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A 78-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis and cardiac arrhythmias (Lown grade IVb) was admitted to hospital because of haematemesis. Gastroscopy revealed a narrow, deformed duodenal bulb with a bleeding ulcer crater on the posterior wall and a mucosal protrusion 1 cm in diameter. In the course of the illness the duodenal bulb obstruction increased further and there was recurrent vomiting. Repeat gastroscopy 7 days later showed a gallstone, about 4 cm in diameter, which had perforated into the duodenal bulb and could not be removed endoscopically. Because of the serious nature of the other diseases an operation was not undertaken, but an ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy was performed. In three sessions this succeeded without complication to break up the stone, the larger fragments of which were then removed endoscopically while the small ones passed through the gut spontaneously. Subsequent ultrasonography demonstrated a shrunk, stone-free gallbladder with a cholecystoduodenal fistula. Afterwards the patient was again able to take food by mouth without any problems.

The study was made of sound waves effect on duodenal motility (DM) in 60 chronic sufferers with duodenal functional ileus. The exposure to 2.0-3.0 kHz sound waves of 0.57-0.73 W/cm2 intensity promoted intestinal contractions, duodenal passage of barium, enhanced biopotential, amplitude and tone. These parameters tended to acquire values similar to duodenal motility in health.

An analysis was carried out of the efficiency of using sound waves, drugs and electrostimulation on the motor activity of the duodenum in 45 patients with chronic duodenal obstruction of functional genesis. Excellent and good results were obtained in 80% of patients treated with sound waves complexly with other methods, in 40% when only drugs were used and 53% when only electric stimulation was used. The advantages of sound in the treatment are emphasized as concerns early effect, long-term results, absence of side-effects, low incidence of recurrences of the disease.

The overall approach to blunt abdominal trauma resulting in hematoma and intestinal obstruction has been variable and controversial. Recent reports recommend conservative nonoperative management. We reviewed six cases of duodenal and jejunal hematomas resulting from blunt trauma of which five resolved with nasogastric decompression and parenteral nutrition. The average hospital stay was 16 days (10-23 days), and total parenteral nutrition days were 9 days (4-16 days). Upper gastrointestinal series (UGI) demonstrated partial bowel obstruction in all five cases. In contrast, the sixth case was a restrained passenger who had evidence of complete bowel obstruction on UGI series, which failed to resolve after 18 days of conservative management. Laparotomy revealed jejunal and colonic strictures with fibrosis, which were successfully resected. We recommend that based on radiologic documentation of persistent high-grade obstruction, as well as the clinical course, patients whose obstructions do not resolve by 10 to 14 days ought to be further investigated and operative intervention considered. This approach may facilitate an earlier diagnosis of complications, reduce length of hospitalization and days on parenteral nutrition, as well as to expedite the proper management.

Intestinal obstruction remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. We reviewed the records of 77 patients with mechanical small-bowel obstruction who were treated with endoscopically and fluoroscopically placed Leonard long intestinal tube decompression. Most patients (59%) had failed a trial of nasogastric tube or Miller-Abbott tube decompression. Overall, 29 per cent of patients were able to resolve their obstruction with Leonard tube decompression alone. Subdivision of patients on the basis of the etiology of their obstruction demonstrated a much higher rate of success for tube decompression in adhesive obstruction (37%) versus malignant obstruction (12%) or inflammatory obstruction (no successes). Patients with radiographic and clinical evidence of complete intestinal obstruction were significantly less likely to respond to long intestinal tube treatment (13%). The long intestinal tube was easily passed in all patients. There were no complications of the intubation procedure in our series, and the incidence of tube-related complications was four per cent. We conclude that an initial period of long intestinal tube decompression allows a significant percentage of patients with mechanical small-bowel obstruction to be treated nonoperatively, particularly if a partial obstruction from postoperative adhesions is present. Patients who have failed a trial of nasogastric tube decompression and are poor operative risks should also be considered for long intestinal tube placement.

The paper is concerned with original methods of balloon dilatation with high-pressure low-profile balloon catheters of Grüntzig type of pyloric and duodenal stenoses. A new informative method of recording of this procedure and its results with computer for radiography was described. In 10 patients this method was used alone as well as in combination with sparing operation--selective proximal vagotomy. In 80% of cases a positive effect of this procedure was obtained and confirmed by clinical observation and instrumental methods. No complications were noted. Therefore this methods could be recommended for a wider clinical use.

