Phlegmonous colitis: another source of sepsis in cirrhotic patients?

ABSTRACT:

Background

The clinical relevance of phlegmonous colitis (PC), a rare autopsy finding in cirrhotic patients, is poorly documented. We postulated that PC might be a source of sepsis in patients with portal hypertensive colopathy (PHC).

Case presentation

We report three cirrhotic patients who were admitted with abdominal sepsis and who illustrate, to various degrees, the clinico-pathological sequence of colonic alterations associated with portal hypertension. Two cirrhotic patients with PHC developed gram-negative bacteraemia and quickly responded to intravenous antibiotics. Another cirrhotic patient underwent emergency colectomy for PC, and subsequently died from multiple organ failure. Histological alterations in the operative specimen included: a) mucosal ulcerations; b) di

SUBMITTER: Holzer T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2800109 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature