Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis.

Spontaneous pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis is a rare phenomenon which poses a dilemma to the surgeon faced with this problem. Two such cases and their outcome are presented. The first case was caused by barotrauma during positive pressure ventilation and was treated by laparotomy.

Association of von Willebrand's disease with plasma cell dyscrasia and gastrointestinal angiodysplasia.

A patient with acquired von Willebrand's disease (type I) had both plasma cell dyscrasia and angiodysplasia of the intestine. Based on examination of the components of F VIII/von Willebrand's factor (VWF) and the results obtained following the administration of cryoprecipitate and DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin), it was suggested that the production and release of VIII/VWF was normal and the rapid disappearance from the circulation was related to adsorption by abnormal cells in the bone marrow. The relation of acquired von Willebrand's disease, plasma cell dyscrasia and angiodysplasia is discussed and the literature reviewed.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the breast.

Primary Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma (M.F.H.

Spontaneous rupture of the normal stomach after sodium bicarbonate ingestion.

Spontaneous rupture of the normal stomach is an unusual and highly lethal event. We present a case of spontaneous rupture of a normal stomach after ingestion of sodium bicarbonate, and review the seven similar cases previously reported.

Recurrent bladder perforation in chronic irradiation cystitis.

Chronic irradiation cystitis may cause fibrosis and weakening of the detrusor, with greater susceptibility of the bladder wall to endoscopic trauma. We lately treated a patient with chronic irradiation cystitis who sustained recurrent bladder perforation, one after electrohydraulic lithotripsy and the other--following cystoscopy. The first event was handled surgically and the second one in a conservative approach.