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OBJECTIVE: Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for admission to the emergency department in the geriatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the diseases frequently detected in elderly patients diagnosed with acute abdomen in the emergency department, the imaging methods used in the diagnostic processes of these diseases, and the prognosis of the patients. METHODS: In all, 175 patients who visited the emergency department due to abdominal pain and were hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute abdomen were evaluated. The patients were categorized into seven groups according to their diagnosis as biliary diseases, pancreatitis, appendicitis, gastrointestinal system perforation, ileus, mesenteric ischemia, and atypical causes. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 76.3±7.7 years (range 65-93), and 96 (54.9%) were women. The most common causes of acute abdomen were biliary diseases and pancreatitis. Ultrasonography (88.6%) was the most frequently preferred imaging method in the emergency department, and it was most frequently used for biliary diseases. Notably, 20 (11.4%) patients were treated in the intensive care unit, and 9 (5.1%) patients died. CONCLUSION: The most common causes of acute abdomen in the geriatric population were biliary diseases and pancreatitis, and ultrasonography imaging was the most common choice for the diagnosis of these diseases. In elderly patients with abdominal pain, rapid and accurate diagnosis and selection of the correct imaging method are extremely important.

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Se describe el caso clínico de un paciente de 37 años de edad, que acudió al Servicio de Emergencia del Hospital General Docente de Riobamba, en Ecuador, con manifestaciones clínicas e imagenológicas que permitieron diagnosticarle un abdomen agudo obstructivo por hernia diafragmática crónica postraumática, por lo que el tratamiento fue quirúrgico. Teniendo en cuenta la evolución satisfactoria del paciente se le dio el alta hospitalaria 10 días después de la operación. Se mantuvo con seguimiento durante 3 meses sin presentar complicaciones.

The case report of a 37 years patient that went to the Emergency Service of the Teaching General Hospital of Riobamba, in Ecuador, is described. He presented clinical and imaging signs that led to the diagnosis of an obstructive acute abdomen due to postraumatic chronic diaphragmatic hernia, reason why the treatment was surgical. Taking into account the patient's favorable clinical course he was discharged from the hospital 10 days after the surgery and received follow-up care during 3 months without presenting complications.

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Fish bones are the most commonly ingested structures and the most common cause of foreign body perforation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Clinical presentation of foreign body GIT perforation is nonspecific, in many cases with clinical signs of acute abdomen, which can mimic appendicitis, diverticulitis, ulcer peptic disease, and other common inflammatory conditions. Besides, patients commonly do not refer that a fish bone was swallowed. Since this condition is usually not suspected by referring physicians of the emergency department (ED), radiologists play a key role in this diagnosis; the spectrum of these imaging features must be known in order to be accurately reported in the ED.

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La enteritis eosinofílica, es una patología rara, caracterizada por infiltración de eosinófilos en una o más capas histológicas en diferentes niveles del tracto gastrointestinal, siendo el estómago e intestino delgado los más afectados; su cuadro clínico, inespecífico, caracterizado por dolor abdominal, náusea, vómito, diarrea o estreñimiento, pérdida de peso y ascitis, con presencia o ausencia de eosinofilia en la biometría. Reporte de caso Paciente masculino de 51 años de edad, acudió a emergencia por distensión abdominal y náusea, al examen físico en la palpación intenso dolor y distención abdominal, percusión timpánico y abolición de ruidos hidroaéreos. La analítica reportó leucocitosis con neutrofilia, radiografía de abdomen íleo adinámico, en la ecografía abdominal presencia de imágenes tubulares con aspecto de diana, asociado a líquido libre purulento en fosa ilíaca derecha y fondo de saco vésico rectal. Un cuadro clínico compatible con abdomen agudo de resolución quirúrgica, se realizó laparotomía exploratoria (AU);

