Symptomatic biliary obstruction in patients with extrahepatic portal hypertension may be relieved by a portasystemic shunt. Rarely biliary bypass may be required and is rendered safer by previous portasystemic shunting to decompress the pericholedochal varices. A direct approach to the biliary tract without a preliminary shunt may be hazardous and is frequently unnecessary.

Choledochal cysts in children and adults may behave differently. To identify these differences the records of 49 patients (22 children and 27 adults) who underwent surgery for choledochal cysts over a period of 7 years were analysed retrospectively. In two adult patients who had undergone a previous cholecystectomy an acquired malformation could not be excluded. Cholangitis was more common in adults. Choledochal cysts in children were predominantly Type I cystic lesions, whereas Type IV cysts were more common in adult patients. Anomalies of the pancreatic duct and associated hepatobiliary problems were seen exclusively in adults and the latter can make excision of the cyst more difficult and complicated. To prevent the development of complications choledochal cysts should be excised as soon as they are detected.

There are several reports on oesophageal strictures caused by alkali ingestion, but information on oesophageal strictures due to acid ingestion is scarce. Endoscopic dilatation, which has been found to be quite safe and effective in the treatment of benign oesophageal strictures of other aetiology, has also not been evaluated adequately in the treatment of these strictures. Over a period of 2 years, of 47 patients treated at this centre of benign oesophageal strictures, 17 (36.2%) patients had strictures following ingestion of corrosive agents. Thirteen patients had ingested acids and only four gave a history of alkali ingestion. The age range of these 13 patients was 14-50 years (mean = 25.5 years, s.d. = 2.6). The amount of acid ingested varied from 10 to 100 ml (median = 50 ml). The interval between acid ingestion and presentation to hospital ranged from 1 to 60 months (median = 2 months). Ten patients had multiple strictures, and the most common site of involvement was the upper third followed by the lower third of the oesophagus. Only five of these 13 patients had evidence of gastric involvement in the form of antral stricture (four) and hour glass deformity (one). Strictures were dilated using Eder-Puestow metal olives passed over a guide wire. The total number of sittings required to achieve adequate dilatation in this group ranged from 1 to 30 (median = 14). Most patients were managed successfully with dilatation (good response 63.6%, satisfactory response 18.2%). On follow-up, recurrence of dysphagia was seen in a high number of patients (66%), but this could be managed easily with repeat dilatation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The study presented here was performed to evaluate the need for aspiration in patients with amebic liver abscess (ALA). Patients older than 12 years with a diagnosis of ALA based on clinical features, ultrasound results, and positive amebic serology were included in the study (n=144). Serological testing was performed to detect the presence of immunoglobin G antibody against Entamoeba histolytica, and a value of more than 0.4 optical density units was considered positive. All patients were given intravenous metronidazole (500 mg every 8 h) and their clinical progress and need for abscess aspiration was documented. Fever, pain in the upper abdomen, and tender hepatomegaly was seen in 133 (92.3%), 128 (88.8%), and 144 (100%) patients, respectively. Multiple abscesses were seen in 40 (27.7%) patients. Six (4.1%) patients died. Seventy-one (49.3%) patients responded to metronidazole alone. A total of 73 (50.69%) patients required aspiration of the abscess. This study shows that almost 50% of the patients with amebic liver abscess failed to respond to metronidazole and required aspiration.

SUMMARY To determine the optimum dose of ispaghula husk in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to assess the correlation, if any between the relief in patients' symptoms and the whole gut transit time, and the increase in stool weight, a two part study was carried out. In part 1, 14 male patients were given ispaghula husk in increasing doses of 10 g, 20 g, and 30 g a day for a duration of 17 days each (14 days of study period+three days of stool collection). Ten patients completed the trial. The symptom score improved significantly with all the three doses of ispaghula. Both 20 g and 30 g doses of ispaghula were superior to the 10 g dose but there was no significant difference between the 20 g and 30 g doses. There was a significant (p<0.001) increase in the daily stool weight with 10 g dose of fibre with further significant increases with the 20 g and 30 g doses. A positive correlation was seen between the improvement in the symptom score and the increase in stool weight with the 10 g dose of ispaghula but not with the 20 g and 30 g doses. Whole gut transit time remained fairly constant throughout the study period and there was no relationship with either the dose of ispaghula, the alteration in stool weight, or the improvement in the patients symptoms. Ten patients completed part 2 of the study in which ispaghula husk was given in the same dose (10 g, 20 g, and 30 g) but in a random order and with a 'washout' period of one week between individual doses. Again all the three doses of ispaghula produced a significant improvement in the symptoms; 20 g and 30 g doses were equally effective and both were significantly superior to the 10 g dose. Assessed individually, all the three symptoms improved significantly; improvement in constipation and pain abdomen was more pronounced than diarrhoea. It is concluded that the optimum dose of ispaghula husk in irritable bowl syndrome is 20 g per day. There is some correlation between the increase in stool weight and the improvement in symptom score but the whole gut transit time remains unchanged despite alterations in stool weight and patients' symptoms.Some studies'5 but not others67 show that administra-other drugs.34 A number of aspects of the therapeutic tion of fibre, results in significant improvement in the role of fibre in irritable bowel syndrome remain to be symptoms of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. established, however, for example, the optimum This beneficial effect has been noted not only in the dose of fibre in irritable bowel syndrome has not west but also in India24 where the diet is compara-been determined. Moreover, the effect of different tively richer in its fibre content.8 Furthermore, fibre is quantities of fibre on the stool weight and the whole useful whether it is used alone or in combination with gut transit time, and the relationship of these parameters with the clinical response of the patient