We describe a case in which we employed a new method of using intraluminal balloon support for direct percutaneous placement of a jejunostomy tube. Standard interventional radiologic techniques and readily available equipment and materials were used.

An angiographic guide-wire/catheter system was used to bypass a partial obstruction of the upper gastrointestinal tract for the purpose of alimentation.

A review of 100 consecutive patients admitted with simple, mechanical small-bowel obstruction secondary to adhesions and treated for at least 24 hours with nonoperative intestinal intubation showed that of 76 patients admitted with partial small-bowel obstruction, 49 (65%) were successfully treated without operation. Of those with complete small-bowel obstruction (CSBO), 18 of 24 (75%) subsequently required surgical intervention; however, six of 24 (25%) were safely treated by nonoperative intubation. The 24-hour delay in surgery for CSBO did not increase morbidity or mortality in the 18 requiring operations. Major indications for surgical intervention were suspected strangulated obstruction or persistent obstruction, which frequently was associated with unsuccessful tube passage. Administration of antibiotics preoperatively was associated with a significant reduction in wound infections in patients requiring resection or enterotomy.

The descending part of duodenum is the principal site for an intraluminally projecting mucosal pouch or diverticulum, but this unusual lesion may also occur elsewhere in the upper gastrointestinal tract. We report three patients in whom a large intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) was diagnosed radiographically at the ages of 15, 27, and 68 years, respectively. Fiberoptic duodenoscopy was performed in the two symptomatic cases for the removal of impacted food from IDD or dilatation of its outflow aperture. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IDD are provided based on our experience and review of the pertinent literature.

Among 190 patients suffering from chronic duodenal obstruction (CDO) the authors identified 66 patients whose somatic disturbances were manifestations of mental disease, usually depression. They formed a section "primary functional forms of CDO" in the classification scheme. Additionally some of these cases were complicated by nonspecific lymphadenitis and entered a group of mechanical forms of CDO. The use of psychotropic drugs in both cases considerably improved the prognosis of the disease. Sensthopathic feelings in the abdomen in such cases were attributable to vegetative motor disorders of the upper portions of the gastrointestinal tract ascertained by instrumental examination.

This article is intended to update the general surgeon on and inform the general surgical resident of new concepts in pediatric bowel obstruction. Specifically, newer diagnostic modalities are discussed, and more emphasis is directed toward diagnoses that the general surgeon is more apt to encounter.

An unusual observation of Bouveret syndrome is reported. It occurred in a male patient, under the usual age for this disorder, with no history of cholelithiasis. Diagnosis was only established during the surgical procedure. There were neither radio-opaque stones nor air in the common biliary duct. Attempts to opacify the fistula failed. Gastro-entero-anastomosis, which is sometimes proposed because of the patient's poor general condition, is often necessary because of the local lesions. This procedure allows to wait until the local condition improves before undertaking the complete cure during the second procedure, with considerably lesser risk.

A case of resolution of mesenteric angina is reported with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a superior mesenteric artery stenosis, using the Grüntzig technique with a balloon catheter. Technical aspects are described. Short-term follow-up reveals symptomatic relief, disappearance of the abdominal bruit, and normalization of d-xylose absorption.

Thirteen children with intramural haematoma of the alimentary tract were treated in Chulalongkorn University Hospital during an 8-year period (1978-1986). A history of trauma was obtained in 11 cases, 1 case presented as a result of a coagulation defect secondary to a haematotoxic snake bite and no causative factor was apparent in 1 patient. Profound vomiting with abdominal pain is the typical presentation. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study is usually characteristic and diagnostic. Conservative treatment was successful in 12 of the cases with no morbidity and mortality.

Of the three cases of superior mesenteric artery (Wilkie's) syndrome presented, one was associated with anorexia nervosa; this association has not been reported before. Two patients were treated surgically with a duodenojejunostomy, and one was treated medically. Vascular compression of the duodenum is a controversial subject. The syndrome probably is more common than generally recognized and is underdiagnosed due to its exclusion from the differential diagnosis of small-bowel obstruction. Its recognition is important because early diagnosis of a partial obstruction may allow for medical rather than surgical intervention, as exemplified by our third case.

