Rectal cancer surgery complicated by a rare bloodstream infection
This colorectal cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Subtype
- Adenocarcinoma
- Sex
- Male
- Treatment
- surgery
Treatment course, step by step
- He underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer resection with lymph-node dissection.
- A postoperative anastomotic leak was closed endoscopically and treated with antibiotics.
What happened, in summary
A 71-year-old man sought care after several months of altered bowel habits and a month of rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy found a rectal lesion, and biopsy confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma.
He underwent laparoscopic rectal cancer resection with lymph-node dissection and reconnection of the bowel. During the first few days after surgery, he developed fever, lower abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Imaging and urgent colonoscopy showed a small leak near the surgical connection, which was closed with clips.
Blood cultures later grew Robinsoniella peoriensis, a rare bacterium. His antibiotics were adjusted, and the infection and inflammatory markers improved. He became afebrile, the abdominal drainage decreased, and antibiotics were stopped after an 8-day treatment course.
He recovered without further reported complications and was discharged in stable condition on postoperative day 14 for outpatient follow-up.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by PMC / PubMed Central. Read the original in full
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Collections this story belongs to
- Surgery for Colorectal Cancer 449 stories
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer