[Aneurysm of the hepatic artery. Case report and review of the literature]. / L'aneurisma dell'arteria epatica. Case report e revisione della letteratura.

Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) are considered rare even though their reports in the literature are becoming more and more frequent. The great improvement in the diagnosis of vascular diseases and the increasing incidence of atherosclerosis have resulted in a wider recognition of these pathologies. Differently from other splanchnic locations HAAs have a high risk of rupture (up to 80%) so that an aggressive treatment is required. Different therapeutic options are currently available: simple ligation of the artery, aneurysm excision and vascular reconstruction, transcatheter embolization. However, the therapeutic choice must be evaluated in each single case, depending on the size, aspect and locations of the aneurysm, and requiring an accurate study of the collateral vascular supply. Finally, since additional aneurysms in other sites are frequent, a dose follow up of these patients is recommended.

[Intestinal obstruction in colorectal neoplasms. Our experience with 50 cases]. / L'occlusione intestinale nelle neoplasie del colon-retto. Esperienza su 50 casi.

From January 1985 to December 1989 in our Department 178 patients were operated for colorectal carcinomas. Fifty (28%) underwent emergency procedure for intestinal obstruction. The male-female ratio is about 1. The mean age is 79.6 (range 40-91), but 76% of patients is 60-85 years old. The rectum-sigmoid junction was the most affected (30%), followed by the rectum (18%) and the sigma (16%). Thirty-five (70%) patients underwent intestinal resection. The early postoperative death rate is 18% (9 cases). All the patients operated upon had Dukes stage B-C neoplasms.