Maternal diaphragmatic hernia in pregnancy:A systematic review with a treatment algorithm

BACKGROUND Diaphragmatic hernia(DH)is extremely rarely described during pregnancy.Due to the rarity,there is no diagnostic or treatment algorithm for DH in pregnancy.AIM To summarize and define the most appropriate diagnostic methods and therapeutic options for DH in pregnancy based on scarce literature.METHODS Literature search of English-,German-,Spanish-,and Italian-language articles were performed using PubMed(1946–2021),PubMed Central(1900–2021),and Google Scholar.The PRISMA protocol was followed.The search terms included:Maternal diaphragmatic hernia,congenital hernia,pregnancy,cardiovascular collapse,mediastinal shift,abdominal pain in pregnancy,hyperemesis,diaphragmatic rupture during labor,puerperium,hernie diaphragmatique maternelle,hernia diafragmática congenital.Additional studies were identified by reviewing reference lists of retrieved studies.Demographic,imaging,surgical,and obstetric data were obtained.RESULTS One hundred and fifty-eight cases were collected.The average maternal age increased across observed periods.The proportion of congenital hernias increased,while the other types appeared stationary.Most DHs were left-sided(83.8%).The median number of herniated organs declined across observed periods.A working diagnosis was correct in 50%.DH type did not correlate to maternal or neonatal outcomes.Laparoscopic access increased while thoracotomy varied across periods.Presentation of less than 3 days carried a significant risk of strangulation in pregnancy.CONCLUSION The clinical presentation of DH is easily confused with common chest conditions,delaying the diagnosis,and increasing maternal and fetal mortality.Symptomatic DH should be included in the differential diagnosis of pregnant women with abdominal pain associated with dyspnea and chest pain,especially when followed by collapse.Early diagnosis and immediate intervention lead to excellent maternal and fetal outcomes.A proposed algorithm helps manage pregnant women with maternal DH.Strangulated DH requires an emergent operation,while delivery should be based on obstetric indications.

Maternal choledochal cysts in pregnancy:A systematic review of case reports and case series

BACKGROUND Choledochal cysts(CC)are cystic dilatations of the biliary tract,usually diagnosed during childhood,with an estimated incidence in the general population of 1:100000.Complications related to CC include rupture,biliary obstruction,and cholangitis.Maternal CC in pregnancy are rarely reported,and there are no guidelines on optimal management.AIM To systematically review maternal CC diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum with regard to the clinical presentation of CC,the mode of treatment and delivery,and maternal outcomes.METHODS A literature search of cases and case series of maternal CC in pregnancy and postpartum was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed,Web of Science,Google Scholar,and Embase.There were no restrictions on language or publication year.Databases were lastly accessed on September 1,2022.RESULTS Overall,71 publications met the inclusion criteria,reporting 97 cases.Eighty-eight cases were diagnosed during pregnancy and nine in the puerperium.The most common symptoms were abdominal pain(81.2%)and jaundice(60.4%).Interventions for CC complications were required in 52.5%of the cases,and 34%of pregnancies were induced.Urgent cesarean section(CS)was done in 24.7%.The maternal mortality was 7.2%,while fetal mortality was inconsistently reported.Cholangitis,CC>15 cm,and bilirubin levels>80 mmol/L were associated with a higher likelihood of urgent CS and surgical intervention for CC.Bilirubin levels positively correlated with CC size.There was no correlation between age and cyst dimension,gestational age at cyst discovery,and CC size.CONCLUSION Although rare,maternal CC in pregnancy should be included in the evaluation of jaundice with upper abdominal pain.Symptomatology and clinical course are variable,and treatment may range from an expectative approach to emergent surgical CC treatment and urgent CS.While most cases were managed by conservative measures or drainage procedures,CC>15 cm and progressive cholangitis carry the risk of CC rupture and septic complications,which may increase the rates of unfavorable maternal and fetal outcomes.Therefore,such cases require specific surgical and obstetric interventions.

