Chronic viral hepatitis C micro-elimination program using telemedicine. The Mexican experience.

BACKGROUND: hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem. Chronic infection induces the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis together with all the related complications. The use of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs has proven highly effective. Telemedicine is a present-day resource that brings treatment closer to distant areas and may result in cost savings. OBJECTIVE: to implement a microelimination program for HCV using DAAs with the support of a telemedicine program to minimize expenses. PATIENTS AND METHODS: the program was developed at the Medical Services department of Petróleos Mexicanos (SMPM) with a national coverage; patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C were included. These were classified into locals and outsiders. Treatment for foreign patients was indicated, monitored and completed via telemedicine. Thus, avoiding their travel to the country's capital city, in order to save on transportation costs and travel allowances. RESULTS: a total of 136 patients, 74 locals and 62 outsiders, participated in the study. Transfer was avoided for 62 patients (45.5 %), which meant that telemedicine resulted in savings of 3,176.20 USD per patient, with overall savings of 196,924.40 USD from cost minimization. A total of 30 patients remained untreated due to lack of medication, hence the coverage amounted to 86 %. Sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 99 % of cases. Only two patients had treatment failure. Adverse events included headache and fatigue in 5 % of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: with the aid of a telemedicine approach, significant savings were achieved by minimizing costs, since nearly half of patients were outsiders. Coverage reached 86 % and treatment with DAAs was successful for 99 % of our cases.

Pirfenidone vs. sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose as prevention of the formation of intra-abdominal adhesions after colonic surgery. A randomized study in an experimental model.

INTRODUCTION: Up to 93% of patients undergoing abdominal surgery will develop intra-abdominal adhesions with the subsequent morbidity that they represent. Various substances have been tested for the prevention of adhesions with controversial results; the aim of our study is to compare the capability of pirfenidone in adhesion prevention against sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose. METHODS: A randomized, prospective, longitudinal experimental study with Winstar rats. They were divided into 3 groups. The subjects underwent an exploratory laparotomy and they had a 4cm(2) cecal abrasion. The first group received saline on the cecal abrasion, and groups 2 and 3 received pirfenidone and sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose respectively. All rats were sacrificed on the 21st day after surgery and the presence of adhesions was evaluated with the modified Granat scale. Simple frequency, central tendency and dispersion measures were recorded. For the statistical analysis we used Fisher's test. RESULTS: To evaluate adhesions we used the Granat's modified scale. The control group had a median adhesion formation of 3 (range 0-4). The pirfenidone group had 1.5 (range 0-3), and the sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose group had 0 (range 0-1). There was a statistically significant difference to favor sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose against saline and pirfenidone (P<0.009 and P<.022 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The use of sodium hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose is effective for the prevention of intra-abdominal adhesions. More experimental studies are needed in search for the optimal adhesion prevention drug.

[Experience with Clotteau-Prémont's technique in abdominal wall hernias. Preliminary report]. / Experiencia con la técnica de Clotteau-Prémont en hernias de pared abdominal. Reporte preliminar.

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias account for at least a third of abdominal wall hernias. There are different techniques of repair that include the use of prosthetic materials, which has lowered the hernia recurrence rate. Nonetheless, its use in case of rejection or infection requires other techniques with local tissue. The use of prosthetic material in a contaminated environment is contraindicated because the risk of infection and recurrence rate is unacceptably high. METHODS: In order to compare two repair techniques for abdominal wall hernias in terms of complications and recurrence to be used as an alternative for hernia repair in patients with abdominal wall hernias, we conducted, between January 2000 and January 2004, an observational, longitudinal, retrospective, non-randomized matched control case study in patients with abdominal wall hernia. A total of 30 patients were studied and were divided into two groups of 15 patients each. Subjects were matched for sex, age and hernia type (group A, mesh treated and group B, Clotteau-Prémont treated) who had at least a 5-month postoperative follow-up. Complication and recurrence rate was assessed and compared. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in complications or recurrence (p <0.05). The average follow-up time was 18.9 +/- 8 months for group A and 15 +/- 7.9 months for group B. CONCLUSIONS: Clotteau-Prémont's technique is a safe and feasible alternative procedure with indications in selected patients.

[Myxoid liposarcoma of the anterior mediastinum. A case report and bibliography review]. / Liposarcoma mixoide de mediastino anterior. Reporte de caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

UNLABELLED: Five cases per year. Of those cases 50% are located in the extremities and 40% are located in the trunk and retroperitoneum. Primary mediastinal liposarcomas represent less than 1% of mediastinal tumors. CLINICAL CASE: A 53 year old female, native and resident of Tabasco, with a history of anterior mediastinal tumor was treated with resection at the National Institute of Cancerology about 16 years ago with histopathological diagnosis of pleomorphic liposarcoma. She started her condition with chest pain, cough and hyaline expectoration, managed as pneumonia in her unit. Other symptoms occurred, moderate exertion dyspnea and edema of lower limbs, chest computed tomography prompted for documenting mediastinal tumor measured to be 9 × 9 cm and sent to our unit which is managed with resection.

