a rare cause of SBO
7 05 2008i was reading up on small bowel obstruction (SBO) again as i went through all the upper and lower GI surgical diseases (glad i’m finally done with them). then i was flipping through Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery when i caught sight of this picture that gave me the creeps.

pparently, one of the rare causes of SBO are worms… (disturbing picture ahead…)
Ascaris lumbricoides is the largest of the common nematode (roundworm) infections of man. The white or yellow adult is 15-35 cm long and lives 10-24 months in the jejunum and middle ileum of the intestine. Each female produces 240,000 eggs per day, which are fertilized by nearby male worms. A recent study from China showed that 45% of infected persons shed only fertilized eggs, 40% shed fertilized and unfertilized eggs, and 20% shed only unfertilized eggs. Unfertilized eggs accounted for only 6-9% of eggs shed. Fertilized eggs released into favorable soil may become infectious within 5-10 days. Eggs may remain viable in soil for up to 17 months. Infection occurs through soil contamination of hands or food, ingestion, and the subsequent hatching of eggs in the small intestine. (Source: Emedicine)
Ultrasound of abdomen reveals a nasty find to be expected for the operation later.


Ok, that is the prize jewel (pictures credit). As can be seen, there is some ischaemia of the small intestine. I hope i don’t encounter many of these cases when i become a doctor/surgeon. Seriously, this is sick. Any one of you encountered these before? Bongi? Somewhat similar to your fettucini post i reckon.





OMG!
I’m lost for (other) words.
Ascaris lumbricoides is the 2nd most common cause of helminth infection in the U.S. Worth remembering for the USMLE Step 1.
Oh My God! I hope don’t have this kind of thing in my abdomen :S
[...] Please, take care with her, or your abdomen can… (see here). [...]
It can cause intestinal perforation as well. A friend did an elective in India and saw about three perfs a week.
omg! thankfully i didn’t look at it just after my meal. i think i’ll remember this forever now.
[...] what’s causing the bowel obstruction monash medical student Jeffrey Leow presents in the post a rare cause of SBO. Talk about stomach wrenching [...]
Hi…i was wondering..if this can cause masive rectorrage?…sorry my english it sux..but..we had this case…38 yo guy…with chronical rectorrage..like rose wine..and we all suspected helminth..that caused perforation…anyone knows something about this?
im from spain..by the way..
omeegawd O.O” eww…i hope my small intestine ain’t like that! =/