Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Emphysematous cholecystitis is a rare variant of acute cholecystitis with high mortality and morbidity rate. Emphysematous cholecystitis most often occurs in older men and Emphysematous cholecystitis often occurs in patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and vascular disease. The combination of emphysematous cholecystitis and pneumoperitoneum is even rarer. In this study, we reported a rare case of pneumoperitoneum on plain abdominal X-ray with emphysematous cholecystitis in an 83-year-old woman.
Case Presentation: The patient was 83 years old, lady who had been referred to the emergency department of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in April 2019, due to diffuse abdominal pain that had started suddenly 3 days earlier. Pneumoperitoneum, the air in the gallbladder wall and the air encircling the gallbladder were reported in standing and supine abdominal x-rays and standing chest X-rays. At first, the patient was resuscitated and treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. After initial treatment, the patient underwent open cholecystectomy with a subcostal incision on the right and a diagnosis of emphysematous cholecystitis. After surgery, the patient's general condition improved and she was discharged without mortality and morbidity with oral third-generation Cephalosporin antibiotics. The general condition of the patient after discharge was good in the examinations performed in the clinic of Ghaem Hospital, 1 and 3 months after discharge.

Conclusion: Emphysematous cholecystitis is a rare and severe form of acute cholecystitis that occurs due to the process of arterial ischemia caused by contamination with anaerobic bacteria and the formation of gas in the wall and lumen of the gallbladder. Emphysematous cholecystitis is more severe than other types of acute cholecystitis and has higher mortality and morbidity and is life-threatening. Due to the acute and progressive course of emphysematous cholecystitis, correct and timely diagnosis and treatment are important.

Background: Hemorrhoids are one of the most common perianal diseases. They have several surgical and non-surgical treatment methods. Among surgical procedures, Stapler hemorrhoidopexy method has recently gained widespread acceptance. Hemorrhoidopexy with a circular stapler usually has a series of common and mild complications and a few rare and life-threatening complications such as rectal perforation, which requires emergency surgery. In this article, a case of rectal perforation in a middle-aged man following hemorrhoidopexy with Circular Stapler in a Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) is reported that he underwent emergency surgery.
Case Presentation: The patient is a 43-year-old man who presented to the emergency department of Mashhad Ghaem Hospital in June 2020 due to acute general abdominal pain especially in the lower abdomen that started 3 days ago the patient has a history of hemorrhoidopexy with a Circular Stapler in a Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH) 5 days ago. The patient had a fever at the time of referral, other vital signs were normal. During the examination, the patient had tenderness and rebound tenderness, especially in the lower abdomen. Hydropneumoperitoneum or Retropneumoperitoneum or Hydroretropneumoperitoneum was reported on the abdomen and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT) scan with and without oral and intravenous contrast. The patient was diagnosed with intraperitoneal rectal perforation. He was then diagnosed with intraperitoneal rectal perforation and treated with intravenous antibiotics and surgery. After surgery, the patient's general condition improved and he was discharged without mortality and morbidity with the good condition after 6 days.

Conclusion: Hemorrhoidopexy with a stapler is more widely accepted than other hemorrhoidectomy methods especially manual methods for prolapse hemorrhoids due to less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster return to work. Although this procedure usually has mild side effects that do not require surgery, sometimes life-threatening complications such as rectal perforation may happen, which requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Background: In most patients, the accessory spleen (AS) is small in size. However, in patients who have undergone splenectomy, AS may hypertrophy. This manuscript presents a rare case of spontaneous AS rupture nearly two decades after a prior splenectomy due to trauma. After searching multiple databases, only a few similar cases have been reported to date. In any acute abdominal patient with a history of previous splenectomy who presents with a mass in the anatomical location of the spleen, along with evidence of hematoma and free abdominal fluid on imaging, the possibility of AS rupture should be considered.
Case Presentation: In February 2022, a 36-year-old man who had undergone splenectomy due to trauma 16 years ago was referred to the emergency department at Imam Ali Hospital in Bojnord. He complained of sudden onset of severe abdominal pain, preferably in the upper region of the abdomen. The patient denied having any recent issues. Based on the patient's history and examination, at perforated stomach ulcer and pancreatitis were initially suspected. However, except for leukocytosis, no other abnormalities were observed in the laboratory tests. Ultrasound revealed a low-echo mass-like lesion in the anatomical location of the spleen. Another low-echo mass-like lesion, indicating a hematoma with abundant free fluid in the abdomen and pelvis, was also observed near the aforementioned mass. CT scan confirmed these findings. Open surgical and re splenectomy procedures were performed, and the diagnosis of spontaneous AS rupture was made based on clinical examination and imaging findings.

Conclusion: In any patient with a history of previous splenectomy who presents to the emergency room with diffuse and acute abdominal pain, even without recent trauma, if a mass-like lesion is observed in the anatomically suspicious location of the spleen in the left subphrenic space, along with other evidence of rupture such as hematoma/laceration and free fluid in the abdominal cavity, accessory spleen rupture should be considered as the main differential diagnosis.

