Asymptomatic pneumoperitoneum or pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis? Easy to make a mistake.

Pneumoperitoneum refers to the presence of intraperitoneal free gas outside the viscera. A perforation of a hollow viscus is the main cause and usually indicates a surgical emergency. However, some case of pneumoperitoneum can be completely asymptomatic and secondary to benign conditions that do not require any surgical intervention.

[Knowledge of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women and the associated factors: a population-based study].

The scope of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and its distribution in terms of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and biological factors among women living in the State of Rio Grande. It was a cross-sectional population-based study, with the inclusion of women aged 18 years and over. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable Poisson Regression analysis were performed.

[Treatment of the ingrown toenail by phenol cauterization (ASLUF)].

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and the ethiopatogenetic aspects of the ingrown toenail, treated by usual surgical technique versus phenol wedge cauterization (ASLUF).

Methods: From June 1990 to June 1999, 388 patients (218 male and 170 female patients, age range 9-90 years) were treated by 413 wedge ablation, surgical or chemical. After the operation, patients were controlled after 2 days, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year.

[Giant diverticulum of the duodenum. Case report].

The authors describe the case of a 49-year-old man with a giant diverticulum of the duodenum, with apparently scarce symptoms, pointed out by gastroscopy and X-ray of the upper gastrointestinal duct with barium meal. The removal of the lesion, obtained after surgical operation, showed a diverticulum with a 6 cm diameter, with signs of diverticulitis; the histological test did not point out is degenerative lesions. A survey of the recent literature on the matter is presented.

[Rupture of the duodenum caused by closed abdominal trauma].

A duodenal lesion due to blunt abdominal trauma is an infrequent eventi which makes important diagnostic and therapeutic problems. The preoperative diagnosis is not always easy, especially with retroperitoneal lesion or in injured patients. A plain abdominal radiography or a duodenal radiography with soluble contrast medium helps to achieve a proper diagnosis.