Esophageal fistula sealing: choice of stent, practical management, and cost.

Background: Three models of covered metal stents are available to seal esophageal fistulas.

Methods: Stainless steel covered stents were inserted in 5 patients (group I); nitinol covered stents were inserted in 12 patients (group II) with malignant (n = 14) or benign (n = 3) esophageal fistulas.

Results: Stent positioning was satisfactory in all cases.

Role of the double-contrast barium enema in rectal stenosis due to suppositories containing paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid.

Self-treatment of chronic headache with suppositories containing paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid may lead to serious complications. We report the radiological features of five cases of rectal stenosis following the use of such suppositories. The role of the double-contrast barium enema in suggesting the diagnosis of this complication of a chronic and often unrecognized self-treatment is emphasized.

Delayed enhancement of the bowel wall: a new CT sign of small bowel strangulation.

Purpose: To report a new CT sign of small bowel strangulation.

Materials And Methods: Two cases of small bowel obstruction evaluated by spiral CT with intravenous contrast injection.

Results: In both cases we observed an absence of parietal enhancement of the diseased bowel loop, visible on early scans only.

[Spiral tomodensitometry of pancreatic calcifications].

Chronic pancreatitis is characterized by the formation of intraductal precipitates that may later grow and calcify, forming large stones. These calcified stones, representing almost all the calcifications visible in chronic pancreatitis, are located in the major pancreatic duct or in the secondary branches. During the past 10 years, new sophisticated endoscopic techniques have been developed to remove obstructing calculi from the main pancreatic duct.

Paradoxical contraction of pelvic floor muscles: clinical significance.

Paradoxical contraction of pelvic floor muscles during defecation straining has been said to be a cause of constipation and difficulty in passing feces. Nevertheless, controversies about its clinical significance still remained. Twenty patients with constipation and electromyographic evidence of paradoxical contraction of both puborectalis and external anal sphincter were investigated.