1/188. Use of transdermal amitriptyline gel in a patient with chronic pain and depression.A man with severe inflammatory bowel disease suffered from chronic abdominal pain and depression. A transdermal amitriptyline gel preparation was compounded since he was unable to take drugs orally serum concentrations of amitriptyline and its active metabolite nortriptyline were measured over 24 hours. Symptoms of depression were monitored before starting transdermal therapy and at the end of 6 weeks. Pain symptoms and amitriptyline adverse drug events were monitored daily Steady-state serum concentrations of drug and metabolite were within the therapeutic range over 24 hours. The patient reported that his mood was improved but his abdominal pain remained unchanged. Transdermal amitriptyline gel was well tolerated and is an alternative delivery system in patients unable to take drugs orally.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/188. abdominal pain in children.Chronic vague abdominal pain is an extremely common complaint in children over 5 years, with a peak incidence in the 8 to 10 year group. In over 90 per cent of the cases no serious underlying organic disease will be discovered. Most disease states can be ruled out by a careful history, a meticulous physical examination, and a few simple laboratory tests such as urinalysis, sedimentation rate, hemoglobin, white blood count determination, and examination of a blood smear. If organic disease is present there are often clues in the history and the examination. The kidney is often the culprit--an intravenous pyelogram should be done if disease is suspected. barium enema is the next most valuable test. Duodenal ulcers and abdominal epilepsy are rare and are over-diagnosed. If no organic cause is found, the parents must be convinced that the pain is real, and that "functional" does not mean "imaginary." This is best explained by comparing with "headache"--the headache resulting from stress and tension hurts every bit as much as the headache caused by a brain tumor or other intracranial pathology. Having convinced the patient and his parents that no serious disease exists, no further investigation should be carried out unless new signs or symptoms appear. The child must be returned to full activity immediately.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/188. theophylline intoxication mimicking diabetic ketoacidosis in a child.A 5-year-old boy presented with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting of blood. Twelve hours after admission, "diabetic ketoacidosis" was diagnosed on the basis of elevated glycaemia, glycosuria, ketonuria and a low bicarbonate blood level, which led to treatment with fluids and regular insulin infusion. Over a 36-hour period, insulin was progressively decreased and finally stopped because of the rapid fall and normalization of blood glucose concentration. Drug poisoning was suspected on the basis of persistent tachycardia in the absence of other signs of dehydration. Salicylate intoxication was excluded, and theophylline was finally incriminated. This compound, used by adults in the child's home, had caused accidental theophylline poisoning, mimicking diabetic ketoacidosis. Pre-diabetic immune markers were repeatedly negative, and no diabetes has developed after four years of follow-up. Thus, the transient increase in blood glucose was not related to a pre-diabetic status. A diagnosis of masked theophylline poisoning should be considered in similar situations involving a rapid decrease of insulin requirements.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/188. Pitfall: a pseudo tumor within the left liver lobe presenting with abdominal pain, jaundice and severe weight loss.A 51 year old male patient with a history of chronic alcohol consumption and recurrent pancreatitis was referred to our hospital with jaundice, epigastric pain, severe diarrhoea and weight loss of 28 kg within the last 12 months. A CT scan of the abdomen 4 months before admission had shown a pancreatitis with free fluid around the corpus and tail of the pancreas as well as dilated intrahepatic bile ducts and a cavernous transformation of the portal vein. Moreover, a tumor (3.5 x 3.0 x 3.6 cm) with irregular contrast enhancement was seen within the left liver lobe. The patient was referred to us for further evaluation and treatment. The initial B-Mode sonogram revealed a bull's eye like well defined lesion (8.1 x 7.5 x 7.0 cm) within the left liver lobe, consistent with a tumour or abscess. Prior to a diagnostic needle biopsy a PTCD was performed in this case presenting with dilated intrahepatic bile ducts and having a history of Billroth II operation. An additional colour coded Duplex Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated a visceral artery aneurysm and prevented us from performing the diagnostic puncture. The aneurysm was assumed to originate from a variant or a branch of the left hepatic artery. angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery and coil embolization was performed because of the increasing size and the risk of a bleeding complication. Postinterventional colour duplex ultrasound measurement showed no blood flow within the aneurysm. Retrospectively, the pseudoaneurysm must have led to a compression of the common bile duct, since the patient did not develop cholestasis after embolization and removal of the PTCD. Thus, a pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery must be included in the differential diagnosis of liver tumours in patients with chronic pancreatitis, despite its unusual localization near the liver. Therefore, we suggest that colour coded ultrasonography should be applied to any unclear, bull's eye like lesion, even though this method alone cannot exactly determine the origin of the pseudoaneurysm. Interventional angiography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and therapy of visceral artery aneurysm.