[Seromuscularis rupture of the oesophagus after vomiting: a rare cause of hemothorax]. / Rupture séro-musculeuse de l'oesophage après vomissement: une cause rare d'hémothorax.

We report a case of seromuscularis rupture of the oesophagus occurring after an episode of vomiting and revealed by a left hemothorax. Diagnosis was established at thoracoscopy and was related to the nosologic setting of post-emetic syndromes. All unusual pleuropulmonary symptoms after vomiting must make evoke this diagnostic hypothesis.

Is prophylactic pelvic drainage useful after elective rectal or anal anastomosis? A multicenter controlled randomized trial. French Association for Surgical Research.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of drainage in the prevention of complications after elective rectal or anal anastomosis in the pelvis. Anastomotic leakage after colorectal resection is more prevalent when the anastomosis is in the distal or infraperitoneal pelvis than in the abdomen. The benefit of pelvic drains versus their potential harm has been questioned. Drain-related complications include (1) those possibly benefiting from drainage (leakage, intra-abdominal infection, bleeding) and (2) those possibly caused by drainage (wound infection or hernia, intestinal obstruction, fistula). METHODS: Between September 1990 and June 1995, 494 patients (249 men and 245 women), mean age 66 +/- 15 (range 15 to 101) years, with either carcinoma, benign tumor, colonic Crohn's disease, diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon, or another disorder located anywhere from the right colon to the midrectum undergoing resection followed by rectal or anal anastomosis were randomized to undergo either drainage (n = 248) with 2 multiperforated 14F suction drains or no drainage (n = 246). The primary end point was the number of patients with one or more postoperative drain-related complications. Secondary end points included severity of these complications as assessed by the rate of related repeat operations and associated deaths as well as extra-abdominally related morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: After withdrawal of 2 patients (1 in each group) both groups were comparable with regard to preoperative characteristics and intraoperative findings. The overall leakage rate was 6.3% with no significant difference between those with or without drainage. There were 18 deaths (3.6%), 8 (3.2%) in those with drainage and 10 (4%) in those without drainage. Five patients with anastomotic leakage died (1%), 3 of whom had drainage. There were 32 repeat operations (6.5%) for anastomotic leakage 11 in the group with drainage and 4 in the group with no drainage. The rate of these and the other intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal complications did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic drainage of the pelvic space does not improve outcome or influence the severity of complications.

Prophylactic abdominal drainage after elective colonic resection and suprapromontory anastomosis: a multicenter study controlled by randomization. French Associations for Surgical Research.

BACKGROUND: Only 4 controlled trials have investigated whether prophylactic abdominal drainage was of value after colonic resection. None have been able to find any statistically significant difference, but the number of patients was small and the beta error risk was high. OBJECTIVES: To compare patients who underwent abdominal drainage with those who did not for the rate and severity of complications after elective colonic resection followed immediately by anastomosis of the suprapromontory colon and to compare suction drains with nonsuction drains. PATIENTS: Between September 1990 and June 1995, 319 patients (135 men and 184 women), whose mean age was 67 years (range, 22-95 years), with carcinoma, benign tumors, or colitis, located anywhere between the ascending and sigmoid colons, were included in the study. Patients were comparable for demographic characteristics, except that there were more patients with ascites in the group that did not undergo abdominal drainage (P<.02). INTERVENTIONS: After 2 protocol violations, 156 patients were randomized to the abdominal drainage group and 161 to the no abdominal drainage group. All 317 anastomoses were tested for airtightness intraoperatively and repaired if leakage was found (n=71), and all patients with anastomoses received a routine diatrizoate sodium enema to detect infraclinical leakage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The postoperative complications possibly influenced by drainage included (1) deep complications for which drainage can lead to early diagnosis, such as generalized or localized peritonitis, intraabdominal hemorrhage, or hematoma; (2) complications believed to be enhanced by drainage, such as an operative wound (an abscess, disruption, or incisional hernia) or pulmonary (microatelectasis) and intestinal obstructions; and (3) complications directly due to the drains, such as ulcerations leading to fistulae, hemorrhages, drainage tract infections, difficulty in removal, intra-abdominal retention, and incisional disruptions. Subsidiary end points were the severity of these complications as assessed by the number of related subsequent operations and deaths. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients overall (8%) had postoperative complications possibly influenced by drainage (9% in the group that underwent abdominal drainage and 8% in the group that did not). This difference was not statistically significant (P<.90). One patient had a fistula directly imputable to drainage. There was no difference between suction and nonsuction drainage (P<.90). CONCLUSIONS: Routine abdominal drainage after colonic resection and immediate anastomosis decreases neither the rate nor the severity of anastomotic leakage. It can, occasionally, be detrimental.

