[Multiple organ failure (MOF) in tertian malaria. Report of a clinical case]. / Multiple organ failure (MOF) in corso di malaria terzana. Descrizione di un caso clinico.

The authors describe a malignant malaria clinic case complicated by shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (renal, heart, lung failure): MOF. Early diagnosis and suitable therapy, with multiple organ failure intensive care allowed a good patient outcome.

[Analgesic treatment of paresthetic meralgia. Observation of 12 clinical cases ]. / Trattamento antalgico della meralgia parestesica. Osservazione di 12 casi clinici.

The Author report the personal experience of 12 clinical cases of "meralgia paresthetica", an unusual neurological disease of the lateral femorocutaneous nerve of the thigh often accompained by strong pain, disesthesia and other similar symptoms. The block of the nerve is done with a "nerve detector" connected to a special needle and with the administration of a mixture of bupivacaine 1% with glucose (hyperbaric) and a fluorurate steroid, the triamcinolone acetonide. The results obtained with this technique appear to be better than a similar block without the "nerve detector" and a mixture of bupivacaine 0.5% and acetate metylprednisolone. Moreover the fenolic block of two particular cases resistant to any kind of therapy are described.

[Effects of somatostatin peridurally administered in the treatment of postoperative pain]. / Effetti della somministrazione della somatostatina per via peridurale nel trattamento del dolore post-operatorio.

Somatostatin (SMS), a hormone extensively found within the CNS, has shown to have a powerful analgesic effects administered either via the epidural or subdural route. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of SMS administered epidurally compared with placebo, for the treatment of post-operative pain in patients receiving epidural anaesthesia for surgery. Of the 86 patients observed, 58 entered the study and were randomized to receive either SMS or placebo in a double blind fashion. They were also divided into 3 groups according to the site of the operation (group A: procto-anal; group B: inguino-crural; group C: other), 28 of them receiving SMS and 30 placebo. The post-operative pain evaluation was obtained via VAS at the moment of request of treatment (basal) and after an hour. Twenty-eight of the 86 observed (32.5%) didn't complain of pain that necessitated analgesic treatment. A statistically significant difference in reduction of intensity of pain was observed in the somatostatin treated group (6.42 +/- 0.37 vs 3.64 +/- 0.59) and in the somatostatin treated subgroup A and B (6.4 +/- 0.4 vs 3.8 +/- 0.7 and 6.3 +/- 0.8 vs 3.0 +/- 0.6 respectively). No adverse reactions of any kind were observed. SMS has shown to be a safe and effective drug, reducing by 50% the intensity of pain in patients undergone procto-anal or inguino-crural surgery.