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/188. Clinics in diagnostic imaging (44). Testicular tumour with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and inferior vena cava thrombosis.A 20-year-old Indian man presented with a two week history of non-specific abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonograpy incidentally detected a thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC). Computed tomography revealed the presence of extensive para-aortic lymph node disease as well as a filling defect in the IVC. Scrotal ultrasonography located a heterogeneous intra-testicular tumour in an otherwise palpably-normal testis. The extent of the IVC thrombus was evaluated by the use of magnetic resonance imaging. Inguinal orchidectomy was performed and histology revealed a non-seminomatous germ cell tumour. Combination chemotherapy led to complete resolution of lymph node disease and IVC thrombus. The patient remained well 9 months after diagnosis. The causes of IVC obstruction, role of imaging in investigating IVC obstruction and the management of tumour involvement of the IVC are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/188. Recent onset of abdominal pain in a patient with advanced breast cancer.abdominal pain is a frequent complaint heard in medical practice. For palliative care patients, there are numerous causes of abdominal pain. Because of the non-invasive nature of palliative care practice, emphasis is made on minimal investigations. We present a case of a 49-year old patient who developed progressive abdominal pain and was found to have gangrenous appendicitis. The patient underwent surgery and was able to be discharged home. Our findings suggest that any new pain in a cancer patient must be carefully evaluated. Because of the presence of opioid analgesics and corticosteroids, symptoms can be less severe and related to diagnosis in palliative care patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/188. Successful management of pleuritic pain with thoracic paravertebral block.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) is a unilateral analgesic technique that has been advocated in both acute and chronic thoracic and abdominal pain. Other blocks such as interpleural and epidural can be effectively used in pleuritic pain. This report illustrates that TPVB could also be effective for this kind of pain. methods: A 45-year-old man with acute pancreatitis was referred to the critical care unit 11 days after emergency admission with severe left pleural effusion and acute respiratory failure. His medical history revealed hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); in addition, he was a heavy drinker and smoker. A pleuritic pain that only slightly improved with nonopioid analgesics and opioids resulted in the patient's increasing inability to eliminate bronchial secretions. In an attempt to avoid endotracheal intubation, the pain unit recommended a continuous paravertebral block. The block was performed at T9 on the left side. An initial bolus of 15 mL bupivacaine 0.25% was administered and a continuous infusion, initially at 5 mL/h, was increased up to 10 mL/h to achieve the desired analgesic effect. RESULTS: After the block the verbal analogue scale decreased from 9 to 3, and this level of pain relief was maintained until the end of the treatment 48 hours after the block. The patient improved and was discharged to the ward without the need for endotracheal intubation. CONCLUSIONS: This case report supports the notion that, in practice, the paravertebral block could be an effective and safe alternative to relief of pleuritic pain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/188. A case of reversible paraparesis following celiac plexus block.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Permanent and acute reversible paraplegia following celiac plexus block (CPB) have been reported. We report a case of prolonged reversible paraparesis after alcohol celiac plexus block. CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old man with primary multicentric pancreatic tumor and multiple hepatic metastases underwent alcohol celiac plexus neurolysis for severe abdominal pain radiating to the back. The patient had complete pain relief after the block but developed paresthesia of the left leg, which then spread to the right leg. Subsequently, loss of flexion and extension of the muscles supplying the left hip, knee, and foot developed. Deep tendon reflexes were brisk on the left compared to the right, and both plantar reflexes gave flexor responses. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography were normal. Motor-evoked potential recordings showed a spinal cord lesion with involvement of the pyramidal and spinothalamic tracts. Somatosensory-evoked potentials indicated a relative sparing of dorsal column pathways. Physiotherapy was started, the sensory changes gradually subsided, and the patient was discharged 30 days after the block with clinically insignificant neurological deficit. CONCLUSIONS: paraparesis following alcohol celiac plexus block may be reversible over an extended period of time.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/188. uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. A case report.BACKGROUND: uterus didelphys with obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis usually presents after menarche with progressive abdominal pain during menses secondary to hematocolpos. We describe a case with the unique presentation of rectal pain and constipation. CASE: A 13-year-old girl presented to the emergency department complaining of lower abdominal and rectal pain and constipation of two weeks' duration. Pelvic ultrasound, physical examination and laparoscopic findings established a diagnosis of hematometracolpos secondary to uterus didelphys with unilateral imperforate hemivagina. An incision in the vaginal septum allowed drainage of the hematocolpos, providing relief of the patient's symptoms. CONCLUSION: uterus didelphys with unilateral imperforate hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis may present with apparent gastrointestinal symptoms. With increased awareness of this problem, timely diagnosis may be achieved.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/188. Non hypoxia-related splenic infarct in a patient with sickle cell trait and infectious mononucleosis.splenic infarction in patients with sickle cell trait is usually related to hypoxic conditions, while non-hypoxia-related infarcts are extremely rare. We report on a case of a 17-year-old male patient, living at sea level, who developed a severe left upper quadrant abdominal pain during the course of a febrile episode. On physical examination he had a mildly palpable but extremely painful spleen. A spleen scan revealed 2 areas of impaired radionucleide distribution. Hepatic enzymes were moderately increased and the IgM anti-EBV antibodies positive. Hemoglobin electrophoresis revealed the presence of 42% of hemoglobin S. A probable diagnosis of splenic infarction was established in a patient with sickle cell trait, during the course of infectious mononucleosis. The patient was treated symptomatically. The conditions of splenic congestion induced by the EBV infection and the high-grade fever may have contributed to splenic sequestration and subsequent infarcts.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = abdominal pain (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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