[Polyps of the gallbladder. Considerations on their real clinical significance]. / I "polipi" della colecisti. Considerazioni sul loro reale significato clinico.

The authors review all the cases of polyps of the gallbladder observed during the period 1964 to 1992 at the Institutes of Pathology and General Surgery at the University of Florence. On the basis of their experience, the authors affirm that these phenomena always cause more or less evident, even if not specific clinical symptoms; moreover, since they are considered high-risk lesions for the onset of malignant tumours, the authors emphasize the need for cholecystectomy in all cases.

[Progressive pneumoperitoneum in the surgical treatment of conspicuous ventral hernias. Importance of the procedure to restore a good respiratory function]. / Il pneumoperitoneo progressivo nella chirurgia delle ernie ventrali di ragguardevoli dimensioni. Importanza del procedimento per ristabilire una buona funzionalità respiratoria.

A recent clinical report regarding a patient with a voluminous laparocele treated using progressive pneumoperitoneum justifies this short paper on the use of this method as a preparatory act to reparative surgery. The paper emphasises the undoubted advantages deriving from the use of this technique, especially in the case of those subjects with a particularly poor respiratory function secondary to hernia.

[Therapeutic approach in ventral hernia]. / La tattica nella terapia dei laparoceli.

Laparoceles are diseases of the abdominal wall and their repair does not usually involve technical problems which are difficult to resolve. The use of classic surgical methods, such as direct suture and plastic surgery, enables the parietal defect to be easily repaired in most case. However, cases do occur in which the surgeon is faced with considerable technical and tactical difficulties largely due to anatomopathological causes: the "loss of the right of domicile" of herniated viscera and the loss of musculo-aponeurotic substance. In the former case it is necessary to prepare the peritoneal cavity using pneumoperitoneum. In the event of the extensive destruction of the muscular component, or when the parietal breech is located next to bone or cartilagenous structures, it is essential to use a prosthesis. The paper goes on to describe the indications for the use of various techniques and their respective methods of use under different anatomo-clinical conditions.

[Pneumoperitoneum in preparation for surgery of large ventral hernia]. / Il pneumo-peritoneo nella preparazione agli interventi dei grandi laparoceli.

Reparative surgery of ventral hernia may be relatively simple or, on the other hand, the surgeon may be confronted with a number of tactical and technical problems. Many of these are caused by the "loss of the right of domicile". In order to avoid this particular condition it is useful to resort to preoperative pneumoperitoneum. This method entails the gradual and progressive introduction of air into the peritoneal cavity. In this way abdominal capacity is increased and it is therefore possible to re-insert all the viscera into their natural cavities avoiding all the harmful consequences for respiratory and cardio-circulatory organs following forced replacement. Preoperative pneumo-peritoneum is a relatively well consolidated surgical technique in large scale eventration. The methods is simple to perform and has a low incidence of complications.

[Malignant tumors of the small intestine. Comments concerning 21 observed cases]. / I tumori maligni del tenue. Considerazioni su 21 casi osservati.

Patients affected by malignant tumors of the small intestine observed by the Department of Clinical and Pathological Surgery at the University of Florence were studied from 1964 to 1989. The most important aspects of the disease were studied, on the one hand emphasising its low incidence and on the other the poor prognosis which accompanies it. Greater attention should be focused on these lesions in order to enable an early diagnosis to be made since this currently represents the sole possibility for carrying out an efficacious therapy.

[Endometriosis]. / Considerazioni in tema di endometriosi.

On the basis of two recently treated cases of endometriosis, the main aspects of this unusual pathology are examined; in particular its aetiopathogenesis, clinical picture and treatment still provide reasons of uncertainty. On the basis of an albeit limited experience, stress is laid on the importance of radical surgery, the only way to resolve the situation. Medical or conservative surgical measures are left to the early stages of the disease.

[Frequency and clinical significance of ectopic pancreas]. / Frequenza e significato clinico dei pancreas aberranti.

Ten cases of ectopic pancreas are presented. The literature on the subject is reviewed and the more controversial aspects of the disorder are discussed, in particular the clinical and anatomic-pathological significance, its diagnostic recognition, and the necessary treatment.