MELAS syndrome presenting as an acute surgical abdomen

MELAS syndrome presenting as an acute surgical abdomen

MELAS (mitochondrial cytopathy, encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) is a syndrome in which signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disease are uncommon if not rare. We describe the case of a young woman who presented as an acute surgical emergency, diagnosed as toxic megacolon necessitating an emergency total colectomy. MELAS syndrome was suspected postoperatively owing ...

Chilaiditi's syndrome presenting as acute abdomen.

Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome presenting as an acute abdomen.

Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) may present with symptoms and signs suggestive of an acute surgical condition of the abdomen. The patient described was admitted with clinical features sufficient to warrant operation but later proved to have HUS.

Hepatoblastoma presenting as an acute abdomen.

ROWLAND, L.P., HOEFER, P.F.A., ARANOW, H., JR. & MERRITr, H.H. (1956) Fatalities in myasthenia gravis. Neurology (Minneap.), 6, 307. SAHAY, B.M., BLENDIS, L.M. & GREENE, R. (1965) Relation between myasthenia gravis and thyroid disease. Brit. med. J. i, 762. SIMPSON, J.A. (1960) Myasthenia gravis: a new hypothesis. Scott. med. J. 5, 419. SIMPSON, J.A. (1964) Immunological disturbances in myasthe...

Polycythaemia vera presenting as an acute abdomen.

A patient who presented with severe abdominal pain was found to have an intrahepatic haematoma complicating previously undiagnosed polycythaemia vera (PV). Full recovery followed treatment with bed rest, control of hypertension, daily venesection and 32P. The hazards of surgery in uncontrolled PV are discussed and re-emphasized.