[Complications of colostomies. Follow-up study of 500 colostomized patients]. / Les complications des colostomies. Suivi de 500 patients colostomisés.

The complications of colostomies may constitute a handicap for patients: their prevalence severity and methods of treatment remain poorly known. 500 colostomy patients, with a mean age of 66 +/- 14 years, were retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up of the study was 6 +/- 5 years. Colorectal cancers represented 65% of the initial diseases. 59.5% of colostomies were terminal. They were performed for resection of the colon and or rectum in 56.5% of cases. 30.5% of patients (n = 152) presented complications (n = 235). The early complications (n = 147) observed in 29.5% of patients were mostly benign (20 required emergency operations). The late complications (n = 88), observed in 22.5% of 391 patients with a follow-up of more than one year required another operation in 1/3 of cases (11 cases of stenosis, 9 incisional hernias and 8 prolapses). Complications of colostomies remain frequent (one out of every 4 stomies ends in a complication) and the reoperation rate is situated between 13 and 33%. The therapeutic success rate of late reoperation is between 63 and 74%. When a reoperation is necessary, it should be ideally radical via a midline incision. The transposition technique gives better results than the repositioning technique via a local approach.

[Complications of two types of pancreatic anastomosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy]. / Complications de deux types d'anastomoses pancréatiques après duodéno-pancréatectomie céphalique.

The operative mortality rate after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is 5% or less at major surgical centers and is generally related to pancreatic anastomosis complications. Recently, several authors have reported a low incidence of complications after PD using pancreaticogastrostomy. The aim of our work was to retrospectively study the operative complications of pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) and pancreaticojejeunostomy (PJ) after PD. Since 1989 we have performed 59 consecutive DP, in 33 male patients and 22 female patients, with a mean age of 56 +/- 12 years. We performed 43 PG and 16 PJ. In 42/59 cases, PD was performed for malignant disease. Pancreaticoduodenal resection was identical in both groups, with classical pancreatic transection performed at the level of the mesentericoportal axis. The overall mortality rate in this study was 5.08% (n = 3). It was 4.65% (n = 2) in the PG group and 6.25% (n = 1) in the PJ group. Operative complications were absent in 36 patients (24 PG, 12 PJ). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 17 +/- 6 days; 23 patients (19 PG, 4 PJ) presented one or several complications. 12 patients required re-exploration (10 PG, 2 PJ). Pancreatic fistula occurred in 8 patients (13.55%), 14% (n = 6) in the PG group and 12.5% (n = 2) in the PJ group. In each group, only one pancreatic fistula was re-explored. Seven patients (16%) in the PG group presented postoperative pancreatitis. Pancreatic fistula and postoperative pancreatitis occurred in a pancreas with a normal texture and non-dilated pancreatic duct in every case, with one exception (PJ). During long term follow-up, 18 patients died from cancer (12 PG, 6 PJ). In conclusion, this study suggests that PG does not decrease the pancreatic fistula or postoperative pancreatitis rates and that these complications are essentially related to pancreatic texture and pancreatic duct.

[Cavernous hemangioma of the spleen: values and limitations of ultrasonic and computed tomographic diagnosis]. / Hémangiome caverneux de la rate: intérêts et limites d'un diagnostic écho-tomodensitométrique.

A case of a cavernous haemangioma associated with an hepatic haemangioma is reported. It presented in the form of a hyperechogenic mass on ultrasound imaging. On the Computed Tomography scan with contrast, the splenic tumour became progressively hyperdense: this last characteristic is observed in 6 out of 9 cases reported in the literature. MR imaging seems to allow an accurate preoperative diagnosis; nevertheless, splenectomy is often indicated because of the risk of rupture, in which case histological examination removes any doubt concerning an exceptional malignant form.

[Isolated portal vein thrombosis: a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis]. / Thrombose isolée de la veine porte: une complication rare de la pancréatite chronique.

In chronic pancreatitis (CP) portal vein thrombosis (PT) is a less well known complication than splenic vein thrombosis (ST). In the literature up until 1990, 26 cases with PT, have been reported and only 10 cases presented a isolated PT, without ST. We report a new case of isolated PT without ST in a non alcoholic man, who presented with gastroesophageal CP and a cavernomatous transformation of the portal vein. No varices ere detected by endoscopy; because the risk of bleeding was very small, a prophylactic treatment was unnecessary. The pancreas was resected preserving the spleen and cavernomatous transformation or the periportal veins and the patient was cured from his pains. The surgical tactic is an original treatment, particularly when curable pancreatic cancer is suspected.