INTRODUCTION: Doppler scrotal ultrasonography (US) is the modality of choice in diagnosing testicular torsion. We aimed to evaluate the performance of scrotal US in diagnosing testicular torsion over the past 18 years in our institution and determine the factors contributing to the length of wait times for it. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of boys who presented with acute scrotal pain from 2014 to 2015. US reports, operative findings, final diagnosis and key time points of the patients' journey (time to emergency department consultation, time to admission, time to US and time to operating theatre [OT]) were collected. US performance results were compared with those observed in a historical cohort from 1998 to 2004. Wait times were compared between operated and non-operated patients. RESULTS: Data from 519 boys with a mean age of 9.15 years was collected. Of these, 438 (84.4%) boys had undergone initial scrotal US; of these scrotal US cases, 28 were surgically explored, with 23 confirmed to have torsion. Another five cases were explored without prior US, and all were confirmed to have torsion. Performance analysis of US showed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.8%. There was no significant difference between wait times of operated and non-operated patients. Time to US (P < 0.0001, r = 0.96) and time to OT (P < 0.0001, r = 0.64) correlated significantly with the total time from presentation to surgery. CONCLUSION There has been an improvement in the diagnostic performance of scrotal US for testicular torsion over the past 18 years. Quality improvement programmes targeted at reducing wait times for patients presenting with acute scrotum should target time to US and time to OT.
Male ; Child ; Humans ; Female ; Scrotum/surgery* ; Spermatic Cord Torsion/surgery* ; Acute Pain/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography ; Retrospective Studies

Acute cholecystitis is a common cause of right upper quadrant pain in patients presenting at the emergency department. Early diagnosis and recognition of associated complications, though challenging, are essential for timely management. Imaging studies, including ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, are increasingly utilised for the evaluation of suspected cases of cholecystitis. These investigations help in diagnosis, identification of complications and surgical planning. Imaging features of acute cholecystitis have been described in the literature and are variable, depending on the stage of inflammation. This article discusses the spectrum of cholecystitis-associated complications and their imaging manifestations. We also suggest a checklist for the prompt and accurate identification of complications in acute cholecystitis.
Abdominal Pain ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Aged ; Cholecystitis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Cholecystitis, Acute ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergency Medicine ; methods ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction (PRV) is a syndrome presenting with sudden loin pain after anaerobic exercise. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the efficacy of diagnostic imaging studies of patients with this syndrome. METHODS: We retrospectively selected 17 patients with ARF accompanied by loin or abdominal pain who showed multiple patchy wedge-shaped delayed contrast enhancements on a computerized tomography scan. Information about the clinical characteristics, including the nature of pain and combined symptoms, suspected causes, such as exercise, drug or alcohol intake, and renal hypouricemia, and the results of laboratory and imaging tests were gathered. RESULTS: The mean age of patients with episodes of ARF accompanied by loin pain was 23.0+/-6.5 (range 16-35) years old. Pain was mainly located in the loin (70.6%) or abdominal area (76.5%) and continued for approximately 3.5+/-4.0 days. Exercise was suspected as a primary cause of disease in 12 (70.6%) patients. Maximal serum creatinine was 5.42+/-3.16 (1.4-12.1) mg/dL 3.1+/-1.8 (1-7) days after the onset of pain. The peak level of serum uric acid was 9.41+/-2.91 (6.0-15.8) mg/dL. All of the patients recovered to near-normal renal function, and one patient showed hypouricemia after recovery. CONCLUSION: ARF with severe loin pain and PRV can present with loin or abdominal pain, even without a history of anaerobic exercise. Careful history taking and appropriate imaging studies are critical in the diagnosis and management of this syndrome.
Abdominal Pain ; Acute Kidney Injury ; Creatinine ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Renal Tubular Transport, Inborn Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi ; Vasoconstriction

Bowel injury after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is a rare but serious complication. In particular, diagnosis of a patient with bowel injury is difficult because of the unusual patient presentation and remaining intraabdominal gas. We report on a case of a sigmoid colon perforation after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. A 42-year-old woman with abdominal pain and distention underwent exploratory laparotomy. She had undergone laparoscopic gynecologic surgery 6 days ago. During the procedure, a sigmoid colon perforation was found as well as severe inflammation at the pelvic cavity. The patient underwent segmental resection of the sigmoid colon with loop ileostomy. Postoperative acute abdomen did not show classic signs on physical examination and diagnostic imaging. Thus, a more careful approach and interpretation of diagnosis was needed.
Abdomen, Acute ; Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures* ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Inflammation ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Physical Examination

BACKGROUND: Acute heart failure negatively affects short-term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Therefore, reliable and non-invasive assessment of pulmonary congestion is needed to select patients requiring more intensive monitoring and therapy. Since plasma levels of natriuretic peptides are influenced by myocardial ischemia, they might not reliably reflect congestion in the context of ACS. The novel endothelial biomarker, soluble CD146 (sCD146), presents discriminative power for detecting the cardiac origin of acute dyspnea similar to that of natriuretic peptides and is associated with systemic congestion. We evaluated the performance of sCD146 for the assessment of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS. METHODS: One thousand twenty-one consecutive patients with ACS were prospectively enrolled. Plasma levels of sCD146, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and high-sensitive troponin T were measured within 24 hr after the onset of chest pain. Pulmonary congestion on chest radiography was determined and classified in three groups according to the degree of congestion. RESULTS: Nine hundred twenty-seven patients with ACS were analyzed. Ninety-two (10%) patients showed signs of pulmonary edema on chest radiography. Plasma levels of sCD146 reflected the radiological severity of pulmonary congestion. Higher plasma levels of sCD146 were associated with the worse degree of pulmonary congestion. In contrast to BNP, sCD146 levels were not affected by the level of troponin T. CONCLUSIONS: The novel endothelial biomarker, sCD146, correlates with radiological severity of pulmonary congestion in the early phase of ACS and, in contrast to BNP, is not affected by the amount of myocardial cell necrosis.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging ; Aged ; Antigens, CD146/blood ; Biomarkers/blood ; Chest Pain/diagnostic imaging/*pathology ; Electrocardiography ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/diagnosis ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/*blood ; Severity of Illness Index ; Troponin T/blood