[2 Cases of intestinal occlusion caused by carcinoma of the ileum]. / Su due casi di occlusione intestinale da carcinoma dell'ileo.

The Authors describe two patients observed because of an acute obstructive episode and presenting at laparotomy a stenosing carcinoma of the ileum. In these cases the first symptom, as observed in one patient may be represented by an abdominal undefined, changeable and irregular pain, whose peristaltic origin appears rarely clearly recognized. Acute obstruction may therefore be the first symptom as verified in our other case, or the clinical presentation after a long and misunderstood abdominal pain history. For these reasons these patients reach the surgeon almost always when complicated and in advanced oncological stage, so that the surgical treatment also when radically performed, offers no satisfactory.

[The clinical significance of Serratia infections during the post-operative course (author's transl)]. / Sul significato clinico delle infezioni da Serratia nel decorso post-operatorio.

A series of 25 cases of Serratia infections, during the period from november 1977 through aptile 1978, is reported. Serratia isolates were identified with increasing frequency from urine, surgical incisions and blood. All the patients had received antimicrobial therapy prior to the time Serratia was first isolated. These patients (92%) had had indwelling urinary catheters inserted during the post-operative course and Serratia was isolated predominantly from the urinary tract. In 3 patients who died, Serratia played a role in the ultimate demise of the patient. Prophylaxix and antimicrobial therapy are discussed.