[Thromboembolic risk and prevention of deep venous thrombosis in open and laparoscopic surgery]. / Rischio tromboembolico e profilassi della trombosi venosa profonda in chirurgia tradizionale e in chirurgia laparoscopica.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism are the dangerous and serious complications in patients undergoing surgery. It is known that prognosis is strictly linked to timely recognition of the pathogenetic-clinical phase of the thromboembolic disease and that prevention, therefore, plays the leading role in patients at risk. The most recent series show that, in absence of prophylaxis, the frequency of DVT, diagnosed by objective tests, is still significant in abdominal surgery. Modern diagnostic tools make possible to identify relatively silent clinical thrombosis, also with laboratory tests (i.e., D-dimer plasma levels). The Authors report a study on thromboembolic episodes in patients who underwent pneumoperitoneum with CO2 during laparoscopic abdominal surgery, compared to a control group submitted to open surgery. They underline the importance of a careful preoperative evaluation of the venous system, by Doppler study, in order to identify, patients at risk of DVT and establish a suitable anti-thrombotic prophylaxis.

[Caroli's disease: literature review and characteristics of a clinical case]. / La malattia di Caroli: revisione della letteratura e particolarità di un caso clinico.

The Author's report the case of the simple form of Caroli's disease, a rare malformation, and review literature pointing out the difficulty of an early diagnosis, because disease can be silent for a long time too and it is identified for complication. Today, imaging, endoscopy and interventionist radiology are the most valid tools for a correct diagnosis and treatment, above all in a case of emergency, when other therapeutic solutions are not possible.

[Posterior approach in the treatment of sacrococcygeal chordoma: a rare, locally infiltrating, destructive and recurrent tumor. A case report and review of the literature]. / L'approccio posteriore nel trattamento del cordoma sacrococcigeo: tumore raro, localmente infiltrante, distruttivo e recidivante. Descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

Based on personal observation of a case of recurrent chordoma in the sacrococcygeal region four years after the first excision with subtotal resection of the coccyx using a posterior approach, the authors describe the unique characteristics of this rare neoplasm and underline the simplicity of this method of treatment. The surgical technique used to treat the recurrent form also used a posterior approach, with complete resection of the neoplasm including the scar of the previous operation and the last remaining segment of the coccyx. No intra- or postoperative complications were reported. The authors examine the clinical and histological aspects of this neoplasm, concluding that the correct form of treatment must aim both to protect the adjacent anatomic structures and to achieve radical exeresis, as well as achieving a simpler surgical approach unhampered by complications. The authors believe that this approach is simpler than the abdominal-dorsal approach, although this is necessary in the event of intra-abdominal infiltrations.

[Diaphragm rupture caused by closed trauma. A more and more frequent condition]. / La rottura del diaframma da trauma chiuso. Una patologia di sempre più frequente riscontro.

The Authors report a case of rupture of the diaphragm in blunt trauma of the abdomen, to examine the more significant features of this condition whose incidence proves to be increasing, after a review of the literature data, parallel to the increase of accidents on the road and at work. They examine the most important pathogenic problems and these related to the mechanism leading to diaphragmatic lesion and they highlight the deeper pathophysiological changes suffered from the patient with such a condition. They draw attention to what they consider to be the most important aspect, and therefore the diagnosis. In fact, in accordance with the various series of cases reported in the literature, it is crucial in the diagnostic problem is when the possible cause of the rupture is suspected and necessary diagnostic cascade (Rx, echotomography, TC) is activated so to highlight the lesion. Therefore a quick diagnostic fitting is necessary for the survival of the acute patient with hernia of the thorax cavity, as well as quick surgical correction of the lesion that, as in the case described, serves to achieve the best possible anatomic-functional results.

[Endoscopy in non-neoplastic cholestasis]. / L'endoscopia nella colestasi non neoplastica.

The role of endoscopic treatment of cholestasis is well codified as an alternative or adjuvant therapy to surgery, particularly in those cases where non malignant cause has been identified. Non-neoplastic cholestasis therefore benefits very substantially from endoscopic treatment in a context where the traditional surgical approach presents limitations in terms of morbidity and mortality. It should be borne in mind, however, that the two approaches are strictly complementary for the correct management of these patients.

[A case of strangulated trans-omentum hernia]. / Su di un caso di ernia transomentale strozzata.

After a review of the Literature, the Authors report a case of intestinal obstruction caused by trans-omentum hernia. This unusual disease is due to a defect of the greater omentum with herniation and secondary strangulation of small bowel. The clinical presentation was that of an intestinal obstruction with rare possibility of preoperative diagnosis. Therefore, a correct knowledge of this pathology and immediate surgery are necessary for the prognosis.

[Our experience in using a synthetic prostacyclin analog in the treatment of critical ischemia of the extremities]. / La nostra esperienza sull'utilizzo dell'analogo sintetico della prostaciclina nel trattamento dell'ischemia critica degli arti.

The authors, after examination of pharmacologic profile of Iloprost, prostacyclin synthetic analogue, report their clinical experience from January 1992 to June 1997 on 105 patients with severe ischaemia of inferior limbs. They utilize two protocols: 0.5-2 ng/kg/min x 6 hs once a day x 28 days and 1-1.5 ng/kg/min x 6 hs twice a day x 12 days. The first protocol were practise along the first 2 years; the second on following period as long as today. The results, evaluated on clinical criteria, are referred entity and time of pain remission and decrease of analgesic use, performance status improvement, increase of gear autonomy and, if present, wound healing. The incidence of amputation was 4.76% (5 pts). The authors issue that Iloprost is a conservative treatment, often alternative with amputation, giving sometimes to patients a longtime functional "restitutio ad integrum".

[Clinical considerations and therapeutic options in papillomatosis of common bile duct. Clinical case]. / Considerazioni cliniche ed opzioni terapeutiche nella papillomatosi della via biliare principale. Caso clinico.

The Authors report a case of endoscopic treatment of common biliary tract papillomatosis. This therapeutic option derive by patient's clinical evaluation and clinical reports from literature. Agreeing with Cornud, we have opted for endoscopic conservative management with drainage of common biliary tract; furthermore endoscopic procedure permit, by an intensive follow-up, identification and management of possible recurrences. This approach, minimally invasive, is in our opinion the first option for the biliary papillomatosis management.

[Intercostal incisional hernia: case report]. / Il laparocele intercostale: caso clinico.

The authors report a case of intercostal incisional hernia following marsupialization of liver hydatid cyst stressing the considerable rarity of the pathology and describing the restorative procedure by intercostal plastic with polypropilene Mesh and rib's approach with stainless steel wires.

[Primary gastrointestinal localization of N-H lymphoma: authors' experience]. / Le localizzazioni gastrointestinali primitive del linfoma N-H: nostra esperienza.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the alimentary tract is a rare pathological entity with few peculiar clinical aspects, therefore characterized by problems of differential diagnosis with other neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. The Authors report on some cases of primary gastrointestinal N-H lymphoma observed in their experience and discuss about the most significant clinical and pathological data. They conclude that currently surgical treatment is the first fundamental step of a multidisciplinary therapeutic program, which may allow an improvement of the prognosis.