[Pericardial foreign body: an unusual cause of chest pain in children]. / Corps étranger péricardique: une cause inhabituelle de douleur thoracique chez l'enfant.

Penetrating thoracic trauma by a needle or pin is rarely described in children. Localization of the needle may sometimes be difficult. The needle can migrate from the entrance site into many organs with time and cause little initial morbidity. We describe the case of a 14-year-old male patient with a sewing needle accidentally inserted through the chest wall. The foreign body had migrated spontaneously to the pericardium. A computed tomography scan of the chest is needed to determine the location of the needle and show any complications. Pericardium foreign bodies are dangerous and need electrocardiography and cardiac ultrasound before treatment. Removal of the needle by thoracotomy or thoracoscopy is indicated.

[Isolated congenital stenoses of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Review of the literature apropos of a new case]. / Les sténoses congénitales isolées des voies biliaires extrahépatiques. Revue de la littérature à propos d'une nouvelle observation.

The authors describe a case of congenital stenosis of the common hepatic duct, in ten-year-old girl, with jaundice for two months. Ultrasonography showed an intra and extrahepatic duct dilatation. The operative cholangiogram demonstrated severe stenosis at the end of the common hepatic duct. A Roux-en-Y anastomosis of the jejunum to this duct relieved the obstruction. Histopathological examination of the removed stricture showed non inflammatory fibrous structures. The congenital biliary strictures are exceptional. The review of the literature allowed to collect nine other cases, which symptoms began before fifteen years old. Only four were treated in childhood. The arguments for a malformative origin of the stricture are the patient's age, the seat of the stenosis and its histological structure. Several physiopathological theories allowed to explain the usually delayed beginning of first symptoms: distortion of the stenosis by gradual distension, biliary sludge, lithiasis and infection. The preoperative diagnosis of the stricture may now be made by transhepatic or endoscopic cholangiography, but before to assert its congenital feature, it must eliminate many intrinsic or extrinsic causes: post operative, traumatic, inflammatory and tumoral. The Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the usual treatment.

[Multiple congenital esophago-tracheal fistulas (excluding atresia of the esophagus). Review of the literature, apropos of a new case]. / Les fistules oeso-trachéales congénitales multiples (atrésie de l'oesophage exclue). Revue de la littérature, à propos d'une nouvelle observation.

Congenital tracheoesophageal fistulas (CTOF) without esophageal atresia are uncommon and exceptional when multiple. Authors report a new personal case treated in two times. Others eight cases in literature are studied. Only one pre-operative diagnosis was made. Two old no-operated cases were discovered at autopsy. For five, no clinical modification was noted after the first CTOF surgical care. In them two no-reoperated died and the second fistula was seen after. For the others, the same radiological or endoscopic exams that have not marked the second fistula were positive after surgery. No explanation was done. For a better result, systematic complete investigation of trachea and esophagus are necessary even if first fistula is diagnosed. Luckily per-operative discovery of second fistula (one case) do not allowed initial extensive surgery. To support a second congenital tracheoesophageal fistula after a surgical time, many criterias are necessary: 1. a undoubted fistula recognised during the first intervention; 2. recurrent symptoms after surgery with no free interval; 3. identification by radiology or endoscopy of a new tracheoesophageal shunt in other place that the first; 4. its surgical discovery in no previous dissected area. In all cases where fistulas are described, the aspect is not the same: the upper fistula is a "H" type and the lower is shorter and larger ("X" type). To note a case of three simultaneaous fistulas in the same patient.

Extrinsic arterial supply of the great saphenous vein: an anatomic study.

The extrinsic arterial supply to the great saphenous vein was studied by dissection following latex injection, diaphanisation and contrast roentgenograms. Arterial supply arises from the external pudendal, superficial femoral, superior genicular and posterior tibial arteries. These branches ensure the irrigation of the vasa vasorum. The role they play in the outcome of bypass with the great saphenous vein is a further argument pleading in favor of the in situ technique.