Acta Chir Belg
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This is the report of a case with an atherosclerotic splenic artery aneurysm ruptured into the peritoneal cavity which presented with hypovolaemic shock. The patient underwent successfully emergency laparotomy and splenectomy. A brief review of the the literature follows.
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Neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas are rare but can be fatal due to excessive secretion of regulatory peptides. The localization of these small tumours can be difficult while open surgical treatment is associated with a relatively high morbidity. Two cases are presented where endocrine tumours of the pancreas were successfully removed by laparoscopy. In the surgical treatment of endocrine pancreatic tumours, the use of laparoscopic techniques can provide a valuable means for localizing the tumour while improving the patient's comfort and decreasing operative morbidity.
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The use of laparoscopic surgery in peritonitis has increased rapidly. The present study examined the effects of pneumoperitoneum on bacterial clearance. Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into six groups of seven animals. ⋯ The quantitative bacteria was significantly higher in the E. coli injection with laparotomy group than in the E. coli injection and E. coli injection with pneumoperitoneum groups (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that pneumoperitoneum impairs the clearance of bacteria from the peritoneal cavity in an experimental model of peritonitis. However, we could not detect the deleterious effects of pneumoperitoneum compared with laparotomy.
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From 1987 to 1996, 778 unstable fractures of the femoral neck Garden type III or IV in 736 patients over 70 years of age have been treated surgically. Based on age and functional preinjury status, 477 patients were treated with a hemiarthroplasty; a total hip prosthesis was implanted in another 301 patients. The overall mortality rate at one year was 20%. ⋯ Despite good functional results observed after total hip arthroplasty for fractures, we recommend this technique only in selected cases. The risk for prosthetic loosening is also much higher after replacement for fracture than after replacement for osteoarthritis (at least 14% within 5 years). Nevertheless, we prefer a total prosthesis implant in patients with a good life expectancy and good functional condition, aged between 70 and 80 years, presenting a severely displaced unstable fracture.
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A 59-year-old male developed a severe adult respiratory distress syndrome following a right pneumonectomy for pulmonary cancer. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 11 days was life-saving. The operation was considered curative, but the patient died nine months later with multiple metastases. The pathogenesis and treatment for postpneumonectomy pulmonary oedema and an explanation for rapid dissemination of the cancer are stated.