[Preservation of the liver using a new solution of phosphate-buffered saccharose]. / Preservação do fígado com uma nova solução de sacarose tamponada com fosfato.

The efficacy of the new phosphate-buffered sucrose solution (PBS), was compared with the conventional Euro-Collins (EC) and the lactated Ringer solution (LR), in its capacity to preserve the canine liver in cold storage. Three groups of 6 canine livers, each group in one of those solutions, were put in cold storage for 24 h at 4 degrees centigrade. At the end of this period the effect of warm hepatic reperfusion was studied in relationship with the following parameters: weight of the liver, bile excretion, hepatic biopsy, Na, K, Ca, P and some tests used to evaluate the hepatic function. The results obtained confirm, that PBS has an important impermeant effect over the hepatocyte, simulating that described recently by Lam et al to the kidney. Contrary to the EC and LR, the PBS inhibits hypothermic cell swelling, is more effective in the preservation of the liver histology, and has an opposed effect to the weight gain tendency induced by cold storage. During the period of warm reperfusion, high volumes of bile excretion and lesser levels of K depletion were observed in the PBS model. PBS is easy to prepare, and it is not expensive. For these reasons PBS could be an advantageous substitute of the EC in liver preservation.

[A comparative study of gallbladder function using echography and HIDA-CCK]. / Estudo comparativo do funcionamento da vesícula biliar com ecografia e HIDA-CCK.

This paper compares two methods of evaluating gall-bladder function after stimulation with cholecystokinin (CCK); One, the echographic method, permits the gall-bladder contraction study by determining variations in face area of the organ. The other, the scintigraphic method (HIDA-CCK test), studies of the gall-bladder emptying registering the decreases of activity by external counts. Out of 20 studies performed: 8 cases presented a contractile response and normal emptying; 7 had an abnormality late initial response (Ti) and contraction and emptying (defined by T1/2) slower than normal. In the 5 patients the gall-bladder traced with HIDA did not respond to CCK. Within this group, one patient had an incomplete painful contraction, evaluation by echography. The onset of pain or sub-costal discomfort was a variable finding within the different study groups. The linear coefficient correlation for the normal group and for the patients with late response was 0.8255 (x = 2.216 gamma-4.59). Based on these data and taking into account cheaper cost, patient comfort, and greater availability of equipment, the echographic method for studying gall-bladder contraction after administration of CCK, can be used instead of the HIDA-CCK procedure.

[Current possibilities of surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Apropos of a clinical case]. / Possibilidades actuais da terapêutica cirúrgica no carcinoma hepatocellular. A propósito de um caso clínico.

The recent improvement in surgical of therapy of carriers of hepatocellular carcinoma is due to both an early diagnosis of the illness and in the evaluation of set of prognostic and resectability factors. On describing a clinical case of a hepatocellular carcinoma localized on the left lobe of a healthy liver, the importance of the analysis of those factors of prognostic and resectable evaluation is shown up, compared to those in our case. Finally, a methodology is proposed for a diagnostic tracing in accordance with the present possibilities of curable and palliative therapeutics.