hundred and nine (26%) patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy during this 3-year period had gangrenous cholecystitis. These patients were older (median age 65 versus 45, P < 0.001) and more likely to be male (58.7% versus 32.5%, P < 0.001). Patients with coronary disease (OR 2.55, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR 2.25, P = 0.001), or arrhythmias (OR 3.64, P = 0.001) were two-to-three times more likely to have gangrenous cholecystitis. Patients with renal disease (OR 1.92, P = 0.004) or using antiplatelet medication (OR 2.27, P = 0.003) were twice as likely to have gangrenous cholecystitis. Patients who had gangrenous cholecystitis presented with a higher white cell count (median 13 x 10 9 /L versus 8 x 10 9 /L, P < 0.001) and a higher C-reactive protein (median 196 versus 18 mg/L, P < 0.001). Patients with gangrenous cholecystitis had poorer post-operative outcomes., Conclusion: We verified predictive factors from existing literature and identified a number of novel pre-operative predictive factors for gangrenous cholecystitis which could help with development of a scoring system for clinical use., (© 2021 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Objective: Physician-oriented outcomes, such as patency and amputation-free survival (AFS), have traditionally been markers of success after lower extremity revascularization. Previous studies have defined clinical success based on a composite of patient-centered outcomes and have shown this outcome to be achieved in less than 50% of patients, far lower than standard physician-oriented outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical success after lower extremity bypass (LEB) or peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) for tissue loss in diabetic patients treated in a multidisciplinary setting to better understand what factors are associated with success from a patient's perspective., Methods: All patients presenting to our multidisciplinary diabetic limb preservation service from July 2012 to January 2020 were enrolled in a prospective database. Patients who underwent either LEB or PVI for ulcer or gangrene were included in the analysis. Clinical success was defined as the composite outcome of secondary patency to the point of wound healing, limb salvage for 1 year, maintenance of ambulatory status for 1 year, and survival for 6 months. Secondary outcomes included 1-year wound healing, patency, and AFS., Results: A total of 134 revascularizations were performed in 131 patients, including 91 (68%) PVI and 43 (32%) LEB. Patients were more frequently male (64%) and black (61%), and 16% were dialysis-dependent. All patients had tissue loss (53% ulcer, 47% gangrene). There were 5 (3.7%) wound, ischemia, and foot infection stage 1, 6 (6.0%) stage 2, 29 (22%) stage 3, and 92 (69%) stage 4 limbs at the time of revascularization. Overall, 76.9% of patients preserved secondary patency to the point of wound healing, 92.5% had limb salvage for 1 year, 90.3% had maintenance of ambulatory status for 1 year, and 96.3% survived for 6 months. The clinical success composite outcome was achieved in 71.6% of patients and was not statistically different between those undergoing PVI vs LEB (69.2% vs 76.7%, P = .37). Secondary patency, limb salvage, and AFS at 1 year were 80.8% ± 3.6%, 91.8% ± 2.3%, and 83.3% ± 3.1%, respectively. Wound healing at 1 year was 84.3% ± 3.4%. The only covariate associated with clinical failure on multivariable analysis was increased age (odds ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.91-0.99; P = .008)., Conclusions: Among diabetic patients presenting with tissue loss, the composite outcome of patient-centered clinical success is lower than traditional physician-centered outcomes after lower extremity revascularization, mostly due to low rates of secondary patency to the point of wound healing. In the current study, clinical failure was only associated with older age and was no different after PVI compared with LEB., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

An important article was published, whicht evaluated statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) using the odds ratio (OR), in the first issue of volume 113 of this journal. The study evaluated a relationship between C-reactive protein levels (CRP > 100) and the histological diagnosis of gangrenous acute cholecystitis in patients who underwent cholecystectomy (OR = 3.1).

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that affects several organs and systems in the human body. Digital gangrene is known to be a rare and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus that could lead to amputation. We report a case of an adolescent who presented with an autoimmune disorder and multiple comorbidities and developed gangrenous toes.

