Thirty-three vascular residency programs among 13 countries joining forces to improve surgical education in times of COVID-19: A survey-based assessment.

BACKGROUND: Academic interaction with mentors has almost become minimal due to the current pandemic of COVID-19. The objective of this study is to introduce how a group of vascular surgery residencies joined forces to improve surgical education in times of COVID-19. METHODS: On May 2020, a group of Hispanic American vascular residency programs created webinar sessions of arterial and venous clinical cases among vascular residents across Latin America and Europe. Participants were surveyed via email. Questions were about the perceived quality and utility of the webinars; answers were stratified into negative (disagree), neutral, and positive (agree). RESULTS: There have been 60 sessions and 118 clinical cases presented. The survey was answered by 106 participants, 82 males (78.8%) and 24 women (23.0%). Fifty-four (51.9%) were board-certified vascular surgeons, 49 (47.1%) vascular surgery residents, and 2 (1.9%) general surgery residents. Mean age of the participants was 41.5 years (range: 25-74 years). Mean years of vascular surgery practice or experience were 11.2 years (range: 0-45 years). The residency programs involved in this project were from 13 different countries. Most answers received were positive for both perceived quality and utility of the webinars. CONCLUSION: Globalization and technology provide an opportunity for international education, with the goal of building well-rounded and academic vascular surgeons. This group is just the beginning of a large collaborative group among Hispanic American countries, hoping that more residency programs will join, with the aim of breaking borders in the education of vascular surgery.

Where does Hispanic Latin America stand in biomedical and life sciences literature production compared with other countries?

Objectives: to provide objective quantitative data about medical-related scientific production in Hispanic Latin America compared to different regions and identify demographic and political variables that could improve research. Study design: This is an analytical, observational, cross-section bibliometric study about all fields of medical-related scientific production over five years in different regions and its relationship with demographic and political variables that could impact research and the health system quality. Methods: Data on the total scientific production of all Hispanic Latin American countries and other countries representing almost 90% of mundial publications between 2017 and 2021 were retrieved from the PubMed database. Demographic and political data were obtained from open online databases. Counts of publications were rationed to population and analyzed with all other demographic, region, and language variables, using univariate Poisson regression and negative binomial regression (for over-disperse variables) analysis. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to analyze the combined effect of variables related to the healthcare and research Sectors. Results: Hispanic Latin America increased yearly from 29,445 publications in 2017 to 47,053 in 2021. This cumulative growth of almost 60% exceeded the 36% increment in all countries' publications and was only below that of Russia and China, which grew 92% and 87%, respectively. Negative binomial regression showed that the percentage of gross income dedicated to research (IRR 2.036, 95% CI: 1.624, 2.553, p< .001), life expectancy at birth (IRR 1.444, 95% CI: 1.338, 1.558, p< .001), and the number of medical doctors per inhabitant (IRR 1.581, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.13, p = .003) positively impacted scientific production. A higher mortality associated with chronic diseases between ages 30 and 70 (IRR 0.782, 95% CI: 0.743 0.822, p< .001) and a lower population with access to medicine (IRR 0.960, 95% CI: 0.933, 0.967, p< .001) were found to impact scientific production negatively. Hispanic Latin American countries published less than 20% of those with English as their native language (p< .001). Conclusion: Hispanic Latin America has increased the gross number of publications by almost 60 % from 2017 to 2021. However, the number of publications per 100,000 inhabitants is still low compared to other countries. Our analysis highlights that this may be related to lower GDP, research investment, and less healthcare system quality.

