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Aim of the Study: To determine diagnostic modalities and both immediate and long-term treatment of superior mesenteric venous thrombosis., Patients and Methods: Retrospective study from 1997 to 2004 in two institutions concerning patients with superior mesenteric vein thrombosis., Results: Nine patients (all males, mean age=55 years), were included. Abdominal pain (100%), vomiting (44%), and bowel activity disorders (44%) were the most common symptoms. A personal or familial thrombosis history was present in 67% of patients. A genetic predisposing factor of thrombosis was present in 78% of patients. The diagnosis was established with CT-scan in 8 cases with a mean delay of 8 days. Treatment was exclusively medical in 33% of patients and included surgery in 67%. All operated patients underwent resection for bowel infarction and only one had immediate anastomosis. All enterostomies were subsequently closed. No patient died., Conclusion: Diagnosis of superior mesenteric vein thrombosis is frequently delayed and relies on CT-scan with intravenous contrast. Prognosis is globally favourable but depends on early application of anticoagulation therapy. In case of surgery, bowel-sparing resection is indicated and enterostomies are often needed. Genetic disorders predisposing to thrombosis are very frequent, that may indicate prolonged even definitive anticoagulation therapy.

The authors report a clinical case concerning a necrotizing esophagitis following severe hypothermic shock. They recall the usual aetiology of the "black esophagus", emphasize the importance of ischemia and the multispeciality management of this very unfrequent disease.

The aim of this study was to report two cases of rupture of the right hemidiaphragm with intra-thoracic liver hernia, associated with a traumatic aortic disruption. These two lesions followed traffic accidents, and were both treated separately. Both patients had a long-term favourable progression. Association of these two lesions is particularly rare: fewer than 50 cases have been previously described in an extensive review of the literature. CT-scan seems to be particularly efficient in diagnosis, even if less efficient than other more specific explorations. The order of surgical management is guided by the physical examination, and especially by abdominal emergency.

Splenic conservation avoids the overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. The high percentage of patients treated by noninvasive procedures would be due to the simple clinical course of splenic trauma and precision of diagnosis, using CT scan. Only clinical evaluation could provide further information on the indications for surgical treatment, as there is no available score regarding the value of CT scan for choosing the therapeutical option. Non-operative management of splenic ruptures should be considered in selected patients in whom hemodynamics is stable and closely monitored.