Background: COVID-19 and Fontan physiology have each been associated with an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), however little is known about the risks and potential consequences of having both., Case Presentation: A 51 year old male with tricuspid atresia status post Fontan and extracardiac Glenn shunt, atrial flutter, and sinus sick syndrome presented with phlegmasia cerulea dolens (PCD) of the left lower extremity in spite of supratherapeutic INR in the context of symptomatic COVID-10 pneumonia. He was treated with single session, catheter directed mechanical thrombectomy that was well-tolerated., Conclusions: This report of acute PCD despite therapeutic anticoagulation with a Vitamin K antagonist, managed with emergent mechanical thrombectomy, calls to attention the importance of altered flow dynamics in COVID positive patients with Fontan circulation that may compound these independent risk factors for developing deep venous thrombosis with the potential for even higher morbidity., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Gangrene of the penis is a rare condition manifesting with purulent necrotization of penile tissues and systemic inflammatory response. In more than 90% of cases, the cause of the development of the penile and scrotal gangrene is rapidly progressive necrotizing fasciitis of polymicrobial etiology, which predominantly affected the external genital organs. Isolated cases of penile gangrene development when using the restraining rings of the penis are described in literature (condom urine collection bag, rings for erection, etc.). Cases of penile and scrotum gangrene, when treatment with bilateral orchiectomy and penectomy is required are quite rare. We present the case of penlie and scrotum gangrene in an 86-year-old patient with mental disorders. The cause of gangrene was long-term forced position of the patient with infringement of the penis and scrotum by the thighs. Active intensive therapy, surgical removal of the penis, scrotum and testicles and urine diversion by the imposition of a trocar cystostomy saved the patients life and he was discharged from the hospital in a satisfactory condition.

Circumcision is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the world. Its complication rate is extremely low when performed by a trained surgeon, but the majority of circumcisions done for religious reasons in India, Africa, and Arab states are performed by traditional practitioners 1 and have a high complication rate. We present the case of five-year-old boy who developed gangrene of the glans requiring amputation after such a procedure.

Background: Ileoileal knotting is one of the rarest causes of intestinal obstruction. The pathology involves knotting of the ileum around itself, leading to mechanical intestinal obstruction that can rapidly evolve to gangrene., Case Presentation: Here we will discuss the case of an 18-year-old Oromo girl who presented with sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and signs of generalized peritonitis.Ultrasound examination showed massive peritoneal and cul-de-sac fluid. Explorative laparotomy was done, with a tentative diagnosis of ruptured ovarian cyst. Intraoperative finding was a gangrenous ileoileal knot. The gangrenous segment was resected and ileotransverse anastomosis done. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged improved on the sixth postoperative day., Conclusion: We present this case to highlight the diagnostic difficulty that one can face in females of child-bearing age and to create awareness of this rare cause of intestinal obstruction, as morbidity and mortality are very high because of rapid progression to gangrene., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Below-knee amputation remains the most common level of amputation in patients with lower extremity gangrene and critical limb ischemia. Failure to heal, requiring additional operative debridement or conversion to an above-knee amputation remains a significant cause of patient morbidity. There remains no definitive diagnostic test that can accurately predict healing of the amputation site. We report a case utilizing a hybrid technique of retrograde transamputation revascularization via balloon angioplasty. This proximal, retrograde approach allows for relatively easy crossing and treatment of the infrainguinal chronic total occlusions (CTOs), improving arterial inflow for optimal wound healing., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Symmetric peripheral gangrene is a rare but devastating complication, scarcely reported after brain surgery. We present a case of symmetric peripheral gangrene shortly after brain surgery of intracranial hematoma removal and aneurysm clipping.

We report a case of right paraduodenal hernia with strangulation of almost the entire small bowel at presentation. Since resection of all bowel of doubtful viability would have resulted in too little residual length to sustain life, a Bogota bag was fashioned using transparent plastic material from an urine drainage bag and the patient monitored intensively for 18 hours. At re-laparotomy, clear demarcation lines had formed with adequate length of viable bowel (100 cm) and resection with anastomosis was done with a good outcome on follow-up, 9 months after surgery. Our description of a rare cause of strangulated intestinal obstruction and a novel method of maximising length of viable bowel is reported for its successful outcome in a low-resource setting., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: We sought to describe contemporary presentation, treatment, and outcomes of patients presenting with acute (A), perforated (P), and gangrenous (G) appendicitis in the United States., Summary Background Data: Recent European trials have reported that medical (antibiotics only) treatment of acute appendicitis is an acceptable alternative to surgical appendectomy. However, the type of operation (open appendectomy) and average duration of stay are not consistent with current American practice and therefore their conclusions do not apply to modern American surgeons., Methods: This multicenter prospective observational study enrolled adults with appendicitis from January 2017 to June 2018. Descriptive statistics were performed. P and G were combined into a "complicated" outcome variable and risk factors were assessed using multivariable logistic regression., Results: A total 3597 subjects were enrolled across 28 sites: median age was 37 (27-52) years, 1918 (53%) were male, 90% underwent computed tomography (CT) imaging, 91% were initially treated by appendectomy (98% laparoscopic), and median hospital stay was 1 (1-2) day. The 30-day rates of Emergency Department (ED) visit and readmission were 10% and 6%. Of 219 initially treated with antibiotics, 35 (16%) required appendectomy during index hospitalization and 12 (5%) underwent appendectomy within 30 days, for a cumulative failure rate of 21%. Overall, 2403 (77%) patients had A, whereas 487 (16%) and 218 (7%) patients had P and G, respectively. On regression analysis, age, symptoms >48 hours, temperature, WBC, Alvarado score, and appendicolith were predictive of "complicated" appendicitis, whereas co-morbidities, smoking, and ED triage to appendectomy >6 hours or >12 hours were not., Conclusion: In the United States, the majority of patients presenting with appendicitis receive CT imaging, undergo laparoscopic appendectomy, and stay in the hospital for 1 day. One in five patients selected for initial non-operative management required appendectomy within 30 days. In-hospital delay to appendectomy is not a risk factor for "complicated" appendicitis., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

A transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) is a widely utilized procedure to address foot gangrene and infection. Although a common procedure, so too are the associated complications. The purpose of this review was to evaluate TMA healing and to explore if there were associated variables correlating with healed vs. failed to heal TMA sites. To do so, the Medical Department Orthopaedics Division Electronic Database, West Virginia University, College of Medicine was retrospectively searched to identify all cases of TMAs (CPT code 28805) during the period of January 2011 through June 2019, and those variables that might impact TMA healing. Then both univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between these variables and TMA healing, and sensitivity analyses were also conducted to determine if the results resisted the influence of one unmeasured confounder. There were 39 patients (41 procedures) who would undergo a TMA. The mean average patient age was 53 (range 29-73) years old. The median postoperative follow-up period was 617 (range 199-3632) days. TMA mortality data revealed 0 deaths at 30 days, 2 (5.1%) at 1 year, 8 (20.5%) at 5 years. In our study, 29 (70.7%) of the TMAs would achieve primary healing at a median of 31 (range 16-253) days. When comparing the TMA healed group to the failed to heal group the following independent variables were considered: diabetes mellitus, HgA1c >8%, neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, chronic kidney disease, active smoking status, previous surgery, and a clean margin metatarsal bone pathology specimen positive for osteomyelitis. Of the aforementioned, only neuropathy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.056, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0-0.501, p = .0062) and positive bone margin (OR = 0.144, 95% CI = 0.022-0.835, p = .0385) were found to be significant in univariate logistic regression analysis. In multivariable logistic regression analyses where the potential confounders age, gender, and body mass index were accounted for, of the 8 independent variables of interest, only neuropathy (OR = 0.037, 95% CI = 0-0.497, p = .0036) remained significantly associated with the healing status. Neuropathy was present in 17 (58.6%) of the healed TMAs and in 12 (100%) of the failed to heal TMAs. However, the positive bone margin failed to reach statistical significance (OR = 0.079, 95% CI = 0-1.39, p = .1331). Results from another multivariable logistic regression model where a quadratic term for age was added revealed that positive bone specimen correlated with the TMA healing status with significance (OR = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.001- 0.560, p = .0404). A positive clean margin bone specimen was found in 3 (10.3%) of the healed TMAs and in 4 (44.4%) of the failed to heal TMAs. The sensitivity analysis where current ulceration was used as an unmeasured confounder indicated that the results regarding the association between neuropathy or positive bone margin and TMA healing, though inconclusive, resisted the influence of this unmeasured confounder. Hopefully these findings will be a beneficial addition to the current TMA literature and as such, further assist with informed surgical decision making., (Copyright © 2020 the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)