[Gastrointestinal tonometry: a new tool for the anesthesiologist]. / Tonometría gastrointestinal: una nueva herramienta para el anestesiólogo.

Intestinal hypoperfusion is among the factors implicated in sepsis and multiorgan failure. Splanchnic blood flow may be sacrificed to maintain supply to vital organs, even when hemodynamic alterations are minor. The sensitivity of invasive hemodynamic monitoring for detecting intestinal hypoperfusion is low. This paper aims to review current knowledge about indirect measurement of splanchnic perfusion by way of gastrointestinal tonometry. We review the pathophysiology of ischemic intestinal lesions, the basis for gastrointestinal tonometry, and the method. Finally we discuss clinical applications (early diagnosis of ischemic colitis and ischemia of the flap after esophageal reconstruction, weaning from mechanical ventilation, abdominal compartment syndrome, liver transplant, heart surgery, prognostic factors and care of the critically ill patient). An adequate understanding of this monitoring technique and management of information it provides can give an early warning of the intestinal hypoperfusion that precedes other serious systemic complications.

[Utility of sigmoid intramucosal pH in the early diagnosis of ischemic colitis after aorta surgery]. / Utilidad del pH intramucoso sigmoideo en el diagnóstico precoz de la colitis isquémica postcirugía aórtica.

A 62-year-old man with grade III ischemia of the legs and occlusion of an aortofemoral shunt underwent axillofemoral bypass and bilateral profundoplasty. During surgery, an aneurysm in the aortic origin of the right common iliac artery ruptured, requiring ligation of the inferior vena cava, the iliac veins and the right common iliac artery. Upon transfer of the patient to the recovery unit, the sigmoid intramucosal pH (pHi) was 6.83 (arterial pH 7.35), the regional CO2 pressure (PrCO2) was 100 mmHg (arterial PCO2 35.2 mmHg), and the lactic acid concentration was 3.6 mmol/L. Ischemic colitis was suspected and colonoscopy confirmed the presence of severe rectal and moderate sigmoid inflammation. An extended sigmoidectomy was performed with colostomy. The patient died from multiorgan failure 48 hours after surgery. Ischemic colitis is a severe complication of aortic surgery. Sigmoid pHi monitoring is non-invasive and highly useful for the early diagnosis of ischemic colitis.

[A controversial entity: myocardial contusion in 51 patients with thoracic trauma]. / Una entidad controvertida: la contusión miocárdica en 51 pacientes con traumatismo torácico.

We studied the incidence of myocardial contusion following thoracic trauma in a group of 51 patients. The goal of this review is an assessment of the repercussion of this lesion in mortality and treatment. Also we considered the diagnostic options. Our finding show that this lesion is relatively frequent, 8 patients were considered with myocardial contusion (15.7%), but generally is not worth of extraordinary treatment. We considered the ECG a valuable diagnostic procedure and the CPK-MB a specific test, but brief and often with troubled interpretation due to the great rhabdomyolysis and the huge liberation of total CPK. In 4 patients there was obvious elevation of CPK-MB levels. All but one were in the ECG group. Other diagnostic procedures in those patients were not available.