Intraperitoneal abscess from perforated diverticulitis with fistualization to extraperitoneal abscess into the scrotum: a case report

Abstract

Background

Scrotal abscesses are common skin abscesses seen in the general population; however, intraperitoneal abscesses tracking into the scrotum are rare. Intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal abscesses contiguous with the scrotum have been reported in the literature in specific populations. Wound cultures can aid in differentiating the source of the infections. Recurrent abscesses have been observed in high-risk populations, such as those with malignancy or who are immunocompromised.

Case presentation

We present a 71-year-old male with pericolonic abscess following perforated diverticulitis. The abscess was drained with interventional radiology and was complicated by an extraperitoneal abscess that tracked to the scrotum. Incision and drainage of the extraperitoneal abscess and the scrotal abscess were required with intravenous antibiotic therapy. The abscess tracking into the scrotum is reported without evidence of patent processus vaginalis.

Conclusion

We conclude that an intraperitoneal abscess can track to the scrotum through extraperitoneal fascial planes in the absence of a patent processus vaginalis. We show that extraperitoneal abscess spread to the scrotum is possible, with wound cultures helping to differentiate the source of the infection. High-risk patients with recurrent abscesses can also be susceptible to contiguous spread.

Background

Scrotal abscesses are common and associated with trauma, urinary tract infection, diabetes, immunocompromised state, epididymo-orchitis, and poor hygiene [1]. Scrotal abscesses draining from an intraperitoneal source are rare and usually not seen in adults. In children, reports of intraperitoneal abscesses draining to the scrotum have been described via a patent processus vaginalis following complicated appendicitis [2].

The testes are formed in the abdomen and descend through the peritoneum, abdominal wall, and the inguinal canal via the processus vaginalis to reach the scrotum [3]. The inguinal canal contains the processus vaginalis derived from the peritoneum, which eventually obliterates to confine the testes. Closure prevents communication between the scrotum and intraperitoneal space. Failure of closure, called patent processus vaginalis, has been a risk factor for hydroceles, inguinal hernias, and scrotal abscesses in children [3, 4]. An adult patient with perforated diverticulitis complicated by pericolonic abscess with extension into the scrotum is rare, especially without evidence of a patent processus vaginalis.

Case presentation

We present a 71-year-old-male with a past medical history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gout who presented to the emergency department for evaluation of worsening left lower quadrant abdominal pain that began two days prior to presentation. On arrival, the patient had a creatinine of 2.56 mg (milligram)/dL (deciliter), white blood cell count of 29.7 × 10³ per uL (microliter), and lactate of 2.7 mg/dL. The patient was started on piperacillin-tazobactam in the emergency department for a potential intraperitoneal infection. Computed tomography (CT) with contrast was recommended but was unable to be obtained due to patient allergy to intravenous contrast and acute kidney injury. CT abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) without contrast revealed complicated descending colonic diverticulitis associated with adjacent linear air and fluid-filled collection, extending from the medial aspect of the lower descending colon into the anterior aspect of the peritoneal cavity and greater omentum against the adjacent rectus abdominis muscle (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Coronal plane CTAP without contrast showing complicated descending colonic diverticulitis associated with adjacent developing localized air leak and abscess formation (arrows)

Interventional radiology (IR) performed a CT-guided drainage of the abdominal abscess with placement of an 8-French percutaneous drain into the abdominal collection. On postoperative day one, the patient began to complain of left testicular pain and scrotal swelling. Scrotal ultrasound revealed findings suspicious for a developing, ill-defined, left-sided scrotal wall complex abscess (Fig. 2). A repeat CTAP down to mid-thigh without contrast showed a scrotal decubitus and soft tissue defect, concerning for scrotal abscess development, but with improvement in the previously drained anterior abdominal fluid collection. Bedside scrotal incision and drainage were performed and cultures from the collection grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus with mixed gram negative and positive flora. Three days after bedside incision and drainage, the patient was switched from piperacillin-tazobactam to meropenem due to an increase in WBC count from 20.4 × 10³ per uL to 31.5 × 10³ per uL.

