[Endoscopic ligation of bleeding esophageal varices].

Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is a new method for treating oesophageal varices, which was developed to reduce the high complication rate seen with endoscopic sclerotherapy. This technique consists of mechanical occlusion and thrombosis applying small elastic bands around the variceal channels in the distal oesophagus. We report 39 patients treated with EVL during the period from April 1995 to December 1996.

[Septic pneumonia caused by Bacillus cereus].

The authors describe the case of a 3-year old girl whose septic pneumonia was caused by B. cereus and developed following serial viral and bacterial infections, which produced assumably transient immunoppressed condition. Attention is drawn to the possibility of serious diseases caused by faculative bacteria in certain cases.