[Therapeutic approach to para-esophageal hernia]. / Attitude thérapeutique face à la hernie para-oesophagienne.

The charts of all the patients operated upon for paraesophageal hernia (HPO) were reviewed. 24 patients could be found between 1976 and 1992. The mean age was 64 years, with 15 men and 9 women. 15 patients had a pure HPO, whereas 9 had a mixed hernia (HPO and laxial hiatal hernia). 3 patients presented with acute symptoms, and 2 of them were operated on emergently. The remaining patients had elective surgery, consisting of reduction of the stomach (all cases), excision of the hernia sac (12), closure of the diaphragm (17) and gastropexy (8). There was no mortality. Due to the fact that acute complications occur in as much as 30-40% of the cases, elective surgery should be proposed to any patient with a known paraesophageal hernia if the operative risks are not prohibitive. A careful preoperative assessment including endoscopy and pH-manometry of the esophagus will provide arguments to add a antireflux procedure to the standard operation, which should include reduction of the stomach, resection of the sac, closure of the hiatal defect and gastropexy.

[Use of the deep femoral artery as the anastomotic site in proximal or distal bypass. Indications, technique, results of a series of 19 cases]. / Utilisation de l'artère fémorale profonde comme site d'anastomose dans les pontages proximaux ou distaux. Indications, technique, résultats d'une série de 19 cas.

Atherosclerosis predominantly affects the ilio-superficial femoral axis, and tends to spare the deep femoral artery which can offer excellent outflow for proximal reconstructions for occlusive vascular disease of the lower limbs. Often symptoms are relieved and ischemic lesions can heal. The deep femoral artery can also provide good, pulsatile inflow for distal reconstructions when it is desirable to avoid the groin (either because of multiple previous dissections or because of infection). Occasionally two-level sequential bypasses to and from the deep femoral artery are required for multilevel disease where the groin is to be avoided. Over the past 4 years we have performed 190 arterial reconstructions (41 central, 125 distal and 24 sequential two-level procedures). 19 times the proximal, distal or intermediate anastomosis was on the deep femoral artery. Short- and long-term results were good in these difficult patients, with relief of symptoms or significant improvement in most patients. Two major (and no minor) amputations were ultimately required. Arterial reconstructions using the deep femoral artery cannot only salvage many limbs, but offer good symptomatic relief in patients who are not suitable for usual reconstructive procedures.

[Standardized hepatectomy. 18 cases operated in a peripheral hospital]. / L'hépatectomie réglée. A propos de 18 cas opérés dans un hôpital périphérique.

Hepatectomy has long been a formidable surgical procedure because the risk of hemorrhage it can involve. With a better understanding of hepatic anatomy, left hepatectomy, right hepatectomy and segmental hepatic resections have been standardized. Between January 1989 and December 1992, 18 hepatectomies were performed on 16 patients in the Department of Surgery, General Hospital, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The mean age of the patients was 65. The surgical indications were: hepatic metastases 11 (61%); gallbladder or biliary duct neoplasm 4 (22%); hydatic cyst 3 (17%). 11 segmental resection, 3 left hepatectomies, 2 right hepatectomies, 2 pericystectomies were performed. Blood loss during these operations averaged 2800 ml. Surgical complications appeared in 6 cases (hemorrhage 1, postoperative effusion 4, sepsis 1). One patient died within 30 days (mortality 5%). Hepatectomy is nowadays a safe procedure. It can be performed in a general hospital with a trained surgical team and an efficient intensive care unit.

[Colonic malrotation observed in the adult]. / Malrotations coliques observées chez l'adulte.

Malrotation is a rare aetiological factor of intestinal occlusion in adult. We report our experience of 16 cases collected from 1976 to 1991. The incidence is about 0.2-0.5% with two peaks, at 25 and 55 years respectively. Mean age is of 41 years. The symptoms were occlusion in more than 90%. A contrast enema was performed in acute as well as in chronic situations. The surgical treatment whatever it is, is the treatment of choice but has to be put in balance with age.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Three cases]. / Léiomyosarcome de la veine cave inférieure. A propos de trois observations.

We report three new cases of leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava observed between 1985 and 1990. Two of them developed in women and one in a man. The age of the patients were 56, 29 and 57 years. The three tumors have been removed completely. One patient received postoperative radio- and chemotherapy and is well 68 months after excision. One patient developed liver metastasis 18 months after resection despite chemotherapy and died after 3 years. The last one refused postoperative radio- and chemotherapy, developed massive local recurrence and pulmonary metastasis three months postoperatively, and is still alive with disease after 8 months. The diagnostic modalities of these rare tumors as well as the problems created by their surgical resection and the need for a complementary treatment are discussed.