[Recurrent inguinal hernia after mesh hernioplasty. An emerging problem?].

Background: In spite of the successful results of tension free hernioplasties, recurrent inguinal hernias are not an uncommon finding in the clinical practice.

Methods: The authors report their experience in 24 patients observed from January 1994 to December 2000 (23 men, 1 women, min. age 28 yrs, max 78 yrs, mean 58 yrs) who had recurrent inguinal hernia after a tension free hernioplasty.

[Recurrent inguinal hernia. Intraoperative findings and cause of failure].

Background: Recurrent inguinal hernia is still frequently observed today.

Methods: In order to evaluate factors causing failure of hernia repair 64 recurrent hernias are examined (63 men, 1 woman; age: min 32 years, max 88, median 60 years), 54 previously operated with "traditional" Italian surgical school techniques (Bassini and Postempskij) and 10 with "tension free" operations. For every patient previous surgical procedures, complications occurred, timing of recurrence and intraoperative findings at reoperation were recorded.

[Crossectomy in the treatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency: a developing technique].

Crossectomy is an old and simple surgical technique for great saphenous vein insufficiency. At present the results in the international literature are not encouraging, possibly owing to a lack of standardized indications. The authors describe their experience.

[Annular pancreas in adults: diagnostic considerations on a case].

Annular Pancreas (AP) is a rare congenital anomaly that usually presents in childhood with symptoms referable to duodenal obstruction; nonetheless, this condition can manifest in adulthood with abdominal pain, pancreatitis, duodenal ulcer, pancreatic head mass. The Authors hereby discuss a case of AP observed in a 63 year-old patient in which EUS played a decisive role in achieving a certain diagnosis.

[Surgical indications in the phlebopathic patient. The role of air plethysmography].

A previous history of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) must be carefully evaluated in every patient affected by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI); the assessment of deep venous system patency is the goal of preoperative diagnosis. Air plethysmography examination allows an outpatient noninvasive testing of calf pump function and deep venous outflow. The authors report the results of a study on 37 patients (40 limbs) with a previous history of DVT, suffering from CVI; in 18 limbs air plethysmography showed a marked increase of calf volume on test exercise, suggesting residual venous obstruction.