Women Representation on Editorial Boards in Latin America Journals: Promoting Gender Equity in Academic Surgery, Anesthesia, and Obstetrics.

BACKGROUND: Inequitable representation in journal editorial boards may impact women's career progression across surgical, anesthesia, and obstetric (SAO) specialties. However, data from Latin America are lacking. We evaluated women's representation on editorial boards of Latin America SAO journals in 2021. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis, retrieving journals through Scimago Journal and Country Rank 2020. Journals were included if active, focused on SAO topics, and publicly provided information on editorial board staff. Editorial board member names and positions were extracted from journals' websites. Members were classified into senior (e.g., editor-in-chief), academic (e.g., reviewer), and non-academic roles (e.g., administrative office). Women's representation was predicted from first names using Genderize.io. The number of women SAO physicians per country was obtained from articles and governmental reports. RESULTS: We included 19 of 25 identified journals and analyzed 1,318 names. Three anesthesiology, seven obstetric, and nine surgical journals represented five Latin American countries. Women held 17% (224/1,318) of board positions [p < 0.0001; 95% CI(0.14, 0.19)]. Women held fewer academic roles (14.3%, 155/1,084) compared to senior [28.9%, 64/221 (p < 0.001)] and non-academic roles [38.4%, 5/13 (p = 0.042)]. Surgical journals had fewer women (7.7%, 58/752) compared to anesthesia [25.5%, 52/204 (p = 0.006)] and obstetrics [31.5%, 114/362 (p < 0.001)]. Women's proportion on editorial boards increased according to the number of women SAO physicians per country (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study assessed the composition of editorial boards from Latin America SAO journals and demonstrated that women remain underrepresented. Our findings highlight the need for regional strategies to advance women's careers across SAO specialties.

Prothrombin Complex Concentrate versus Fresh Frozen Plasma in Adult Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are commonly used to manage bleeding in patients during cardiac surgery. However, the relative efficacy and safety of these 2 strategies remain uncertain. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for studies comparing PCC and FFP in patients who underwent cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding. Review Manager (RevMan) ver. 5.4 (Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration) was used for statistical analysis. Binary and continuous outcomes were compared using pooled risk ratios and mean differences, respectively. The meta-analysis protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under protocol number CRD42022379144. Results: We included 8 studies with 1,500 patients, of whom 613 (40.9%) received PCC. The mean follow-up period ranged from 28 to 90 days. The PCC group had significantly lower chest tube drainage at 24 hours (mean difference [MD], -148.50 mL; 95% CI, -253.02 to -43.99 mL; p=0.005; I2=42%). Fewer units of red blood cells (RBCs) were transfused within the first 24 hours (MD, -1.02 units; 95% CI, -1.81 to -0.24 units; p=0.01; I2=56%), and fewer patients required RBC transfusion within the first 24 hours (risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93; p<0.007; I2=45%) in the PCC group. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. Nonetheless, a subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials failed to corroborate the results obtained from the main analysis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCC can be effective, without increased adverse events, when compared with FFP in patients undergoing cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding.

Diagnóstico de proteinose alveolar pulmonar após exposição à covid-19: relato de caso / Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis diagnosis of after exposure to covid-19: case report / Diagnóstico de proteinosis alveolar pulmonar tras exposición al covid-19: reporte de caso

Os objetivos deste artigo são relatar o caso de um paciente diagnosticado com proteinose alveolar pulmonar (PAP) após piora do quadro clínico decorrente da infecção por covid-19 e realizar uma revisão sobre a PAP na busca de promover o maior conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde sobre essa comorbidade. Participou da pesquisa um paciente de 48 anos de idade, sexo masculino, com relato de quadro de tosse e dispneia há um ano, apresentando exacerbação do quadro respiratório após infecção por SARS-CoV-2, com necessidade de início de suporte de oxigênio via cateter nasal devido à diminuição da saturação e ao comprometimento das atividades da vida diária. Foi realizada tomografia computadorizada de alta resolução do tórax (TCAR) e evidenciada pavimentação em mosaico com comprometimento difuso dos campos pulmonares. Conforme achados clínicos e radiológicos compatíveis com PAP, o paciente foi submetido à lavagem pulmonar total e apresentou melhora da dispneia e da tosse. A proteinose alveolar pulmonar é uma doença que merece relevância devido ao comprometimento clínico que pode ocasionar ao paciente. É necessário um acompanhamento médico periódico para observar a evolução da doença e definir a conduta terapêutica conforme apresentação clínica de cada enfermo. Por vezes, pode ser necessário repetir a lavagem pulmonar total e em casos refratários, buscar alternativas terapêuticas. Tendo em vista o envolvimento pulmonar e os sintomas semelhantes a infecções por SARS-CoV-2, é importante atentar para os diagnósticos diferenciais.

This paper reports the case of a patient diagnosed with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) after a worsening clinical picture due to COVID-19 infection, reviewing the literature on PAP to promote greater knowledge on this comorbidity for health professionals. A 48-year-old male patient with reported coughing and dyspnea for one year, presenting exacerbation of respiratory symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, needing to start oxygen support via nasal catheter due to decreased saturation and impairment of daily living activities. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest was performed and showed crazy paving with diffuse involvement of the lung fields. As per clinical and radiological findings compatible with PAP, the patient underwent total lung lavage and showed improvement in dyspnea and coughing. Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis deserves relevance due to the clinical impairment it can cause to the patient. Periodic medical follow-up is necessary to observe the disease evolution and define the therapeutic approach according to the clinical presentation of each patient. Sometimes, it may be necessary to repeat the total lung lavage, and to seek therapeutic alternatives in refractory cases. Given the pulmonary involvement and symptoms similar to SARS-CoV-2 infections, one must pay attention to the differential diagnoses.

Los objetivos de este artículo son presentar el caso de un paciente diagnosticado de proteinosis alveolar pulmonar (PAP) tras empeorar el cuadro clínico debido a infección por covid-19 y realizar una revisión sobre la PAP con el fin de generar más conocimiento a los profesionales sanitarios sobre esta comorbilidad. El caso investigado fue de un paciente masculino de 48 años de edad, con reporte de tos y disnea desde hace un año, que presentaba exacerbación del cuadro respiratorio posterior a infección por SARS-CoV-2, lo que requirió inicio de soporte de oxígeno vía catéter nasal por disminución de la saturación y deterioro de las actividades de la vida diaria. Se realizó una tomografía computarizada de alta resolución (TCAR) de tórax y se observó empedrado en mosaico con afectación difusa de los campos pulmonares. Según los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos compatibles con PAP, se le realizó al paciente lavado pulmonar total y mejoró la disnea y la tos. La proteinosis alveolar pulmonar es una enfermedad que merece relevancia por el compromiso clínico que puede ocasionar al paciente. Es necesario un seguimiento médico periódico para observar la evolución de la enfermedad y definir el abordaje terapéutico según la presentación clínica de cada paciente. También es necesario repetir el lavado pulmonar total y, en casos refractarios, buscar alternativas terapéuticas. Ante la afectación pulmonar y síntomas similares a infecciones por SARS-CoV-2, es importante prestar atención a los diagnósticos diferenciales.