[Spinal diseases in the health setting. Epidemiologic findings at a hospital in eastern Sicily]

The importance of spinal column disorders has long been known, both for their frequency in working environments and the social consequences they provoke, i.e. absence from work and social insurance costs. Our study focussed on 800 health care workers: nursing personnel who provide direct patient care, and 150 office workers of Sicily Hospital. We estimated column pathologies by using Colombini, Occhipinti, Grieco method. On the basis of our results we may affirm that the column disorders are more frequent in hospital assistants: S.A.P. II degree 22% S.A.P. III degree 10%, in office workers S.A.P. II degree 6% S.A.P. III degree 3%.

Bulky-pedunculated hemolymphangioma of the esophagus: rare case in a two-years old girl

Benign esophageal masses are rare. The authors present a rare case of bulky pedunculated hemolymphangioma of the esophagus in a two-year-old female. The symptomatology was characterized by acute episodes of dyspnea associated with the protrusion of the mass from the mouth. The mass was removed endoscopically.

[Buprenorphine in balanced anesthesia]

Buprenorphine was administered for the balanced general anaesthesia in 300 patients during several operations. The results obtained, the good features of analgesia, morphine-like, the absence of cardiovascular and respiratory side effects are presented.

[Unusual case of ano-rectal malformation]

The authors present an unusual case of anorectal malformation: it's an intermediate from with a cutaneous fistulous tract. This case is similar to that described in 1982 by the Japan study group of anorectal anomalies.

[Ingestion of caustics in childhood: proposal for a therapeutic protocol]

Caustic ingestion is a traumatic event not rare in the infancy. The authors, after a brief discussion of their cases and after a revision of the literature, propose a therapeutic protocol for the treatment of caustic ingestion in the infancy. This protocol is based on the esophagoscopy in the first day and on the antibiotic and corticotherapy in the first two weeks. When there is an esophageal stenosis, the authors propose weekly esophageal dilatations.