Rectal cancer and Fournier's gangrene- current knowledge and therapeutic options

Fournier's gangrene(FG) is a rapid progressive bacterial infection that involves the subcutaneous fascia and part of the deep fascia but spares the muscle in the scrotal,perianal and perineal region. The incidence has increased dramatically,while the reported incidence of rectal cancer-induced FG is unknown but is extremely low. Pathophysiology and clinical presentation of rectal cancer-induced FG per se does not differ from the other causes. Only rectal cancer-specific symptoms before presentation can lead to the diagnosis. The diagnosis of rectal cancer-induced FG should be excluded in every patient with blood on digital rectal examination,when urogenital and dermatological causes are excluded and when fever or sepsis of unknown origin is present with perianal symptomatology. Therapeutic options are more complex than for other forms of FG. First,the causative rectal tumor should be removed. The survival of patients with rectal cancer resection is reported as 100%,while with colostomy it is 80%. The preferred method of rectal resection has not been defined. Second,oncological treatment should be administered but the timing should be adjusted to the resolution of the FG and sometimes for the healing of plastic reconstructive procedures that are commonly needed for the reconstruction of large perineal,scrotal and lower abdominal wall defects.

Gardner's syndrome:Genetic testing and colonoscopy are indicated in adolescents and young adults with cranial osteomas:A case report

We present a case of a 25-year-old female with diagnosed familial adenomatous polyposis and elevated carcinoembryonic antigen with negative family history. The suspicion of Gardner's syndrome was raised because extirpation of an osteoma of the left temporo-occipital region was made 10 years ago. Restorative procto-colectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis was made but histology delineated adenocarcinoma of the rectum (Dukes C stage). We conclude that cranial osteomas often precede gastrointestinal manifestations of familial adenomatous polyposis or Gardner's syndrome and such patients should be evaluated with genetic testing followed by colonoscopy if results are positive to prevent the development of colorectal carcinoma. If the diagnosis is positive all family members should be evaluated for familial adenomatous polyposis.

Suture granuloma of the abdominal wall with intra-abdominal extension 12 years after open appendectomy

Most complications after appendectomy occur within ten days; however, we report the unusual case of a suture granuloma 12 years after open appendectomy. The afebrile 75-year-old woman presented with a slightly painful palpable mass in the right lower abdomen. There was no nausea or vomiting and bowel movements were normal. She lost 10 kg during the 3 mo before presentation. The patient had undergone an appendectomy 12 years previously. Physical examination revealed a tender mass, 10 cm in diameter, under the appendectomy scar. The preoperative laboratory findings, tumor markers and plain abdominal radiographs were normal. Multi-slice computed tomography scanning showed an inhomo-genous abdominal mass with minimal vascularization in the right lower abdomen 8.6cm×8cm×9 cm in size which communicated with the abdominal wall. The abdominal wall was thickened, weak and bulging. The abdominal wall mass did not communicate with the cecum or the ascending colon. Complete excision of the abdominal wall mass was performed via median laparotomy. Histopathological examination revealed a granuloma with a central abscess. This case report demonstrates that a preoperative diagnosis of abdominal wall mass after open appendectomy warrants the use of a wide spectrum of diagnostic modalities and consequently different treatment options.

Colonic duplication in an adult who presented with chronic constipation attributed to hypothyroidism

Gastrointestinal duplications are an uncommon congenital abnormality that manifest before the age of two in 80% of cases. Ileal duplication is the most common while colonic duplication,either cystic or tubular,occurs in 10%-15% of cases and remains asymptomatic and undiagnosed in most cases. Mostly occurring in pediatric patients,colonic duplication is encountered in adults in only a few cases. The most common clinical manifestations are abdominal pain and intestinal obstruction. Rarely,duplications present with signs of acute abdomen or acute bleeding. This study reports a case of colonic duplication in an adult who presented with chronic constipation. Complete diagnostic workup was made on several occasions during the previous eight year period,but no pathology was found and chronic constipation was attributed to hypothyroidism caused by long standing Hashimoto thyroiditis. Multislice CT,performed because of abdominal distension,defined colonic pathology but the definite diagnosis of duplication of the transversal colon was made at operation. The cystic duplication and the adjacent part of the ascending and transversal colon were excised en-block. This study implies that colonic duplication,though uncommon,should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic constipation even when precipitating factors for constipation,such as hypothyroidism are present.

