[Prenatal diagnosis of cerebral tumors and differential diagnosis]. / Diagnostic anténatal des tumeurs cérébrales fœtales et diagnostics différentiels.

Fetal brain tumors are rare and have different histologies. Although the definitive diagnosis relies on the histopathology of the tumor, it is useful to distinguish the tumors potentially curable from the tumors rapidly fatal after birth. Nevertheless, some intracranial masses are not tumors. We report four cases of intracerebral masses diagnosed prenatally corresponding to different histological lesions: teratoma, fetus-in-fetu, chraniopharyngioma, hemangioma. We discuss the elements of the differential diagnosis, which can be identified prenatally.

[Splenic artery aneurysm rupture in late pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature]. / Rupture d'un anévrisme de l'artère splénique en fin de grossesse: à propos d'un cas et revue de la littérature.

Haemorrhages during pregnancy may have a non-obstetrical origin, the pregnancy itself favoring some specific aetiologies because of pregnancy-related physiological modifications. These non-obstetrical haemorrhages are rare but are associated with a high maternal and foetal mortality. The prognosis depends on an early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach. We report the case of a patient who had a caesarean section for suspicion of acute foetal distress during which was found a large intraperitoneal bleeding due to rupture of an unknown splenic artery aneurysm. We discuss the principal causes of non-obstetrical intra-abdominal bleeding, including subcapsular liver haematoma, rupture of uterine vessels and rupture of splenic artery aneurysm, with a specific focus on this last aetiology.

Non-specific alert system for dengue epidemic outbreaks in areas of endemic malaria. A hospital-based evaluation in Cayenne (French Guiana).

The emergence of dengue haemorrhagic fever is a public health problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. This study, carried out in French Guiana where malaria is endemic, evaluated the value and the limitations of a non-specific alert system including all patients admitted to the emergency department of Cayenne Hospital, between 1 January 1996 and June 2001. Four indices were studied on a weekly basis: the emergency malaria negative index (EMN), the EMN thrombocytopenia index (EMNT), the dengue suspected index: EMNT/EMN ratio; and the number of hospitalized patients with dengue fever according to the Department of Medical Information. These indices were retrospectively compared with data from the Arbovirus Reference Centre at the Pasteur Institute in French Guiana. Using the non-specific indices, we were able to identify four clear epidemics, two of which were shown to be linked to dengue. Variations in the incidence of malaria had no marked effect on this alert system. We propose that this simple, cheap, sensitive and reactive alert system be used to improve the serological and virological monitoring of dengue and to facilitate adequate and timely vector control measures. It could be used in all regions at risk of dengue and malaria.

[Monitoring expired oxygen fraction in preoxygenation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Monitorage de la fraction expirée d'oxygène lors de la préoxygénation dans la bronchopathie chronique obstructive.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rate of preoxygenation before induction of anesthesia in patients with no lung disease and in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: End-tidal fractional oxygen concentration (FEO2) was monitored using a paramagnetic oxygen analyzer, during a 5 minute-period of preoxygenation (tidal breathing of 100% oxygen) in 16 control patients (control group) and in 15 patients with COPD. COPD was defined and its severity was characterized by clinical criteria and by respiratory functional tests. FEO2 increase was compared between groups using Anova. RESULTS: The increase in FEO2 was slower in the COPD group than in control group (p < 0.05). After 2 and 3 minutes of preoxygenation, FEO2 was significantly lower in COPD group as compared to control group, but was not different at 5 minutes. Mean time to reach a FEO2 equal to 0.90 was significantly longer in COPD than in control group (COPD: 261 +/- 130 s; control: 165 +/- 90 s, p < 0.05). SpO2 measured during room air breathing was moderately lower in COPD group, but this difference was no more significant after 30 s of preoxygenation (SpO2 after 30 s: control: 98.8 +/- 1.0%; COPD: 98.2 +/- 1.9%, NS). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that preoxygenation monitoring may be useful in patients with COPD, to ensure adequate preoxygenation is achieved.

[Variations of endotympanic pressure during anesthesia]. / Les variations de pression endotympanique pendant l'anesthésie.

Variations in endotympanic pressure during general anaesthesia with a mixture of nitrogen protoxide and oxygen (66 and 34% respectively) were determined in 40 patients. Findings are of practical interest in ORL, particularly during tympanoplasty or drainage of a seromucus otitis media.