No abstract

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is an acute necrotizing infection with evidence of gas inside the kidney, perinephric space, and/or urinary collecting system. This condition is usually encountered in an obstructed urinary system of diabetics or immunocompromised patients and carries poor prognosis. The gold standard for early diagnosis is computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen. Percutaneous/surgical drainage and urgent or delayed nephrectomy are the available treatment options. We report one case of EPN, which was diagnosed in an immunocompetent non-diabetic man with a non-obstructed urinary system.

Sixty-three patients presenting with subacute intestinal obstruction (SAIO) were studied. Thirty (47.6%) reported recurrent symptoms. Exaggerated bowel sound, visible/palpable bowel loops, distention of abdomen and abdominal lumps were observed in 60.3%, 28.5%, 25.3% and 19.0% patients, respectively. Thirty (47.6%) required emergency laparotomy. Investigations revealed lesions requiring surgery in 14 of 33 patients which were relieved with conservative treatment. The accuracy of ultrasonography, contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan and diagnostic laparoscopy was 57.1%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Ileum was the most common site of obstruction (79.5%). Adhesions and small intestinal strictures were the two most frequent cause of obstruction seen in 31.8% and 27.2%, respectively. Tuberculous pathology was demonstrated in 23 (52.2%). Previous abdominal surgery was found to be the only predictor of the success of conservative treatment (13/19 versus 7/44). All patients of SAIO, whose symptoms were relieved with conservative treatment, and who do not have history of abdominal surgery, should be subjected to CECT and/or diagnostic laparoscopy in order to discover the underlying cause of the obstruction. When these diagnostic modalities are not available, laparotomy is an effective alternative for this group of patients.

A 30-year-old man presented to the Department of Surgery with a painful groin swelling on right side. Exploration revealed a reddish-blue hemangiomatous mass in the scrotum extending through inguinal canal into the retroperitoneum. On further dissection swelling was found to be originating from right external iliac vein. The swelling was excised after ligating all vascular connections. The histopathological examination of excised mass confirmed the diagnosis of venous variety of vascular malformation. This is the first reported case of vascular malformation arising from retroperitoneum and extending into inguinoscrotal region, presenting as incarcerated inguinal hernia.