Pathology 6020 - Gastrointestinal Pathology - Case 1

Gastrointestinal Pathology - Case 1 - Part 2

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

On admission to the MICU, the patient was found to be comatose. She was felt to be septic and, therefore, was placed on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Some element of hepatic insult was noted by elevation of her transaminases. Radiographs were obtained:

	Abdominal Films obtained after suspicion of liver failure revealed increased bowel gas suggestive of obstruction or ileus.

	A CT Scan of her abdomen revealed only air in the bowel and no evidence of bowel edema or air in the bowel wall.

Blood cultures grew one out of two bottles positive for Bacteroides and her antibiotic coverage was continued.

1. When might Bacteriodes have entered the blood stream?

2. What is an ileus?