TY - JOUR AU - Wei, Qing AU - Leal, Sixto M. AU - Qarmali, Morad AU - Wilcox, Charles Mel AU - Patel, Chirag R. AU - Al Diffalha, Sameer PY - 2020/05/30 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Sarcina ventriculi: A Rare Case of Life-Threatening Perforated Gastric Ulcer and Review of Literature JF - Journal of Gastric Surgery JA - J Gastric Surg VL - 2 IS - 2 SE - Case Series DO - 10.36159/jgs.v2i2.36 UR - https://www.journalofgastricsurgery.com/index.php/JGS/article/view/36 SP - 53-56 AB - <p><em>Sarcina ventriculi</em> is a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium reported rarely in patients with a history of gastrointestinal surgery and delayed gastric emptying. <em>Sarcina</em> has been implicated in the development of gastric ulcers, emphysematous gastritis, and gastric perforation. So far, less than 30 cases of <em>Sarcina</em> isolated from gastric specimens have been reported, including 3 cases associated with life-threatening illness:<br>emphysematous gastritis and gastric perforation. Herein, we report a case of a 58-yearold woman with history of gastric surgery who presented for evaluation of persistent gastric pain and incurable ulcer. She underwent total gastrectomy, and the resected stomach demonstrated a perforated ulcer with the presence of <em>Sarcina</em> microorganisms.<br>We also report a second case of a 56-year-old woman with history of NSAID use who presented with gastric outlet obstruction. The gastric biopsy identified concurrent <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> and <em>Sarcina</em>. Given <em>Sarcina</em>'s association with emphysematous gastritis and gastric perforation, its identification on gastric biopsies should be clearly stated in pathology reports and, depending on the clinical scenario, prompt clinicians to add adjunctive antimicrobials to anti-ulcer therapeutic regimens.</p> ER -