[Endoscopic follow-up of translaryngeal Fantoni tracheostomy].

Dilatational tracheotomy techniques are widely used in the long-term management of the respiratory tract in patients in intensive care units (ICU). The translaryngeal tracheotomy technique (TLT) was first described by Fantoni in 1993 and rapidly asserted itself, especially in Europe. This technique basically differs from the other percutaneous techniques in that it involves a progressive, retrograde, dilatation of the trachea in a single session conducted from inside the trachea, working outward, simultaneously exerting a counter-pressure on the pre-tracheal soft tissues with the fingers.

[Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery].

The authors report their experience of one single case of carotid pseudo-aneurysm consequent on cervical trauma. The treatment required the substitution of the interested carotid segment by PTFE no. 6.

[Carotid-subclavian bypass. Our experience with locoregional anesthesia].

Carotid-subclavian bypass has been adopted since 1956. The commonest indication is to abolish arterial occlusion or stenosis in patients with subclavian steal syndrome. Ten patients were submitted to carotid-subclavian bypass under regional anaesthesia: block of anterior rami of spinal nerves C3-C4 and block of cervico-brachial plexus by injection into the continuous perineural connective tissue space at the level of C6.

[Endocrine-metabolic response to 2 different techniques in surgery of the abdominal aorta].

Plasma cortisol and PRL were measured in two groups of patients undergoing reconstructive aortic surgery under either general anaesthesia and continuous epidural analgesia with supplemental general anaesthesia. The results confirmed that epidural analgesia with light general anaesthesia is much able than general anaesthesia to suppress the metabolic response associated with aortic surgery procedures.

[Loco-regional anesthesia vs general anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy. Response to the surgical stress].

The advantages of performing carotid endarterectomy in the awake patient, perioperative analgesia, circulatory parameters, plasma cortisol and PRL response to surgery have been evaluated. Ten patients were submitted to general anaesthesia and ten patients to superficial and deep cervical block. The Authors conclude that, although the number of patients studied is limited, there are no significant differences between the two groups for intraoperative analgesia, hemodynamic imbalance and plasma cortisol and PRL.