[Acute appendicitis. Experimental model in rabbits]. / Apendicite aguda. Modelo experimental em coelhos.

The evolving phases of acute appendicitis were studied experimentally. Sixty female rabbits (Oryctogalus cuniculus) of New Zealand lineage weighing about 2510 to 3040 g were divided in two groups: a control group and experimental group. The experimental group was divided into three subgroups for observation after 12, 24 and 48 hours of the operation, that consisted on a 4-0 polypropylene circular suture at 8 cm from the distal part of the cecal appendix. The control group was sham operated. The macroscopic exam (increase of the appendix volume, necrosis, perfuration, adherence and secretion in the abdominal cavity) and the microscopic finding showed a progression in the anatomopathological alterations. There was a close relationship between the histopathological findings and time after the appendiceal obstruction. We conclude that the method causes acute appendicitis and that the anathomo pathological alterations depends on the time elapsed between the operation and the postoperation findings.

[Cystadenoma of the pancreas. Various aspects of the diagnosis and surgical management adopted in 3 cases]. / Cistoadenoma do pâncreas. Aspectos do diagnóstico e da conduta cirúrgica adotados em três casos.

The authors report three cases of cystadenoma of the pancreas. Two cases were serouscystadenoma and one case was mucouscystadenoma. The best diagnostic procedures were computed axial tomography and ultrasonography. Decisions regarding operation depend on three factors: the patient's general conditions, site of the tumor and hystologic pattern. In the first case the elderly patient had the tumor in the head of the pancreas which had led to biliary obstruction. To establish satisfactory biliary drainage a biliodigestive anastomosis was used. The other two cases were younger patients with large protruding abdominal mass in the epigastrium and mesogastrium by a tumor of the body and tail of the pancreas. In these cases we opted for body pancreatectomy and splenectomy. Since the serouscystadenoma doesn't have the malignant potential that the mucouscystadenoma has, the surgical procedure can be different from the surgical resection used for the treatment of pancreatic cystadenoma.