A new etiology of acute abdominal emergencies in cirrhotic patient: secondary pneumococcal peritonitis with jejunitis

Hepatogastroenterology. 2000 Nov-Dec;47(36):1633-5.

Abstract

We report the first case of secondary pneumococcal peritonitis associated with acute jejunitis in a 52-year-old homeless Child-Pugh C cirrhotic man without ascitis. The patient was admitted with clinical signs of peritonitis, and jaundice. Morphologic examination was unremarkable. A laparotomy revealed a diffuse peritonitis, and an acute jejunitis with prenecrotic lesion. The lesion was located within the first centimeters of the jejunum, immediately after the duodeno-jejunal angle, extented on 15 cm. A resection of the first 15 cm of the jejunum was performed with duodeno-jejunal side-to-side manual anastomosis. Gram-stain and cultures of blood, peritoneal pus, and jejunal mucosa revealed a penicillin-sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae. Appropriate parenteral antibiotic treatment was initiated (aminopenicillin). The postoperative course was marked by a transient hepatic failure associated with an ascitis controlled by diuretics. The patient was discharged on the 26th day after surgery. This case reports a new etiology of acute abdominal emergencies in cirrhotic patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen, Acute / etiology*
  • Anastomosis, Surgical
  • Duodenum / surgery
  • Emergencies
  • Enteritis
  • Humans
  • Jejunal Diseases / complications
  • Jejunal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Jejunal Diseases / pathology
  • Jejunal Diseases / surgery
  • Jejunum / surgery
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peritonitis / complications
  • Peritonitis / diagnosis*
  • Pneumococcal Infections / complications
  • Pneumococcal Infections / diagnosis*