Spontaneous Cholecystocutaneous Fistula.

Spontaneous cholecystocutaneous fistula is a rare complication of chronic calculous cholecystitis because currently gallstones are diagnosed and treated at an early stage. This occurrence is possible even if it seems actually to be rare. We report the case of a 90-year-old woman admitted to our hospital with diarrhea of 4 days duration and low-grade fever (37.

Does gabexate mesilate affect serum concentrations of acute phase proteins after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography examination?

Background/aims: To explore the possibility that the preventive effect of gabexate mesilate on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-related acute pancreatitis may be mediated by its modulation of acute phase proteins.

Methodology: Thirty consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were randomly assigned to receive 1g of gabexate mesilate (13 patients) or a placebo (17 patients) by continuous i.v.

Effect of secretin on serum pancreatic enzymes and on the Wirsung duct in chronic nonpathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia.

Aim: Chronic nonpathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia (CNPH) is a new syndrome characterized by an increase in serum pancreatic enzymes in the absence of pancreatic disease. The aim of this study was to increase our understanding of this condition by determining the serum pancreatic enzyme response as well as changes in the caliber of the Wirsung duct after secretin stimulation.

Methods: Twenty subjects with CNPH and 9 healthy subjects without CNPH were studied.

Anesthesiological risk and endoscopic sphincterotomy in acute biliary pancreatitis.

Introduction: The rate of complications after endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is about 10%, and early complications have been reported in 20% of patients considered unfit for surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the early and long-term results of endoscopic intervention in relation to the anesthesiological risk for 87 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis.

Methodology: All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and were evaluated according to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) criteria immediately before the operative procedure.

Early activation of peripheral lymphocytes in human acute pancreatitis.

Background: The CD69 antigen is an indicator of early lymphocyte activation.

Goals: To evaluate the early activation of peripheral lymphocytes T, B, and NK in patients with acute pancreatitis in comparison with patients with acute abdomen of nonpancreatic origin.

Study: Thirty patients with acute pancreatitis were studied; 20 of them had the mild form of the disease and 10 had the severe form.

Pancreatic involvement during the early phase of shock.

Background: There is a lack of data concerning pancreatic involvement during shock.

Aim: To evaluate possible pancreatic alterations in the early phase of shock.

Setting: Twelve consecutive patients with shock were studied within 2 hours from the onset of illness.