Spontaneous liver rupture as first sign of polyarteritis nodosa

Polyarteritis nodosa(PAN) is one of the systemic vasculitis that affects the media wall of arteries of small and medium diameter. Diagnosis proves difficult due to the unspecific symptoms that dominate the clinical profile. Liver involvement is very diverse, ranging from the development of cirrhotic liver disease to acute abdomen presentation that requires surgery because of liver rupture. The management of these patients requires an expert multidisciplinary team. There are several cases in the literature that describe a sudden liver rupture as the first manifestation of a PAN. In this paper we present the case of a 75 years old patient without any previous disease, who is subjected to major hepatic resection for spontaneous liver rupture.

Spontaneous liver rupture following SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy:A case report

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)is characterized by systemic inflammatory response syndrome and vasculopathy.SARS-CoV-2 associated mortality ranges from 2%to 6%.Liver dysfunction was observed in 14%-53%of COVID-19 cases,especially in moderate severe cases.However,no cases of spontaneous hepatic rupture in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 32-year-old pregnant patient(gestational age:32 wk+4 d)without any remarkable medical history or long-term medication presented with epigastralgia.Infectious,non-infectious,and pregnancy-related hepatopathies were excluded.Sudden onset of right subcostal pain with D-dimer and liver enzyme elevation was followed by shock with thrombocytopenia.While performing an emergency cesarean section,hemoperitoneum was observed,and the patient delivered a stillbirth.A 6-cm liver rupture at the edges of segments V and VI had occurred,which was sutured and drained.SARS-CoV-2 positivity on reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was confirmed.Further revisions for intrahepatic hematoma with hemorrhagic shock and abdominal compartment syndrome were performed.Subsequently,the patient developed hemoptysis,which was treated using bronchoscopic therapy and non-invasive ventilation.Liver tissue biopsy revealed hemorrhagic foci and necrosis with an irregular centrilobular distribution.Antiphospholipid syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis were also ruled out.Fetal death was caused by acute intrauterine asphyxia.CONCLUSION This case reveals that pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection may be predisposed to liver parenchyma disease with liver rupture.

Amebic liver abscess: An update

Amebic liver abscess(ALA)is still a common problem in the tropical world,where it affects over three-quarters of patients with liver abscess.It is caused by an anaerobic protozoan Entamoeba hystolytica,which primarily colonises the cecum.It is a non-suppurative infection of the liver consisting primarily of dead hepatocytes and cellular debris.People of the male gender,during their reproductive years,are most prone to ALA,and this appears to be due to a poorly mounted immune response linked to serum testosterone levels.ALA is more common in the right lobe of the liver,is strongly associated with alcohol consumption,and can heal without the need for drainage.While majority of ALA patients have an uncomplicated course,a number of complications have been described,including rupture into abdomino-thoracic structures,biliary fistula,vascular thrombosis,bilio-vascular compression,and secondary bacterial infection.Based on clinico-radiological findings,a classification system for ALA has emerged recently,which can assist clinicians in making treatment decisions.Recent research has revealed the role of venous thrombosis-related ischemia in the severity of ALA.Recent years have seen the development and refinement of newer molecular diagnostic techniques that can greatly aid in overcoming the diagnostic challenge in endemic area where serology-based tests have limited accuracy.Metronidazole has been the drug of choice for ALA patients for many years.However,concerns over the resistance and adverse effects necessitate the creation of new,safe,and potent antiamebic medications.Although the indication of the drainage of uncomplicated ALA has become more clear,high-quality randomised trials are still necessary for robust conclusions.Percutaneous drainage appears to be a viable option for patients with ruptured ALA and diffuse peritonitis,for whom surgery represents a significant risk of mortality.With regard to all of the aforementioned issues,this article intends to present an updated review of ALA.

Ruptured hydatid cyst in a patient with shock

Echinococcosis is a severe helminthic zoonosis largely caused by Echinococcus granulosus and frequently encountered in endemic areas.The liver and lung are the most frequently involved organs.Cyst rupture into the peritoneal cavity represents a rare but serious complication.Herein,we describe an acute occurrence of anaphylactic shock due to a spontaneous rupture of hydatid cyst in a 21-year-old Turkish patient unwittingly infected by Echinococcosis.Resection surgery of the perforated cyst in combination with cleaning of the abdominal cavity was performed.The patient rapidly improved and no relapse occurred during a follow-up of 8 months.Anaphylaxis is a serious complication of hydatid cyst rupture and needs to be promptly diagnosed.The main objective of our report is to underscore this life-threatening complication that should be considered when anaphylactic shock of unknown origin occurs,even in non-endemic regions.Moreover,we emphasize the need for a radical surgical approach to avoid widespread dissemination.

Amebic liver abscess:Clinico-radiological findings and interventional management

In its classic form,amebic liver abscess(ALA)is a mild disease,which responds dramatically to antibiotics and rarely requires drainage.However,the two other forms of the disease,i.e.,acute aggressive and chronic indolent usually require drainage.These forms of ALA are frequently reported in endemic areas.The acute aggressive disease is particularly associated with serious complications,such as ruptures,secondary infections,and biliary communications.Laboratory parameters are deranged,with signs of organ failure often present.This form of disease is also associated with a high mortality rate,and early drainage is often required to control the disease severity.In the chronic form,the disease is characterized by low-grade symptoms,mainly pain in the right upper quadrant.Ultrasound and computed tomography(CT)play an important role not only in the diagnosis but also in the assessment of disease severity and identification of the associated complications.Recently,it has been shown that CT imaging morphology can be classified into three patterns,which seem to correlate with the clinical subtypes.Each pattern depicts its own set of distinctive imaging features.In this review,we briefly outline the clinical and imaging features of the three distinct forms of ALA,and discuss the role of percutaneous drainage in the management of ALA.