Background/Objective: Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) can occur before and after surgery, increasing the complication rates, hospital stay, and treatment costs. This study aims to determine the incidence of preoperative and postoperative Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis HAEC and the related risk factors. Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study of Hirschsprung’s disease patients under 16 years of age at two Children’s Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from December 2022 to June 2024. The postoperative follow-up is 12 months. Results: We enrolled 84 pediatric patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 5.4/1 and an average age of 7.2 ± 1.07 months. Of the patients, 25% had preoperative enterocolitis at the time of admission. Statistical analysis revealed that risk factors for preoperative enterocolitis at admission included a history of enterocolitis (p = 0.024), low weight in hospital (p = 0.001), and lack of preoperative treatment (p = 0.01). Postoperative enterocolitis occurred in 14 patients (16.7%) at an average of 4.03 months postoperatively. Multiple logistic regression of postoperative enterocolitis was associated with a history of preoperative enterocolitis (p < 0.001), anastomotic stricture (p = 0.002), and the length of the aganglionic segment (p = 0.031). No statistically significant association was found between the surgical method and the risk of postoperative enterocolitis. Conclusions: A history of preoperative enterocolitis, low weight, and anastomotic stricture are significant risk factors for postoperative enterocolitis in patients with Hirschsprung’s disease. Therefore, preoperative medical treatment is recommended for the patients who have not yet undergone a definitive surgical procedure.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain a global issue, causing health problems and financial burdens. This study aimed to provide an update on the invasive pathogens and analyze any associated factors in patients visiting Da Nang Dermato-Venereology Hospital who were diagnosed with genital tract infections in males and lower genital tract infections in females; 535 participants underwent clinical examinations and microbiological tests to identify the invasive microorganisms, before we analyzed previously gathered laboratory results and associated risk factors. The rate of infection was 37.6% amongst 535 participants. Treponema pallidum infection accounted for the highest rate of 21.3%, followed by HSV, standing at 6%. The prevalence of syphilis infection was highest in the 20–29 age group, standing at 51.7%. There was a positive correlation between age under 20 and infected conditions (OR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.41–10.11, p = 0.008). Having multiple sexual partners was identified as a risk factor for infection, as those with three or more sexual partners showed a high correlation (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.44–7.05, p = 0.004). The high syphilis prevalence among young adults and teenagers underscores the need for improved STI education and screening programs in Vietnam.
Synchronous colorectal cancer (SCRC) is characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of two or more primary colorectal malignancies, diagnosed either preoperatively, intraoperatively, or within six months postoperatively. The rare prevalence of SCRC makes it an uncommon scenario among colorectal malignancies. Since the majority of SCRC patients have been reported to have two concurrent malignancies, triple synchronous malignancies are extremely rare. We report the case of a 65-year-old male individual presenting with a history of abdominal pain, anemia, anorexia, and unintentional weight loss. He was diagnosed with synchronous colorectal cancer with three distinct tumors: two located in the splenic flexure and sigmoid colon, respectively, and another in the rectum that caused partial obstruction. This case highlights the importance of intraoperative evaluation and an appropriate choice of surgical intervention in colorectal cancer. The early identification and proper management of multiple colorectal cancers remain essential for better survival rates.
21 December 2024 in Journal of Surgical Case Reports
Peptic ulcer perforations are common in surgical emergencies, whereas double perforations are rare, and triple peptic perforations are even exceedingly rare, with only a few cases documented. While undetected perforation during surgery can be fatal, the absence of standardized procedures for managing multiple perforations remains an ongoing challenge for surgeons. Herein, we describe a rare case of simultaneous triple peptic perforations in an elderly man with a prolonged history of analgesic and corticosteroid use. This case underscores the importance of screening multiple peptic perforations intraoperatively. Subtotal gastrectomy is suggested as an effective option when simple closure of perforations is infeasible.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant healthcare crisis due to the emergence of acute respiratory infections, leading to severe complications such as thrombosis. Meanwhile, the D-dimer index serves as a dependable routine diagnostic marker for thrombosis. Therefore, it is hypothesized that D-dimer could serve as a potential prognostic marker for COVID-19 infection. Objective: To assess the association between D-dimer levels and the severity of COVID-19 among patients in the Vietnamese central coastal region. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Da Nang Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases and its satellites on patients admitted for COVID-19 from September 2021 to April 2022. Clinical data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the best cut-off for D-dimer levels that differentiate between mild and severe cases amongst COVID-19 positive patients. Results: This study comprised of 205 confirmed COVID-19 patients (mean [SD] age, 66.71 [18.80] years). The participants were divided into 2 groups based on their D-dimer levels: those with D-dimer levels greater than 500 µg/L or less than 500 µg/L. The median D-dimer level of each group were 1507.50 µg/L and 302 µg/L, respectively. Patient age and a history of diabetes correlated with D-dimer elevation in COVID-19 patients. The ROC curve indicated that D-dimer of greater than 638 µg/L was associated with severe disease (sensitivity 80%, specificity 90.8%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.900). Conclusions: Elevated D-dimer levels was associated with more severe instances of COVID-19 with levels exceeding 638 µg/L demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity.