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Impairment of non-cholinergic innervation of the lower oesophageal sphincter has been suggested in idiopathic achalasia. As opioid nerves are present in the lower oesophageal sphincter and opioid peptides affect lower oesophageal sphincter motility, the effect of an opioid agonist, morphine (100 micrograms/kg iv), and an opioid blocker, naloxone (80 micrograms/kg iv), on lower oesophageal sphincter motor function was assessed in 10 healthy subjects and in 10 patients with untreated idiopathic achalasia on separate days and in randomised order. In addition, in six of the patients, naloxone 0.8 mg iv was injected 60 minutes after morphine and recordings continued for a further five minutes. Lower oesophageal sphincter pressure was monitored by a sleeve device. In the healthy subjects morphine decreased (p < 0.01) resting lower oesophageal sphincter pressure by 4 (1) mm Hg (23 (8)%). In the achalasia patients the effect was more marked, lower oesophageal sphincter pressure being reduced (p < 0.01) by 11 (2) mm Hg (46 (8)%). Naloxone reversed lower oesophageal sphincter pressure to basal. Both absolute and percentage decreases after morphine were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the achalasia patients than in the healthy subjects. Swallow induced lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) by morphine in the healthy subjects but not in the achalasia patients. Naloxone had no effect on resting lower oesophageal sphincter pressure or swallow induced relaxation in either healthy subjects or achalasia patients. In conclusion achalasia patients are hypersensitive to the effect of morphine on resting lower oesophageal sphincter pressure. This finding is unlikely to be the result of a denervation process involving opioid nerves.

Colonic anastomoses made both by a new Compression Anastomotic Device (CAD) and by a traditional stapler (Autosuture CDEEA) were evaluated in impaired anastomotic healing induced by systemic cortisone in the dog. Twenty dogs were given daily i.m. hydrocortisone (25 mg/kg) starting one month before surgery and then until sacrifice. Eight untreated dogs served as controls. Surgery consisted of colonic transection and anastomosis done with CAD-25 in half the cases and with CDEEA-25 in the remaining half. The dogs were sacrificed six and 13 days after surgery. Macroscopic assessment, bursting pressure test, and histology were performed on the anastomosis. One dog died from peritonitis due to anastomotic dehiscence. No other clinical complications were observed. Although the number of observations was too small to attain statistical significance, CAD anastomoses appeared better than stapled ones as regards peri-anastomotic adhesions, anastomotic index, and histology. This preliminary study suggests that compression is as reliable as the stapler in the construction of colon anastomosis even in such situations of delayed anastomotic healing. Further experience is required to substantiate this conclusion.

Frequently when dysphagia first becomes manifest, esophageal carcinoma is already unresectable. Endoscopic laser therapy is a recently introduced method which can be used for the palliative treatment of esophageal cancer. By using the method the tumour is destroyed and the esophagus is recanalized, there is low incidence of complications, and the patient can be fed naturally thus improving quality of life. The method has been perfected over the past years and now offers excellent results.

Emphysematous patients that were once treated with double lung transplantation can now also be treated with single lung transplantation. However, single lung transplantation in emphysematous patients presents problems in lung size matching, choice of side to transplant and post-operative assistance. Analysing their own experience of three single lung transplants performed on emphysematous patients, the Authors evaluate the effectiveness of the operation, the results and the difficulties encountered. Single lung transplantation is a good therapeutic option for end-stage emphysematous patients. In these patients right lung transplantation is preferable and the donor organ should be oversized. Positive and expiratory pressure in the native emphysematous lung should be applied with extreme caution.

Changing attitudes to animals in research and practical considerations prompted the authors to evaluate whether the pig might be a suitable substitute for dog and baboons for single left lung transplants. Twenty-nine paired pigs were used. The first transplants on 13 pairs (group 1) were done to adapt the lung transplant technique to pigs; later transplants on 16 pig pairs (group 2) were done to evaluate operative survival, and function and histological modifications of the transplanted lung in the absence of immunosuppressive treatment. Surgical and anesthetic techniques for both donor and recipient are described in detail. The survival rate in group 2 was 68%. Hemodynamic and blood gas changes were assessed during operation. PaO2 did not drop significantly after occluding the right pulmonary artery by an inflatable cuff placed around it; this suggests that the function of the transplanted lung was preserved. The pigs were put down on the third postoperative day. Vascular and bronchial anastomoses were patent and intact, but the transplanted lung was macroscopically and microscopically altered. Lung transplants can be performed in pigs and the transplanted lung seems to be capable of functioning immediately after the operation. Alteration in the lung after 3 days is probably due to rejection.

Fifty-one patients (4.6%) underwent resection of a substernal goiter in a fifteen-year period during the course of 1103 thyroidectomies. Forty-eight (94.2%) goiters were benign and three (5.8%) malignant. Mean age was 55 years. Female:male ratio was 2:1. Four patients (7.8%) had undergone prior thyroid surgery. Most had long-standing goiters (mean duration: 15 years). The most common symptoms included airway compression (56.8%), hoarseness (13.7%), dysphagia (11.7%), superior vena cava syndrome (9.8%). Twelve patients (23.5%) were asymptomatic. Chest X-rays showed a tracheal deviation and/or a mediastinal mass in 43 patients (84.3%). Goiter extended into the right mediastinum in 28 patients (54.9%), into the left in 19 (37.2%), and bilaterally in three (5.8%). A cervical collar incision provided adequate exposure in 42 cases (82.3%). Five patients (9.8%) required a cervical incision plus partial median sternotomy and one (1.9%) a cervical incision plus a right postero-lateral thoracotomy. In three asymptomatic patients (5.8%) thoracotomy was followed by cervical incision due to a preoperative incorrect diagnosis. Major postoperative complications included two cervico-mediastinal hematoma with one subsequent death and four (7.8%) recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. This series showed that: (1) Standard chest roetgenogram with esophagogram is still the most useful investigation, although CAT scan can help in planning the operation. (2) Cervical collar incision provides adequate exposure in nearly all cases. (3) When goiter enucleation is difficult or at risk, a complementary median sternotomy is indicated in right retrovascular goiters. (4) Operation should be recommended in all but the highest-risk patients. (5) Tracheal intubation with small caliber tubes is nearly always possible in patients with acute tracheal compression.

Lung transplant has now become a viable clinical option for the treatment of irreversible end-stage respiratory failures. The first successful single lung transplant was performed by Cooper and coworkers in Canada in 1983, and the first successful double lung transplant was performed by the same group in 1986. The history of lung transplantation is followed by a discussion of the current surgical indications for single and double lung transplants. The criteria for the evaluation and pre-operative management of potential candidates are reported. The surgical techniques used for harvesting, preserving and transplanting one or both lungs are then described, including the latest procedure of sequential bilateral lung transplantation. Almost 250 patients have undergone single or double lung transplants all over the world with a survival rate of more than 65%. Lung function and exercise tolerance have satisfactorily improved. Despite a number of problems in airway anastomosis and in diagnosis and treating rejection still to be resolved, lung transplantation is rapidly gaining ground worldwide.

Two cases of post-traumatic transection of the popliteal artery in patients with exostosis of the lower extremities are reported. This complication does not seem to have been previously described in the literature. The pathogenetic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are analysed.

From March 1980 to December 1982, at the 2nd Surgical Clinic of the University of Milan, 47 jejunostomies were performed at the conclusion of a major gastrointestinal surgery to provide immediate post-operative enteral nutrition. A fine needle catheter jejunostomy technique according to Delaney (10) was employed in all cases, using a polythene catheter with an internal diameter of 2.5 mm. inserted into the proximal jejunum using a stainless-steel needle. An elemental diet (13) was adopted and fed through a volumetric infusion pump. Enteral nutrition was usually initiated on the second postoperative day and on average lasted 12 days. No complications connected to positioning, permanence or removal of the catheter were observed. The only inconvenience was represented by obstruction of the catheter with food concretion thus feeding was discontinued in 3 patients. Collateral effects were observed in 9 patients: diarrhoea (5 cases), hyperperistaltis (2 cases), abdominal distension and nausea (1 case). This method of nutritional intake allowed us to: maintain body weight at pre-operative values; obtain a positive nitrogen balance on average the sixth postoperative day; reduce the volume of parenteral support, early suspension and a significant reduction in complications connected with this method.

Fifty-two patients from seven weeks to 15 years of age were treated for congenital (six patients) or acquired (46 patients) tracheal lesions. Twenty underwent tracheal resection and reconstruction: congenital stenosis 3 (5 to 9 yr), postintubation stenosis 9 (11 to 15 yr), TEF 1 (15 yr), posttraumatic 2 (9 to 15 yr) idiopathic 1 (14 yr) and primary tumors 4 (8 to 15 yr). There were two carinal resections. There were two deaths and two postoperative stenoses, one of which was corrected later, giving 17 final good results. Thirty-two patients were treated nonoperatively.

An in-depth retrospective statistical analysis was performed on 150 consecutive cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung. One-hundred and twenty-eight patients (85%) underwent pulmonary resection; 15 (10%) had an explorative thoracotomy and 7 (5%) were considered inoperable. At the time of operation, 72 patients were classified as Stage I, 18 as Stage II and 50 as Stage III. Factors analyzed included age, sex, surgical treatment, staging, immunologic monitoring and survival. When compared with other histotypes of our series a statistically significant difference was found in the male: female ratio (p less than 0.05), surgical resectability (p less than 0.05), frequency of Stage I, and immunologic status evaluated by studies of delayed hypersensitivity skin tests, lymphocyte blastogenesis, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), blocking serum factors and intrastromal peritumoral lymphocyte infiltration. There were no significant differences due to age, cigarette smoking, mediastinal lymph node involvement, except for small oat-cell carcinoma or previous pulmonary diseases. In all stages, the five-year survival rate was lower for patients affected with adenocarcinoma than for those affected with other histological types, except small oat-cell carcinoma.

A microcomputer based system for the recording and automatic analysis of esophageal pH-studies has been developed. It consists of a microcomputer interfaced with a pH-meter, one video display, two disk-drives for five inch diskettes, one printer and a fully interactive program written in BASIC. Every second, the microcomputer records the values of pH measured by the pH-meter. The options available in the program are: 1) Creation of medical records; 2) pH probe calibration; 3) pH-basal value acquisition; 4) Standard Acid Reflux Test (SART); 5) Acid Clearing Test (ACT); 6) 24-hour pH-monitoring test; 7) Summary of patient's current results; 8) Printing and data file management. Each one of these options provides access to other related functions. This system and its software has the following advantages: 1) it achieves a high standard in the execution of esophageal pH-study tests; 2) it provides an objective real-time analysis of the results; 3) it reduces the total cost of the investigation.

A 40 year old man with dysphagia and a giant fibrovascular polyp of the oesophagus is reported. The patient was followed for two years before removal of the polyp. During this period the tumour markedly increased in size and the oesophagus reached a maximum diameter of 5.9 cm. In presence of the polyp the body of the oesophagus had no pressure activity after swallows and a 22 hour intraoesophageal pH record showed pH greater than 7 for 31.4% of the time and never pH less than 4. After excision of the tumour the oesophagus regained normal size and peristalsis. Intraoesophageal pH greater than 7 and less than 4 were recorded for 1.6% and 16.1% of the time respectively. Dysmotility was probably a contributing factor to the genesis of dysphagia induced by the giant fibrovascular polyp. Prolonged alkalinisation of intraoesophageal pH conceivably reflected altered oesophageal clearing of alkaline salivary and/or oesophageal secretions.

A morphometric analysis of the lobular components of the liver of normal male rats up to 6 months from portacaval anastomosis revealed that the mean volume of each hepatocyte decreased about 30-40% in normally fed rats and this was associated with a shrinkage of the lobular tissue. A 10% reduction of the total hepatocyte volume density in the lobule and a net increase in time of the fat storing cell volume density could be measured, whereas the intralobular collagen decreased. Within the hepatocytes a persistent significant increase of fat globules was observed; an increase in the first period, followed by a decrease of the lysosomal component. The Golgi complex tended to decrease in the first period, then exhibited a volume density even higher than in the controls. A small reduction of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and a conspicuous reduction of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and, in fed animals, of the glycogen content were also observed. These alterations were persistent with periods of up to 6 months from the anastomosis and were present in all the functionally distinct lobular zones. From the ultrastructural point of view, apart from variations due to the quantitative changes described above, both lobular and hepatocytic components were identical to those of age matched controls at all times from the intervention. The ultrastructural damages described by others could not be observed.

Arterialization of the hepatic end of the portal vein after portacaval shunt was studied in the rabbit in order to evaluate clinical, metabolic, and histologic modifications compared with portacaval shunt alone. The mortality rate of arterialized rabbits diminished considerably at the 45th postoperative day, preoperative body weight was regained and there was significant liver weight/body weight ratio difference with both sham operated and portacaval shunted rabbits (p less than or equal to 0.001). Furthermore, after arterialization, clinical examination, laboratory liver function tests and pathological studies were all near normal. Arterialization after portacaval shunt appears to be safe when flow through the arterioportal anastomosis is low.

From 1974 through 1984, 24 patients with malignancies of the Oddian region underwent surgery. Four ampullectomies were carried out with one more than 10-year survivor. Nineteen duodenopancreatectomies were performed with no operative mortality, a 21% complication rate and a 4% reoperation rate; mean survival was 42 months; 1-, 3- and 5-year survival was 95%, 53%, and 37% respectively. Nodal metastasis was the major determinant of long-term survival. Duodenopancreatectomy should be considered the operation of choice for malignancies of the Oddian region.

Invasion of the trachea by thyroid carcinoma is best managed by resection with airway reconstruction. Localized extension of tumor may also require esophageal resection or radical resection including laryngectomy with mediastinal tracheostomy. Twenty-two patients (12 with papillary, 3 with follicular, 4 with mixed papillary and follicular, and 3 with undifferentiated carcinoma) underwent resection--16 with airway reconstruction and 6 with cervicomediastinal en bloc resection with mediastinal tracheostomy. Eleven had prior thyroidectomy. Ten of those having airway restitution required cylindrical tracheal resection, 5 had resection of trachea with a portion of the larynx, and 1 had wedge resection. Three undergoing laryngotracheal resection also needed esophagectomy. Colon reconstruction was used. Fifteen of the 16 having airway reconstruction had good surgical results with speech preservation. One died of complications due to prior irradiation. One of 6 undergoing radical resection died postoperatively. Six of the 20 survivors died of recurrence in 1 2/3 to 9 years, and 2 others died of other diseases. Three who had known pulmonary metastases at the time of palliative operation are alive between 2 and 3 2/3 years postoperatively, and a fourth who has pulmonary metastases is alive 6 1/6 years later. Eight patients are alive without disease from 1/12 to 8 3/4 years. Only two patients had airway recurrence. Resection and primary reconstruction of the trachea invaded by carcinoma of the thyroid should be done in the absence of extensive metastases when technically feasible. It offers prolonged palliation, avoidance of suffocation due to bleeding or obstruction, and an opportunity for cure. In carefully selected patients with massive regional involvement, radical excision with laryngectomy and esophagectomy is also appropriate.

Eder Puestow's dilatation technique in association with fiberendoscopy was used in ten patients with oesophageal scar stricture and in fifteen patients with oesophageal neoplastic stricture. In ten of the latter patients an endoesophageal prosthesis was endoscopically inserted by Nottingham's method. In describing the methods and results obtained the authors stress the absolute reliability and advantages offered by such techniques.

We have performed a side-to-side portacaval shunt as the treatment of choice in six cases of primary Budd-Chiari syndrome. All the patients (three men and three women, mean age 33 years) had marked hepatomegaly and massive ascites. Four patients had endoscopically proved esophageal varices with no episodes of bleeding. Preoperative angiographic studies, caval pressure measurement, laparoscopy, liver biopsy specimens, liver scanning, and liver function tests confirmed the diagnosis. A possible etiologic factor was evident in only two cases. A plain side-to-side portacaval shunt was performed in four patients, while two required the interposition of a graft. One patient died after surgery of hepatorenal syndrome. Four of the surviving patients are free of ascites and doing well at 29, 27, 25, and 6 months. The remaining patient subsequently developed cirrhosis and died 76 months after surgery. None of the patients who survived developed encephalopathy. Shunt patency was confirmed endoscopically by variceal decompression in the four patients with esophageal varices. We believe the side-to-side portacaval shunt is a reliable and effective procedure for the definitive management of primary budd-Chiari syndrome.

Oesophageal dilatation were performed 24 times in 10 patients aged 12 months to 78 years presenting with acquired strictures of non-neoplastic origin. Tre conjunction of EDER PUESTOW'S metallic olives system with systematic use of fiberendoscopy enhances considerably the safety of the procedure and permits better functional results.

A new experimental model has been employed as part of research into portosystemic encephalopathy, namely end-to-side portacaval shunt associated wih revascularization of the portal bed with the right renal artery in the rabbit. Study of the changes brought on by the operation is based on the evaluation of survival, the behaviour of the weight curve, the weight liver-body/weight ratio, and the angiographic and histologic pictures. Significant variations were obtained by comparison with animals in which an associated portocaval shunt was performed.

Ten patients who underwent elective abdominal surgery were given a daily load of one liter of a 10% aminoacid solution randomly containing cationic aminoacid as clorure or acetate salt during the first four post-operative days. None of the patients developed acidosis but the mean daily urinary excretion of titratable acidity and ammonium ions was significantly higher in clorure treated patients. An aminoacid solution containing aminoacid as acetate acts as a sparing solution for tubular buffer activity, and therefore should be preferred for patients with tubular impairment.

The Authors report a case of acalasic megaoesophagus operated through extramucous myotomy according to Heller 20 years before coming to their observation and with relapse of disphagic symptoms due to serious oesophagitis during the subsequent years, in spite of an interposition of jejunal ansa according to Merendino and an oesophago-gastrostomy after removal of the interposed ansa. As the patient showed a further relapse of the disphagic symptoms, he, at last, underwent a subtotal oesophagectomy with intrathoracic oesophago-colon-plasty. At examination of the operative specimen, as a report added and not evidenced through the preoperative ascertainments, a limited oesophageal neoplastic degeneration at level of the oesophagogastro-stomy was found. The patient died one year and eight months after operation for neoplastic cachexia. The Authors analyse the causes determining the disphagic syndrome after surgical treatment of acalasic megaoesophagus, the therapeutical solutions suggested and the relations between megaoesophagus and oesophageal cancer.

The case of a voluminous neoplasia originating at the manubrium sterni is described. Given the rapid growth of the mass and its dimensions, the mass was removed surgically together with the manubrium sterni and the sternal extremity of the clavicle and of the first two ribs. The defect in the anterior wall of the thorax was filled by a net of prolene partially covered with the mobilised pectoral muscles. Functional and aesthetic results were very good. Assisted respiration was not necessary in the immediate postoperative period and the net remained stable and firmly in place during respiration. One month after the operation, respiratory function tests were on a par with those done prior to the operation. The positioning of prolene nets for the reconstruction of the thoracic wall is an extremely effective technique which makes it possible to preserve satisfactory respiratory mechanics even after the removal of extensive portions of the thoracic wall.

Between 1957 and 1977, 95 patients underwent transduodenal pancreatic sphincteroplasty (TPS) for a diagnosis of recurrent pancreatitis. Five to twenty-five year follow-up was obtained for 89 patients (94%) and was analyzed by life-table method. Short-term successful outcome was defined as relief of symptoms (e.g., pain) for one to three years; long-term successful outcome was defined as those patients who remained symptom-free at time of last follow-up. Operative mortality was 4.2% (4 patients). Fifty-six patients (66%) had a successful short-term outcome. Of these, 13 patients had recurrence of symptoms: 7 occurred at 4 years, 5 at 5 years and 1 at 6 years. Preoperative factors associated with poor short-term outcome were previous upper abdominal surgery (X2 = 5.67, p less than 0.05) and frequent diarrhea (X2 = 6.18, p less than 0.05). Preoperative factors associated with poor long-term outcome were previous upper abdominal surgery (X2 = 7.82, p less than 0.01), heavy alcohol intake (X2 = 4.71, p less than 0.05), narcotic use (X2 = 5.68, p less than 0.05) and frequent diarrhea (X2 = 4.8, p less than 0.05). Morphine Prostigmin Test (MPT) was performed preoperatively in 78 patients (82%). A significantly greater proportion of patients with a rise in serum pancreatic enzymes secondary to MPT (MPT+) had a successful long-term outcome compared with those without such a rise (MPT-) (61% v 41%, X2 = 5.13, p less than 0.05). Furthermore, of the patients with a successful short-term outcome, 88% with MPT+ remained long-term symptom-free compared to 38.5% with MPT- (X2 = 8.36, p less than 0.01). We conclude that TPS can be a successful operation for acute recurrent pancreatitis. Previous upper abdominal operations, signs of more advanced pancreatic disease, preoperative narcotic use and alcohol abuse, were associated with a worse outcome and probably associated with chronic recurrent pancreatitis. Preoperative use of MPT, coupled with accurate clinical history, defined groups with different short- and long-term prognosis after TPS.

The writers have reviewed thirteen cases of contusive trauma of the popliteal artery which came under their observation. The incidence of such lesions in arterial trauma is 22 per cent. The limb was saved in 76 per cent; but the result was only functionally good in only 46 per cent. The fundamental factors for successful revascularization are early diagnosis and precise technique. The operation of choice is a by-pass using the saphenous vein from the contralateral limb; this "jumps" right over the focus of arterial contusion.

A case of acute post-traumatic pulmonary failure was treated by extracorporeal respiratory assist, after conventional therapy had failed. Veno-venous bypass was established, with low extracorporeal blood flow (1.6-2 l min-1), and high exchange surface area membrane lungs (7 m2), according to the technique of low-frequency positive-pressure ventilation with extracorporeal carbon-dioxide removal. After a first disconnection, the evolution of the lung disease necessitated a second surgical procedure, during which a chest tube perforated the patient's right lower, pulmonary lobe. A two-stage right thoracotomy was performed, with the patient connected to the extracorporeal system, and receiving full heparinization. Massive bleeding and severe hypoxia were encountered, but successfully overcome. The patient is now a long-term survivor.

Over 15 years, 172 femoropopliteal saphenous vein bypasses were performed on 151 patients with chronic obstructive arterial disease. Follow-up varied from a minimum of six months to a maximum of 12 years. The operative mortality was 1.32%, the survival rates at five and ten years were 66.54% and 33.91% respectively, and the patency at five and ten years was 52.02% and 37.55%. The good results obtained, even in the majority of patients with trophic lesions and/or rest pain, indicate that direct arterial reconstruction should be considered the only effective treatment for saving a limb which would otherwise have to be amputated.

Knee dislocation is an uncommon lesion. It is, however, frequently associated with injury to surrounding structures. The possible coexistence of trauma of the popliteal artery is a serious threat to the limb's integrity. Its incidence is high (about one third of cases) and, unless speedily discovered and treated, it leads to limb loss. Three cases of knee dislocation with combined injury to the popliteal artery successfully underwent surgery. On the basis of such experience, the authors survey the questions of vascular reconstructive surgery that still remain open: in particular, the delay in diagnosis, when and if to use angiography, the type of vascular reconstruction, the maximum delay in revascularization.