Case Presentation: The patient is an 18-year-old woman, 20 weeks pregnant, who came to the Emergency department of Bentolhoda Hospital in Bojnurd with diffuse  sudden onset of abdominal pain in the September of 2023. On examination, the patient's vital signs were unstable, which was due to the presence of hemorrhagic shock. In the examination of the patient's abdomen, or generalized tenderness and rebound tenderness? was evident, suggesting peritonitis. According to the ultrasound report, abundant free fluid and fluid containing blood was drained from the abdomen under ultrasound guidance. The patient underwent surgery with the diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock with a midline incision of the abdomen above and below the umbilicus. In the performed surgery, evidence of splenic artery aneurysm rupture was evident. For the patient, ligature and resection of splenic vessels (artery and vein) and splenectomy were performed. After surgery and stabilization of the patient's condition, fetal health ultrasound was performed, and the fetus had no heartbeat. Therefore, medical induction of abortion was performed, and after 48 hours, the fetus was completely expelled, and then mother was transferred to the ward. And four days after the surgery, she was discharged with general improvement. No remarkable adverse effects were observed after surgery. Conclusion: One of the rare diseases is splenic artery aneurysm, which is difficult to diagnose due to its asymptomatic rupture and high mortality rate.

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old female patient with diffuse abdominal pain that started a week ago and worsened since 2 days ago in the winter of 2024, referred to the emergency room of Imam Ali Bojnurd Hospital. In the examination, the patient met the criteria for shock. Abdominal examination revealed peritonitis. After initial resuscitation and stabilization of the patient's condition, an X-ray was performed for the patient. According to the Standing chest x-ray, pneumoperitoneum report, the patient underwent surgery with midline incision. In the performed surgery, evidence of gangrene and perforated was evident in a part of the small intestine, and The patient is a candidate for resection of the gangrenous and perforated intestinal segment, and then the two proximal and distal ends of the resected area were removed as an ileostomy from the right side of the abdomen. At the end of surgery, before closing the abdominal wall, the patient suffered a cardiac arrest, and CPR was started for the patient in operation room. After starting the chest massage, the patient suffered a grade 5 liver tear, the bleeding of the liver was stopped by packing with four Large Abdominal pads and CPR continued for 45 min, but unfortunately the patient died. Conclusion: One of the rare complications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and chest massage is visceral damage, including liver rupture. Considering that its symptoms are similar to cardiac arrest, it is difficult to diagnose in case of rupture and has a high mortality rate. According to the reports of liver and visceral damage after CPR, some studies have recommended the use of Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) to detect visceral damage after CPR.

Background: Benign tumors of the gastrointestinal tract with a muscular origin are typically found in the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, and rarely in the large intestine. Approximately 3% of all gastrointestinal leiomyomas occur in the large intestine, primarily in the descending colon and sigmoid colon. These lesions are usually asymptomatic and are often discovered during endoscopic procedures.
Case Presentation: A 38-year-old female patient admitted to the emergency department of Imam Ali Hospital in Bojnurd city in January 2024, reporting vague and nonspecific lower abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting, low appetite and signs of partial gastrointestinal obstruction over the past week that don’t have any history of weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, constipation or family history of cancer. Her symptoms had not responded to Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and outpatient treatment. Given the nonspecific manifestations, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with iv contrast was requested for further evaluation of inta abdominal disease. The CT findings indicated a 5.5 cm lesion at the beginning of the large intestine, which exerted pressure on the distal part of small intestine, leading to evidence of partial obstruction of the distal part of small intestin. The patient was diagnosed with small bowel obstruction due to an ascending colon tumor and was scheduled for surgical intervention. She underwent resection of right colon, 10-15 cm of terminal ileum along with drainage of the regional lymph nodes. The excised tissue sample was sent for histopathological examination, which suggested a benign colon tumor likely to be a leiomyoma. To facilitate a more accurate diagnosis, immunohistochemical analysis was recommended, which confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma.
Conclusion: Colonic leiomyomas can present with various symptoms depending on their size and location. Due to the difficulty in differentiating leiomyomas from malignant colonic tumors, particularly when they are larger, surgical intervention is often recommended. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management strategies for these tumors to prevent potential complications.

Background: Intestinal lymphangiomatosis is a rare benign disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by abnormal proliferation and dilatation of lymphatic channels within the intestinal wall and mesentery. It accounts for less than 1% of gastrointestinal tumors and predominantly affects the small intestine, particularly in pediatric patients. Clinical manifestations vary widely depending on the size, location, and extent of the lesions, ranging from asymptomatic presentations to acute complications. Due to its rarity and nonspecific features, early diagnosis is often difficult. Imaging modalities, especially ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, are crucial for initial evaluation and preoperative planning.
Case Presentation: We report an infant who presented with failure to thrive, progressive abdominal distension, and acute symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction. The patient was admitted to Imam Reza Hospital, Bojnurd, in February 2024. A detailed clinical assessment and laboratory evaluation were performed, followed by abdominal ultrasonography, which revealed a multiloculated cystic mass originating from the small bowel, highly suggestive of a lymphatic malformation. Due to complete small bowel obstruction and worsening clinical status, urgent exploratory laparotomy was undertaken. Intraoperative findings demonstrated a cystic lesion involving a segment of the small intestine, causing total luminal obstruction. Segmental resection of the affected bowel with primary anastomosis was performed, and the resected specimen was submitted for histopathological analysis. The postoperative course was uneventful, with gradual resolution of abdominal distension and successful reintroduction of enteral feeding. Histopathological examination confirmed intestinal lymphangioma, showing dilated lymphatic channels lined by endothelial cells within the intestinal wall, with no evidence of malignancy. During follow-up, the patient demonstrated satisfactory weight gain and normalization of gastrointestinal function, without recurrence or postoperative complications.
Conclusion: Although rare, intestinal lymphangiomatosis should be considered in infants presenting with failure to thrive and signs of bowel obstruction. Timely imaging, particularly ultrasonography, is essential for early diagnosis. Surgical resection remains the definitive treatment in symptomatic cases and is associated with favorable outcomes. Increased clinical awareness can help prevent delayed diagnosis and minimize associated morbidity.