Experimental study on a large animal model of a new thermoablation technique.

Background: A novel technique of thermoablation, using a microtube to deliver pulses of hot water vapour, was tested on a large animal model in order to evaluate its efficacy and potential adverse effects.

Materials And Methods: The medical device consisted of a microtube extension connected to a hydropneumatic pump. Pulses of pure water were injected though the microtube where they were heated and delivered as vapour into the target zone.

[Perforation of a jejunal diverticulum].

An observation of jejunal diverticulum is reported by the authors. It concerned a woman 82 years old whose disease appeared as an acute white spread peritonitis complication. The delay brought to perform the operation made it impossible to save diseased.

Mountain frostbite. Current trends in prognosis and treatment (from results concerning 1261 cases).

From an experience of a large number (1261) of cases of mountain frostbite, an attempt is made to explain its pathophysiological mechanisms and describe the different modalities which to now allow early prognosis to be made. Laser-Doppler, microwave thermography, nuclear magnetic resonance (31P spectroscopy) and bone scintigraphy (technetium 99) are some of the investigations which deserve a special attention. Treatment is discussed, which still appears to be limited to saving viable tissue, especially for severe frostbite lesions, the only ones which pose problems.