[Post-partum vesicovaginal fistula: abdominal muscle strip treatment]. / Fistole vescico-vaginali post-partum. Trattamento con lembo di muscolo retto addominale.

BACKGROUND: The Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) very often occur in tropical countries, but their treatment is usually not correct. METHODS: A surgical treatment was carried put on 68 patients affected by VVF from March 1986 to December 19997 in the Nazareth Hospital (Nairobi). Their mean age was 22 years old; 27 patients (39.7%) underwent surgery for the first time, while for 41 patients (60.2%) the treatment was repeated. Fourteen patients (20.5%) had also Vesico-Rectum-Vaginal Fistula (VRV). The VVF was cured with a transvaginal treatment using a Martius strip for 32 cases. For 16 cases both vaginal and abdominal treatment was performed in the same time using an abdominal muscle strip, which was inserted in the space between the vagina and bladder. In VRV and VVF combined cases, the VVF was treated in the following way: first of all, during the same session, the VVF was cured by making a colostomy and then, after 2 months VRV was treated. RESULTS: The follow-up took about 7.2 months; 62 patients (91.1%) recovered, for 6 cases treated only with transvaginal operation, it has been necessary a second surgical procedure owing to relapsing, and for 2 of them an abdominal muscle strip was used. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, while the transvaginal repair is satisfactory treatment for little fistula never surgically treated before, on the other hand the transabdominal vaginal treatment is the best cure forge large or relapsing fistulas.

[Arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis. Experience in 366 cases]. / Fistole artero-venose per emodialisi. Esperienza su 366 casi.

The surgical techniques adopted in performing 366 a-v fistulas for hemodialysis in 346 patients over ten years' experience are presented. A survey of the results obtained is then made as well as the evaluation of the same, based upon functional and clinical parameters. The technical details sometimes adopted, the occlusions and the principles drawn out for personal experience in this field are described.

[Subcutaneous emphysema. Complication associated with pneumoperitoneum during videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Enfisema sottocutaneo. Complicanza legata al pneumoperitoneo in corso di videolaparocolecistectomia.

Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy is a safe procedure, which, however, is not without complications. The rare occurrence of subcutaneous emphysema, as a consequence of pneumoperitoneum, following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is reported. The mechanism for the development of this complication and its management are discussed.

[Histochemical assessment of immunoreactivity of thyroid peroxidase and its correlation with biochemical activity]. / Valutazione istochimica della immunoreattività della perossidasi tiroidea e sua correlazione con l'attività biochimica.

BACKGROUND: Peroxidase content has been recently evaluated in normal thyroid and in different thyroid disorders by biochemical, histochemical, ultrastructural and immunocytochemical methods Nevertheless immunocytochemical detection of thyroid peroxidase in thyroid samples conventionally processed for histology hes never been done using a commercially available antibody, neither its correlation with the biochemical activity on adjacent samples. METHODS: In this study we have analyzed normal thyroid tissue (3 patients), follicular adenoma (2 patients) and multinodular goiter (2 patients) conventionally processed for histology and stiined by immunocytochemistry (Avidin Biotin System) using a polyclonal (rabbit) antibody for horseradish peroxidase (Serotec). Biochemical assay was performed on adjacent samples according to Hosoya method. RESULTS: Normal thyroid showed peroxidase immunoresectivity in the majority of follicular celis; neoplastic cells of adenomas were variably stained. Biochemical assay showed positive correlation with ICC ranging from 20.4 mg/mg/prot a in multinodular goiter to 42.12 in normal thyroid, up to 122 of follicular adenoma. CONCLUSIONS: Peroxidase content in the thyroid gland may be of clinical interest in several thyroid diseases, and in this study we have demonstrated that thyroid peroxidase can be detected by ICC in routinely processed thyroid samples using a commercially available antibody.