Long-term Result of Treatment of Prader-Willi Syndrome by Scopinaro's Bilio-pancreatic Diversion. Study of Three Cases and the Effect of Dextrofenfluramine on the Postoperative Evolution.

The Prader-Willi Syndrome shortens the life of patients due to the morbid obesity which it entails. The compulsive hyperphagia associated with it makes a dietetic treatment or a gastroplasty difficult. This study presents the case histories of three patients suffering from the Prader-Willi syndrome who were operated on by means of a Scopinaro's bilio-pancreatic diversion.

[Recurrence of a benign pleural mesothelioma 18 years after excision. Review of a series of 33 patients with a primary tumor of the pleura from 1958 to 1986].

A 60 year old woman developed recurrence of a localized pleural mesothelioma 18 years after initial exeresis. Based on data from 33 cases of primary tumor of pleura treated in the UCH, Vaudois, Switzerland between 1958 and June 1986, symptomatology, treatment and prognosis of pleural mesothelioma a are discussed. Findings suggest the need for long-term follow up surveillance of patients with benign mesothelioma.

[Saturnism caused by skin absorption of a drug].

A case of chronic lead poisoning is described in a woman presenting with abdominal pain due to cutaneous absorption of a lead soap. We have found no other case of intoxication by this route in the literature.

[Pseudo-obstruction and colonic ischemia].

We report the case of a 78 year old male schizophrenic with pseudo-obstruction of the colon complicated by patent-vessel ischaemia that was diagnosed after sub-total colectomy. Surgery was motivated by the chance discovery of a pneumo-peritoneum without peritonitis and without any evidence of perforation in the gastro-intestinal tract. We believe that early surgery is required in patients with pseudo-obstruction of the colon, to prevent complications such as ischaemia of the distended bowel wall which, though rare, is also well recognised.

[Continuous thoracic drainage and suction. Comparative study of the performance and price of multiple-use systems (separate bottles) and single-use (compact systems) disposable systems on the market].

A study of 12 pleural drainage systems has been conducted. The system was disposable in 8 instances and allowed multiple use in 4. Each system was analyzed in relation to 15 performance criteria and 15 safety criteria.

[Diffuse digestive ganglioneuromatosis].

Discovery of intestinal ganglioneuromatosis implies the presence of the MEN IIb syndrome or, more rarely, von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis. The two conditions are due to dysfunction of the neural crest. This very rare intestinal pathology is illustrated by two observations.

[Medullary cancer of the thyroid gland].

Thirty-one cases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid have been studied over the past fifteen years at the University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland (CHUV). Twenty cases were of sporadic nature and eleven presented as part of the familial MEN II syndrome (multiple endocrine neoplasia), one of which showed the classical features of the rare MEN IIb type. It is important to distinguish between the familial and sporadic cases, because membership of the former group implies the investigation of associated endocrinopathies (pheochromocytoma, hyperparathyreoidism) and study of the family tree as the syndrome is autosomal dominant.

[Treatment and prognosis of colo-rectal cancer. Study of 1357 cases].

This retrospective report deals with 1357 cases of colorectal cancer operated on in the last 26 years. It covers the main epidemiologic data, tumour locations, surgical approaches, follow-up and prognosis according to the extent of the cancer. The results are given for the entire period and then by fractions thereof, and it is thus possible to appreciate how the treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer have evolved.