[Unreliability of the lidocaine test as a prognostic indicator of acute liver failure: an experimental study in swine]. / L'inattendibilità del test alla lidocaina come indice prognostico nell'insufficienza epatica acuta: studio sperimentale nel suino.

It has been reported, in the recent literature, that fifteen minutes lidocaine-MEGX (monoethylglycinexylidide) test can also be used in case of acute hepatic failure because in these conditions the test allows a rapid evaluation of the hepatic damage, uneffected by te infusion of liquid or fresh plasma which can alter conventional laboratory parameters. The Authors have demonstrated, in a experimental model, the unreliability of the lidocaine-MEGX test as measure of functional hepatic damage in the early stages of an acute liver failure. The slight decrease of the rate of the MEGX test in these animals submitted to one-stage hepatic devascularization suggests that the hepatic failure is not so early detected by this specific liver function test. Accordingly, the 15' MEGX test should not be used as isolated discriminatory measure to detect an early hepatic failure following fulminant hepatitis or an early hepatic insufficiency as a result of extensive liver resection.

[Renal angiomyolipoma]. / L'angiomiolipoma renale.

Renal angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor that can be observed in two distinct types: the solitary type and the tuberous sclerosis associated type. It is now diagnosed, even if asymptomatic, with increasing frequency by means of ultrasonography and computerized tomography owing to its particular features. The possibility of preoperative diagnosis and the biological characteristics of this benign lesion should induce a more conservative management.

[Short-term antibiotic prophylaxis with ceftriaxone in general surgery]. / Antibiotico-profilassi a breve termine con cetriaxone in chirurgia generale.

The authors report their own experience on the efficacy of a short term antimicrobial prophylaxis involving a long-acting cephalosporin, ceftriaxone (Rocefin), in surgical patients. A study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of 1 or 2 g by i.v. administered 1 h. before elective surgery. 100 patients were admitted to study. Therapeutic success was achieved in 92 cases (92%).