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Query: UMLS:C0034067 (emphysema)
 11,506 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The clinical features of an 8-year-old boy with congenital emphysema, cryptorchidism, a penoscrotal web, deafness, constipation and mental retardation are described. Review of the literature did not reveal another report of this unusual combination of features.
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PMID:Congenital emphysema, cryptorchidism, penoscrotal web, deafness, and mental retardation--a new syndrome? 901 16

We report an adolescent girl who presented with an acute exacerbation of a chronic backache of 6 months duration. She complained of dribbling micturition, constipation, and an irresistible urge to strain for 72 h. In the waiting area of the local hospital she developed sudden, severe chest pain with progressive swelling of the upper torso. This proved to be the mode of presentation of a haematocolpos due to an imperforate hymen with the unusual complication of mediastinal emphysema. Imperforate hymen is a rare diagnosis, but should be considered when dealing with an adolescent girl with lower abdominal symptoms or backache.
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PMID:Backache: a rare diagnosis and unusual complication. 1063 43

Spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema is a rare and usually benign entity that may occasionally be symptomatic. We report a case of a patient with advanced cancer who developed extensive but asymptomatic subcutaneous emphysema shortly before death. Perforation of the lower gastrointestinal tract, perhaps as a result of straining due to severe unrelieved constipation or due to fistula formation, is suspected to have been the mechanism. The causes, treatment, and implications for management of this condition are discussed.
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PMID:Subcutaneous emphysema in advanced cancer. 1118 32

Transdermal fentanyl is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of chronic pain caused by malignancy and non-malignant conditions when administered according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Compared with oral opioids, the advantages of transdermal fentanyl include a lower incidence and impact of adverse effects (constipation, nausea and vomiting, and daytime drowsiness), a higher degree of patient satisfaction, improved quality of life, improved convenience and compliance resulting from administration every 72 hours, and decreased use of rescue medication. Transdermal fentanyl is a useful analgesic for cancer patients who are unable to swallow or have gastrointestinal problems. Transdermal fentanyl forms a depot within the upper skin layers before entering the microcirculation. Therapeutic blood levels are attained 12-16 hours after patch application and decrease slowly with a half-life of 16-22 hours following removal. Patients with chronic pain should be titrated to adequate relief with short-acting oral or parenteral opioids prior to the initiation of transdermal fentanyl in order to prevent exacerbations of pain or opioid-related adverse effects. Transdermal fentanyl can then be initiated based on the 24-hour opioid requirement once adequate analgesia has been achieved. The prolonged elimination of transdermal fentanyl can become problematic if patients develop opioid-related adverse effects, especially hypoventilation. Adverse effects do not improve immediately after patch removal and may take many hours to resolve. Patients who experience opioid-related toxicity associated with respiratory depression should be treated immediately with an opioid antagonist such as naloxone and closely monitored for at least 24 hours. Because of the short half-life of naloxone, sequential doses or a continuous infusion of the opioid antagonist may be necessary. Transdermal fentanyl should be administered cautiously to patients with pre-existing conditions such as emphysema that may predispose them to the development of hypoventilation. Transdermal fentanyl is indicated only for patients who require continuous opioid administration for the treatment of chronic pain that cannot be managed with other medications. It is contraindicated in the management of acute and postoperative pain, as pain may decrease more rapidly in these circumstances than fentanyl blood levels can be adjusted, leading to the development of life-threatening hypoventilation. Cognitive and physical impairments such as confusion and abnormal co-ordination can occur with transdermal fentanyl. Therefore, patients should be instructed to refrain from driving or operating machinery immediately following the initiation of transdermal fentanyl, or after any dosage increase. Patients may resume such activities once the absence of these potential adverse effects is documented.
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PMID:Benefit-risk assessment of transdermal fentanyl for the treatment of chronic pain. 1458 70

Constipation with faecal impaction is a common condition, which may lead to serious potential complications. Among such complications, stercoral perforation has been rarely reported in the literature. We report a single case of 75-year-old woman, with a massive faecal impaction, which resulted in a rectum perforation, presented as a pneumoperitoneum, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. We present this case to remind physicians that neglected accumulation of faecal matter in the rectum may lead to ischemia and perforation of the colon and rectum. This case illustrates that severe chronic constipation requires adequate management, including disimpaction and aggressive medical treatment. Appropriate operative treatment may be life-saving.
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PMID:Giant faecaloma causing perforation of the rectum presented as a subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum and pneumomediastinum: a case report. 1796 2

With advancing age and the affluent, low-fiber Western diet, the incidence of diverticular disease is increasing. Fortunately, most cases can be managed conservatively without resorting to surgical intervention. Life-threatening complications such as perforation, especially when it is associated with gross fecal contamination, requires urgent aggressive surgical intervention. A 75-year-old man with absolute constipation and pain in the left iliac fossa underwent urgent laparotomy following fluid and antibiotic resuscitation. A posterior perforated sigmoid diverticulitis associated with myofascial necrosis and generalized pelvic emphysema was identified. In cases where perforation occurs posteriorly and the only external manifestation is surgical emphysema, the outcome is generally favorable.
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PMID:Subcutaneous emphysema, muscular necrosis, and necrotizing fasciitis: an unusual presentation of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis. 2022 8

A 50-year-old woman presented with chronic epigastric abdominal pain and constipation. She underwent diagnostic upper and lower endoscopy for further evaluation. Several hours following the procedure, she developed chest and subcutaneous emphysema of her upper chest, neck, and face. A chest X-ray demonstrated marked subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium, and pneumomediastinum. A CT scan revealed a small leak at the rectosigmoid junction. Because the patient did not have peritoneal signs, she was treated conservatively and discharged on hospital day seven. The complications of both esohagogastroduodenoscoy, and colonoscopy are discussed, with an emphasis on perforations.
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PMID:Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum and pneumoretroperitoneum secondary to sigmoid perforation: a case report. 2245 17

Gas gangrene is a life-threatening, necrotising soft tissue infection. Colorectal malignancy-associated Clostridiumsepticum is a rare cause of gas gangrene. This case outlines an initial presentation of colonic malignancy as gas gangrene from C.septicum infection.A 69-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation. Abdominal X-ray revealed dilated small bowel loops. Lactate was elevated. A diagnosis of small bowel obstruction was made. Subsequent CT revealed caecal thickening and subcutaneous emphysema overlying the left flank. Clinically, he became haemodynamically unstable. Examination revealed crepitus overlying the left flank in keeping with gas gangrene. The patient required immediate surgical debridement. Tissue specimens cultured C.septicum Following a complicated postoperative period, he was transferred to the plastic surgery team for further tissue debridement and reconstruction. A colonoscopy was later performed which was suspicious for malignancy. Colorectal multidisciplinary team discussion is awaited.
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PMID:Deadly combination: Clostridium septicum and colorectal malignancy. 2919 51

Colonic perforation is an uncommon but known and feared complication of colonoscopy, which carries a high mortality rate. We present an uncommon case of extensive intra- and extraperitoneal air following colonic perforation in a patient undergoing inpatient colonoscopy for evaluation of unintentional weight loss and constipation. During colonoscopy, a splenic flexure stricture was identified and dilated. Postprocedural hemodynamic instability prompted further imaging which revealed pneumoperitoneum, bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium, and severe subcutaneous emphysema. Emergent exploratory laparotomy found perforation of the proximal transverse colon which required resection and transverse colostomy placement. The patient also underwent bilateral chest tube placement and was treated with antibiotics for peritonitis. The patient was eventually diagnosed with Crohn's disease and discharged to an extended care facility with outpatient follow-up. Extraperitoneal colonic perforations are fairly rare, and to our knowledge, we present the most severe case that has been published in recent years.
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PMID:Intraperitoneal and Extraperitoneal Colonic Perforation Following Diagnostic and Therapeutic Colonoscopy with Crohn's-related Stricture Dilation. 3225 5