Browsing by Author "Jensen, Amanda"

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    Blunt abdominal trauma with handlebar injury: A rare cause of traumatic amputation of the appendix associated with acute appendicitis
    (Elsevier, 2016-04) Jensen, Amanda; Baertschiger, Reto; Hackworth, Jodi; Rescorla, Fredrick; Department of Surgery, IU School of Medicine
    We describe traumatic appendicitis in a 7-year-old boy who presented after sustaining blunt abdominal trauma to his right lower abdomen secondary to bicycle handlebar injury. With diffuse abdominal pain following injury, he was admitted for observation. Computed axial tomography (CT) obtained at an outside hospital demonstrated moderate stranding of the abdomen in the right lower quadrant. The CT was non-contrasted and therefore significant appendiceal distention could not be confirmed. However, there was a calcified structure in the right pelvis with trace amount of free fluid. Patient was observed with conservative management and over the course of 15 h his abdominal pain continued to intensify. With his worsening symptoms, we elected to take him for diagnostic laparoscopy. In the operating room we found an inflamed traumatically amputated appendix with the mesoappendix intact. We therefore proceeded with laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathology demonstrated acute appendicitis with fecalith. It was unclear as to whether the patient's appendicitis and perforation were secondary to fecalith obstruction, his blunt abdominal trauma or if they concurrently caused his appendicitis. Acute appendicitis is a common acute surgical condition in the pediatric population and continues to be a rare and unique cause of operative intervention in the trauma population.
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    Hydrogen sulfide therapy improves intestinal recovery through endothelial nitric oxide dependent mechanisms
    (2017) Jensen, Amanda; Markel, Troy
    H2S is a gaseous mediator that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent contributing to gastrointestinal mucosal defense. It promotes vascular dilation, mucosal repair, and resolution of inflammation following intestinal ischemia and may be exploited as a novel therapeutic agent. It is unclear if H2S works through nitric oxide-dependent pathways in the intestine. We appreciated that H2S was able to improve post-ischemic recovery of mesenteric perfusion, mucosal integrity, and inflammation. The beneficial effects of H2S appear to be mediated through endothelial nitric oxide-dependent pathways.