[Cimetidine in the treatment of peptic esophagitis. Clinical findings and results with 171 patients].

After a brief physiopathological introduction, the results obtained with Cimetidine in 171 cases of peptic oesophagitis are described. Given the high percentage of successes even in serious oesophagitis and the minimal incidence of side effects, cimetidine is the therapy of choice in conservative treatment of peptic oesophagitis.

[Cimetidine versus ranitidine in the treatment of peptic esophagitis].

A double blind test with cimetidine and ranitidine conducted on 60 patients with acid reflux oesophagitis revealed cimetidine to be the more effective. Its success is felt to lie more in the drug's ability to activate defensive factors than in its inhibition of acid secretion.

[Ranitidine in the treatment of duodenal ulcer. Initial clinical experience with 33 patients].

The short and medium term results obtained with ranitidine on 33 duodenal ulcer patients are reported. The results obtained indicate that ranitidine is excellent for initial therapy but there are doubts about its efficacity in the prophylaxis of recurring ulceration during maintenance treatment. In addition, about 9% of the patients suffered side effects to the extent that treatment had to be interrupted.

[3 cases of gastric diverticulum].

Out of 3000 radiograms of the upper gastrointestinal tract, followed by an endoscopic examination, performed at the Institute of Clinica Chirurgica of the University of Sassari from 1974 to 1980, the Authors found only three cases of gastric diverticula. This confirms the relative rarity of this disease. On the basis of these three observations, an analysis of some of the clinical and therapeutical aspects of gastric diverticula is then made.

[A new technic of venous thrombectomy of the lower limbs].

A personal venous thrombectomy technique employing a modified Fogarty catheter is described. The end of the catheter to which the syringe is normally applied is cut off to enable it to be used in a retrograde manner. In this way, thrombectomy is always performed in the direction of the current, irresapective of the site of the thrombosis in the venous axis of the lower limbs.

[Primary adenocarcinoma of the 3d duodenal segment].

A case of primary duodenal adenocarcinoma is described. A discussion is made about the rarity of this tumor that, as it is frequency misdiagnosed in cases of malignant neoplasms of the papilla of Vater and of terminal part of the common biliary duct, may be greater than all previously thought. Tumors of the third part of duodenum are even more uncommon.

[Raynaud's phenomenon: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects].

The Authors report their experience concerning 120 patients with Raynaud's Disease (50 pats.) or Syndrome (70 pats.).

[Study of the relations between recurrent nerve and inferior thyroid artery (author's transl)].

The importance of a knowledge of the relations between recurrent nerve and inferior thyroid artery, in order to minimise the incidence of injuries to the nerve during thyroidectomy, is stressed. These relations are analysed from the anatomo-surgical standpoint, with particular emphasis on the great variability to which they are subject. It is concluded by asserting the utility of prior location of the recurrent nerve, with an indication of some basic concepts that must always be borne in mind when performing thyroid surgery.

Massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage due to a ruptured aneurysm of the retropancreatic arterial arch.

The Authors present a case report of a spontaneous ruptured aneurysm of the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery (retropancreatic arterial arch), leading to a massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage with very severe hemorrhagic shock. They point out the rarity of such instances and explain some of the etiopathogenic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this type of hemorrhagic pathology.

[Our experience with treatment of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta].

From 1964 to 1977, 64 patients affected by aneurysm of the thoracic aorta were surgically treated at the 2nd Surgical Department of the University of Milan (Head: Prof. E. Malan).

[The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Study of 2 familial cases].

Two new familial cases of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome are reported. The cases present a number of original aspects with regard to anomalous transmission of the defect, the common finding of a single ileal polyp and associated malformations in the first of the two cases. The clinical aspects of the disease are discussed together with the histology of the polyps in relation to their possibility or otherwise of degenerating.

[A case of giant hydronephrosis in a child, secondary to congenital stenosis of the pyeloureteral junction].

An examination of some anatomopathological and clinical aspects of hydronephrosis and its causes in childhood is followed by the description of a personal case marked by discrepancy between the anatomical and pathological picture of giant hydronephrosis and the complete absence of symptoms, resulting in delay in its clinical detection. Stress is laid on the fact that, although surgical reconstruction of the pyeloureteral junction is possible, a very great number of nephrectomies still have to be performed owing to the tardy discovery of these lesions.

[The role of the Billroth I operation peptic ulcer surgery].

The conviction is expressed that none of the operations today available for treatment of peptic ulcer is always effective for all types of patient; the surgeon must in fact be able to select and perform the operation most suitable for each case. In this connection the advantages and disadvantages of gastric resection according to Billroth's first method are considered. The fundamental stages of this operation are described in detail, with a critical analysis of the various pathological conditions in which its performance is indicated or, on the contrary, there is a precise contraindication.