A complex association between derivatives from the neural crest. A case report.

We report the case of a very complex proliferation arose in the context of the soft tissues of the axilla, composed of elements derived from the neural crest: several of hamartomatous significance: ("cafe au lait spots without neurofibroma, groups of nevoids cells), others clearly neoplastic with the characters of the melanoma and the MPNST. The melanoma cells express, furthermore, neuroendocrine markers. Differential diagnostic characters are discussed and emphasizes the importance of this kaleidoscopic, transient, structure in determining the phylogeny and ontogeny of living beings.

Histogenetic and taxonomic considerations on a case of post-traumatic bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP).

A case of bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) arising in the head of the fibula of a young man following injury on the lateral aspect of the knee is reported. Microscopically, four zones could be recognized proceeding from the periphery to the deep portion: 1) an outer thick fibrous cap showing an abundant cellular component, composed of thin spindled elements of fibroblastic appearance, haphazardly arranged and exhibiting intense and diffuse immunohistochemical expression of S100 protein (a previously unreported observation); 2) an irregular and atypical cartilaginous cap beneath the fibrous cap; 3) a layer of blue bone in which islands of atypical chondrocytes are still present but gradually decreasing, moving towards the deeper areas; 4) a layer of mature bone, pink bone, which is implanted in the skeletal segment (the deep margin is devoid of periosteum). The intratrabecular spaces of blue or pink bone did not contain haematopoietic marrow, but rather a loose myxoid stroma. This case confirms the fact that BPOP can occur in skeletal segments other than those indicated in the original report of Nora, and that trauma, even if minor, is an important factor in the development of the lesion. The latter begins at the periosteal level, where fibroblasts may acquire a chondroformative function (becoming chondrofibroblasts), as witnessed by the strong and widespread expression of P S100, first documented in this report.

Anaesthetic management in a case of Huntington's chorea.

There are only a few case reports regarding the anaesthetic management of a patient with Huntington's chorea and the best anaesthetic technique is yet to be established for those patients which are at higher risk of perioperative complications. We describe the successful management of a 30-year-old patient suffering from Huntington's chorea admitted for urgent appendectomy. To minimize the risk of aspiration, the trachea was intubated using a fiberscope with the patient sedated and spontaneously breathing. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and fentanyl and the recovery was rapid and uneventful as the postoperative course.

Morphine plus bupivacaine vs. morphine peridural analgesia in abdominal surgery: the effects on postoperative course in major hepatobiliary surgery.

Anaesthesia and surgical procedures lead to a reduction of intestinal motility, and opioids may produce a postoperative ileus, that might delay postoperative feeding. The aim of this prospective randomised study is to test whether or not different kinds of epidural analgesia (Group A: morphine 0.0017 mg/kg/h and bupivacaine 0.125%-0.058 mg/kg/h; Group B: morphine alone 0.035 mg/kg/12h in the postoperative period) allow earlier postoperative enteral feeding, enhance intestinal motility a passage of flatus and help avoid complications, such as nausea, vomiting, ileus, diarrhoea, pneumonia or other infective diseases. We included in the study 60 patients (28 males and 32 females) with a mean age of 61.2 years (range 50-70) and with an ASA score of 2 or 3. All patients had hepato-biliary-pancreatic neoplasm and were candidates for major surgery. We compared two different pharmacological approaches, i.e., morphine plus bupivacaine (30 patients, Group A) versus morphine alone (30 patients, Group B). Each medication was administered by means of a thoracic epidural catheter for the control of postoperative pain. In the postoperative course we recorded every 6 hours peristaltic activity. We also noted morbidity (pneumonia, wound sepsis) and mortality. Effective peristalsis was present in all patients in Group A within the first six postoperative hours; in Group B, after 30 hours. Six patients in Group A had bowel motions in the first postoperative day, 11 in the second day, 10 in the third day and 3 in fourth day, while in Group B none in the first day, two in the second, 7 in the third, 15 in the fourth, and 6 in the fifth: the difference between the two groups was significant (p<0.05 in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th days). Pneumonia occurred in 2 patients of Group A, and in 10 of Group B (p < 0.05). We conclude that epidural analgesia with morphine plus bupivacaine allowed a move rapid return to normal gut activity and early enteral nutrition compared with epidural analgesia with morphine alone.