Laparoscopic treatment of acute small bowel obstruction: a multicentre retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery is thought to promote early recovery and quicker return to bowel function. The objective was to evaluate the rate and predictive factors of success, the causes of failure, the morbidity, and mortality during and after hospitalization, as well as to determine whether laparoscopic treatment of acute small bowel obstruction offers the same benefits as for other laparoscopic procedures. METHODS: The records of 308 patients with acute small bowel obstruction treated laparoscopically in 35 centres between 1 October 1988 and 30 September 1996 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Treatment was implemented completely by laparoscopy ('success' group) in 168 patients (54.6%). Conversion to laparotomy ('failure' group) was required in 140 patients (45.4%; during the same operation in 126 patients and after a median delay of 4 days (range: 1-12 days) in 14 patients). There were significantly more successes in patients with a history of one or two surgical interventions than in those with more than two (56% vs 37%; P < 0.05). There were significantly more successes in patients who had undergone appendectomy only (67/94; 71%) than in patients who (i) had no antecedent surgery (52%; P < 0.05), or (ii) underwent other surgery (33%; P < 0.001). The rate of success was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients operated on early (< 24 h) and in patients with bands (54%), than in those with adhesions (31%) or with other causes of obstruction (15%). The median duration of postoperative ileus was significantly shorter in the 'success' group than in the 'failure' group (2 days vs 4 days; P < 0.001). The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was shorter in the 'success' group than in the 'failure' group (4 days vs 10 days; P < 0.001). Fewer immediate wound complications were sustained in the 'success' group than in the 'failure' group (1.2% vs 10.7%; P < 0.001). The total number of immediate or delayed complications and particularly the number of recurrent obstructions after hospitalization as well as the number of deaths did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Successful laparoscopic treatment of small bowel obstruction can be expected in patients who are seen early, and who have had one or two previous interventions (particularly appendectomy, especially if bands are found).

[Damage control laparotomy for haemorragic abdominal trauma. A retrospective multicentric study about 109 cases]. / La laparotomie écourtée dans les traumatismes abdominaux hémorragiques. Etude multicentrique rétrospective sur 109 cas.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Damage control laparotomy is a new approach to the more severe abdominal traumas. It stems from a better understanding of the physiopathology of the haemorragic shock. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A national retrospective study from 27 centers about 109 trauma patients who underwent a damage control procedure between January 1990 and December 2001, is analysed. Surgical procedures included 97 hepatic packing, 10 abdominal packing, 4 exclusive skin closure, 1 open laparotomy technique and 3 digestive stapplings. RESULTS: The mortality rate is 42%. Eleven abdominal compartment syndromes have occurred with 7 decompressive laparomy (4 deaths). CONCLUSION: This study is based on the largest series of damage control laparotomy published in France. Results in terms of mortality and morbidity are similar to those of published studies from the USA.

[Calcanear fractures. Advantages of horizontal tomography in exact diagnosis of the type of injuries (author's transl)]. / Fractures articulaires du calcanéum. Intérêt des tomographies horizontales pour un diagnostic radiologique exact des lésions.

The usual radiographic projections do not enable to do a complete diagnosis of the pattern of the calcanear fractures. Horizontal tomograms, performed since 1975 by the authors with a complex movement tomographe show the superior surface of the calcaneus. Compared with the sagittal and frontal tomograms, they are absolutely necessary to know the shape of the fractured calcaneus and to precise the anatomical basis of its treatment.

[Transpyloric gastrojejunostomy]. / Gastro-jéjunostomie "transpylorique".

Gastric decompression and feeding by jejunostomy are usually performed in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. In the technique described here, the gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes are introduced through the same orifice created in the gastric wall, and a double Witzel canal is performed around the two tubes, together with fixation of the gastric wall to the parietal peritoneum. This techniques was used in 9 consecutive patients with no mortality or morbidity directly ascribable to the procedure.

[Surgical treatment of calcanear fractures (103 cases). Reconstruction-arthrodesis, or reconstruction (author's transl)]. / Traitement chirurgical des fractures articulaires du calcanéum: reconstruction ou opération de Stulz? A propos de 103 cas opérés.

