[Two cases of small bowel ischemia due to unusual cause].

The authors report 2 cases of small bowel ischemia due to unusual cause. In both cases, vasculopathy was the cause of ischemia, but with a different etiology. In the first case, a mesenteric inflammatory veno-occlusive disease, with striking features of extensive phlebitis and venulitis affecting the veins of the small intestine and mesentery, without arterial involvement of this district was observed and histological examination showed inflammatory lymphocytic infiltrates and myointimal hyperplasia of the veins.

[Intestinal occlusion caused by persistent omphalomesenteric duct and Meckel's diverticulum: report of 2 cases].

Two rare cases of mechanical intestinal obstruction due to an omphalomesenteric duct remnant and/or to a Meckel's diverticulum, respectively, are reported. The first case was a 20-year-old man and the second an 87-year-old woman. In contrast with various reports in the literature, our experience demonstrates that this kind of obstruction may also affect elderly female patients in western countries.

[Diverticulosis of the colon: complications of surgical interest].

Diverticular disease is prevalently only of medical interest. Repeated episodes of diverticulitis, particularly in younger patients, and serious complications such as perforation, stenosis, fistula and haemorrhage demand surgical treatment. The timing and type of surgical operation are conditioned by the pathological picture and by the patient's general condition and age.

[Sigmoid occlusion due to endometriosis. A case report].

The Authors report a case of sigmoid obstruction due to endometriosis and review the literature about. Unusual localisation and difficult preoperative differential diagnosis with IBD and bowel carcinoma are stressed. A 45-years old woman with previous history of oophorectomy was admitted at the hospital with symptomatic bowel obstruction.

[Surgical treatment in acute cholecystitis emergencies].

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the importance of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, without "conservative" treatment (intravenous fluids and antibiotics for 48-72 hours) to reduce inflammation. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces bile duct injury and the percentage of conversion to open cholecystectomy. Thirty-five patients with acute cholecystitis were submitted to early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, equally divided according to sex.

[Gastric pull-up in pharyngo-esophageal reconstruction: a personal experience].

During the five-year period from 1992 to 1997 a total of 62 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma extended to the cervical esophagus came to our attention. Of these 42 (67.7%) were deemed operable and of these 31 (23 males, 8 females; age range 48 to 74 years; mean age 58.

[Ketoprofen in the prevention of postoperative pain in abdominal surgery. A multicenter study].

Two-hundred-forty-eight patients undergoing abdominal surgery were admitted to a multicentric clinical trial. The patients were randomly assigned to a single i.v.

The use of somatostatin in acute pancreatitis--results of a multicenter trial.

This study involves a multicenter trial aimed at evaluating the comparative beneficial therapy of somatostatin and traditional symptomatic therapy in the management of acute pancreatitis. According to our final data somatostatin has not proved to be any better than traditional medical treatment. Nevertheless, in our opinion, the advantage of a single and expeditious therapy makes somatostatin administration preferable to the combined employment of several therapeutic measures usually applied in these circumstances.

[Angiographic and clinical evaluation of the topical administration of nitrate derivatives in distal obstructive arteriopathies of the legs. Initial experiences].

The vasodilator effect obtained by the topic use of a nitroglycerin compound (TNG) has been angiographically tested on 11 patients affected by distal arteriopathy of the legs. All patients presented arteriosclerotic vascular lesions; two of them also suffered from diabetic angiopathy. Arteriography of the legs has proved to be a very important tool in the evaluation of the patients' response to the administration of the drug.

Peristomal hernia following end-colostomy: a conservative approach.

Available data from follow-up of 183 patients who survived abdominoperineal excision for cancer of the rectum are reviewed. Sixteen patients developed a peristomal hernia, but none required surgical correction for over 20 years of observation. An additional group of 50 long-survivors has been recently examined to verify whether our restrictive surgical indications are adequate.

[Acute complications of hernias caused by congenital defects of the diaphragm].

Following a classification of the various types of congenital hernia of the diaphragm, the acute complications that may be caused by such defects of diaphragmatic morphogenesis are reviewed. Relative physiopathology is considered, particularly as regards the thoracic dimension of large hernias of the cupola. As regards visceral hernia, the most typical pictures of the two commonest complications, volvulus and strangulation, are described among other aspects.

[Notes on the embryology and anatomy of the diaphragm].

The main steps in the embryogenesis of the diaphragm are summarised, with particular reference to details of major importance in the formation of congenital hernias. Morphogenetic abnormalities of the diaphragm are described. Malformations occurring during the different stages of embryonal development (agenesia, total or partial aplasia or eventratio, restructuring defects) and their incidence are also illustrated.

Postoperative chylothorax. Six cases in 2,500 operations, with a survey of the world literature.

We have systematically reviewed the literature concerning iatrogenic chylothorax and shall report our personal observations on the subject. Despite an increasing number of thoracic operations, injuries to the thoracic duct are infrequent. Cardiovascular and esophageal procedures are the most frequent causes of chylothorax.