[The Bengmark tube in surgical practice and in the critically ill patient]. / Il sondino di Bengmark nella pratica chirurgica e nel paziente critico.

Enteral nutrition (EN) is increasingly used to minimize the rate of septic complications related to bacterial translocation, due to its effectiveness and low cost. Bengmark's self-propelling auto-positioning feeding tube (SPT) absorbs and uses gut motility for rapid transport to the upper small intestine, thereby allowing uninterrupted EN both in surgical and critically ill patients. We report on our experience with 175 SPTs applied over the period from December 1996 to February 2000, and analyse the safety, compliance, and indications of SPT in surgical and ICU practice. Open study: feasibility of insertion, time and rate of placement, compliance and complications related to the tube or to EN were studied. SPTs were successfully placed in 40 patients before liver resection, in 32 patients before extensive maxillo-facial surgery MFS and prior to colon resections in 10 cases. SPTs were also applied in 56 patients with acute vascular neurological diseases, 22 in pancreatic diseases and in another 15 critically ill patients. 92.5% of SPT's crossed the pylorus, while only 7.5% stopped in the stomach and 3.4% in the duodenum; 89.14% reached the first jejunal loop. The tip of the tube reached its final position within a mean period of 5.2 hours, 8% instantly and all within 24 hours. Enteral nutrition was started immediately after introduction of the tube into the stomach. The compliance was excellent, even in maxillo-facial surgery patients: only 2/76 patients (2.6%) showed poor compliance. There were no cases of aspiration pneumonia or other complications related to SPT. Polymeric nutrition was usually supplied at a starting flow rate of 45 ml/hour and rapidly increasing over the following 48 h. Eleven patients experienced diarrhoea and 6 abdominal distension, leading to a temporary reduction of the EN flow rate. Clogging of the SPT occurred in 13 patients: 7/13 were cleansed with pancreatic enzymes, but 6 had to be replaced. SPT is ideal for intensive EN and is characterised by minimal complications and excellent patient compliance.

[Hepatobiliopancreatic surgery in patients over 70 years old: which anesthesia?]. / Chirurgia epatobiliopancreatica nei pazienti oltre i 70 anni: quale anestesia?

In the last years the criteria of operability have been extended to elderly patients with hepato-pancreatic-biliary diseases. We selected 46 patients (in the seventies or older, class 3 or 4 of ASA score, affected by hepato-pancreatic-biliary neoplasms) in order to evaluate the behavior of these patients undergoing to different anaesthesiological techniques. Randomly, we treated 24 patients (group A) in general anaesthesia, and 22 patients (group B) in peridural anaesthesia. We considered mortality rate, morbidity rate, as sepsis, wound infection, pleuritis, and pneumonias. The data were analyzed by chi2-test and Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05). Mortality rate was similar in the two groups (A = 4.1, B = 4.5) (p = ns), and no complications were determined by the different anesthesiologic procedures. Pleuritis was present in 44% of group A vs 45% of group B (p = ns). Atelectasis areas were present in 58% of group A vs 27% of group B (p = ns), pneumonia was present in 33% of group A vs 9% of group B: this value was significant (p = 0.049). There were no differences between the two groups regarding wound infection rate (only one case in group B). We think that pulmonary diseases can be determined by intubation and mechanical ventilation. We show a significant reduction of pneumonia in the patients that underwent peridural anaesthesia. For this reason, peridural technique can be safely extended to elderly patients with hepato-pancreatic-biliary diseases.

[Peridural administration of low-dose morphine on demand following major abdominal surgery]. / Somministrazione peridurale di morfina in basse dosi a domanda nel postoperatorio della chirurgia addominale maggiore.

The present report deals with 20 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery, in whom a postoperative antalgic regimen has been administered on demand by means of morphine via lumbar peridural catheter. We injected 3 mg as the first dose after surgery and subsequent 2 mg doses when required. In each patient we controlled regularly for 72 hours the following: respiratory function, antalgic effects and side effects. We concluded that this technique is fit to obtain good analgesia with rare and mild side-effects.