[Gazeous necrosis of the liver due to hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation]. / Nécrose gazeuse du foie par thrombose de l'artère hépatique après transplantation hépatique.

An emergency liver transplantation was performed in a 22 year-old female for fulminant hepatitis. The donor had had splenectomy with portal vein thrombosis which was diagnosed and removed during portoscopy. Nineteen days later, abdominal pain with shock and hepatic failure occurred. X-rays showed pneumoperitoneum and aeric images in the liver area. Laparotomy disclosed massive liver necrosis with gaz under the Glisson's capsula. The hepatic artery was thrombosed. In spite of emergency retransplantation, the patient died 8 days later, due to systemic aspergillosis. Thrombosis of hepatic artery was particular by the importance of gaz-forming infection, and emphasizes the role of rejection. The discovery of portal thrombosis allows to outline the precautions necessary in case of splenectomized donors. The severeness of aspergillosis is underscored.

[Block of the cervical plexus for the unipolar exclusion of a gastroplasty after bronchial fistula]. / Bloc du plexus cervical pour exclusion unipolaire d'une gastroplastie après fistule bronchique.

A 46 year old man was operated on for an oesophageal carcinoma. Total oesophagectomy and gastroplasty were carried out. Postoperatively, a fistula developed between the gastroplasty and the right main bronchus. This led to respiratory impairment, with pulmonary infection, pleural effusion and hypoxia; the patient could not remain supine. A cervical oesophagostomy was decided on; to carry it out, a cervical plexus block was preferred to a cervical epidural anaesthesia because of the lesser respiratory and haemodynamic effects of the former technique. The procedure was well supported by the patient, and no significant hypoxia was detected by continuous pulse oximetry. Artificial ventilation of this patient was therefore successfully avoided.