[Hartmann's resection of the large intestine--a method still useful].

Unlabelled: Hartmann's procedure is an operation indicated especially in emergency cases for left-sided colonic pathology where primary anastomosis is considered unsafe.

Methods: Retrospective study 95 patients who underwent Hartmann's procedure over a 5 year period in the Surgical Clinic of the University Hospital in Pilsen.

Results: 81 (85%) operations were emergency procedures.

[Esophageal stents].

The method of oesophageal stents application using a surgical procedure via gastrotomy for otherwise surgically unmanageable malignant stenoses of the oesophagus and the gastric cardia, has been used for several decades. Once the self-expandible endoprostheses, applied under either the endoscopical or radiological (RTG) control, or both, and following a change in the oesophageal malignities treatment strategy, the spectrum of indication groups of the patients, who would undergo the stent implantation, have enlarged. Recently, thank to the endoscopically removable endoprostheses, the authors broaden the spectrum of use to benign findings of the oesophageus and the gastric cardia (strictures, perforations, insuficiency of anastomoses), as well.

[Conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is nowadays the method of choice in treatment of symptomatic cholecystolithiasis, despite the fact that some operations cannot be completed laparoscopically and are converted. In a group of 431 patients operated during the last two years the authors evaluate the causes and predispositions of conversion which was performed in 7.4%.

[Carcinoid of the ileocecal junction with symptoms of acute abdomen].

The authors describe a group of six patients (two men and four women) operated at the Surgical Clinic in Plzen during 1995-2000 on account of a carcinoid of the GIT. The mean age of the patients was 48.6 years, the range 14-77 years.

[Injuries of the diaphragm].

The author presents an analysis of 27 injuries of the diaphragm treated at the surgical Clinic of the Faculty Hospital in Plzen in 1969-1992. There was a total of 22 closed injuries, all part of multiple injuries. In five instances an open injury was involved.