[Evolution of blood loss in total knee prosthesis with blood recovery system vs conventional drainage]. / Evolución de la pérdida sanguínea en la prótesis total de rodilla con recuperador de sangre vs drenaje convencional.

INTRODUCTION: knee prosthetic surgery can be associated with significant blood loss that can account for up to 20% of blood volume. The objective of our study is to analyze blood loss (BL) after total knee replacement (TKR), with the use of a blood recovery system vs a normal drain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: prospective, comparative, and observational study of two groups of 30 patients who underwent TKR, one control (CG) and another study group with a recovery system (RG). We analyzed PS, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Htc), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) at 3-, 24-, 48-, 72- and 96-hours post-surgery, the need for transfusion, and the percentage of discharges in 72 hours and complications. RESULTS: the highest percentage of change in Htc and Hb occurred in the first 3 hours post-surgery and recovery began at 72 hours in the RG (p = 0.02) and at 96 hours in the CG (p = 0.04). The decrease in Hb and Htc began his recovery at 72 hours in the RG and at 96 hours in the CG. The TAS, TAD and FC began their recovery at 72 hours in both groups. The decrease in SBP was greater in the CG at 3 hours (p = 0.02), 24 hours (p = 0.02) and 48 hours (p = 0.01) post-surgery. Six patients were transfused in RG and 10 in CG (p = 0.22). 20% and 74% of the patients were discharged at 72 hours in the CG and RG, respectively. CONCLUSION: the greatest BL occurs in the first 3 hours post-surgery and recovery begins at 72-96 hours. Recovery blood system decreases BL during the first 3 hours, enhance the recuperation of Hb and SBP, decreases the need for transfusion and favors early discharge.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la cirugía protésica total de rodilla (PTR) se puede asociar a pérdidas sanguíneas (PS) significativas. El objetivo es analizar la evolución de la PS tras PTR con recuperador sanguíneo vs drenaje convencional. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio prospectivo de dos grupos de 30 pacientes intervenidos de PTR, uno control (GC) y otro estudio con recuperador (GR). Se analizó la PS, hematocrito (Hcto), hemoglobina (Hb), tensión arterial sistólica (TAS) y diastólica (TAD) y frecuencia cardíaca (FC) a las tres, 24, 48, 72 y 96 horas postquirúrgicas, la necesidad de transfusión, el porcentaje de altas en 72 horas y las complicaciones. RESULTADOS: la mayor PS y porcentaje de cambio de Hcto y Hb se produjo a las tres horas postquirúrgicas e inició su recuperación a las 72 horas en el GR (Hcto, p = 0.02) (Hb, p = 0.04) y a las 96 horas en el GC. La TAS, TAD y FC empezó su recuperación a las 72 horas en ambos grupos. El descenso de TAS fue mayor en el GC a las tres horas (p = 0.02), 24 horas (p = 0.02) y 48 horas (p = 0.01) postquirúrgicas. Veinte y 33% de los pacientes fueron transfundidos, además 20 y 74% fueron dados de alta a las 72 horas en el GC y GR, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: la mayor PS y porcentaje de cambio de Hcto y Hb se produce a las tres horas postquirúrgicas y empieza su recuperación a las 72-96 horas. El recuperador favorece la recuperación del Hcto, Hb y TAS, disminuye la necesidad de transfusión y favorece el alta precoz.

Validity of the KLIC and CRIME80 scores in predicting failure in late acute infection treated by debridement and implant retention. / Validez de las escalas KLIC y CRIME80 en la predicción del fracaso en la infección aguda tardía tratada mediante desbridamiento y retención de implantes.

It is very important to treat prosthetic infections correctly in order to ensure a higher success rate. Debridement with implant retention (DAIR) is widely used in acute and late infections, however patients who fail after this surgery are known to have a higher risk of failure in subsequent surgeries. Therefore, it is important to find a scale that enables us to predict the risk of DAIR failure. Hence the KLIC and CRIME80 scores for acute and late acute infections, respectively. This study analysed the validity of both scores in acute late periprosthetic knee infections. We observed that the KLIC score has no predictive value for this type of infection, but the CRIME80 score does.

Anterior segment ischemia: etiology, assessment, and management.

Anterior segment ischemia (ASI) is a potentially serious but rare complication of strabismus surgery. Among several risk factors, ASI occurs after strabismus surgery because of the nature of the anterior segment circulation. Disinsertion of rectus muscles leads to a decrease in the blood supply to the various anterior segment structures. We report a series of retrospective and prospective studies performed by our group focused on determining the risk of anterior segment ischemia following strabismus surgery, diagnosis, and modifications to surgical techniques to minimize the impact on anterior segment circulation. We found a significant decrease in postoperative anterior segment blood flow when operating vertical rectus muscles. Plication procedures preserve anterior segment circulation, and modifications to the technique allow the performance of adjustable sutures. Small adjustable selective procedures that spare the ciliary vessels have been demonstrated to be effective in patients with vertical and torsional diplopia. Ciliary sparing augmented adjustable transposition surgery decreases the risk of anterior segment ischemia while allowing management of potential post-operative alignment complications. Finally, ocular coherence tomography angiography is a valuable quantitative and qualitative technique to evaluate anterior segment ischemia. Strabismus surgeons should be aware of the risks of anterior segment ischemia when operating vertical rectus muscles. Modifications to standard surgical techniques allow surgeons to perform complex strabismus surgery in patients at risk for anterior segment ischemia.

Exosomes in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Diseases.

Exosomes (EXOs) are small vesicles (30-200 nm) of endocytic origin, which are released by many different cell types into the extracellular space. They may play a key role in facilitating cell-cell communication, under both physiological and pathological conditions. EXOs contain a wide range of RNA molecules and proteins. Their specific molecular signatures make them promising candidates in early diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic diseases. EXOs could also provide a new method to monitor treatment response in patients suffering from pancreatic cancer and other diseases of the pancreas. Additionally they may help to improve current treatments via personalized medicine approaches using them as therapeutic vehicles themselves.

[Prosthetic joint infection by Candida spp.]. / Infección por Candida spp. sobre prótesis articulares.

INTRODUCTION: Fungal periprosthetic infectionis a rare entity. The aim of this report was to review our experience in two different educational hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: patients with documented prosthetic joint infection due to Candida spp. from February 2002 to October 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, microbiological data, treatment and outcome of each patient was recorded. RESULTS: Ten patients, 8 women and 2 men, with a meanage of 77.7 (range 66-92) years were identified. Nine patients had previous bacterial infection, received antibiotic treatment for more than 15 days and required multiple surgeries. The most frequent species was C. albicans with 6 cases. All patients received fluconazole and surgical treatment consisted of debridement without removing the implant in 3 cases and 2-stage exchange with a spacer in 7. The first surgical and antifungal approach failed in all cases and a second debridement was necessary in one case, a resection arthroplasty in 8 and chronic suppressive treatment with fluconazol in one. After a mean follow-up of 31 (range 2-67) months, two patients were free of infection. CONCLUSION: Prosthetic joint infection was associated with long-term antibiotic treatment and multiples previous surgeries. Treatment with fluconazol and debridement or two stage replacement with a spacer was associated with a high failure rate.