[Cutaneous ascites as complication of the placement of a totally implantable arterial system].

The Authors report the case of a patient with intrahepatic colangiocarcinoma, operated on for totally implantable arterial device (TIAD) implant in view of hepatic chemotherapy. The postoperative course was characterized by cutaneous drainage of ascites fluid from the wound of the TIAD implant. Its aetiology and therapy are discussed.

[Pulmonary resections for cancer in the octogenarian].

Unlabelled: More and more elderly subjects are offered for pulmonary resection. The object of this study was to review the results of excision for cancer in octogenarians.

Patients: 51 consecutive patients (44 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 82 years (80-91) were operated on.

[Surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax: comparison of thoracotomy and thoracoscopy].

The video-thoracoscopic treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax currently has the same role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in abdominal surgery. The Authors consider thoracoscopic approach and traditional thoracotomy examining advantages versus disadvantages, comparing 50 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax treated by thoracoscopy, from February 1992 up to February 1995, and 50 patients, previously treated by open surgery. Video-thoracoscopy has the same percentage of recurrences of thoracotomic approach but assures a quicker functional recovery and, above all, a remarkable reduction of pain.

[Pleuroscopy and talc pleurodesis in recurrent pleural effusions: experience with 51 cases].

From January '92 up to January '94 thoracoscopy was performed in 51 patients with recurrent pleural effusion: 49 of these patients underwent talc pleurodesis. 10 pleural mesotheliomas, 29 diffuse metastasic pleural involvement and 12 benign effusions were diagnosed. Intrapleural talc therapy allowed a definitive pleurodesis in 43 patients with a success rate of 87%.

[Tracheal resection-anastomosis in carcinoma of the thyroid infiltrating the airways. A case report].

The Authors report a case of thyroid carcinoma with tracheal involvement. Since the neoplastic invasion of the trachea was 3 cm long total thyroidectomy with sleeve tracheal resection and immediate reconstruction with end-to-end anastomosis were performed. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach is discussed and the Literature data reviewed.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: description of a new case and review of the literature].

A case of primary leiomyosarcoma of the inter-renal vena cava is reported. This tumor is rare and up to date no more than 100 cases have been reported. Surgical treatment consisted in the removal of vena cava from the iliac veins to the suprahepatic veins with right nephrectomy.

[Malignant mesothelioma located in the pleura: its radical surgical treatment].

The authors report a rare case of localized malignant pleural mesothelioma infiltrating the thoracic wall. The absence of widespread pleural involvement allowed for a radical operation with removal of a large portion of the thoracic wall. However, due to rarity of such tumor, an hypothesis on long term prognosis is difficult to formulate.

[Pulmonary sequestration. Surgical aspects based on 61 cases].

Between 1955 and 1989, 61 patients (33 men, 28 women; mean age: 20 years) were operated upon for lung sequestration. Sequestration was intralobar in 49 cases and extralobar in 10 cases; both types were present in 2 cases. The abnormality was discovered by chance in 15 patients (24%).