Comparison of gait performance on different environmental settings for patients with chronic spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-section study. OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to determine if the influence of a community environment would impact on ASIA D spinal cord injured (SCI) gait performance patients. Our main hypothesis is that an outdoor community environment may influence gait speed and endurance on community ambulating patients. METHODS: Ten-Meter Walking (10MWT) and Six-Minute Walking (6MWT) tests were performed on community ambulating SCI research participants (n=18) in two different environmental conditions: (1) Experimental (indoors Gymnasium) and (2) Natural (community setting). Average gait speed and endurance values were obtained for the two different conditions and analyzed for statistical significance on the nonparametric two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: While no difference was observed on the 10MWT we found an improvement on gait performance on the 6 MWT on a community setting. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed mixed results on environmental influence on gait speed and endurance on ASIA D patient population. While there is no difference on the 10 MWT, there is an improvement on gait performance on the communitary 6MWT.

Importancia del manejo del ductus arterioso persistente en la XII Región al implementar el diagnóstico ecográfico y tratamiento quirúrgico a nivel local / Surgical management of persistent ductus arteriosus in the Xllth Region of Chile

Introducción: El Ductus Arterioso Persistente (DAP) representa un problema muy importante en los Recién Nacidos de Pretérmino (RNPT) menores de 1500 g. Diversos adelantos en el Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Regional de Punta Arenas desde 1997 hicieron posible que iniciáramos la resolución local de ésta patología, tanto en Neonatos como en pacientes Pediátricos. Objetivo: Mostrar la experiencia obtenida después de 9 a±os de iniciado el diagnóstico y cirugía del DAP a nivel regional. Metodología: Evaluación prospectiva-retrospectiva de todos los pacientes operados de DAP desde Septiembre de 1997 hasta Agosto de 2006, recolectando información clínica, técnica quirúrgica y complicaciones, seguimiento y sobrevida. Se separan los pacientes en 2 grupos, los RNPT (Grupo A) y los niños de edad pediátrica (Grupo B). Resultados: Se han intervenido quirúrgicamente 16 pacientes del Grupo A y 10 pacientes del Grupo B. La edad al momento de la operación fluctuó entre 9 días y los 6 años 3 meses. En el grupo A, el peso al momento de la cirugía se encontraba entre 527 g y 2062 g. Para el diagnóstico ecocardiográfico se utilizó desde envío de imágenes por video hasta telemedicina con ecocardiografistas experimentados, hasta lograr la experiencia local. El equipo quirúrgico fue apoyado inicialmente por Cirujano Infantil con experiencia en cirugía Ductal, siendo parte del equipo en el 20 por ciento de las cirugías en el grupo A y en el 60 por ciento del grupo B. Se abordó el tórax por vía transpleural en 4 casos y extrapleural en 22 casos, sin dejar drenajes pleurales. No hubo complicaciones significativas. El tiempo de seguimiento varió entre 2 meses y 9 años, y la sobrevida fue de un 96 por ciento, con 1 paciente fallecido hasta Diciembre 2006. Conclusiones: La resolución quirúrgica de ésta patología es posible en el ámbito local, lo cual tiene gran importancia en los casos en que el traslado sea imposible o riesgoso por las condiciones de los enfermos...

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) accounts is a very important problem for extreme premature newborns < 1500 g due to a high associated morbi-mortality in this group of patients. After the arrival of a pediatric cardiac surgeon and training in appropriate echocardiography diagnosis, surgical treatment of this condition began at the Regional Hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile. Aim. to repon local results of PDA surgical treatment in neonates and children during a 9 year period. Method. All patients operated on for closure of PDA from September 1997 to August 2006 were included. A retrospective recollection of data, age weight at time of surgery (preterm neonates), means used to diagnose PDA, co-morbidity, surgical technique, complications and survival, was performed. A separate analysis of preterm neonates (PTN) and pediatric age patients (PA) was carried out. Results. 16 PTN and 10 PA patients were operated on. Overall, age at operation ranged from 9 days to 6 years. Weight of PTN ranged from 572 to 2062 g. Diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography in all but one patient. Echocardiographic findings were discussed via tele-medicine with experienced specialists in many cases. The local surgical team was supported by an experienced surgeon in 20 percent of PTN and 60 percent of PA patients. A transpleural approach was used in 4 and an extrapleural approach in 22 patients; no pleural drainage was used. There were no significant complications. Only 1 patients has died in follow-up ranging from 2 months to 9 years. Conclusions. Local resolution of PDA in neonates and small children has been made possible in Punta Arenas, avoiding dangerous transfer of these patients. Assistance by trained specialists was essential to accomplish this goal. Use of tele-medicine proved to be an important factor to increase safety in the management of PDA.