Bilateral Vein Compression by Popliteal Artery Aneurisms Mimicking Post-Thrombotic Syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a case of a 79-year-old man who presented a bilateral popliteal artery aneurysm compressing both popliteal veins mimicking signs and symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old male patient, was seen in the ambulatory clinic with a 2-year history of bilateral leg swelling, calf pain, chronic ulceration, and hyperpigmentation. Upon physical examination, lower extremities were edematous, with a 3 cm suppurative ulcer on each leg. Image studies showed a popliteal right arterial aneurysm of maximum diameter of 41.7 mm, extrinsically compressing the ipsilateral popliteal vein. Likewise, on the left leg, a popliteal arterial aneurysm of maximum diameter of 47.9 mm was encountered triggering the same phenomenon. Bilateral endovascular treatment deploying stent grafts was auspiciously performed. At 36-months follow up, his symptoms are completely resolved, and his ulcers healed. US follow up showed exclusion of the aneurysms with progressive shrinkage of both residual sacs. CONCLUSION: Popliteal artery aneurysm compressing and constraining flow in the popliteal vein must be included as a differential diagnosis among the causes of chronic venous syndromes. Prompt diagnosis with its appropriate treatment is needed for reducing severe complications caused by PAA, such as the venous disorder our patient had.

The Hospital Zambrano Hellion venous thromboembolism rapid response team (PREVENTION-team): Improving pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis patient care.

Background: Fast-track worldwide reperfusion programs improve outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and stroke. Similar programs called Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) focus on submassive and massive pulmonary embolism (PE) excluding deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods: PREVENTION-team (Hospital Zambrano Hellion Venous Thromboembolism [VTE] Rapid Response). Primary objective: Fast-track stratification, diagnostics, and treatment (60-90 min) to improve proximal DVT and submassive and massive PE patients care. Secondary objectives: Increase diagnosis rate of low-risk PE and distal DVT; exploration of cause; long-term anticoagulation; identify high-risk profile for chronic complications; community-based support groups and patient education to extend the concept of the thrombosis-free hospital to thrombosis-free home. Structure and organization: The team includes cardiologists, vascular medicine, angiologist, echocardiographer, cardiovascular imaging, and interventional cardiologists. The team will be accessible 24 h a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and base on previous national experience. The cardiology fellow on call will be responsible for activation and evaluation. We will design several tools to accelerate these processes. Risk stratification and therapeutic approach will be based on clinical presentation, echocardiogram, and biomarkers findings. According to PERT stratification based on resources and medical specialties, Hospital Zambrano Hellion has level 1 PERT. PREVENTION-team links physicians with different expertise, provide fast, efficient, and time-saving treatment, potentially saving lives and reducing bleeding and -chronic complications in VTE patients. Finally, establishing a network in our hospital and health system to improve VTE patients care. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first rapid response team focused on VTE in Mexico.

Antecedentes: Programas de reperfusión mejoraron la evolución en infarto con elevación del ST y accidente cerebrovascular embólico. Programas similares llamados PERT para TEP masiva o submasiva excluyen TVP. Métodos: Equipo PREVENTION (Hospital Zambrano Hellion Venous Thromboembolism Rapid Response). Objetivo primario: Estratificación, diagnóstico y tratamiento acelerado (60-90 minutos) para mejorar atención del TVP proximal y TEP masiva o submasiva. Objetivos secundarios: Incrementar diagnóstico de TEP de riesgo bajo y TVP distal; explorar causa; anticoagulación a largo plazo; perfil de riesgo alto para complicaciones crónicas; grupos de soporte en la comunidad y educación para pacientes, y extender el concepto de hospital libre de trombosis a hogar libre de trombosis. Estructura y organización: Incluye cardiólogos, medicina vascular, angiólogo, ecocardiografistas, imagen cardiovascular. Basado en experiencia nacional, el equipo estará accesible 24 horas del día, siete días de la semana, 365 días del año. El residente de cardiología realizará la activación y estratificación. Diseñamos herramientas para acelerar el proceso. La estratificación de riesgo y el abordaje terapéutico se basará en presentación clínica, hallazgos ecocardiograficos y biomarcadores. El Hospital Zambrano Hellion tiene nivel PERT 1 de acuerdo a la estratificación PERT basada en recursos y especialidades. Equipo-PREVENTION en TEV vincula médicos con diferentes capacidades, ofrece rápido y eficiente tratamiento para preservar vidas y reducir complicaciones hemorrágicas y crónicas. En nuestro hospital y sistema de salud establecer una sólida red de trabajo para mejorar la atención. Hasta nuestro conocimiento, en México este podría ser el primer equipo de respuesta rápida enfocado en TEV.