Fig. 2

Sagittal view (left) and transverse view (right) of left scrotal ultrasound showing mild to moderate degree of bilateral, left-sided scrotal wall edematous changes with increased color Doppler flow (left) associated with an ill-defined fluid collection (right with arrows) developing within the left-sided scrotal wall outside the tunica vaginalis. Transverse diameter measured approximately 2.3 cm

One week after abdominal abscess drainage, the patient's white blood cell count persisted, with a maximum of 35.7 × 10³ per uL. After starting meropenem, the patient’s white blood cell count began to decrease, and with the infection apparently resolving, the infectious disease team transitioned the patient to oral amoxicillin-clavulanate.

Eleven days following the IR procedure, excessive purulent discharge was noted from the scrotal incision. Urology was consulted again and noted insufficient scrotal packing, which was presumed to be the reason for the persistent abscess. Bedside drainage was performed again, and repeat cultures showed various enteric organisms, including multidrug-resistant Enterobacter cloacae, Eikenella species, and yeast. In addition, a drain study with fluoroscopy demonstrated the presence of a fistulous tract to the colon (Fig. 3). Repeat CTAP showed that the previously drained intraperitoneal abscess had resolved; however, there was an interval development of a large anterior abdominal wall abscess measuring 26 × 4 cm (cm) that extended into the scrotum (Fig. 4). CTAP also showed persistent thickening at the junction of sigmoid and descending colon that was highly suspicious for a neoplastic mass.

Fig. 3

IR drain study with fluoroscopy demonstrating a fistulous tract to the colon (arrow), with absent intraperitoneal fluid collection

Fig. 4

Coronal plane (left) and sagittal plane (right) CTAP without contrast showing development of a large anterior abdominal wall abscess measuring 26-cm × 4-cm (thick arrows) extending into the scrotum (thin arrows)

The patient required surgical incision and drainage and was taken to the operating room for abscess drainage with the general surgery team. A suprapubic transverse incision and a left lower quadrant incision were made, and superficial subcutaneous tissue was dissected until the abscess cavity was entered. The peritoneal cavity was revealed to communicate with the anterior abdominal wall abscess, which was continuous with the scrotal abscess cavity. The following day, the patient was taken back to the operating room to have the two abdominal incisions connected for negative pressure wound therapy and minimal debridement of residual necrotic tissue was performed (Fig. 5). The patient was brought to the operating room every two days for a total of three negative pressure wound dressing changes and debridement. On the final operating room day, separate negative pressure wound sponges for the abdominal cavity and the left scrotum were used. The patient was eventually transitioned to wet-to-dry dressing changes in the scrotum and continuation of the negative pressure wound dressing changes in the abdominal cavity.

Fig. 5

Intraoperative images of scrotal incision (left), suprapubic and left lower quadrant abdominal incisions (middle) that were subsequently connected (right) for negative pressure wound therapy

The patient underwent a repeat drain study for the 8 French percutaneous drain that showed resolution of the intraabdominal abscess without collection or fistula. The percutaneous drain was removed, and the antibiotic regimen was de-escalated to oral ciprofloxacin and metronidazole. Creatinine returned to baseline, white blood cell counts normalized (9.7 × 10³ per uL on discharge), and infectious disease recommended oral antibiotic regimen for discharge to acute rehab.

Conclusions

There were previously reported cases of retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal abscesses that tracked into the scrotum. Factors such as chronic inflammation with abscess formation can track through fascial planes to the most dependent portion of the body. We hypothesize that there can be another track that can be a direct extension from the extraperitoneal space to the scrotum through the various fascial planes.

Discussion

The initial abscess started pericolonically following perforated diverticulitis in the left anterior peritoneal space abutting the rectus abdominis. Fistulas usually develop secondary to a foreign body, radiation, inflammation, epithelialization, neoplasm, or distal obstruction [5]. Colonic inflammation from appendicitis and diverticular disease has also been associated with fistula formation [6]. Our patient had several of these risk factors, including inflammation from diverticulitis, the introduction of a foreign body by IR, and colonic abscess formation. We hypothesize that the intraperitoneal sigmoid colon diverticular abscess was the root cause, and the secondary abscess that was in the anterior extraperitoneal space adjacent to the rectus abdominis was the abscess that drained into the left scrotum.

