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Query: UMLS:C0042961 (volvulus)
 4,305 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The findings on the radiographs of 14 cases of ileosigmoid knot are presented and analysed. The clinical features and pathology of the condition are briefly described. The key radiological features consist of a dilated loop of pelvic colon, evidence of small intestinal obstruction and retention of faeces in an undistended proximal colon. The dilated loop usually lies in the right side of the abdomen and the limbs taper inferiorly into the right lower quadrant. Medial deviation of the distal descending colon is an inconsistant but highly specific finding. The radiographs readily permit distinction from primary volvulus of the small intestine and from non-obstructive surgical emergencies such as perforated viscus and ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The combination of radiographic findings may however be simulated by volvulus of the right colon, closed loop small intestinal obstruction and by volvulus of the pelvic colon complicated by peritonitis. The differential diagnosis is discussed and the value of sigmoidoscopy, rather than barium enema, emphasised.
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PMID:The radiology of ileosigmoid knot. 63 62

The use of methotrexate (MTX) as a first-line treatment of ectopic pregnancies has become popular recently. This report details a previously unreported complication of MTX treatment. Presumptive ectopic pregnancy with an initial beta-hCG level of 3,500 mIU/ml was treated with a single intramuscular dose of 50 mg/m2 MTX. Three weeks later with a beta-hCG level of 870 mIU/ml, the patient was operated for suspected rupture of ectopic pregnancy. Laparotomy revealed left aborted tubal pregnancy with active bleeding from left fimbria and estimated 2,000 ml of blood in the cul-de-sac. Left salpingectomy was performed. Two days later the patient developed signs of large bowel obstruction. The second laparotomy revealed sigmoid volvulus, that was treated with detorsion of the sigmoid loop. Although generally safe and effective, MTX should be used with utmost care in treatment of ectopic pregnancies.
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PMID:Sigmoid volvulus after medical management with subsequent operative laparoscopy of unruptured ectopic pregnancy. 912 37

In many poor countries of the world the need for surgical treatment of acute abdominal emergencies is largely unmet. In some cases this service is provided by physicians with little postgraduate surgical training, and there is a paucity of published data on the outcomes of this service. This series of sequential cases of acute abdominal surgical emergencies from a hospital in rural Sierra Leone illustrates the causes, outcomes, and challenges in this setting. All patients with an acute abdomen from September 1992 until September 1994 who required surgery were identified by review of theater records, ward books, and patients' notes. Altogether, 173 cases were identified. Operative diagnoses included ectopic pregnancy (n = 43), strangulated hernia (n = 45) 15 of which required bowel resection, appendicitis (n = 15), normal appendix (n = 4), uterine rupture (n = 9), perforated ulcer (n = 8), tubal or pelvic abscess (n = 7), volvulus (n = 6), and others. Ninety percent survived to discharge after a median postoperative stay of 9.2 days (range 7-127 days). Of the 18 deaths, 83% occurred during the first 3 days. Factors associated with poor outcome were ileal perforation due to typhoid fever and resection of bowel after a strangulated hernia. These results show that acute abdominal surgery can be done at the district level in poor countries using limited facilities by staff without extensive surgical training. The outcomes are comparable to those from larger centers.
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PMID:Case series of acute abdominal surgery in rural Sierra Leone. 1191 Apr 89