[Evaluation of the haemostasis before a central block in children: what is the French anaesthesiologist's attitude?].

Objective: Because of the lack of controlled studies, there is no consensus regarding the practice of routine haemostasis tests before neuraxial blockade in children. The purpose of this study was to describe the French surgical practice about the preoperative evaluation of coagulation in children who were scheduled for paediatric neuraxial anaesthesia.

Study Design: Descriptive analysis of the practice.

[Evaluation of cholecystectomy by celioscopy. Apropos of a series of 500 operated patients in a general hospital unit].

A series of 500 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reported. The mean duration of the operation was 46 minutes when completed laparoscopically and 117 minutes when converted to laparotomy. The conversion rate was 10%, and the reoperation rate 2.

[Value of appendectomy by celioscopy: apropos of a series of 73 cases].

The practice of coelioscopic approach in acute appendicitis is still very much debated. A study of the results of 73 patients carried out over two and half years leads one to conclude to the interest of this technique also for the treatment of appendicular peritonitis. Full exploration of the abdominal cavity, easy discovery of ectopic appendix, treatment of associated lesions, extended peritoneal washing, are the observed advantages together with reduced length of hospitalisation and few post-operative complications, in particular parietals problems and obstructions at long term.

Is emergency aorto-superior mesenteric artery by-pass worthwhile?

Out of 9 superior mesenteric artery (SMA) revascularizations made in emergency, only an early direct aortic reimplantation was successful. The other cases were bypasses and their failures were due either to shock at revascularization (2 cases), or to thrombosis of a by-pass (4 cases), or to persistent ischemic lesions (2 cases). It is suggested: (1) that late mesenteric revascularization should be excluded and let place to extensive bowel resection, (2) that, in emergency, direct SMA aortic reimplantation is preferable to aorto-SMA by-pass.

[Late revascularization of the renal artery: what are the prognostic criteria?].

Two patients with non functioning silent kidney on excretory urography and renal artery occlusion on angiography, underwent renal artery revascularization without severe hypertension or renal failure. Angiographic appearance of collateral circulation, histologic evidence of intact viable glomeruli and a normal sized kidney are necessary for successful results. Renal blood flow was restored in the two patients but one had slight return of function and the other patient showed no evidence of improvement.

[Cholecystectomy by celioscopy. Experience in two Upper Normandy hospital units. Apropos of 178 procedures].

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) emerges as an effective alternative to classical cholecystectomy, but its safety, benefits and indications still need to be clarified. From September 1989 to March 1991, 178 LC were performed by 8 surgeons in 2 hospitals, on 142 women and 36 men with a mean age of 48.2 years.

[The superior mesenteric artery syndrome. Apropos of a case and review of the literature].

During laparotomy for an appendicular peritonitis, the authors found an acute mesenteric artery syndrome. Conservative treatment consisted of mobilisation of the 4th part of the duodenum with section of the suspensory muscle of Treitz, but this was not sufficient to cure the patient. Two weeks later the patient completely recovered after a duodenojejunal anastomosis.

["Suspended" popliteal artery shunts. A report on 15 cases (author's transl)].

A "suspended" popliteal artery (S.P.A.

[Infection of vascular sutures: a report on 26 cases (author's transl)].

The authors describe 26 cases of infection after vascular surgery, affecting a Dacron prosthesis in 13 cases and venous grafts in the other 13 patients. The site of infection was usually the region of Scarpa's triangle (15 cases) with the presence of enterobacterium in 40% of cases. The most frequently isolated germ was staphylococcus aureus (20 cases).

[Sub-adventitial cystic degeneration of the popliteal artery. One case (author's transl)].

On the basis of a new case of sub-adventitial cystic degeneration of the popliteal artery, the authors review the characteristics of this condition. The diagnosis may be suspected on the basis of clinical and arteriographic findings in an individual in whom the arterial system is otherwise normal. The various aetiological hypotheses are recalled.

[Traumatic chylothorax with dorsal spinal fracture. A case report (author's transl)].

We related there a traumatic chylothorax due to a thoracic vertebral fracture. It has been recognized at the 13st day, after a lost of 11 liter of lymph and a down of albuminemia by lymphography. The direct ligature has been only partly successful leaving still a tiny lymph leak during a fortnight.