The eosinophilic enteritis is a rare pathology, characterized by infiltration of eosinophils in one or more histological layers at different levels of the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach and small intestine being the most affected; its nonspecific clinical picture, characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss and ascites, with the presence or absence of eosinophilia in the biometry. Enteritis eosinofílica, una causa extraña de abdomen agudo. reporte de caso clínico Eosinophilic enteritis, a strange cause of acute abdomen year-old male patient came to the emergency room due to abdominal distention and nausea, to physical examination on palpation, intense abdominal pain and distention, tympanic percussion and abolition of air-fluid sounds. Laboratory analysis reported leukocytosis with neutrophilia, abdominal ileus adynamic radiography, abdominal ultrasound presence of tubular images with a target appearance, associated with free purulent fluid in the right iliac fossa and rectal vesicum fundus. A clinical picture compatible with an acute abdomen with surgical resolution, an exploratory laparotomy was performed (AU);

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Se presentó un paciente de sexo masculino de 71 años de edad que consultó por un cuadro compatible con abdomen agudo médico de comienzo brusco. Refirió antecedentes de diabetes mellitus tipo 2, obesidad, dislipemia e hipertensión arterial. Al examen físico se encontró: afebril, presión arterial (PA) 128/75 mmHg; a la palpación del abdomen se halló un abdomen globoso, blando, depresible, doloroso en ambas fosas iliacas, signo de Mc Burney negativo, sin signos de re-acción peritoneal, catarsis y diuresis conservadas. Se solicitó una tomografía computada (TC) abdominal con con-traste oral y endovenoso (EV). La TC informó, a nivel del sigma sobre el borde antimesentérico, una imagen nodular de densi-dad grasa con halo hiperintenso y alteración tomodensitometría de la grasa adyacente, además de imágenes diverticulares no complicadas. Con el cuadro clínico del paciente y los hallazgos tomográficos se arribó al diagnóstico de apendagitis epiploica. Se inició tratamiento conservador con abordaje nutricional.

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RESUMEN El hematoma disecante del esófago es poco frecuente y solo existen pocos casos registrados en la literatura. Generalmente, se presenta después de un trauma asociado a procedimientos endoscópicos o de forma espontánea. Se describe clínicamente con la triada clásica de dolor torácico, odinofagia, disfagia o hematemesis. Se ha relacionado con un aumento rápido de la presión intraesofágica o un mecanismo de deglución anómala particularmente en presencia de trastornos de la hemostasia. La mayoría de los pacientes tienen un buen pronóstico pues resuelven con tratamiento conservador. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con diagnóstico de hematoma disecante de esófago con ruptura a cavidad abdominal que causó hemoperitoneo importante. Se realiza una revisión del tema(AU)

ABSTRACT Dissecting hematoma of the esophagus is a rare condition and there are only few cases reported by the literature. Generally, it occurs after trauma associated with endoscopic procedures or spontaneously. It is described clinically with the classic triad of chest pain, odynophagia, dysphagia or hematemesis. It has been associated with a rapid increase in intra-esophageal pressure or an abnormal swallowing mechanism particularly in the presence of haemostasis disorders. Most patients have a good prognosis because they obtain a solution by means of a conservative treatment. We present the clinical case of a patient with a diagnosis of dissecting hematoma of the esophagus with rupture to the abdominal cavity causing significant hemoperitoneum. A review of the subject is carried out(AU)

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Introducción: Las pruebas de diagnóstico por imagen se han convertido en una pieza crucial en el diagnóstico del abdomen agudo en la urgencia, sin embargo, la conducta médica deberá basarse en los hallazgos iconográficos contextualizados. El signo tomográfico del remolino constituye un paradigma por su asociación con el vólvulo intestinal. Objetivos: Registrar pacientes con diagnóstico de abdomen agudo en busca del "signo del remolino" en la tomografía computada e identificar quiénes requirieron intervención quirúrgica. Métodos: Estudio analítico de corte transversal evaluándose 115 tomografías computadas de abdomen agudo obstructivo en búsqueda del signo del remolino. Resultados: 15 tomografías fueron excluidas por tratarse de estudios solicitados en posoperatorios. El signo del remolino se presentó en el 5%. Los diagnósticos fueron de mal rotación intestinal (2%), vólvulo de intestino delgado (1%), vólvulo de sigma (1%) y enterocolitis (1%). Sólo el 60% de los pacientes requirieron cirugía. Discusión: La presencia del signo del remolino no siempre obedece a una resolución quirúrgica. No es patognomónico de una sola entidad puntual, pudiendo representar un hallazgo en el contexto de otra patología aguda, por lo que se debería reconocer sus variantes para instaurar el tratamiento adecuado, sea quirúrgico o médico.

