Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus

Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus

A patient presented with sudden, unexplained lower abdominal pain without peritonism or signs of infection or inflammatory reaction, but with recent bloody stools and a history of radiation therapy, diabetes and immunosuppression. Plain abdominal x-ray showed only air-fluid levels and air distention...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stefania Scarlini, Marco Gandolfo, Antonello Pietrangelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SMC MEDIA SRL 2016-11-01
Series:European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
Subjects:
Gas-gangrene, Clostridium septicum, acute abdominal pain.
Online Access:http://ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/444
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spelling doaj-8dbf8568d52c4c9f8454c9d2da23114a2020-11-24T21:06:11ZengSMC MEDIA SRLEuropean Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine2284-25942016-11-013710.12890/2016_000444172Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or IleusStefania Scarlini0Marco Gandolfo1Antonello Pietrangelo2Unit of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, ModenaUnit of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, ModenaUnit of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital Policlinico of Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, ModenaA patient presented with sudden, unexplained lower abdominal pain without peritonism or signs of infection or inflammatory reaction, but with recent bloody stools and a history of radiation therapy, diabetes and immunosuppression. Plain abdominal x-ray showed only air-fluid levels and air distention of the colon, but a later abdominal CT scan revealed extensive gas gangrene of the colon. The patient’s clinical status rapidly worsened. Elective surgical rectosigmoid debridement did not prevent the patient’s death. In conclusion, the diagnosis of ‘spontaneous’ life-threatening gas gangrene requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and allows life-saving surgical intervention.http://ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/444Gas-gangrene, Clostridium septicum, acute abdominal pain.
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Stefania Scarlini
Marco Gandolfo
Antonello Pietrangelo
spellingShingle Stefania Scarlini
Marco Gandolfo
Antonello Pietrangelo
Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
Gas-gangrene, Clostridium septicum, acute abdominal pain.
author_facet Stefania Scarlini
Marco Gandolfo
Antonello Pietrangelo
author_sort Stefania Scarlini
title Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
title_short Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
title_full Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
title_fullStr Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
title_full_unstemmed Sudden Onset of Lower Abdominal Pain Without Peritonitis or Ileus
title_sort sudden onset of lower abdominal pain without peritonitis or ileus
publisher SMC MEDIA SRL
series European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
issn 2284-2594
publishDate 2016-11-01
description A patient presented with sudden, unexplained lower abdominal pain without peritonism or signs of infection or inflammatory reaction, but with recent bloody stools and a history of radiation therapy, diabetes and immunosuppression. Plain abdominal x-ray showed only air-fluid levels and air distention of the colon, but a later abdominal CT scan revealed extensive gas gangrene of the colon. The patient’s clinical status rapidly worsened. Elective surgical rectosigmoid debridement did not prevent the patient’s death. In conclusion, the diagnosis of ‘spontaneous’ life-threatening gas gangrene requires a high degree of clinical suspicion and allows life-saving surgical intervention.
topic Gas-gangrene, Clostridium septicum, acute abdominal pain.
url http://ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/444
work_keys_str_mv AT stefaniascarlini suddenonsetoflowerabdominalpainwithoutperitonitisorileus
AT marcogandolfo suddenonsetoflowerabdominalpainwithoutperitonitisorileus
AT antonellopietrangelo suddenonsetoflowerabdominalpainwithoutperitonitisorileus
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