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In general surgery the incidence of deep vein thrombosis is between 10 and 40% according to age, the length and type of operation and the pathology "risk" associated. Prevention is undoubtedly the best way to avoid this complication. The aim of this study was to confirm, in 160 patients split in two groups, the clinical effectiveness and the usefulness of a low molecular weight heparin (parnaparin) versus calcium heparin. Both drugs demonstrated high effectiveness in prevention of deep vein thrombosis and or pulmonary embolism. In our opinion, however, parnaparin has a more protective and a less hemorrhagic inter-operation effect than calcium heparin and, not last, the advantage of a single daily administration.

Successful treatment of five personal cases of external cavitary and biliary fistulae following radical liver hydatid surgery is reported. Stress is laid on the fact that complications may still occur, even when the latest techniques are employed. These can be avoided if the pathological anatomy and biliary physiopathology associated with the disease are fully understood, so that techniques can be adjusted to the different situations revealed by pre- and intraoperative exploration. Medical or surgical management must be preceded by precise knowledge of the reasons for persistence of the fistula.

The unusual crystallographic appearance of a pure cholesterol calculus is described. Optical and X-ray diffraction data are presented in an initial note. A thorough physical and chemical investigation of the mechanism that led to the formation of this calculus and its particular appearance and shape will be reported in a subsequent paper.