[Sarcoidosis simulating a pulmonary veno-occlusive disease].

We report the case of a man of 43 years old presenting with sarcoidosis which produced pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure without radiological evidence of interstitial fibrosis. In spite of treatment with steroids and corticosteroids (1 mg/kg) there was progression over 2 1/2 years to respiratory failure and irreversible right heart failure and the death of the patient. At autopsy the pulmonary veins were obliterated by non caseating granulomas and there were minimal fibrotic parenchymal lesions.

Motor abnormalities of digestive and urinary tracts in patients on ventilator for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The frequency of digestive motor abnormalities was evaluated in 30 consecutive patients ventilated for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Total and segmental colonic transit times were investigated by radiopaque marker transit time in all patients. Eleven patients also had rectoanal and esophageal manometries, combined with urodynamic study in eight cases.

[Acute paraffin oil pneumopathies. Apropos of a case in a fire-eater].

A case of acute paraffin oil-induced pneumonia due to accidental inhalation by a fire-eater of kerdane, a petroleum derivative is reported. The symptoms and course of respiratory manifestations of acute paraffin oil poisoning are reviewed. The physical properties of the petroleum derivative inhaled account for the pathogenesis of the pneumonia.

Intrapulmonary haematoma complicating mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Intrapulmonary haematomas occurred during mechanical ventilation of two patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bullous dystrophy. In both cases, the haematomas were revealed by blood-stained aspirates, a fall in haemoglobin level, and the appearance of radiological opacities. Haematoma occurrence in the area of a bulla which recently has rapidly increased in size, suggests that the haematoma is due to the rupture of stretched vessels embedded in the wall of the bulla.