[Intra-abdominal abscess as presentation of colonic cancer]. / Abscesos intraabdominales como forma de presentación de cáncer de colon.

Splenic abscess and retroperitoneal abscess are uncommon, although severe diseases, with a high mortality rate that has been attributed to delayed diagnosis, due to the unspecificity of clinical symptoms. We report two patients with a splenic and a retroperitoneal abscess, respectively, in both cases as an onset of colon cancer. The two patients complained of abdominal pain and fever as onset symptoms. Abdominal ultrasonography was normal in the case of retroperitoneal abscess and abnormal in the case of splenic abscess. CT Scan was diagnostic in both cases. In the patient with splenic abscess. CT Scan established a further diagnostic suspect of colon cancer, which was confirmed by colonoscopy. In the patient with retroperitoneal abscess, diagnosis of colon carcinoma was made during the surgical act. In spite of an adequate, combined medical and surgical therapy, both patients died within a short time after surgery.

Abscesos intraabdominales como formade presentación de cáncer de colon / Intraabdominal abcess as presentation of colon cancer

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[Pleural effusion due to Listeria monocytogenes. A case report and review of the literature]. / Derrame pleural por Listeria monocytogenes. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes is a relatively common condition in immunosuppressed patients. The most frequent presentation in adults are sepsis and meningitis. Pleural fluid infection due to this pathogen is a rare finding in the literature. Most cases are found in immunosuppressed patients, particularly in those with haematologic malignancies. We report one case of pleural fluid infection due to Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with hepatic cirrhosis (the third case in the literature). We also review the seventeen cases previously reported and describe the clinical manifestations, its immunosuppression states relationship, the treatment of choice and the mortality.

Derrame pleural por Listeria monocytogenes. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Pleural fluid infection caused by listeria monocytogenes: case report and literature review

La infección por Listeria monocytogenes es relativamente frecuente en pacientes inmunodeprimidos, la sepsis y la afectación neuromeníngea son las formas de presentación más habituales. La infección de la cavidad pleural por este germen es una entidad escasamente descrita en la literatura, en la mayoría de los casos se presenta en pacientes inmunodeprimidos, sobre todo con enfermedades hematológicas malignas. Presentamos un caso de infección pleural por Listeria monocytogenes en un paciente con cirrosis hepática (tercer caso descrito) y revisamos diecisiete casos previos analizando las formas de presentación, su relación con estados de inmunodepresión, tratamiento de elección y mortalidad (AU)

Typhoid perforation of the ileum in children.

Since 1974, 59 children with typhoid perforation of the ileum were studied prospectively using two protocols. In the first 36 cases a temporary total bypass of the terminal ileum was done (end-to-side ileotransverse colostomy) and several weeks later the intestinal continuity was restored (end-to-end ileoileostomy). The second protocol consisted, in 23 cases, of a partial bypass of the terminal ileum (one stage lateral tube ileostomy). Of the first group 10 died (27.7%). There was no reperforations or fistulae in this group. Of the 26 lateral tube ileostomies 8 died (34.8%). There was one reperforation and 4 fistula in this group. The combined mortality was 30.5%. Complications are presented as well as different methods of treatment. The author believes that a bypass operation with good medical supportive treatment, including total parenteral alimentation, will improve results.

[Use of tests based on the analysis of expired air in nutritional studies]. / El uso de pruebas basadas en el análisis del aire espirado, en estudios nutricionales.

Tests based on the analysis of the gaseous components of expired air have been developed to study intestinal absorption and intermediary metabolism of various nutrients. This paper reviews the breath-analysis tests based on the measurement of CH4, H2, and isotopically-labelled CO2 for studying the intestinal absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and bile salts, and intrahepatic metabolism. New technology employing mass spectrometry allows the use of the stable isotope, carbon-13, instead of the radioactive isotope, carbon-14, for CO2 breath tests. The nutritional application of the breath-analysis tests is discussed, and the advantages of the non-radioactive, non-invasive procedures, especially for use in children and pregnant women in whom standard investigational methods represent a discomfort or a radioactive hazard, are emphasized.