Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40955238›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Hemostatic Cellulose Masquerading as a Postoperative Abscess Following Elective Colon Surgery: A Unique Case and Literature Review.

Zamir A Shaikh, Caleb W Brown, Beth A Bulawa, Bracken Burns, Lou Smith

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Zamir A ShaikhDepartment of General Surgery, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, USA.
Caleb W BrownDepartment of General Surgery, East Tennessee State University's Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, USA.
Beth A BulawaDepartment of General Surgery, Ballad Health Medical Associates, Greeneville, USA.
Bracken BurnsDepartment of Surgery, East Tennessee State University's Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, USA.
Lou SmithDepartment of Surgery, East Tennessee State University's Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) and intra-abdominal abscesses (IAAs) are common and costly complications following elective colon surgery, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. Hemostatic cellulose, a widely used intraoperative hemostatic agent, can mimic pathological lesions such as abscesses on imaging, leading to potential misdiagnoses. We present the case of a 68-year-old man who underwent elective colostomy reversal complicated by a postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan suggestive of an IAA. Upon review of the operative note and repeat imaging, the suspected abscess was determined to be a hemostatic cellulose. This case highlights the importance of meticulous intraoperative documentation and interdepartmental communication to prevent unnecessary interventions and improve patient outcomes. Additionally, it underscores the need for awareness among clinicians regarding this masquerading ability of hemostatic cellulose to avoid misinterpretation and its potential impact on both patients and hospital quality metrics.

Indexed as

abdomino-pelvic ctcolon and rectal surgeryintra-abdominal abscesspostoperative complicationsquality improvement (qi)surgicel™

Identifiers

PMID40955238
PMCPMC12433619

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.