[Diastematomyelia: antenatal diagnosis with successful outcome, two cases]. / Diastématomyélie: à propos de deux observations anténatales et revue de la littérature.

To discuss, through a review of the literature, clinical signification and antenatal and postnatal management of diastematomyelia. We present two cases highlighting the clinical presentation and discuss management options. The first case was diagnosed in a 32-year-old primagravida female physician. The conssanguinous couple had a history of primary hypofertility. Antenatal magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a sagittal spinal spur separating two asymmetrical hemi cords. Pregnancy was not interrupted due to the lack of factors of poor prognosis. The infant was delivered at term and outcome has been favorable at 18 months follow-up. Ultrasonography performed at 22 weeks gestation provided the diagnosis in the second case. The mother was a 30-year-old primagravida anesthesist who had been addressed for suspected spina bifida. The consanguinous couple had a history of male hypoferility. The ultrasound scan revealed an echogenic spinal spur and integrity of the skin. Pregnancy was not interrupted due to the lack of factors of poor prognosis. The infant was delivered at term and outcome has been favorable at 18 months follow-up. Diastematomyelia is a rare malformation which can be diagnosed antenatally. Careful ultrasonography can distinguish diastematomyelia from myelomeningocele. Antenatal assessment is essential to identify forms with good prognosis because the neonatal outcome of isolated diastematomyelia is generally good, even if surgical repair is required.

[Pharmacologic study of monohydrated caffeine in the treatment of apnoea of premature infant]. / Etude pharmacologique de la caféine monohydratée dans le traitement des apnées du prématuré

UNLABELLED: Monohydrated caffeine was the only respiratory xanthine available in our country to treat apnea of premature infant. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of this molecule at dosages of 20 mg/kg (equal to 18 mg/kg of caffeine base) as a loading dose and 5 mg(-1) kg(-1) (equal to 4.5 mg(-1) kg(-1) of caffeine base) as a maintenance dose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was prospective including premature infants less than 34 weeks of gestational age born between the 1st of july 2001 and 15th december 2001 and receiving monohydrated caffeine to prevent apnea. Each premature infant has received orally a loading dose of 20 mg/kg in the first hours of life followed, 24 h after, by a maintenance dose orally once a day of 5 mg/kg until 35 weeks of post-conceptional age. Caffeinemia plasma levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography immediately before the second dose to determine the loading residual rate and immediately before the sixth dose to determine the maintenance residual rate. RESULTS: Twenty-one premature infants were included. Their medium term was 31.4 weeks (27.4-33.3 weeks), birth weight was 1684 g (1000-2800 g) and sex-ratio M/F was 1.3. Fifteen infants (71.4%) have presented apnea with an average of 4.1 episodes per infant and per day. Tolerance of the medicament was good in all cases. The medium loading residual rate was 3.26 microg/ml (1.75-7.80) and the medium maintenance residual rate was 4.26 microg/ml (2.13-7.64). CONCLUSION: Prescribed at a dosage close to twice the recommendations of the literature, monohydrated caffeine does not provide efficient plasma rates. This is probably due to a difference in its oral bio-availability compared with caffeine citrate and further study with greater dosages is needed to appreciate its efficacy.

[Perineal gangrene secondary to abscesses of the anal margin. Apropos of 9 cases]. / Les gangrènes périnéales secondaires aux abcès de la marge anale. A propos de 9 cas.

Of 9 patients with perineal gangrene secondary to abscess of anal margin, 7 presented deficiency states. Diagnosis was established after an average of 7.4 days following onset of signs, although the clinical picture was obvious and the lesions extended beyond the perineum towards the genital organs, buttocks or thigh. Essential therapy consisted of antibiotic cover, immediate and repeated surgical excision (average number of operations per patient = 6) and stools bypass by colostomy for severe perineal lesions. This resolutely aggressive treatment reduced mortality of this reputedly serious affection to 2 cases (22%), but morbidity was high and a perineoplasty was necessary in a third of the patients.

[Agenesis of the gallbladder. Comments on physiopathology and diagnosis. Apropos of 2 cases]. / L'agénésie de la vésicule biliaire. Réflexions sur la physiopathologie et le diagnostic. A propos de 2 observations.

Initially a simple anatomical curiosity discovered at operation or autopsy, agenesis of the ball bladder has now, and despite its rarity, become of the greatest interest from a pathogenic, physiopathological and diagnostic standpoint. Embryogenesis explains that this a developmental abnormality affecting the hepatic diverticulum which is probably of genetic origin, hence its frequent association with other malformations and the hereditary nature of the condition. The usual finding of a syndrome of blockage of the sphincter of Oddi with dilatation of the common bile duct raises the problem of synergism between the sphincter of Oddi and the gall bladder. The discovery of lithiasis of the hepatic and common bile ducts in agenesis of the gall bladder leads to discussion of the reality of organ lithiasis or the role of the distended wall of the common duct. Cholecystography and echotomography would appear to be the two techniques of investigation to be recommended preoperatively in order to increase support for the presumptive diagnosis once disorders affecting neighbouring structures have been eliminated. The definite diagnosis is made peroperatively by manual exploration, peroperative cholangiography or even coeliac arteriography during the operation. The indication for surgery is based upon clinical symptomatology. This does not treat the agenesis but the associated lesions which are its complications, in particular: lithiasis the common duct, sphincter of Oddi block syndrome and dilatation of the common duct.

[Dacron tulle prosthesis and biological glue in the surgical treatment of incisional hernias (author's transl)]. / Traitement chirurgical des éventration post-opératoires. Utilisation des prothèses en tulle de Dacron et de la colle biologique

In repair of incisional hernias the authors use Dacron tulle material for less than peritoneal sac reinforcement prosthesis greater than (PSRP)--a method which prevents recurrences whether or not the abdominal wall is badly damaged. A biological glue (n-butyl-cyanoacrylate monomer) in many cases avoids direct or indirect suture of the patch). In practice, there are two types of PSRP. In one type, the gap in the abdominal wall is small and can be sutured, and the peritoneal Dacron tulle patch is a mere adjunct to parietal synthesis. In the other type, the medial, lateral or peripheral eventration is extensive or recurrent, and parietal synthesis is impossible. A piece of Dacron tulle of very large size is then inserted without any glue or transfixing sutures to help solve mechanical and pathophysiological problems.