Double transection of complete duodenal circumference after blunt abdominal trauma without other intra-abdominal injuries.

We report a case of a 20-year-old male with isolated complete duodenal transection at two duodenal segments after blunt abdominal trauma. On admission, the patient underwent physical examination, laboratory analysis, abdominal ultrasound and plain abdominal x-ray. Physical examination revealed diffuse and rebound tenderness and extreme rigidity of the abdomen, guarding and decreased bowel sounds.

Perforin expression in peripheral blood lymphatic cells of patients subjected to laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy.

Perforin-(P-) related characteristics of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells were investigated in peripheral blood of patients subjected to open (OC; n = 23) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC; n = 21) and healthy controls (n = 20). Blood samples were obtained preoperatively and 24 hours after the surgeries, and the data were correlated with the intensity of cholestasis and concomitant inflammation, determined by functional hepatic tests. Postoperative differences were found to be minimal: OC decreased only the percentage of CD56(+) cells, while LC decreased the fraction of CD8(+)P(+) cells and augmented the mean fluorescence intensity of P in CD56 cells.

[Harmonic scalpel in laparoscopic surgery].

Harmonic scalpel for the tissue cutting and coagulating is a replacement for the high frequency current, which can be connected with diverse complications. The principle is transforming of the electric power into mechanical longitudinal movement of the working part of the instrument, by piezoelectrical transducer situated in the hand piece. Between October 2000 and June 2001, one hundred and three patients were operated using harmonic scalpel.

Penetrating liver war injury: a report on 172 cases.

During the 4-year military conflict in Croatia, we treated operatively 7,928 casualties. Of those casualties, 172 (2.2%) had penetrating liver injury, mostly sustained by explosive devices.