A consecutive series of 12 patients with stenosis secondary to duodenal ulceration were treated by proximal gastric vagotomy (PGV) and duodenoplasty or PGV and dilatation of the stenosis. Three months after operation the rate and pattern of gastric emptying of a solid meal was measured in each patient and compared with 18 patients with uncomplicated duodenal ulcer treated by PGV alone. Two patients developed gastric stasis in the early postoperative period which resolved with medical treatment. All patients were asymptomatic and were eating normally three months after operation. There was no significant difference in the rate of gastric emptying postoperatively between the patients who had stenosis and those who had uncomplicated duodenal ulcers. These results indicate that despite early postoperative difficulties in some patients pyloric dilatation or duodenoplasty with PGV are both effective treatments for stenosis due to duodenal ulceration.

The cast syndrome, recently called the superior mesenteric-artery syndrome, is a well recognized complication that can occur after a body cast has been applied. We are reporting the cases of three patients who had this syndrome following surgical correction of spinal deformity. The complication failed to resolve with the usual non-operative measures but did resolve with treatment by total parenteral nutrition.

The records of 71 patients with the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were reviewed. Seventeen patients were treated without surgery, 13 underwent exploratory laparotomy for diagnosis with no further palliative or curative operative procedure, six underwent pancreaticoduodenal resection, and 35 patients had a palliative gastric and/or biliary bypass procedure at initial operation. No preoperative signs or symptoms, routine laboratory tests, or radiologic evaluation were helpful as early diagnostic or prognostic indicators. Surgical mortality rates were not significantly different among the four groups; however, the survival time differences between the palliative group (4.8 mo) and the medically managed group (2.0 mo) was significant (p = 0.01 chi 2). Surgical morbidity did not differ significantly among the four groups of patients. The implications of these data in the treatment of patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas are discussed.

Blunt abdominal trauma, often apparently trivial in nature, may produce intramural hematoma causing complete duodenal obstruction. A child with abdominal pain, persistent vomiting and upper abdominal tenderness should be carefully questioned for a history of trauma. Prompt upper gastrointestinal x-rays will allow early and definitive diagnosis. Previously recommended treatment varies from immediate surgical intervention to observation followed by exploratory laparotomy at a later date. We have treated nine patients with duodenal obstruction caused by intramural hematoma of which eight were successfully managed with nasogastric suction and parenteral fluid administration. One patient had the hematoma evacuated at surgery. This report reviews our experience.

A group of 80 patients with arteriomesenteric duodenal compression syndrome was reviewed, 48 from the general population and 32 from the Hines, Illinois, VA Hospital. Differences in the patient populations are pointed out, as are differences in the therapeutic results. An additional series is reported. Duodenojejunostomy is a safe and effective operation for the majority of patients who require surgery for this condition, and patients are less likely to require further medical or surgical care than those who have section of the ligament of Treitz.

Intramural duodenal haematoma was diagnosed in an otherwise healthy boy after blunt injury to the epigastrium. Conservative treatment was instituted, as the patient did not exhibit signs of duodenal rupture or other intraabdominal damage. For 17 days there were symptoms and signs of high intestinal obstruction, at the outset manifest, but later intermittent. The diagnosis was confirmed by radiography at an early stage of the treatment, and the conservative therapy was performed without complications until complete recovery.

Fourteen patients with post-traumatic obstructing intramural duodenal hematoma were reviewed. Seven patients underwent exploration for associated injuries. Evacuation of the hematoma was performed in two patients. Of 12 patients treated by fasting, nasogastric decompression and parenteral fluid therapy, late obstruction of the duodenum developed in one patient, and operation was required. Criteria are discussed regarding evacuation of intramural hematoma of the duodenum found at celiotomy for associated injuries. In the typical patient with an isolated intramural hematoma in whom no other indications for operation are identified, aggressive nonoperative therapy is the preferred treatment.

Thirteen pediatric patients were diagnosed with superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) at our institution between 1974 and 1986. Four were successfully treated with nasojejunal feedings only, and nine underwent a derotation procedure designed to alleviate the problem of compression of the duodenum by the superior mesenteric artery. Of the nine patients who were operated upon, only one required a gastrojejunostomy to bypass a persistent obstruction. Therapy was aimed specifically toward the problem of duodenal occlusion at the mesenteric root. Because this therapy was successful in all of the patients, we conclude that SMAS exists as a treatable entity and must be considered in any adolescent patient who presents with symptoms of obstruction of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract and failure to thrive.