Background: In sepsis, lactate measurements correlate with mortality; however, the role of lactate in predicting mortality in patients of secondary peritonitis is not yet fully established. Methods: Data were maintained prospectively on 224 patients of secondary peritonitis over a period of 10 years. Arterial lactate measurements were performed twice in each patientonce, initially on admission (AL I) and the other, 24 h after surgery (AL 24); from these values, percentage lactate clearance was calculated. These lactate indices and other demographic factors were correlated with mortality. Results: Overall mortality was 16.07% (36 patients) and morbidity was 63.39% (pulmonary complications commonest); preoperative lactate (more than 2.35 mmol/L), 24-h postoperative lactate (more than 2.05 mmol/L), need for vasopressors and mechanical ventilation independently correlated with morbidity and mortality. A simple prognostic scale constructed using cutoff values of AL I , AL 24 , need for vasopressor support and mechanical ventilation showed a sensitivity of 97.22% and specificity of 52.13% for predicting mortality. Conclusion: Preoperative and postoperative arterial lactate levels, need for vasopressors and mechanical ventilation, are independent predictors of mortality. Using these parameters, it may be possible to identify high risk patients that can benefit from early, goal directed therapy to reduce the mortality of secondary peritonitis.
Gastro-inestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) comprise 1–2% of all gastrointestinal (GI) tumours. The mesentery, retroperitoneum and omentum are common sites of extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumours (E-GISTs). Isolated involvement of the mesentery by tuberculosis (TB) without any evidence of pulmonary disease is quite unusual. Here we report a case of an E-GIST arising from the small bowel mesentery in a 60-year old female where an incidental concurrent mesenteric tuberculosis was diagnosed following surgical resection.
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