[Cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy with mesentericoportal venous reconstruction. Technical features].

Cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy (CPD) with mesentericoportal venous resection increases the resectability rate of pancreatic tumors. When performed in selected patients and by experienced surgical teams, this technique shows the same long-term rates of morbidity, mortality and survival as CPD without vascular resection, provided that negative surgical margins are obtained. This procedure is contraindicated by complete thrombosis of the portal or superior mesenteric veins, invasion of the superior mesenteric artery or celiac trunk, and distant or periaortic lymph node involvement.

[Prosthetic replacement of the inferior vena cava. Current controversies].

A ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft is currently the most widely used replacement for the inferior vena cava, although clinical studies comparing this technique with non-ringed prostheses are lacking. There is no consensus on the need to use an anticoagulant or associate a temporary distal arteriovenous fistula to increase venous flow. At present, the best therapeutic strategy cannot be determined.

A hydrodynamic study of pleural drainage systems: some practical consequences.

Background: A pleural drainage system must be capable of efficiently evacuating the air or fluids from the pleural cavity so that adequate lung reexpansion can take place. The air flow and negative pressure of the system will depend on the particular design of each model. This experimental study analyzes the specifications and performance of the pleural drainage systems currently on the market.

Liver transplantation in patients with portal vein thrombosis.

The aim of this study is to analyze the incidence, risk factors, management, and follow-up of patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) undergoing primary orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Four hundred fifteen OLTs were performed in 391 patients. In 62 patients, partial (group 1; n = 48) or complete (group 2; n = 14) PVT was found at the time of surgery.