In a twelve-year period, 103 calcanear fractures (thalamus) were operated on, either by the Stulz procedure (calcanear Reconstruction-subtalar Arthrodesis [83 cases]), or by Reconstruction (20 cases). During the first seven years, the Stulz procedure had been performed systematically. During the following five years, indications were shaded between 28 reconstruction-arthrodesis and 20 reconstructions. A complete preoperative radiological study, including especially horizontal calcanear tomography enables to precise what type of injuries affects the four different parts of the calcaneus, and to choose between either procedure.

[Complications of Ender's nailing in trochanteric fractures (author's transl)]. / Complications de l'enclouage de Ender dans les fractures trochantériennes.

A review of complications of 374 fractures of the proximal femoral end, treated by Ender's nailing was conducted: 255 cases only were available because of 46 early deaths and 73 patients without enough follow up. Complications were: 31 superior nails' perforations, 15 downward migrations, 17 dislocations of osteosynthesis and 19 rare complications. The authors believe that Ender's nailing is a great improvement, when compared with classical methods of osteosynthesis or prosthetic replacements. However, a perfect technical execution is necessary to avoid mechanical complications.

[Treatment of post-operative ventral hernia: elementary biomechanical basis. Report of 51 cases treated by mersilene mesh (author's transl)]. / Traitement des éventrations abdominales post-opératoires: bases biomécaniques élémentaires. A propos de 51 cas traités par treillis de mersilène.

Elementary functional anatomy of the normal abdominal wall and following incisional hernia are described. The treatment of postoperative hernia should be based on this: its object is to restore the morphology and functions of the abdominal wall, in particular its respiratory function. It may be necessary to carry out gradual pneumo-peritoneum before parietal repair. A mersilene mesh was used by the authors in 51 cases. Certain rules should be observed when this prosthesis is placed in position so that the abdominal muscles find the conditions closest to their normal function.

[Ruptures and "spontaneous" perforations of the rectum and sigmoid: a report on two cases and review of the published literature (author's transl)]. / Les ruptures et les perforations "spontanées" du rectum ou du sigmoïde. A propos de deux observations et d'une revue de la littérature.

Though ruptures and "spontaneous" perforations of the rectum and sigmoid are sometimes confused they are very different affections. Ruptures of the rectum or the rectosigmoid junction are lesions due to effort in chronically constipated subjects, frequently having rectal prolapses. They are due to a particular type of trauma. Perforations of the rectum, rectosigmoid junction, or the sigmoid loop arise from a previous acute ulceration of the intestinal wall. Systematic histological examinations may confirm the etiology. A case is reported of rupture of the rectum due to effort. The second case was a double perforation, of the rectum and the rectosigmoid junction, due to a non-specific acute rectocolitis.

[Pancreatic injuries. Report on 42 cases (author's transl)]. / Les traumatismes du pancréas. A propos de 42 observations.

Between 1975 and 1980, 42 pancreatic injuries have been managed, they represented 9.5 per cent of abdominal injuries. Nine patients received penetrating trauma and thirty three patients sustained blunt trauma, the majority of them was a road accident. Associated and concomitant injuries of abdominal organs were present in 81 per cent of cases with the pancreatic trauma. More than 66 per cent have multiple brain, thoraco, abdominal, and bones injuries. Thirty two patients have been treated before the sixth hour. The emergency surgical treatment has been conservative in twenty six patients and a primary resection has been performed in twelve patients, (with eleven partial pancreatectomy and one pancreatoduodenectomy). But four patients died on the operating table because they have extensive injuries to several abdominal organs. Postoperative complications were present in 66 per cent of cases. They obliged the drainage of abscesses, three distal pancreatectomy and one pancreatoduodenectomy. The global mortality is 31 per cent, the secondary mortality is 21.4 per cent. The authors conclude thanks to the study of this series and of literature that the frequency of pancreatic trauma increased, and that its gravity is directly related to the number of other organs damages, missed or delayed diagnostic and to an inappropriate emergency treatment, which let necrosis and infection making their deadly evolution.

[Metastatic obstruction of the small bowel revealing or complicating squamous-cell lung cancer. Two cases and a review of the literature]. / Occlusion métastatique de l'intestin grêle révélant ou compliquant un carcinome épidermoïde bronchique. Présentation de deux cas et revue de la littérature.

Gastrointestinal metastasis from lung cancer is exceptional and generally asymptomatic. Other secondary localizations are often present. Metastastic dissemination may involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical expression is variable: dysphagia, anemia, bowel obstruction, peritonitis. Surgical treatment may be indicated in selected patients. We describe the cases of two patients who developed obstruction of the small bowel due to metastases from squamous-cell lung cancer. Bowel obstruction was in the inaugural sign in the first patient. Mesenteric metastasis was associated in the second patient.