Neutropenic colitis gems

From memory:

1. Neutropenic colitis occurs in neutropenic patients
2. Mimics appendicitis (trap!)
3. Don't call it typhlitis, as it falsely suggest that it can only occur in the cecum
4. A concomitant C diff infection worsens prognosis 
5. Broad spectrum antibiotics including flagyl
6. Best solution, normalize WBC

From reading "neutropenic colitis in children":

Neutropenic colitis was found in 1.4% of children treated for a malignant condition. Although the majority of patients were profoundly neutropenic (Mean ANC = 164), 12% had a normal neutrophil count. The episode of colitis, which presents with vague signs and symptoms, is usually preceded by a precipitous drop in ANC.

Although most cases involve the cecum, the colitis may involve the ascending colon, and even the terminal ileum.

Treatment involves bowel rest, decompression, broad spectrum antibiotics (including anti-fungals), and occasionally G-CSF. Operative management is reserved for patients with bowel perforation, bleeding, or clinical deterioration.

So learned a couple of things today.

Suction device for correction of pectus excavatum

Some information to file under the "good to know" category.

The suction bell  is a device that uses negative pressure (15% below atmospheric) to pull the sternum out and into a more natural position.  The principle involves repetitive intermittent use until the deformity is corrected.

In a paper by F. Haecker, the author describes a wide range of applications times, but recommends twice daily application for 30 minutes at a minimum. After the device is positioned over the deformity, the patient uses a hand pump to apply negative pressure, which instantaneously pulls the sternum up. The duration of use is limited by pain and the development of a transient subcutaneous hematoma in most of the patients.

Long term results are not available, but over a short period of use, patients experience "dramatic" results.  In the aforementioned paper, the author reports a sternal elevation of 1.5 cm in 70% of patients within a 3 month period. Again, patient dedication and level of commitment being a major determinant of outcome.  Additionally, the author suggest that the best results tend to occur in patients with milder forms of symmetric pectus excavatum.

Needless to say, this sounds like a very promising non-operative option, though the jury is still out on what is the optimal application protocol is as well as long term results and durability of the correction