[Retroperitoneal abscess from odontogenic infection. Clinical case]. / Ascesso retroperitoneale da infezione odontogena. Caso clinico.

The authors present a patient with a retroperitoneal abscess arising by hematogenous bacterial odontogenic spread. We describe the clinical approach and the surgical therapy.

[Endoscopic treatment of vesicorenal reflux in children. Five-year assessment of the use of Macroplastique]. / Traitement endoscopique du reflux vésico-rénal chez l'enfant. Bilan de cinq ans d'utilisation de Macroplastique.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of endoscopic treatment of vesicorenal reflux by Macroplastique implantation versus Teflon implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 297 children with 454 refluxing vesicorenal units were treated by endoscopic implantation of Macroplastique (Rplasty)-A.B.S.: 385 cases of primary reflux and 69 cases of secondary or associated reflux. All children were reviewed by ultrasound and cystography 6 weeks and 1 year after implantation. RESULTS: Regardless of the aetiology and the grade, reflux resolved in 91.2% of children (93.3% of ureters). Complications such as ureteric stasis were rare (3 cases). 161 children (253 ureters) were reviewed 1 year after treatment: reflux had recurred in 8.7% of patients. CONCLUSION: Although the mean quantity implanted was lower with Macroplastique, the results appeared to be better than those obtained with Teflon (bases on a previous series of 402 children: cure for 87.1% of ureters and 85.7% of children). The advantages of Macroplastique compared to Teflon include the less liquid consistency, the absence of retraction of the product and the presence of larger microparticles without any local or distant inflammatory reaction.

Acute airway obstruction in an infant with Pierre Robin syndrome after palatoplasty.

This report describes a complication of post-operative oedema of the palate, tongue and pharynx after a Perko-revised cleft palate repair, which resulted in a life-threatening airway obstruction in an infant with Pierre Robin syndrome. Although infants experiencing airway problems after Wardill-Kilner, von Langenbeck and Furlow palatoplasty have been described, airway complications in a group of Perko-revised repair children have not been previously reported. We speculate that this complication, which occurred in the absence of a history of previous airway problems, is due to prolonged operating time and excessive pressure exerted on the base of the tongue by the Kilner-Doughty retractor. Acknowledgments of this risk permits to identify those patients prior to surgery so that they can be managed appropriately.

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.