Facial nerve function after parotidectomy for neoplasms with deep localization.

Purpose: To determine whether the deep location of a parotid gland neoplasm is specific risk factor for facial nerve paralysis after parotidectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 88 patients, including 59 with a benign superficial neoplasm of the parotid treated by superficial parotidectomy (group 1); 5 with a benign deep neoplasm treated by total parotidectomy (group 2); 20 with a malignant superficial neoplasm treated by total parotidectomy (group 3); and 4 with a malignant deep neoplasm treated by total parotidectomy (group 4).

Results: Temporary facial nerve paralysis developed in 10.

Microsurgical distal sympathectomy in chronic vasospastic syndromes of the hand.

The authors propose a microsurgical technique to treat upper limb chronic digital ischemia that is resistant to medical therapy. The adventitiectomy technique on digital arteries is used here to remove the fibrous tissue and the vasoconstrictor sympathetic nervous fibers contained in it. This operation is a valid alternative to traditional proximal sympathectomy.

[Lymphectomy for well differentiated or "aggressive" thyroid malignancies. Indications, complications and results of our experience].

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the role of lymphectomy in the treatment of well differentiated and aggressive carcinomas of the thyroid gland. From 1987 to 2002, 231 patients were operated on in our Division; 97 were male (42%) and 134 female (58%), with a mean age of 48 years (range 17-45). One hundred and ninety-four patients had well differentiated thyroid carcinomas, and 37 aggressive thyroid cancer.

[Pancreaticojejunostomy by simple introduction after pancreaticoduodenectomy].

The method which most surgeons still prefer in the treatment of the pancreatic stump after pancreaticoduodenectomy is pancreaticojejunostomy. In this article, we describe our preliminary experience with a fast, effective method, consisting in an end-to-end pancreaticojejunostomy by simple introduction, in 11 cases operated on without morbidity or mortality. From 1998 to 2002, 11 patients with pancreatic head or distal bile duct neoplasms underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy.