[Acute fatty liver in pregnancy: clinical and histopathological course. Case report].

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare disease which may be letal if diagnosis is missed. The pathogenesis is not completely clear, but there is some evidence that some cases have been associated with a genetic deficiency of fatty acid beta-oxidation. Other predisposing factors include primiparity, multiple pregnancy, male fetal sex and pre-eclampsia.

[Pericardial empyema as a rare complication of pneumococcal pneumonia].

The case histories of 3 patients hospitalised for severe pneumococcal pneumonia are reported. Electrocardiography showed generalized ST-segment elevations and echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was performed and analysis of the punctate fluid was consistent with empyema.

Bleeding anorectal varices: successful treatment with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS).

A patient with severe recurrent rectal bleeding from anorectal varices due to portal hypertension because of hepatitis C virus related liver cirrhosis is presented. As illustrated by the report, it is essential to differentiate bleeding anorectal varices from bleeding haemorrhoids because treatment is different. In our patient, implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) led to an impressive regression of the anorectal varices, which could be demonstrated by sigmoidoscopy, endosonography, and magnetic resonance imaging.

Dorsocranial liver resection and direct hepatoatrial anastomosis for hepatic venous outflow obstruction: long-term outcome and functional results.

Objectives: The management of hepatic venous outflow obstruction, usually known as Budd-Chiari syndrome, remains complex despite a variety of treatments.

Methods: We present the results from 16 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome who underwent dorsocranial liver resection and direct hepatoatrial anastomosis over a 10-yr period. The inferior caval vein was occluded in 10 patients.