Primary hyperparathyroidism-induced acute pancreatitis in pregnancy:A systematic review with a diagnostic-treatment algorithm

BACKGROUND Primary hyperparathyroidism(PHPT)-induced acute pancreatitis(AP)during pregnancy has rarely been described.Due to this rarity,there are no diagnostic or treatment algorithms for pregnant patients.AIM To determine appropriate diagnostic methods,therapeutic options,and factors related to maternal and fetal outcomes for PHPT-induced AP in pregnancy.METHODS A literature search of articles in English,Japanese,German,Spanish,and Italian was performed using PubMed(1946-2023),PubMed Central(1900-2023),and Google Scholar.The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)protocol was followed.The search terms included“pancreatite acuta,”“iperparatiroidismo primario,”“gravidanza,”“travaglio,”“puerperio,”“postpartum,”“akute pankreatitis,”“primärer hyperparathyreoidismus,”“Schwangerschaft,”“Wehen,”“Wochenbett,”“pancreatitis aguda,”“hiperparatiroidismo primario,”“embarazo,”“parto,”“puerperio,”“posparto,”“acute pancreatitis,”“primary hyperparathyroidism,”“pregnancy,”“labor,”“puerperium,”and“postpartum.”Additional studies were identified by reviewing the reference lists of retrieved studies.Demographic,imaging,surgical,obstetric,and outcome data were obtained.RESULTS Fifty-four cases were collected from the 51 studies.The median maternal age was 29 years.PHPT-induced AP starts at the 20th gestational week;higher gestational weeks were seen in mothers who died(mean gestational week 28).Median values of amylase(1399,Q1-Q3=519-2072),lipase(2072,Q1-Q3=893-2804),serum calcium(3.5,Q1-Q3=3.1-3.9),and parathormone(PTH)(384,Q1-Q3=123-910)were reported.In 46 cases,adenoma was the cause of PHPT,followed by 2 cases of carcinoma and 1 case of hyperplasia.In the remaining 5 cases,the diagnosis was not reported.Neck ultrasound was positive in 34 cases,whereas sestamibi was performed in 3 cases,and neck computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 9 cases(the enlarged parathyroid gland was not localized in 3 cases).Surgery was the preferred treatment during pregnancy in 33 cases(median week of gestation 25,Q1-Q3=20-30)and postpartum in 12 cases.The timing was not reported in the remaining 9 cases,or surgery was not performed.AP was managed surgically in 11 cases and conservatively in 43(79.6%)cases.Maternal and fetal mortality was 9.3%(5 cases).Surgery was more common in deceased mothers(60.0%vs 16.3%;P=0.052),and PTH values tended to be higher in this group(910 pg/mL vs 302 pg/mL;P=0.059).Maternal mortality was higher with higher serum lipase levels and earlier delivery week.Higher calcium(4.1 mmol/L vs 3.3 mmol/L;P=0.009)and PTH(1914 pg/mL vs 302 pg/mL;P=0.003)values increased fetal/child mortality,as well as abortions(40.0%vs 0.0%;P=0.007)and complex deliveries(60.0%vs 8.2%;P=0.01).CONCLUSION If serum calcium is not tested during admission,definitive diagnosis of PHPT-induced AP in pregnancy is delayed,while early diagnosis and immediate intervention lead to excellent maternal and fetal outcomes.