After the use of Mullan's technique, macroscopic changes take place on the gasserian ganglion and the surrounding structures. These changes were studied on 20 trigeminal nerves of 10 fresh adult cadavers. Changes took place on the dura as well as in the neural elements. There was compression on the ganglion and on the trigeminal nerve, and there were changes in the position of the trigeminal root, with shortening of its cisternal segment. When the balloon was inflated to capacity (0.75-1.0 ml), dural stretching in an area of 15 x 10 mm took place. This stretching of the dura extended from the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus to the level of the porus trigemini. Despite these important mechanical effects, we never found a rupture or tear on the dura or the trigeminal nerve fibers. We discuss the relationship between mechanical effects and clinical results.

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The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the helical CT without contrast in suspected cases of choledocholithiasis, comparing this test with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Forty patients with possible choledocholithiasis were studied prospectively. There were 23 women and 17 men, ranging in age from 24 to 91 years. Helical CT was performed immediately before ERCP (time interval between the two procedures was less than 1 h). A biliary area previously selected was studied with a technique of pitch 1 and slice thickness of 3.2 mm. Average time was 30 s. Reconstruction with different increments and windows were made. Stone presence was evaluated in bile duct and Vater's ampulla. Biliary dilation was evaluated too. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography found stones in 19 patients and absence of stones in 20. One case was failed, but stones in bile duct were demonstrated during intraoperative cholangiography. Helical CT demonstrated stones in 15 of the 19 patients with positive ERCP. There were no false positives with CT. Patients without stones in ERCP were also negative in CT. The patient having the failed ERCP was considered positive in CT. The CT sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 100%, with an accuracy of 90%. Helical CT without contrast has sensitivity and specificity good enough to be used as a screening technique in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis.

Objective: rectal diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is used to prevent pancreatitis in high-risk patients during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends the use of prophylaxis with indomethacin or diclofenac in all patients undergoing ERCP, including those at low or intermediate risk of pancreatitis. A study to investigate the efficacy of this recommendation was performed.Methods: this was a mixed cohort study. A total of 1,512 ERCP procedures performed in our institution from January 2009 to July 2016 were included in the study. Until June 2012, 718 patients did not receive diclofenac. Subsequently, 794 patients without contraindications received 100 mg of rectal diclofenac at the onset of the procedure.Risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEAP) and PEAP cases defined using consensus criteria were recorded.Results: a total of 47 PEAP events (3.1%) were reported, 3.4% in the diclofenac group and 2.8% in the non-diclofenac group (p = 0.554); 26.1% of patients had risk factors for PEAP. In the diclofenac group, PEAP developed in 4.4%, 0.5% and 2.6% of subjects with intact papillae, prior sphincterotomy and extended sphincterotomy, respectively. The results were similar for the non-diclofenac group: 4% with intact papillae, 0.9% with prior sphincterotomy, and 2.5% with extended sphincterotomy, respectively. PEAP severity was similar in both groups.Conclusions: rectal diclofenac before ERCP did not prevent the development of post-ERCP acute pancreatitis in non-selected consecutive patients.

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