[Use of a new type of permanent caval filter in a case of recurrent pulmonary embolism]. / Utilizzazione di un nuovo tipo di filtro cavale definitivo in un caso di embolia polmonare recidivante.

We describe a case of postoperative recurrent pulmonary embolism, treated with a percutaneous caval filter ("Double hooks DF 06-Filcard"), that was useful for stemming the tide of venous thromboembolism starting from right leg deep venous thrombosis. We discuss diagnostic protocols, current indications to caval filtration, and the characteristic of an ideal caval filter.

[Induction of bacterial translocation in rats with minimal doses of endotoxin]. / Induzione della translocazione batterica nel ratto mediante dosi minime di endotossina.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a non lethal dose of intramuscular endotoxin in rats causes a physical disruption of the mucosal barrier and promotes the translocation of bacteria from gut to visceral organs. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Experimental laboratory university medical center. EXPERIMENTS: 60 male wistar rats, weighing 250 g. INTERVENTIONS: six hours and twenty-four hours after endotoxin (8 mg/kg) or saline (control group) given intramuscularly, rats were sacrificed and mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen and some segments of the ileum were removed. Lymph nodes and spleen were cultured for translocating bacteria while ileum segments were observed by light microscopy. RESULTS: Incidence of bacterial translocation increases from 6 hours (40% p < 0.05) to 24 hours (60%, p < 0.01) after endotoxin administration. Histologic evaluation of the ileum demonstrated that a mucosal injury occurred only at the 24 an hour and that it was characterized by an evident pronounced interstitial edema with focal breaks in the basal membranes of villous and glands. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that microorganisms and microbial products contained in the gut can cross the mucosal barrier and spread into other visceral organs also after a low dose of intramuscular endotoxin.