Obstructive jaundice--an unusual complication of duodenal tuberculosis: treatment with transhepatic balloon dilatation

This is a report of a patient on treatment for duodenal tuberculosis, who developed obstructive jaundice due to a benign stricture of the terminal common bile duct. This complication of duodenal tuberculosis, to our knowledge, has not been reported before. Percutaneous, transhepatic balloon dilatation of the stricture alleviated the jaundice.     

Follow-up after coil closure of patent ductus arteriosus

A prospective serial follow-up after coil closure of patent ductus arteriosus in 84 patients showed a cumulative duct closure up to 96% at the end of 2 years. Five patients underwent transient recanalization, and 4 patients required repeat procedure for residual shunt or recanalization.     

Acrodysostosis syndrome

A case of a 7-year-old boy who presented with a pontine space occupying lesion and had typical findings of acrodysostosis is presented. His 9-year-old sister and 5-year-old brother also showed similar skeletal features. His mother had short stature and a similar facial and limb features but normal radiographs, whereas the father had short stature but normal limbs and face. The pedigree of this family is suggestive of a syndrome caused by a dominant gene. The rarity of this disorder with an interesting pedigree chart prompted us to present this case and highlight the important diagnostic features and inheritance of this condition.     

Endoscopic removal of retained bile duct calculi via T-tube tract

A simple and safe technique for removal of retained bile duct calculi using a flexible fibreoptic choledochoscope and rigid nephroscope via the T-tube tract has been described. The technique allowed removal of large impacted calculi under direct vision without damage to the bile duct.     

False aneurysm secondary to aortic cannulation--rupture into lung with fatal hemoptysis during aortography

We report a case of fatal rupture of a false aneurysm of the ascending aorta during aortographic injection. The aneurysm had formed at the site of aortic cannulation done for a cardiac bypass at an earlier date. The rupture manifested as hemoptysis as the false aneurysm had burrowed and ruptured into the anterior segment of the right upper lobe of the lung.     

Preoperative embolisation, transpedicular decompression and posterior stabilisation for metastatic disease of the thoracic spine causing paraplegia.

During a brief period from March 1988 to January 1990 we were faced with 13 patients with malignant vertebral neoplasms (metastasis) of the thoracic spine. Nine of these had progressive extradural spinal cord compression with motor, sensory and sphincter involvement of varying degrees and duration. After proper evaluation these 9 cases were aggressively managed by preoperative embolisation of the tumour, transpedicular decompression and a same stage posterior metallic fixation. The immediate results were encouraging, with 2 patients showing total recovery and 3 showing partial recovery. All of the 9 operated cases were pain free postoperatively and could sit up unaided and be easily transferred to the Cancer Institute for back up chemotherapy and radiotherapy. They also improved psychologically, and cooperated well in their subsequent rehabilitation programme.