ABSTRACT
Isthmic aortic rupture or disruption should be systematically sought when there is high kinetic energy trauma to the thorax. This condition is extremely serious and life threatening. It needs to be diagnosed rapidly but diagnostic pitfalls must be avoided. CT angiography is the standard examination. The main CT signs of rupture or disruption of the thoracic aorta are periaortic hematoma, intimal flap, pseudo-aneurysm and contrast agent extravasation. There are three types of lesion: intimal, subadventitial or pseudo-aneurysmal, and complete rupture with lesion of the three tunicae, and it is important to grade them for better therapeutic management. The main diagnostic pitfalls of the CT scan are the presence of a ductus diverticulum and post-isthmic fusiform dilatation. Associated lesions must not be overlooked. The most common are ruptures of the aortic root and the thoracic aorta in the diaphragmatic hiatus.
Subject(s)
Aorta, Thoracic/diagnostic imaging , Aorta, Thoracic/injuries , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Vascular System Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Angiography/methods , Aorta, Thoracic/surgery , HumansABSTRACT
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this retrospective study was to report the results of percutaneous cholecystostomy in a selected group of high-risk patients with contraindications of general anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 1995 to December 1999, a percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 29 patients with acute cholecystitis. There were 20 women and nine men with a mean age of 80.6 years (range: 59 to 95 years). All the patients were ASA III (N = 23) or ASA IV (N = 6). Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed in 24 cases and computed tomography-guided cholecystostomy in five cases. RESULTS: Percutaneous cholecystostomy was easily performed in 28 cases; there was one failed procedure. The drainage was not efficient in three patients who were operated on with one postoperative death of a patient who had a necrotic cholecystitis. There was no mortality in relation with cholecystostomy. One patient died at day 15 from myocardia infarction. The morbidity rate was 3.4% (one case). Postoperative length of hospital stay was 13 days (range: 7-30 days). The duration of the entire procedure ranged from 9 to 60 days (mean: 20 days). The mean follow-up of patients was 17 months (range: 4-40 months). One patient had recurrent acute cholecystitis and another one had angiocholitis; two patients underwent delayed elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy; 20 patients remained asymptomatic and 16 were still alive at the time of this study (13 with biliary stones and three without). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a valuable alternative procedure for high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. It's a safe and usually effective procedure without mortality and with a low morbidity. Whenever possible, percutaneous cholecystostomy should be followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, General , Cholecystitis/surgery , Cholecystostomy/methods , Acute Disease , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cholecystitis/diagnosis , Cholecystitis/mortality , Cholecystostomy/adverse effects , Contraindications , Drainage/methods , Female , Humans , Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Selection , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Enteroclysis were practiced for 43 patients with radiation induced injuries of the small bowel. The radiological data revealed mucosal lesions in 23 cases, submucosa lesions in 21 cases, parietal thickening in 20 cases, mesenteric involvement in 32 cases. Narrowings and stenosis were present in 24 cases and dilated loops in 15 cases. Fistula formation existed in two cases. Twenty four patients were operated and the diagnosis of radiation enteritis was confirmed. In 12 cases, the enteroclysis succeed to a per os technique. The authors showed the superiority of the enteroclysis.
Subject(s)
Enteritis/diagnostic imaging , Radiation Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chronic Disease , Enteritis/etiology , Female , Humans , Male , Methods , Middle Aged , Radiation Injuries/complications , RadiographyABSTRACT
During 11 years, 14 cases of tuberculosis of the colon are radiographied. The clinical findings are not specific and the association with evolutive pulmonary tuberculosis is infrequent (28%). The radiological features are described: ulcerations (4 cases), ulcerations and hypertrophic features (3 cases) and hypertrophic features (7 cases). The involving sites are caecum and ileocecum in 6 cases, ascending colon in 3 cases, transverse colon in 2 cases, descending colon in 2 cases and recto-sigmoid in 2 cases. The differential diagnosis are segmental Crohn colitis and colonic carcinoma. Endoscopic examination with biopsy is a help to the diagnosis, but in 5 cases, it will be deficient. The diagnosis of colonic tuberculosis is setting only by surgical resections in 6 cases (43%) and 4 patients have been treated by medical treatment with success. No relapse appears in operated patients.