[Manual versus mechanical sutures in gastric surgery in cancer]. / Suture manuali versus suture meccaniche nella chirurgia gastrica per cancro.

The Authors, on the basis of their experience in San Camillo Hospital of Rome, compare the results between manual and mechanical sutures in 597 gastric cancers operated in the last 12 years. They confirm that at present staplers are of great reliability.

[Use of the duodenum in demolition surgery of the stomach. Reconversion gastroduodenostomy in post-resection syndromes following Billroth II operations]. / L'utilizzazione del duodeno nella chirurgia demolitiva dello stomaco. La gastro-duodenostomia di riconversione nelle sindromi post-resezione tipo Billroth II.

Stress is laid on the importance in digestive and absorptive physiology. The methods used for the re-insertion of the duodenum in the digestive circuit in the surgical correction of servious post-Billroth II syndromes are explained. Direct duodenal reconversion by means of the transformation of gastrojejunostomy into gastroduodenostomy is recommended in the light of results obtained in 25 cases of p.o.p.u., dumping syndrome, inflammation of the anastomosis, and ALS. It is suggested that jejunal interposition should be kept for cases in which the particular shortness of the gastric stump makes simple re-insertion of the duodenum into the stomach impracticable.

[Role of the duodenum in the digestive function. I. Notes on its physiology]. / Il ruolo del duodeno nella funzione digestiva. Nota I. Appunti di fisiologia

A full account is given of recent advances in knowledge of the physiology of the duodenum. Modern means of diagnosis have shown that this organ, far from having a secondary role in digestive performance, carries out fundamental activities. These are described and it is made clear that the duodenum, on its own account, is the organ of choice for the digestion and absorption of some important nutritive substances. In addition, its motor and, above all, endocrine activity serves to direct the functions of the stomach, the intestine, and the glands attached to the gastroenteric tract (pancreas and bile ducts).