Introduction: The imaging test have become an important piece on the diagnosis of the acute abdomen in emergency, nevertheless medical conduct should be based on contextualized iconographic findings. The tomographic "whirlpool sign" establishes a surgical paradigm for its association with the bowel volvulus. Objetive: To register patients with diagnosis of acute abdomen looking for the "whirlpool sign" in the computed tomography and identify who needed surgical intervention. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. 115 tomographies of acute obstructive abdomen have being evaluated. Results: 15 tomographies were excluded. The prevalence of the whirlpool sign was 5%. Diagnoses were intestinal malrotation (2%), midgut volvulus (1%), sigmoid volvulus (1%) and enterocolitis (1%). Only 60% of the patients required surgery. Discussion: The presence of the "whirlpool sign" not always determines a surgical resolution. It is not a pathognomonic sign of a punctual entity; it could represent an ordinary finding in the context of several pathologies. To apply the correct treatment, surgical or medical, for these patients it was important to recognize "whirlpool sign" variants.

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RESUMEN La apendagitis epiploica primaria es una rara causa de dolor abdominal que puede simular cualquier otro cuadro de abdomen agudo. Esto hace de su diagnóstico un verdadero desafío. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 22 años de edad, sin antecedentes de importancia que ingresó a la sala de emergencias con un cuadro de dolor abdominal de 36 horas de evolución. En la exploración física presentó dolor a la palpación en el flanco derecho. Se le realizó una tomografía axial de abdomen contrastada en la cual se observó una imagen redondeada con un halo hiperdenso con borramiento de planos grasos y cambios inflamatorios a su alrededor sin relación a otro órgano abdominal. Con estos hallazgos hicimos el diagnóstico de una apendagitis epiploica primaria. El paciente fue ingresado a la sala de internamiento para manejo del dolor y con mejoría clínica es egresado a las 48 horas asintomático. Si bien la apendagitis epiploica primaria es una causa infrecuente de dolor abdominal, consideramos que su conocimiento es relevante para evitar errores diagnósticos y terapéuticos que incrementan de forma innecesaria la morbilidad como el uso inadecuado de antibióticos y de recursos hospitalarios(AU)

ABSTRACT Primary epiploic appendagitis is a rare cause of abdominal pain that may mimic any other acute abdomen condition. This makes its diagnosis a real challenge for physicians. Here is a 22 years-old male patient, with no significant history of diseases, who were admitted to the emergency room because he had suffered abdominal pain for 36 hours. The physical exam revealed pain on palpating the right flank. He underwent a contrasted computed tomography of abdomen which showed a rounded image with hyperdense halo, fat plane effacement and inflammatory changes around, which was unrelated to another abdominal organ. These findings allowed diagnosing primary epiploic appendagitis. The patient was hospitalized for pain management and was discharged 48 hours later with clinical improvement and no symptoms. Primary epiploic appendagitis is infrequent cause of abdominal pain, however, we consider that it is important to know it so as to avoid diagnostic and therapeutic mistakes that might unnecessarily increase morbidity and the inadequate use of antibiotics and of hospital resources(AU)

