1/7. Acute abdomen as an atypical presentation of meningococcal septicaemia.The clinical manifestations and course of meningococcal disease have been well described, but atypical presentations may, if unrecognized, lead to a delay in treatment. We describe here an unusual case of this disease in a 21-y-old woman who presented with an acute rigid abdomen, clinical and laboratory features of sepsis, shock and early DIC with no indication of meningococcal infection. She developed a rapidly spreading purpuric rash, conjunctival haemorrhages, hypotension and tachycardia and a low urine output. Laboratory investigations showed a low platelet count, low haemoglobin and normal WBC. A presumptive diagnosis of meningococcal septicaemia was made and recovery followed treatment with cefotaxime, fluids and inotropes. A fully sensitive neisseria meningitis Group C, type 2a, subtype NT was isolated from blood cultures, but not from CSF obtained after antibiotic treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Ruptured phaeochromocytoma--a lesson in acute abdomen.Phaeochromocytoma may present as acute abdomen. This report is of a patient with spontaneous rupture of phaeochromocytoma who presented with abdominal pain and a tender abdominal mass. Ruptured phaeochromocytoma is a rare surgical emergency, with only 30 cases reported in the literature. The classical clinical triad of signs is intense vasoconstriction, tachycardia, and labile blood pressure. Computed tomography scanning of the abdomen is the investigation of choice, and a high index of suspicion is the key to diagnosis. Prompt recognition, appropriate supportive measures, and early surgical intervention can improve the likelihood of survival.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Ruptured appendicitis after laparoscopic Roux-enY gastric bypass: pitfalls in diagnosing a surgical abdomen in the morbidly obese.A recent gastric bypass can mask the symptoms of an acute abdomen. physical examination is generally unreliable and subtle clinical symptoms or signs should alert clinicians to a significant postoperative problem. In morbidly obese patients, the presence of overt peritoneal findings is usually ominous, leading to sepsis, organ failure and death. We report a case of ruptured appendicitis following a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The patient developed tachycardia, fever, and leukocytosis in the absence of abdominal pain or positive upper GI contrast studies. Eventually, a CT scan revealed a large pelvic abscess and inflammation. A subsequent exploratory laparotomy confirmed a perforated appendicitis with pelvic peritonitis. Her recovery was rapid and uneventful. This case highlights the pitfalls in promptly diagnosing an unrelated acute surgical abdomen postoperatively in the morbidly obese patient. The need for extreme vigilance and a low threshold for aggressive intervention in the period after bariatric surgery is emphasized.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Spontaneous rupture of adrenal pheochromocytoma with capsular invasion.A 67-year-old Japanese man developed a sudden onset of severe right-side upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. On hospitalization, physical examination revealed sweating, tachycardia, hypertension and the appearance of peripheral vasoconstriction. An urgent computed tomography scan with contrast demonstrated a large hematoma in the right retroperitoneal space. A phentolamine test and an 131iodine metaiodobenzylguanidine scan suggested pheochromocytoma. An elective right adrenalectomy was successfully performed after pretreatment for sufficient volume replacement with continuous administration of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Pathological diagnosis was an adrenal pheochromocytoma 9.0 x 6.5 cm in diameter with evidence of capsular invasion, which could be associated with a tear in the capsule.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Acute abdomen due to eosinophilic colitis with liver abscess.Eosinophilic colitis is an uncommon condition and rarely presents as acute abdomen. We report a 65-year-old man who presented with acute abdomen-- severe pain in upper abdomen, with pyrexia, tachycardia, guarding and right-sided intercostal tenderness--secondary to eosinophilic colitis and was successfully managed. He had additional problems in form of cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, cholangitis, pyogenic liver abscesses and gout.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Repetitive bleeding from a pheochromocytoma presenting as an abdominal emergency. Case report.Recurrent abdominal pain was the only subjective manifestation in a case of pheochromocytoma with retroperitoneal bleeding. At emergency laparotomy the tumor, showing signs of fresh and earlier bleeding, was extirpated. Sinus-type tachycardia was treated with beta-blockade peroperatively, while the diagnosis was still obscure, but hypertension did not follow. Meta-oxedrine and dopamine infusion was continued for 48 hours to sustain the blood pressure. Recovery was uneventful.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Heterotopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization.maternal mortality related to ruptured ectopic pregnancy remains elevated. A case is presented of heterotopic pregnancy in a patient whose pregnancy was assisted with in vitro fertilization. The patient's diagnosis was delayed, potentially because of lack of tachycardia associated with the hypotension. The clinical presentation of heterotopic pregnancy is similar to that of ectopic pregnancy. The risk factors for heterotopic pregnancy are the same as those for ectopic pregnancy, with the addition of in vitro fertilization, which increases the risk substantially.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = tachycardia (Clic here for more details about this article) |