Abscess formation is a well-known complication of perforated diverticulitis. It often occurs intraperitoneally and can typically be treated with antibiotics alone if the abscess is less than three centimeters. Percutaneous abscess drainage (PAD) is required for larger abscesses [7]. One study that systematically reviewed the outcomes after treatment of acute diverticulitis with abscess formation showed that of patients treated nonoperatively (antibiotics or PAD), 25% experienced a recurrent episode during long-term follow-up, and of the patients undergoing PAD, 2.5% experienced procedure-related complications [8].

The most common organisms that cause cutaneous abscesses are gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, which are found on flora of human skin and mucous membranes [9]. However, anaerobic bacteria are frequently isolated, with the true prevalence of these infections undetermined due to slow growth, difficulty in culturing, and polymicrobial nature of the infection [10]. Abscesses associated with diverticulitis are due to diverticular microperforations and extravasation of enteric commensals, with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides species being the most frequently isolated [11].

The evolution of cultures from the scrotal abscess site supports the hypothesis that enteric spread caused the secondary abscess. Cultures of the scrotal abscess from the initial bedside incision and drainage showed a predominant growth of coagulase-negative staphylococcus, gram-positive cocci, and mixed anaerobic bacteria. The presence of coagulase-negative staphylococcus indicates that there was likely floral contamination that contributed to this initial abscess formation [12]. Subsequent cultures showed growth of Enterobacter cloacae, which has been the most common cause of nosocomial infection within the last decade [13]. This shift in culture suggests that the initial scrotal abscess was unrelated to the pericolonic abscess; however, the secondary scrotal abscess was associated with the intraperitoneal abscess as the isolated species were related to organisms that typically reside within the gastrointestinal tract. We can postulate that the formation of a fistulous tract between the peritoneum and abdominal wall allowed for direct extension, which was confirmed with CT imaging and intraoperatively.

The fistulous tract that developed anteriorly dissected through the transversalis fascia, rectus sheath, and invested in Scarpa’s fascia before spreading inferiorly into the scrotum. Scarpa’s fascia is contiguous with the Dartos fascia below the pubic symphysis which can provide a direct route from the anterior abdominal wall into the scrotum for potential spread [14]. A retroperitoneal tract has also been hypothesized to be a cause of abscess tracking to the scrotum. A retroperitoneal abscess formation tracking to the scrotum has been described in the literature. An ascending and descending colonic perforation with subsequent spread along the retroperitoneal fascial planes resulting in scrotal abscess with fecal contents in the scrotum has been reported [15]. The postulated mechanism is that the inflammation from the retroperitoneum caused the abscess to dissect through the transversalis fascia through the deep inguinal ring. Another pathway to the scrotum is with a patent processus vaginalis.

Documented scrotal abscess formation from an intraperitoneal source most commonly occurs in the pediatric population, often associated with a patent processus vaginalis. The patent processus vaginalis serves as a communication between the peritoneal cavity and the scrotum, with several case reports describing a phenomenon of peritoneal extension of an abscess associated with perforated appendicitis. The presenting symptom of appendicitis in these cases is scrotal swelling in young boys [4]. A patent processus vaginalis has been estimated to be present in 80–95% of newborn males, with 15–37% of those persisting into adulthood [2,3,4]. However, a patent processus vaginalis will typically close within the first 24 months of life and is unlikely to cause a scrotal abscess via intraperitoneal extension in an adult. Instead, scrotal extension of an intraperitoneal abscess in an adult can be caused by direct extension [16]. It is rare for fluid collection to drain into the scrotum without a patent processus vaginalis, especially in adults. We conclude that there are extraperitoneal planes that can lead to scrotal abscess collection from an abdominal source.

Patient perspective

The patient was hospitalized for a total of 27 days with two bedside scrotal incision and drainages, three interventional radiology procedures, and four procedures in the operating room. The patient tolerated the procedures well and was discharged to acute rehab on day 28. On follow-up, the patient was gracious for the care he received during his hospital stay and continued negative pressure wound therapy at home.