Gastrointestinal: afferent loop syndrome.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Matone.
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Esophagectomy is associated with a significant number of complications, some of them related to the concomitant vagotomy. The vagal-sparing esophagectomy is an attractive alternative to the conventional procedure; however, few clinical series have attested the integrity of the vagi nerves after esophagectomy. The surgical anatomy of the vagus in the mediastinum has received little interest as well. The anatomy of the vagus was studied in 30 fresh cadavers. Twenty cadavers were submitted to a vagal-sparing esophagectomy, and after the procedure, anatomical vagal integrity was evaluated. Concerning the anatomy of the vagus, one or more vagal trunks were present in all cases. Four patterns were identified: Type I, two distinct trunks without communicating branches, present in eight (26.7%) cases; Type II, two distinct trunks with communicating branches, present in 17 (56.7%) cases; Type III, one or more bifurcated trunks, present in four (13.3%) cases; and Type IV, crossing trunks, present in one (3.3%) case. Regarding the esophagectomy, operative accidents were not noticed; in five cases, there was incomplete removal of the muscular layer of the esophagus. In all cases vagi nerves were preserved. The vagus is preserved in a cadaveric model of the vagal sparing esophagectomy, irrespective of the anatomy of the vagus in the mediastinum.
Eponyms in medicine are frequently criticized because they may not represent the person who first described a syndrome or disease. Although eponyms are very commonly used, most readers are probably unaware of who it was that named the diseases and whether the original description of the disease still corresponds to the modern definition. The 10 most common eponyms in esophageal diseases were revisited. The men and the disease behind Barrett's esophagus, Boerhaave's syndrome, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, Cameron ulcer, Schatzki ring, Paterson-Kelly syndrome, Plummer-Vinson, Chagas's disease, Zenker diverticulum and Killian diverticulum are reviewed here.
Primary splenic lymphoma is uncommon, constituting only 1-2% of all patients with malignant lymphoma. Despite the rarity of this malignancy, the number of primary splenic lymphoma being reported has increased due to its ambiguous definition used in the literature. We describe a case of a 41-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C virus infection presenting abdominal discomfort in the upper left quadrant, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography revealed nodules in the congested splenic parenchyma. Splenectomy was performed and an analysis of the spleen diagnosed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Biopsy of the liver showed evidence of hepatitis C virus. Bone marrow biopsy revealed no tumor infiltration. The patient has been followed to date, has progressed quite well and remains essentially asymptomatic. Recently, an etiologically important role has been suggested for hepatitis C virus infection in the development of B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphotropism of hepatitis C virus may play a pathological role in the development of non Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is important to add lymphoma to the list of differential diagnosis of extrahepatic disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
Psoas abscess (PA) is an infrequent clinical entity and presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Six cases are reported concerning diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because of non-specific symptoms. The primary psoas abscess has no definite etiology and is spread by hematogeneous route from a distant occult site. The PA can also be secondary to gastrointestinal pathology through direct infection of adjacent structures. The most common causes are Crohn's disease, appendicitis, diverticulitis and carcinoma. Routine laboratory evaluation is seldom useful for localizing the disease process. Conventional radiological techniques are often unhelpful. Modern imaging diagnosis techniques such as ultrasound and computerized tomography have allowed for a refinement in both the etiologic diagnosis and the treatment by means of CT-guided or ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the abscess, thus avoiding surgical drainage in many cases. Immediately on diagnosis of PA prompt treatment is necessary. Percutaneous drainage should be performed whenever possible and in case of failure, surgical drainage should be practiced as well as intestinal resection, whenever indicated.