[Splenic abscesses: diagnosis and treatment]

Splenic abscess are a rare and severe pathology causing difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. The Clinical presentation usually associated with abdominal pain in the left upper quadrant, fever and splenomegaly. Diagnosis will be confirmed by morphologic examination such as ultra sonography and computed tomography. Percutaneous drainage procedure made in first intention can be used either for curative purpose or to prepare patient for surgery. We report four cases of splenic abscess collected in our departement between 1997 and 2000 in which percutaneous drainage procedure was trial first. Two of them were successful and the others were completed by splenectomy

[Rupture of the low thoracic ophagus after blunt trauma]

Closed traumatic rupture of the esophagus is uncommon. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are necessary to avoid death or serious illness. We report a case of a low thoracic rupture after blunt trauma diagnosed at the stage of esophago pleural fistula and mediastinal collection. The patient underwent a bipolar - exclusion of the esophagus. The digestive continuity was restored by a retrosternal coloplasty and an oesophagectomy was performed afterwards. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was in a good health three years after operation