Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. The infection frequently involves the rhino-cerebral or respiratory system and involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and kidney are rare. It usually infects immunocompromised individuals due to various causes and an upsurge is hypothesized to be linked with irrational use of steroids during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.We encountered a rare case of systemic mucormycosis that involved both renal as well as mesenteric vessels and led to ischemia of both vital organs. The patient developed massive bowel gangrene involving the duodenum, proximal jejunum, and left kidney due to angioinvasive mucormycosis.The diagnosis of GI mucormycosis may further increase during the current pandemic. The physicians, as well as surgeons, should be aware of this unwanted complication and keep a high index of suspicion for this rare disease.
Purpose: Feeding jejunostomy (FJ) is a critical procedure to establish a source of enteral nutrition for upper gastrointestinal disorders. Minimally invasive surgery has the inherent benefit of better patient outcomes, less postoperative pain, and early discharge. This study aims to describe our total laparoscopic technique of Witzel FJ and to compare its outcome with its open counterpart.Methods: A retrospective database analysis was performed in patients who underwent laparoscopic (n = 20) and open (n = 21) FJ as a stand-alone procedure from July 2018 to July 2022. A readily available nasogastric tube (Ryles tube) and routine laparoscopic instruments were used to perform laparoscopic FJ. Perioperative data and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.Results: Baseline preoperative variables were comparable in both groups. The median operative duration in the laparoscopic FJ group was 180 minutes vs. 60 minutes in the open FJ group (p = 0.01). Postoperative length of hospital stay was 3 days vs. 4 days in the laparoscopic and open FJ groups, respectively (p = 0.08). Four patients in the open FJ group suffered from an immediate postoperative complication (none in the laparoscopic FJ group). After a median follow-up of 10 months, fewer patients in the laparoscopic FJ group had complications such as tube clogging, tube dislodgement, surgical-site infection, and small bowel obstruction.
Conclusion:Laparoscopic FJ with the Witzel technique is a safe and feasible procedure with a comparable outcome to the open technique. Patient selection is vital to overcome the initial learning curve.
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