The Hospital Zambrano Hellion venous thromboembolism rapid response team (PREVENTION-team): Improving pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis patient care / Equipo de respuesta rápida para tromboembolismo venoso del Hospital Zambrano Hellion (PREVENTION-Team): Mejorando el manejo del tromboembolismo pulmonar y trombosis venosa profunda

Abstract Background: Fast-track worldwide reperfusion programs improve outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction and stroke. Similar programs called Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) focus on submassive and massive pulmonary embolism (PE) excluding deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Methods: PREVENTION-team (Hospital Zambrano Hellion Venous Thromboembolism [VTE] Rapid Response). Primary objective: Fast-track stratification, diagnostics, and treatment (60-90 min) to improve proximal DVT and submassive and massive PE patients care. Secondary objectives: Increase diagnosis rate of low-risk PE and distal DVT; exploration of cause; long-term anticoagulation; identify high-risk profile for chronic complications; community-based support groups and patient education to extend the concept of the thrombosis-free hospital to thrombosis-free home. Structure and organization: The team includes cardiologists, vascular medicine, angiologist, echocardiographer, cardiovascular imaging, and interventional cardiologists. The team will be accessible 24 h a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and base on previous national experience. The cardiology fellow on call will be responsible for activation and evaluation. We will design several tools to accelerate these processes. Risk stratification and therapeutic approach will be based on clinical presentation, echocardiogram, and biomarkers findings. According to PERT stratification based on resources and medical specialties, Hospital Zambrano Hellion has level 1 PERT. PREVENTION-team links physicians with different expertise, provide fast, efficient, and time-saving treatment, potentially saving lives and reducing bleeding and chronic complications in VTE patients. Finally, establishing a network in our hospital and health system to improve VTE patients care. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first rapid response team focused on VTE in Mexico.

Resumen Antecedentes: Programas de reperfusión mejoraron la evolución en infarto con elevación del ST y accidente cerebrovascular embólico. Programas similares llamados PERT para TEP masiva o submasiva excluyen TVP. Métodos: Equipo PREVENTION (Hospital Zambrano Hellion Venous Thromboembolism Rapid Response). Objetivo primario: Estratificación, diagnóstico y tratamiento acelerado (60-90 minutos) para mejorar atención del TVP proximal y TEP masiva o submasiva. Objetivos secundarios: Incrementar diagnóstico de TEP de riesgo bajo y TVP distal; explorar causa; anticoagulación a largo plazo; perfil de riesgo alto para complicaciones crónicas; grupos de soporte en la comunidad y educación para pacientes, y extender el concepto de hospital libre de trombosis a hogar libre de trombosis. Estructura y organización: Incluye cardiólogos, medicina vascular, angiólogo, ecocardiografistas, imagen cardiovascular. Basado en experiencia nacional, el equipo estará accesible 24 horas del día, siete días de la semana, 365 días del año. El residente de cardiología realizará la activación y estratificación. Diseñamos herramientas para acelerar el proceso. La estratificación de riesgo y el abordaje terapéutico se basará en presentación clínica, hallazgos ecocardiograficos y biomarcadores. El Hospital Zambrano Hellion tiene nivel PERT 1 de acuerdo a la estratificación PERT basada en recursos y especialidades. Equipo-PREVENTION en TEV vincula médicos con diferentes capacidades, ofrece rápido y eficiente tratamiento para preservar vidas y reducir complicaciones hemorrágicas y crónicas. En nuestro hospital y sistema de salud establecer una sólida red de trabajo para mejorar la atención. Hasta nuestro conocimiento, en México este podría ser el primer equipo de respuesta rápida enfocado en TEV.