Non-traumatic Abdominal Emergencies Research Articles

Is Laparoscopy Safe and Effective in Nontraumatic Acute Abdomen?

Progress in laparoscopic experience has increased the number of laparoscopic procedures performed, even in emergency cases. Herewith, results in a prospective series of 300 patients laparoscopically treated for nontraumatic abdominal emergencies are presented with the intent to prove the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic approach in the treatment of acute abdomen. From a prospective multicenter study performed between June 2008 and December 2009, the authors collected data on 300 patients with a provisional diagnosis of acute abdomen, laparoscopically treated or who underwent explorative laparoscopy. A correct diagnosis was made by means of laparoscopy in all 300 (100%) patients, and therapeutic laparoscopy was successfully performed in 270 (90%) patients. With laparoscopy, it was possible to modify the preoperative diagnosis and the treatment in 17 cases (5.6%). Upon statistical analysis, the conversion rate was correlated to the age of the patients (P<.0001) and to the operative time (P<.0001). The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 8%. Statistical analysis revealed that morbidity is correlated to the age of patients (P<.0001) and to the operative time (P<.0001). The mean hospital stay was 5.4 days. Laparoscopy has been shown to play a crucial role in the management of almost every abdominal emergency, offering, compared with the open approach, an initial diagnostic or explorative tool and a valid alternative in the treatment of the cause of acute abdomen with low morbidity and mortality rates.

The CT frequencies of various non-traumatic acute abdominal emergencies in hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis patients and the general population

To investigate the frequency of non-traumatic acute abdominal emergencies in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD)) patients and in the general population as diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) imaging. The abdominal CT findings of ESRD patients with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain during the years 2001-2010 have been retrospectively evaluated. Thirty-three HD (14 females, 19 males, mean age: 62 ± 10.5) and 22 PD patients (12 females, 10 males, mean age: 59 ± 9.4) with acute abdominal pathology based on their CT scans have been included into the study. In addition, 127 individuals (68 females, 59 males, mean age: 40.7 ± 12.8) with normal renal functions who presented with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain diagnosed with an acute abdominal pathology based on their CT scans have been prospectively evaluated during the years 2009-2010. While the most frequent etiology in PD patients was peritonitis (45.4%), acute pancreatitis (13.6%) and perforation (18.1), and in HD patients it was nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (18.1%) and spontaneous intraabdominal bleeding (21.2%). The basic causes of acute abdomen in the general population were ureteral stone (34.6%) and appendicitis (18.1%). The causes of acute abdominal pain in ESRD patients is significantly different when compared to the general population. And within this special patient population the etiology of acute abdomen differs depending on the renal replacement therapy modality they are receiving. Thus, the causes of acute abdomen in PD patients are mostly peritonitis, acute pancreatitis, and perforation, while being mostly nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia and spontaneous intraabdominal bleeding in patients receiving HD therapy.

Contemporary imaging in abdominal emergencies

Imaging is often a fundamental part in the evaluation of an injured or ill child. A variety of imaging modalities (radiography, angiography/fluoroscopy, sonography, CT, magnetic resonance imaging and scintigraphy) are among the options. CT is worth focused attention because of its usefulness in a variety of emergency department settings, its increasing use, and its potential radiation risks. CT plays an important role in the evaluation of traumatic and nontraumatic abdominal emergencies in children. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to review current imaging approaches and controversies in the evaluation of common acute abdominal emergencies. Through discussion of various modalities, especially CT in evaluation of abdominal pain and trauma, the relative advantages and disadvantages including radiation risk will be reviewed.

Active abdominal bleeding: contrast-enhanced sonography

Active contrast medium extravasation is a recognized and important angiographic and computed tomographic (CT) sign of bleeding. It is an indicator of active, ongoing, and potentially life-threatening hemorrhage and, hence, of the need for an immediate surgical or interventional treatment. Sonography (US) is frequently used as the first imaging option for screening patients with traumatic and nontraumatic abdominal emergencies. Owing to the current possibilities of low-mechanical index, real-time, contrast-specific systems, it is now possible to detect a contrast leakage by using US. This finding opens new possibilities in the assessment and management of several abdominal emergencies, including trauma (initial workup and monitoring), spontaneous hematomas, and rupture of aneurysms or masses. This article describes the technique, findings, possibilities, and limitations of contrast-enhanced US in the evaluation of active abdominal bleeding.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute urinary conditions.

Obstruction of the upper urinary tract is common and shows no signs of decreasing incidence. Investigating obstruction requires knowledge of how the upper tract functions and how, when normal function is compromised by obstruction, imaging findings will differ from normality. Radiologists need to define the extent of obstruction, its likely duration and whether intervention is needed to relieve the obstruction and what form that intervention may take. Percutaneous nephrostomy is the most common interventional therapeutic technique performed and should be available in any acute hospital. It is not a procedure that is in the sole domain of uroradiologists. Close co-operation with urologists is essential.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute biliary conditions.

Imaging is the standard method for the evaluation of emergency bile ducts and gallbladder diseases. Imaging may help to treat the patient also. In acute cholecystitis, association of clinical and sonographic data is accurate for the diagnosis, even when the patient is examined by a junior radiologist. Computed tomography may be required for those patients with unusual presentation such as emphysematous cholecystitis, perforation, or abscess. Acalculous cholecystitis is a challenging problem. It sometimes requires percutaneous cholecystostomy for diagnosis or treatment purposes. In patients with acute cholangitis, sonography remains the first step for imaging, but its diagnostic accuracy is disappointing. This is related to low sensitivity, despite a high specificity. Computed tomography carries a slightly better sensitivity, and again a high specificity but overall accuracy is not sufficient. Magnetic resonance cholangiography and endosonography are the best methods for the detection. Both have advantages and limitations, including cost and availability, but endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography remains necessary for therapeutic purposes, especially stone extraction. In conclusion, emergency radiologists should be able to put the patient through multiple imaging modalities in order to make a prompt diagnosis with no delay, and be aware of the therapeutic options, including cooperation between radiologist, endoscopist, and surgeon.

