Protective effect of a splenic factor in mice with burns.

We have previously described the protective effect of a lipoidal splenic factor (SF) against lethal endotoxemia in mice. Since this protective effect is also accompanied by significant antithrombotic changes, and since burn injury causes thrombosis and consumptive coagulopathy, it was postulated that SF decreased the severity of the burn wound. Swiss white mice were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and then burned on a depilated area of the lower back with a 2-cm diameter stainless steel weight at 95 degrees for 10 sec.

Segmental tuberculosis of the colon mimicking carcinoma.

Tuberculosis of the distal colon occurring in the absence of ileocecal or pulmonary involvement is often mistaken for neoplasm or Crohn's disease. In spite of various studies, including colonoscopy and brushings with biopsy, the diagnosis might still be in doubt at the time of operation. The combined approach of surgery and chemotherapy appears to be the treatment of choice, especially in those patients who have bleeding and/or obstruction in whom the diagnosis cannot be made by other modalities.

Traumatic hematocele of the gallbladder with hemobilia.

An unusual case of traumatic hemobilia in which blood reached the bile duct through transhepatic penetration of the gallbladder is reported. The salient features of this variant of traumatic hemobilia are described: antecedent subcapsular liver injury; variant time interval to GI hemorrhage and episodic hemorrhage; and necrosis or hematoma at the bleeding site.

Congenital hepatic duct obstruction with perforate diaphragms.

A patient had obstruction of the right and left hepatic ducts secondary to perforate diaphragms at the junction with the common hepatic duct. Transhepatic cholangiograms of both the right and left lobes were required to define the presence of diaphragms at the junctions of right, left, and common hepatic ducts. Excision of the diaphragms relieved the obstruction.