Antecedentes: la incidencia de sarcomas de tejidos blandos es de 1.8 a 5 casos por año; 50% aparecen en las extremidades, 40% en el tronco y retroperitoneo. Los liposarcomas primarios de mediastino representan menos de 1% de los tumores mediastinales. Caso clínico: paciente femenina de 53 años de edad, originaria y residente de Tabasco, con antecedente de liposarcoma pleomórfico de mediastino anterior (durante su tercer embarazo) 16 años antes de su ingreso actual; fue tratada en el Instituto Nacional de Cancerología con resección y radioterapia. Acudió a su unidad de adscripción por dolor torácico, tos y expectoración hialina, la trataron como neumonía. Después se agregó disnea de medianos esfuerzos, y edema de miembros pélvicos; con la tomografía computada de tórax se diagnosticó un tumor mediastinal delimitado de 9 × 9 cm; la enviaron a nuestra unidad para su resección. Conclusiones: los liposarcomas representan menos de 1% de los tumores del mediastino, y requieren seguimiento a largo plazo por su alta recidiva después de un largo periodo libre de enfermedad.

Experiencia con la técnica de Clotteau-Prémont en hernias de pared abdominal: reporte preliminar / Experience with Clotteau-Prémont's technique in abdominal wall hernias: preliminary report

Introducción: las hernias posincisionales representan por lo menos un tercio de las hernias de pared. Existen diferentes técnicas de reparación que incluyen el uso de material protésico, lo que ha contribuido a disminuir la recidiva. Sin embargo, ante el rechazo o infección se requieren otras técnicas con tejido autólogo, dado que el uso de material protésico en un ambiente contaminado está contraindicado, pues el riesgo de infección y recurrencia es inaceptablemente alto. Objetivo: comparar dos técnicas de tratamiento para las hernias de pared abdominal en términos de complicaciones posoperatorias y recidiva, para determinar las alternativas en el cierre de pared abdominal en pacientes con hernias ventrales. Material y métodos: se realizó estudio observacional, longitudinal, retrospectivo, de casos y controles pareados, no aleatorizado, en pacientes con hernia de pared, entre enero de 2000 y enero de 2004. Se estudiaron 30 pacientes divididos en dos grupos de 15 pacientes cada uno, pareados por sexo, edad y tipo de hernia: grupo A, pacientes tratados con malla; grupo B, pacientes tratados con técnica Clotteau-Prémont. El seguimiento posoperatorio fue de por lo menos cinco meses. Se evaluó y comparó el índice de complicaciones y recidivas. Resultados: no hubo diferencia entre ambos grupos en complicaciones o recidiva (p < 0.05). El tiempo de seguimiento promedio fue de 18.9 ± 8 meses para el grupo A y de 15 ± 7.9 meses para el grupo B. Conclusiones: la técnica de Clotteau-Prémont es un procedimiento factible y seguro en pacientes seleccionados.

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias account for at least a third of abdominal wall hernias. There are different techniques of repair that include the use of prosthetic materials, which has lowered the hernia recurrence rate. Nonetheless, its use in case of rejection or infection requires other techniques with local tissue. The use of prosthetic material in a contaminated environment is contraindicated because the risk of infection and recurrence rate is unacceptably high. METHODS: In order to compare two repair techniques for abdominal wall hernias in terms of complications and recurrence to be used as an alternative for hernia repair in patients with abdominal wall hernias, we conducted, between January 2000 and January 2004, an observational, longitudinal, retrospective, non-randomized matched control case study in patients with abdominal wall hernia. A total of 30 patients were studied and were divided into two groups of 15 patients each. Subjects were matched for sex, age and hernia type (group A, mesh treated and group B, Clotteau-Prémont treated) who had at least a 5-month postoperative follow-up. Complication and recurrence rate was assessed and compared. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in complications or recurrence (p <0.05). The average follow-up time was 18.9 +/- 8 months for group A and 15 +/- 7.9 months for group B. CONCLUSIONS: Clotteau-Prémont's technique is a safe and feasible alternative procedure with indications in selected patients.

Hamartoma de vías biliares: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Bile duct hamartomas: case report and review of the literature

Objetivo: informe de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura con relación al hamartoma de vías biliares (HVB). Antecedentes: el hamartoma de vías biliares es una lesión hepática rara descrita por primera vez en 1918 por Von Meyenburg, consistente en una deformación y desorganización de los conductos biliares, formando estructuras quísticas que varían de tamaño. Método: se trata de una mujer de 44 años de edad, asintomática. El ultrasonido mostró la presencia de lesiones diseminadas en el hígado que condicionaban irregularidades en el contorno. Posteriormente se realizó tomografía computada abdominal, donde se corroboró la presencia de lesiones hepáticas, múltiples e hipodensas de aspecto quístico, diseminadas en todo el órgano y una lesión en pelvis al nivel de útero en el infundíbulo izquierdo, interpretándose inicialmente como una probable tumoración maligna de ovario izquierdo con metástasis hepáticas. Se llevó a la paciente a laparotomía exploradora, con biopsias hepáticas, así como histerectomía radical. Resultados: el examen histológico transoperatorio reveló ser negativo a malignidad en todas las muestras. El resultado definitivo fue el de HVB y miomatosis uterina. Conclusiones: la presencia de HVB genera confusión en el diagnóstico y en el manejo de los pacientes que la presentan, por su apariencia como metástasis hepáticas.