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O abdome agudo na espécie equina é considerado uma emergência, sendo de grande importância a determinação precoce da necessidade ou não da intervenção cirúrgica como medida terapêutica. Os objetivos dessa descrição de casos foram: identificar quais os achados ultrassonográficos (US) que auxiliam na determinação do paciente clínico ou cirúrgico, qual a possibilidade de identificação da causa da cólica e expor as dificuldades de execução da técnica. Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo observacional para análise ultrassonografica transabdominal em 16 equinos com sinais de dor abdominal aguda. Um aparelho portátil de alta resolução, acoplado a um transdutor convexo multifrequencial de 2,5 a 5,0 MHz foi utilizado. Como resultados verificou-se que o exame US transabdominal contribuiu para a determinação da conduta a ser adotada em todos os casos. Propiciando o diagnóstico final, detectando achados sugestivos de processo obstrutivo ou descartando-o. Os achados importantes para tomada de decisão e que indicam processo obstrutivo foram: a identificação de anormalidades na topografia intestinal, alterações de motilidade e grau de distenção intestinal, principalmente em intestino delgado, alterações no conteúdo intraluminal e em alguns casos do espessamento de parede intestinal. A atitude do animal em resposta a dor, como agitação/excitação, tremores musculares e eventualmente o tipo de conteúdo intraluminal são alguns fatores que podem prejudicar a análise. Concluiu-se que o exame US transabdominal auxilia na determinação da próxima conduta a ser adotada, cirúrgica ou clínico dos animais com síndrome cólica.

The acute abdomen in the equine species is considered an emergency. In these cases, it is of great importance the early determination of whether or not a surgical intervention is needed. The aims of this cases descriptions were to identify which sonographic findings help to differ the clinical or surgical patient, to define which lesions can be diagnosed sonographically and to determine the difficulties of the exam. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Sixteen horses with signs of acute abdominal pain were evaluated by means of transabdominal ultrasonography. Ultrasound examination was performed using a portatil high resolution machine with a 2.5 to 5,0MHz, multifrequential convex probe. All abdominal cavity was examined using the starndart ultrasound techinique previous reported. Ultrasound contributed to determine the therapeutic approach in all cases, helping in final diagnosis, and detecting findings of gastrointestinal obstructive process or excluded. The mainly findings in detecting obstructive intestinal process are abnormalities in intestinal topography, pattern of motility and diameter distension, predominantly in small intestine, different intraluminal content and in some cases thickening of intestinal wall. The attitude of the animal in response to pain, agitation/excitement, muscle trembling and sometimes changes in the type of intraluminal content, were factors that interfered in the images. We concluded that transabdominal ultrasonography can assist in determining the next conduct to be adopted, surgical or clinical therapeutics in horses with colic syndrome.

El abdomen agudo en la especie equina se considera una emergencia y en esos casos es de gran importancia determinar precozmente si una intervención quirúrgica será necesaria o no. Los objetivos al describir esta serie de casos fueron: identificar los hallazgos ultrasonográficos importantes para determinar si los casos eran clínicos o quirúrgicos; verificar la posibilidad de identificar la causa del cólico; y exponer las dificultades al realizar el examen ultrasonográfico en esos casos. De forma prospectiva, fueron incluidos 16 equinos con signos de dolor abdominal agudo. Para el examen ultrasonográfico transabdominal (USTA) fue usado un transductor convexo multifrecuencial de 2,5 a 5,0 MHz acoplado a un ecografo portátil de alta resolución. Fue verificado que el USTA contribuyó para determinar la conducta a ser adoptada en todos los casos; posibilitó llegar a un diagnóstico final; y permitió detectar hallazgos sugestivos de proceso obstructivo e descartar obstrucción. Los hallazgos importantes para tomar decisiones y que indicaron procesos obstructivos fueron: identificación de anormalidades en la topografía intestinal, alteraciones de motilidad y distensión intestinal, principalmente en intestino delgado, alteraciones en el contenido intraluminal y, en algunos casos, espesamiento de la pared intestinal. La actitud del animal en respuesta al dolor, como agitación/excitación, temblores musculares y, eventualmente, el tipo de contenido intraluminal, son algunos factores que pueden perjudicar el examen. Concluimos que el USTA auxilia a determinar si la próxima conducta a ser adoptada en equinos con síndrome cólica será clínica o quirúrgica.

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