[Treatment of uncontrollable hemorrhage caused by esophageal varices in cirrhotics. Transhepatic embolization or emergency portal shunt]. / Traitement des hémorragies incontrôlables dues aux varices oesophagiennes chez le cirrhotique. Embolisation transhépatique ou dérivation portale d'urgence.

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of two therapeutic methods used in an emergency to control oesophageal variceal bleeding resistant to medical treatment in cirrhotic patients: portal diversion (116 patients) or transhepatic embolization of the varices (84 patients). Portal diversion proved more effective in stopping the haemorrhage than embolization but the overall mortality rate was about the same with the two procedures. An analysis of the results taking into account the patient's condition failed to show any difference in mortality between the two methods. Indeed, the very high mortality rate in the most severely ill patients may oblige to question their usefulness in such cases. In the least severe patients, we prefer portal diversion which is quicker and can be performed at any time. In patients of the intermediate group transhepatic embolization seems to be less hazardous than portal diversion.

How to optimize the economic viability of thyroid surgery in a French public hospital?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Physicians in France have been asked to change their day-to-day medical practice to reduce overall costs. We examine ways to achieve this goal in thyroid surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We defined and implemented a clinical pathway to optimize the economic viability of thyroid surgery by increasing revenues and lowering expenses. An increase in revenue was achieved by decreasing patient length of stay (LOS) through the use of a fast-track rehabilitation protocol. Expenses were decreased by performing all pre-operative work-up in the out-patient setting and by decreasing costs in the operating room. RESULTS: For 292 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy, the average LOS has been decreased over time to a mean of 2.03 days in 2008; 96% of patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. These results were primarily achieved by using a fast-track rehabilitation clinical pathway, and no increase in postoperative morbidity was noted. Operating time was decreased by 20% through the use of a second surgical assistant and hemostatic scissors but this improvement did not translate into better daily utilization of the operating room. CONCLUSION: The economic profitability of thyroid surgery is improved when mean LOS is reduced to 2 days through a fast-track protocol. Decreasing the duration of hospitalization was more effective than decreasing operative duration in controlling overall costs.

[Sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis and Sjögren's syndrome]. / Cholangite sclérosante, pancréatite chronique et syndrome de Sjögren.

A 63 year old man was followed up for chronic pancreatitis. After 2 years, he developed features of primary sclerosing cholangitis associated with Sjögren's syndrome. A review of the literature revealed 38 previous cases of chronic pancreatitis associated with sclerosing cholangitis; a sicca complex was also demonstrated in 3 of these cases. Chronic pancreatitis is mostly asymptomatic and the diagnosis is usually made at laparotomy or postmortem. Retrograde pancreatograms are abnormal in 15-75 p. 100 of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The relationship between the two diseases is not a coincidence. On the other hand, the significance of the association with the Sjögren's syndrome remains controversial.

Multifactorial study of prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and a re-evaluation of the importance of age.

A multivariate analysis of prognostic factors has been carried out with 375 cases of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treated in the same centre by total thyroidectomy and 131I therapy. The patients have been followed for 5 to 23 years. The isolated prognostic roles of age, sex, clinical stage and histology were confirmed, but these factors were found to be strongly interrelated. Multifactorial analysis was conducted following Cox's model. It demonstrated that the prevalent role of clinical staging (nodular versus lobar or massive form) is as important as the initial presence of metastases (P = 0.0001). Histological assessment of differentiation, age and sex were of lesser importance. Thus, the most significant prognostic variable is clinical stage. These data must be taken into account when formulating management protocols for DTC.

[Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia with a protocol combining intensive induction chemotherapy, early consolidation treatment, splenectomy and long-term maintenance chemotherapy. Preliminary study]. / Traitement des leucémies aiguës myéloïdes par un protocole associant une chimiothérapie d'induction intensive, un traitement précoce de consolidation, une splénectomie et une chimiothérapie de maintien au long cours. Etude préliminaire.

Twenty-seven patients aged from 10 to 60 years (mean 34.4 +/- 13 years) in the first perceptible phase of acute myeloid leukemia were subjected to intensive induction chemotherapy consisting of adriamycin (ADM), vincristin (VCR) and cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C). Twenty-four patients (89%) attained complete remission (CR) after 1 to 3 cycles and were then given an early consolidation treatment with one of the previous cycles. This was followed by long-term continuous maintenance chemotherapy with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methotrexate (MTX) alternatively and 3-monthly reinforcement courses of donaurubicin (DNR) and VCR. Twenty of these 24 patients were splenectomized soon after the consolidation treatment. None of the spleens were enlarged, and histological sections of the spleens, liver biopsies and mesenteric lymph-nodes stained with routine dyes and by the naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase method revealed mature granulocytes but no demonstrable leukaemic cells. In the group of splenectomized patients, the probabilities of staying in complete remission at 27 and 44 months were 70 +/- 12.6% and 52 +/- 18.5% respectively, and the probabilities of remaining alive at 32 and 55 months were 79 +/- 11% and 57 +/- 19% respectively. Age over 40 and evidence of extramedullary infiltration at presentation appeared to leave little hope of disease-free survival. The rationale for the present therapeutic study is discussed.