Abdominal expansion using a polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis in the treatment of Pepper syndrome.

The authors report three cases of stage IV-S neuroblastoma in infants aged 4, 6, and 8 weeks, who despite chemo- and radiotherapy required surgical intervention to urgently relieve major thoracoabdominal compression secondary to massive hepatomegaly. The results were successful, with abdominal expansion being achieved by the introduction of a polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis, which was removed during the 2nd, 3rd and 7th postoperative month, respectively, after tumor regression. Two children were in complete remission 32 and 38 months later, the 3rd died after 16 months of tumor progression.

[Value of the use of a vicryl-collagen tape for the treatment of cleft palate. Experimental study in dogs]. / Intérêt de l'utilisation d'un treillis de vicryl collagène dans le traitement des fentes palatines. Travail expérimental chez le chien.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone forming capacity of a Vicryl/collagene tape, placed in a defect of the palatal bone. In order to decrease the rate of bucco-nasal fistulaes after primary closure of a cleft palate, the authors carried out an experiment on dogs. First of all, we had to demonstrate the good tolerance of the tape in the buccal cavity. The first group of 5 dogs redieved the tape between buccal mucosae and palatal bone. The tolerance was excellent concerning the 12 biopsies on the mucosae after 1 month; 10 were totally normal and 2 revealed signs of inflammation on the medial incision. Concerning the second group, we needed to know the delay of bone formation of a "neo-palatal" defect; for that reason a 2 cm2 bone resection and a histological observation after 1 month and 1,5 months, in the right palatal bone was performed. Then we performed the same resection in 5 other dogs, and let the vicryl tape in the defect before closing the mucosae. The histological results of the second group showed that the ossification began after 1 month, and after 1.5 months the defect was totally covered by bone. The good results we obtained led us to go on with this experiment even if the low number of dogs included in this series does not allow us to a statistical evaluation. Exact responsibility of both, vicryl and collagene, has to be determined by a longer experiment, before realising the device in child's cleft palate.