[The role of drainage and antibiotic prophylaxis in thyroid surgery].

Background: It is our habit to employ an open drainage after thyroid surgery in our department. We have also found a large number of surgical infections in these patients (5.8% vs 2.

[Connection between the type of drainage and sepsis in thyroid surgery].

Drainage in thyroid surgery, although still controversial, is used at our service routinely, as it guarantees the output of serum, sometimes abundant after thyroidectomy, and allows the immediate check of hemorrhage. It is nevertheless known that the presence of drainage can favour the occurrence of infection of the surgical bed. Through a randomized trial, we tested the incidence of sepsis after thyroidectomy, using in one group a double open Silastic drain and in another group a double aspirative drain.

Surveillance after colorectal cancer surgery.

Early diagnosis of local and distant recurrences of colorectal cancer remains difficult and there is no agreement on the effectiveness of follow-up in these patients. The aim of this study is to assess the value of our method of follow-up. We consider 239 patients with colorectal cancer and at least 2 years follow-up following radical resection.

[Comparison of colorectal mechanical suture techniques].

Unlabelled: Objective of this study is to establish which kind of stapled anastomosis is the most reliable in rectal surgery. 67 patients randomly assigned to three groups underwent low anterior resection of the rectum with end-to-end, side-to-end or double stapling anastomosis. Main outcome measures were incidence of leakage at the intraoperative check of the suture, postoperative leakage, stenosis, mortality, mean post-operative stay.

[Heller's intervention for esophageal achalasia].

From 1962 to 1992 sixtythree patients with esophageal achalasia underwent primary surgical treatment. The intervention performed was a cardiomiotomy according to Heller in 20 patients (Group A), a cardiomiotomy according to Heller with anti-reflux procedure according to Lortat-Jacob in 12 patients (Group B), a cardiomiotomy according to Heller with fundoplicatio according to Dor in 31 patients (Group C). Preoperative study was performed by radiological evaluation in patients of Group A, while patients of Group B and Group C were submitted also to endoscopy and esophageal manometry.