[Rupture of a branch of the pulmonary artery during Swan-Ganz catheterization. Treatment by coil embolization]. / Rupture d'une branche de l'artère pulmonaire au cours d'un cathétérisme de Swan-Ganz. Traitement par embolisation de coils.

Rupture of the pulmonary artery or of one of its branches during a Swan-Ganz catheterisation is a rare complication which remains lethal in about 50% of cases. The risk factors and mechanisms of this complication have been previously described. There are two means of treatment: intensive care and specific medical or surgical treatment. In this case, the rupture of the pulmonary artery occurred during Swan-Ganz catheterisation and was treated by coil embolisation. This simple and rapid technique seems to be very promising.

[Acute myocardial infarction: recent physiopathological data. 1: acute coronary occlusion]. / Infarctus myocardique aigu: données physiopathologiques récentes. Première partie: l'occlusion coronaire aiguë.

Acute myocardial infarction is the result of sudden coronary occlusion in the absence of a collateral circulation. There main factors are required for this to occur: an acute parietal lesion on a stenosis of variable, sometimes minor, importance; local coronary vasoconstriction and a platelet and fibrin thrombus. Parietal fissuration is the commonest "trigger" of coronary spasm and the thrombotic cascade. All factors of coronary occlusion are potentially reversible--vasodilation--platelet anti-aggregation--physiological fibrinolysis--remodeling and cicatrisation of the plaque, thereby explaining cases of spontaneous regression of occlusion (10% at 1 hour; 20% at 6 hours; 30% at 24 hours; 50 to 70% at 1 year). The pathogenesis of myocardial infarction with angiographically normal coronary arteries may be reviewed and attributed to acute parietal fissuration at a non-significant or angiographically undetectable plaque resulting in occlusive thrombosis. In this case, the role of other pathogenic factors is also discussed (diabetes, oral contraception, haemostatic abnormalities, platelet disorders...).

[Negative contrast in x-ray computed tomography. Preliminary study]. / Contraste négatif en tomodensitométrie. Etude préliminaire.

For the abdominal and pelvic CT Scan, the authors propose the filling of the bladder, the duodenal loop, the stomach and the rectum with a lipidic emulsion. The negative density of this emulsion allows a better visualization of the pancreas, the gastric wall and the bladder wall as well as the extension of pelvic and bowel tumors.

[Extension to the ultrasonic study of supra- and subphrenic spaces of plate-shaped probes initially destined for intracavitary sonography. Research on thoraco-abdominal fluid collections in non-mobilizable patients]. / Extension à l'exploration échographique des espaces suset sous-phréniques des sondes à barrette en forme de bâtonnet initialement destinées à la sonographie intracavitaire. Recherche des collections liquidiennes thoraco-abdominales chez les malades non mobilisables.

The authors describe an original application of real time transducers--initially intended for intracavitary sonography--in thoraco-abdominal scanning. The stic-form probe can be easily slipped under the patient. It is then possible to realize a scan with an upward beam. In the postero-anterior scan, the patient is placed in a supine position. He is motionless. We achieve a better visualization of the liquid collections, since their accumulation is declivious. The method allows a wider sonographic window for thoraco-abdominal and diaphragmatic investigation in sonography.

[False aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery complicating a pancreatic pseudocyst]. / Faux-anévrisme de l'artère mésentérique supérieure compliquant un pseudokyste pancréatique.

The authors report a case of false aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery, complicating acute pancreatitis. They insist on the sonographic signs of "the cyst within a cyst"; the presence of a cystic lesion located within a larger mass an US Scanning is highly suggestive of a false aneurysm included in a pseudocyst. They demonstrate the correlation between US Scanning, CT Scan and arteriogram.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome with inferior vena cava stenosis]. / Un syndrome de Budd-Chiari par sténose cave inférieure.

BACKGROUND: Stenosis of the inferior vena cava is a rare cause of Budd-Chiari's syndrome. We report on such a case related to a specific cause with a dramatic improvement after endovascular treatment. CASE REPORT: A 53-year old woman was admitted to hospital because she demonstrated circulatory collapse, inferior limbs edema and post-prandial epigastralgia. These signs were related to the occurrence of a stenosis of the sus-hepatic segment of the inferior vena cava related to the presence of the distal part of a catheter. An angioplasty with the insertion of a stent was followed by a total recovery with a one-year survey. CONCLUSION: Angioplasty with the insertion of a stent should be considered in a Budd-Chiari syndrome related to the stenosis of the inferior vena cava. This option should be evaluated with reference to classic surgical techniques.