Role of gap junctions modulating hepatic vascular tone in cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Gap junctions are formed by connexins (Cx), a family of proteins that couple endothelial and smooth muscle cells in systemic vessels. In this context, Cx allow the transmission of signals modulating vascular tone. Recently, vascular Cx have been observed in liver cells implicated in liver blood flow regulation.

Outcomes after laparoscopic treatment of complicated versus uncomplicated acute appendicitis: a prospective, comparative trial.

Background: Laparoscopic treatment of simple acute appendicitis (AA) is a safe procedure; however, there are doubts about its safety in cases of complicated AA. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in results of laparoscopic treatment between cases of complicated versus simple AA.

Materials And Methods: We prospectively included all patients treated for suspected AA by two surgeons of our service between May 2002 and May 2007.

Conservative treatment of a huge abdominal wall hematoma after laparoscopic appendectomy.

We report a case of a 30-year-old male patient who presented with a huge abdominal wall hematoma 60 minutes after laparoscopic appendectomy. During surgery there had been no sign of abdominal wall bleeding. We found a lateral abdominal wall hematoma caused by rupture of the abdominal epigastric artery after trocar insertion.