Retrospective analysis of 261 autopsies of penetrating cardiac injuries with emphasis on sociodemographic factors.

Penetrating cardiac injuries (PCIs) are highly lethal and several factors are related to its incidence and mortality. While most studies focus on characterizing patients who arrived at a medical facility alive and exploring the relationship between the degree of heart compromise and mortality, our study delved deeper into the topic. This study analyzed 261 autopsy reports from 2017 in Bogotá, Colombia, and characterized the factors surrounding PCI incidence and mortality while emphasizing the role of sociodemographic variables. Of these cases, 247 (94.6%) were males with a mean age of 29.19 ± 9.7 years. Weekends, holidays, and late hours had the highest incidence of PCIs. The victims' deaths occurred at the scene in 66 (25.3%) cases, and 65.1% of the victims died before receiving medical care. Upon admission, patients with vital signs were more likely to have been transported by taxi or a private vehicle. Two or more compromised cardiac chambers, increased time of transportation, trauma occurred in the city outskirts, and gunshot wounds were related to increased mortality. Our data is valuable for surgeons, health system managers, and policy analysts as we conducted a holistic assessment of the anatomical and sociodemographic factors that are closely associated with mortality following a PCI. Surgeons must recognize that PCIs can occur even when the entrance wound is outside the cardiac box. Reinforcing hospital infrastructure in the outskirts and improving the availability, accuracy, and response time of first responders may lead to improved patient mortality rates.

Variations in clinical course and surgical outcomes of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 Pandemic: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in the presentation and treatment of surgical pathologies. Therefore, we aim to describe the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical presentation and management of acute appendicitis (AAp) and its surgical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter cohort study with prospectively collected databases. Three high-volume centers were included and all patients over 18 years of age who underwent appendectomy for AAp were included. Multiple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression were performed, and odds ratio, relative risk, and B-coefficient were reported when appropriate, statistical significance was reached with p-values < 0.05. RESULTS: 1.468 patients were included (709 in the pre-pandemic group and 759 in the COVID-19 group). Female patients constituted 51.84%. Mean age was 38.13 ± 16.96 years. Mean Alvarado's score was 7.01 ± 1.59 points. Open surgical approach was preferred in 90.12%. Conversion rate of 1.29%. Mortality rate was 0.75%. There was an increase of perforated and localized peritonitis (p 0.01) in the COVID-19 group. Presence of any postoperative complication (p 0.00), requirement of right colectomy and ileostomy (p 0.00), and mortality (p 0.04) were higher in the COVID-19 group. Patients in the pre-pandemic group have a lesser risk of mortality (OR 0.14, p 0.02, 95% CI 0.02-0.81) and a lesser relative risk of having complicated appendicitis (RR 0.68, p 0.00, 95% CI 0.54-0.86). CONCLUSION: Complicated appendicitis was an unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to surgical consultation delay, increased rates of morbidity, associated procedures, and mortality, influencing the clinical course and surgical outcomes of patients with AAp.

Hematoma subcapsular hepático pos-CPRE: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura / Subcapsular hepatic hematoma after ERCP. Case report and literature review

Resumen Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 68 años, sin antecedentes de importancia, que por su cuadro clínico y resultados paraclínicos fue clasificado con riesgo intermedio para coledocolitiasis. En efecto, por medio de colangiorresonancia se realizó el diagnóstico confirmatorio. Fue llevado a colangiopancreatografía retrograda endoscópica en dos ocasiones -la primera fallida por papila intradiverticular-; en el segundo intento (exitoso con extracción del lito), el paciente presentó evolución posprocedimiento tórpida, con marcado dolor abdominal y anemización. Fue llevado a tomografía de abdomen con contraste, la cual confirmó el diagnóstico de hematoma subcapsular. Se decidió implementar el manejo conservador y se logró un control adecuado del sangrado.

Abstract This is the case of a 68-year-old female patient, with no relevant history, who was classified as intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis due to her symptoms and lab test results. The diagnosis was confirmed by means of cholangioresonance. She was taken to ERCP on two occasions; the first failed due to intradiverticular papilla, and during the second attempt (successful with the removal of the stone), the patient had a torpid post-procedure evolution, with marked abdominal pain and anemization. An abdominal tomography with contrast was performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of subcapsular hematoma. A conservative management was implemented, achieving adequate bleeding control.

Perforación aorto-esofágica, diagnóstico clínico e imaginológico: reporte de dos casos clínicos con manejo endovascular / Aorto-esophagic perforation, clinical and imaging diagnosis: report of two cases managed by endovascular technique

La perforación concomitante de esófago y aorta se puede presentar después de la ingestión de cuerpos extraños. El reparo aórtico por técnica endovascular, a pesar de ser reciente, es un tratamiento de primera línea por tratarse de un abordaje poco invasivo, rápido y que permite la estabilización hemodinámica, en comparación con la reparación abierta tradicional. Se presentan dos casos de perforación aórtica, en los cuales se llevó a cabo el reparo endovascular con éxito. El primer paciente sufrió una ruptura contenida de la aorta torácica, secundaria a la ingestión de un cuerpo extraño (espina de pescado), y presentó mediastinitis. El segundo paciente sufrió una ruptura aórtica en el arco distal a la arteria subclavia, la cual se corrigió por vía endovascular, pero desarrolló una fístula aorto-esofágica y, finalmente, murió

Concomitant esophageal and aortic perforation has been described in the literature as major complications of foreign body ingestion. Although it has not been widely studied, aortic endovascular repair is the first line of treatment, for it is less invasive, faster and allows early patient stabilization, as compared with the traditional open repair. We present two cases managed successfully with endovascular repair of the aortic perforation. The first case had a contained rupture of the thoracic aorta caused by the ingestion of a foreign body (fish bone) and developed mediastinitis. The second case had an aortic rupture in the arc distal to the subclavian artery, managed with endovascular but he developed an aortoesophageal fistula which was finally lethal.