[Catheter fracture and pulmonary embolization of the distal fragment: a rare complication of the totally implantable venous access port]. / Rupture du cathéter et migration du fragment distal vers les artères pulmonaires : une complication rare des chambres à cathéter implantables.

INTRODUCTION: Totally implantable venous access port plays a crucial role in the treatment of patients in oncology. However, its use can result sporadically in catheter fracture with catheter tip embolization into pulmonary arteries. CASE REPORTS: We report this unusual but potentially serious complication in four patients. In these patients, the port had been inserted percutaneously into the subclavian vein using the infra-clavicular approach. This side effect occurred late in three patients. In all patients, the catheter fracture was asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic and was caused by the pinch-off syndrome. The retrieval of the embolized fragments was successfully performed by transcatheter procedure in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory. CONCLUSION: We reviewed the literature and the newest guidelines and recommendations to detail the clinico-radiological features, the possible causes of this complication and discussed means to recognize, manage and prevent it.

[Unusual presentation of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis in a child]. / Présentation inhabituelle d'une pancréatite aiguë hypertriglycéridémique chez un enfant.

Acute pancreatitis in children is rare and is characterized by clinical, biological, and etiological polymorphism. We report the case of a 6-year-old child who underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis was made after the surgical exploration. Initial laboratory tests showed hyperlipasemia and mild hypertriglyceridemia. After 2 weeks of hospitalization, we found severe hypertriglyceridemia, which was considered the cause of acute pancreatitis. Based on a review of the literature, we emphasize the importance of considering acute pancreatitis in the diagnosis of abdominal pain in children. Hypertriglyceridemia is one of its rare causes and must be detected because specific treatments are needed. Blood triglyceride concentration in the initial phase can be misleading and the assay should be repeated after the acute episode.

A case of penetrating axillary trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Deep penetrating traumas of the axilla extending to the neck are rare and potentially dangerous. OBSERVATION: An 11-year-old child presented with an impressive penetrating axillary injury extending to the neck after falling on a tree branch. The wound was explored in the operating room (OR). A fragment of the branch was removed without injuring any vascular structure. The only lesion concerned the hypopharynx. DISCUSSION: Cervical wounds may have an axillary origin. These wounds must be systematically explored in the OR, given the risk of upper airway obstruction and vascular lesion.