Droplet dynamics in homogeneous isotropic turbulence with the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method.

We develop a numerical method for simulating the dynamics of a droplet immersed in a generic time-dependent velocity gradient field. This approach is grounded on the hybrid coupling between the lattice Boltzmann (LB) method, employed for the flow simulation, and the immersed boundary (IB) method, utilized to couple the droplet with the surrounding fluid. We show how to enrich the numerical scheme with a mesh regularization technique, allowing droplets to sustain large deformations.

[Peristomal hernia: alloplasty using an original technique].

The case is reported of a 67-year-old male patient with a voluminous parastomal hernia after a Miles abdomino-perineal resection and consequent definitive terminal colostomy for a rectal adenocarcinoma. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of a new alloplasty technique for parastomal hernia using a Goretex Dual Mesh Plus prosthesis placed under the peritoneum, directly in contact with the intestinal loop. Two important factors should be considered, namely, the high rate of relapse due to fascial repair with or without prostheses and the greater invasiveness of surgical treatment involving the construction of a new stoma in another site after re-laparotomy.

[Fournier syndrome: report of a clinical case].

The case of a Fournier's syndrome in a 58 years old patient is reported from the Authors that describe the ethiopathogenetic and therapeutic aspects. They analyse the importance of an early surgical treatment associated with antibiotic therapy and later a riparation of the lesions with a myocutaneous skin flap of TLF.

[Incidental diagnosis of seminoma in male infertility: report of a clinical case].

The aims of the study were to evaluate the association between male infertility and risk of developing testis cancer and to establish guidelines for the early diagnosis of testis neoplasia in subfertile men. 32-year-old infertile man. The patient underwent random testicular biopsy to establish the exact cause of infertility.

[Gastric resection and subtotal gastrectomy. Principles and updated surgical technique].

The Authors describe their last 10 years experience in gastric surgery. They report the results obtained in 12 gastric resections performed for complications following gastric and/or duodenal peptic ulcers, in 33 cases of total gastrectomies (34%), and 48 cases of subtotal gastrectomies (49%) for early and advanced cancer. The results lead to interesting conclusions: first of all achieving a wide jejunojejunostomy between the afferent and the efferent loop the problems related to gastric resection (as postoperative sequelae, dumping syndrome, reflux esophagitis, alkaline gastritis, etc.

[Endolaparoscopic "Rendez-vous" in the treatment of cholecysto-choledochal calculosis].

Different methods, all of which equally efficacious and safe, can be selected to access the choledochus in patients with cholecysto and choledocholithiasis on the basis of clinical and anatomosurgical parameters. From 1990 we evaluated three groups of patients who underwent surgery at different times and with different methods: sequentially (endoscopic sphincterotomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy), one step laparoscopy and combined laparo-endoscopy. The results obtained seem to show that the treatment with laparoscopy alone is the most advantageous in terms of cost-benefit, while the endoscopic access of the choledochus during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the one to prefer in terms of efficacy and safety.

[Septic ascites: a rare post-operative complication].

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with chronic hepatitis represents a very controversial matter in terms of frequency, pathology and treatment. This unusual complication mainly due to decreased immunological defences and ascitic fluid opsonic activity is not accepted by all the Authors as a rare event. However, there is agreement as far as management is concerned: cultural examination of the ascitic fluid and the relative antibiogram are the best tools in guiding the approach to an adequate antibiotic therapy.

[Anterograde laparoscopic cholecystectomy: when and why].

Today largely diffused is the concept that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) represents the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. Nonetheless some questions have been raised on the real safety of this new method in terms of procedure-related complications. On the basis of our experience with traditional open cholecystectomy, we have recently performed a prograde LC in those cases with difficulties in identifying the anatomical structures of the so called Calot's triangle.