Paediatric emergencies: non-traumatic abdominal emergencies.

Presentation with acute abdominal pain or abdominal symptopathology is a very common cause of presentation of children to hospital. The causes are dependent in part on the age of the child, in part on the presence of previous surgery, and can be divided into those that relate to congenital abnormalities at whatever age they present, acquired disease and infection. Children, particularly young children are often poor historians, and therefore the clinical examination and the laboratory investigations are important in helping to come to a diagnosis. Primary imaging of abdominal emergencies in childhood is a radiograph of the abdomen, followed by ultrasound. Further imaging depends on the results of these studies. An ordered review of the abdomen radiograph is important if the salient features on X-ray are not to be missed. Practitioners should be competent with abdominal ultrasound in children and know where to seek the causes of disease, as these are different from those that are obtained in many instances in adults. Familiarity with the likely causes is important. The three commonest causes of acute abdominal pain in childhood are, in young infants, intussusception, appendicitis and mesenteric adenitis. In older children, inflammatory bowel disease and ovarian pathology are also included. This article details the approach to imaging and the salient features of some of the conditions.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging of acute intestinal obstruction.

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of the main clinical questions in bowel obstruction, to discuss the value of various imaging modalities, including conventional radiography, ultrasound, and CT, to underline the impact of imaging in the management of patients with suspect bowel obstruction, and then to suggest a diagnostic triage in such patients.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemia.

Radiologist and radiological techniques play a crucial role in imaging and interventional procedures in gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemia. They are involved in emergency situations that may lead to the death of the patient. Therefore correct diagnosis and treatment are absolutely decisive. We have a great potential in tools of diagnosis, with angiography serving not only as the gold standard for diagnosis even offering a potentially effective treatment for various pathologies. Nevertheless, other techniques have developed greatly during the past decade, including in standard protocols for the management of vascular pathologies such as those discussed here. Ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging and their applications in the vascular field such as in as Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography provide sensitivity as high as that of angiography for detecting vascular-dependent lesions and for evaluating and excluding other causes of acute or chronic abdomen disorders. This contribution evaluates clinical aspects, various imaging techniques, and interventional effectiveness related to gastrointestinal hemorrhage and ischemia.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in sepsis

Cross-sectional imaging, in particular CT, has become the main method of detecting abdominal collections. Indium-labelled white-cell scintigraphy and gallium scintigraphy are reserved for patients in whom there is a high clinical suspicion of abdominal sepsis but CT has not revealed a source of sepsis. Scintigraphy is also used in patients with suspected vascular graft infections or suspected infected hip prostheses. Percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) has revolutionised the treatment of abdominal abscesses over the past 20 years, with repeat laparotomy for postoperative abscesses becoming a rare event. Ultrasound or CT can be used to guide PAD. Choosing an access route that does not cross intervening organs is of crucial importance to the safe performance of PAD. The Trocar or Seldinger techniques can be used with equal success. The cavity should be aspirated until dry and irrigated with saline. Repeat imaging after drainage is helpful to detect any undrained locules. PAD endpoints include patient defervescence, reduction in white blood cell count and catheter drainage of less than 10 ml per day. Details regarding PAD in specific abdominal regions are discussed. Success rates for PAD are high (close to 90%) in most abdominal organs. Slightly lower success rates are seen with PAD of pancreatic abscesses and abscesses associated with fistulas (60-85% success rates). Complication rates lie between 0% and 10%. Complications can be minimised by ensuring that the patient has broad spectrum antibiotic coverage before drainage, by carefully planning the access route and by ensuring diligent post-procedure care by radiology staff.

Non-traumatic abdominal emergencies: imaging and intervention in acute pancreatic conditions.

Pancreatic emergency, unrelated to traumatic events, can occur as a consequence of the more significant pancreatic pathologies (acute and chronic pancreatitis, tumors) or of the interventional or surgical treatment carried out as therapy for the above-mentioned lesions. Acute pancreatic conditions are represented by pancreatic infections, the involvement of organs, structures, and adjacent spaces within the pancreatic disease, and, lastly, vascular complications. Acute pancreatic conditions are common in pancreatic diseases and can be catastrophic; even if there is a gamut in the severity of clinical presentation, each can be potentially life threatening. Immediate radiological detection of the lesions together with a correct therapeutic percutaneous radiological approach whenever an interventional procedure is preferable to surgery or, when performed before surgery, whenever it can optimize its results, is of fundamental importance in the management of these patients. This article focuses on the essential role of radiology and the integration of imaging and intervention in acute pancreatic conditions.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF NONTRAUMATIC ABDOMINOPELVIC EMERGENCIES

Ultrasonography can provide prompt diagnostic information in many non-traumatic abdominal and pelvic emergencies. The safety of of diagnostic ultrasonography enables its use in many emergency situations that relate to pregnancy. The ability to demonstrate normal fluid-filled organs with clarity makes ultrasonography valuable in the emergency assessment of the gallbladder and aorta. Similary, ultrasound is sensitive to the detection of pathologic collections of fluid that can be applied in the search for abscesses or hematomas. Finally, ultrasonography is independent of organ function. In this regard, it is a useful ancillary test when radiographic examinations of the biliary or urinary tracts fail because of poor contract excretion.