Role of fibrinogen concentrates for treatment of critical perioperative hemorrhage.

Acquired hypofibrinogenemia is a frequent cause of maintained bleeding in perioperative high-risk settings. Loss, consumption and dilution under resuscitation fluid therapy are the principal causes for fibrinogen depletion. Severe hypofibrinogenemia is frequently associated with an early bleeding complication that cannot be reliably avoided with high-ratio plasma transfusion strategies. Real-time monitoring with viscoelastic hemostatic assays is a useful tool for timely diagnosis and treatment of detected coagulopathies. Replenishment of fibrinogen in uncontrolled bleeding events is currently recommended by most published guidelines, suggesting treatment thresholds to maintain a minimum of 1.5 g/L plasma fibrinogen concentration for nonobstetrical hemorrhage. Fibrinogen concentrates, originally licensed for treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with congenital hypo-, dys- or afibrinogenemia disorders, are used in many clinical situations as supplementary therapy for the treatment of acquired hypofibrinogenemia. This review seeks to provide an overview of the most relevant topics associated to fibrinogen replacement therapy for critical perioperative hemorrhage highlighting currently available evidence on the risk/benefit profile of purified fibrinogen concentrates for this extended clinical indication.

Trained dogs can identify malignant solitary pulmonary nodules in exhaled gas.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the capacity of a trained dog to identify LC in patients with malignant SPN. METHODS: We collected 90 exhaled gas samples from 30 patients with SPN (3 samples/patient). As controls we used 61 healthy volunteers and 18 COPD patients without SNP or LC, in each of whom we collected 5 exhaled gas samples (n = 395). The dog (Blat, a 4-year-old crossbreed between a Labrador Retriever and a Pitbull) and the methodology used were the same as previously reported by our group (see: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1R4mOtOtuZkTeb5iOEEv0K9r2kHKlPhWd). RESULTS: Of 30 patients with SPN, Blat recognized 27 of them as positive for LC and 3 as negative for LC. These results fully matched post-surgical pathological results. Sensibility was 0.97, Specificity 0.99, Positive Predictive value 0.97 and negative predictive value 0.99. The AUC of the ROC curve was 0.985. CONCLUSIONS: Trained dogs can identify accurately the malignant origin of SPN. It is now time to develop technology that can match canine olfaction and facilitate the implementation of this diagnostic approach in the clinic.

[Effectiveness and complications of video-assisted surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax]. / Eficacia y morbilidad del tratamiento con cirugía videoasistida del neumotórax espontáneo primario.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and describe the complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 1997 and September 2003, our department scheduled 147 VATS procedures for spontaneous pneumothorax in 127 patients (102 men [80.5%]). The mean (SD) age for the series was 28.3 (11.6) years. Bullae and blebs were resected by endostapler and vigorous pleural abrasion was carried out. Vanderschueren staging was as follows: stage I, 10 (6.8%); stage II, 22 (15%); stage III, 71 (48.3%); and stage IV, 44 (29.9%). The procedure was indicated for the following reasons: third episode, 56 (38.1%); persistent air leak, 47 (32%); elective, 16 (10.9%); simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, 28 (19%). VATS was performed on the right side only in 85 patients (57.8%), on the left in 62 (42.2%), and on both sides in 16 (11.6%). RESULTS: A total of 137 of the 147 VATS procedures scheduled (93.2%) were performed, and there were no deaths. The rate of conversion to thoracotomy was 6.8%, and the overall rate of complications was 13.7%. Postoperative complications were due to bleeding in 5 cases (3.6%), air leak (>5 days) in 10 (7.2%), wound infection in 2 (1.4%), residual pneumothorax in 4 (2.9%), need to insert a new pleural drain in 3 (2.1%), and pleural empyema in 1 (0.7%). Two patients took oral analgesics for more than 30 days after the procedure. Pneumothorax recurred during follow-up in 7 patients (5.1%). No significant correlation was found between recurrence of pneumothorax after VATS and Vandeschueren stage, age, bilaterality of the procedure, indication, or days of postoperative drainage (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: VATS for resection of pleural lesions plus pleural abrasion is an efficacious and simple treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax regardless of intraoperative findings.

[Risk factors for atrial fibrillation after thoracic surgery]. / Factores de riesgo en el desarrollo de fibrilación auricular tras cirugía torácica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung resection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2003, 149 patients underwent lung resection in our hospital. For all these patients, clinical, surgical, analytical, and oncological data were prospectively collected. The data were subjected to univariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 127 men (85.2%) and 22 women (14.8%) who underwent lung resection was 61.8 (12.3) years (range, 17-79 years). Atrial fibrillation was documented in 17 patients (11.4%). Mortality at 30 days was 8.1%. The following risk factors for atrial fibrillation were identified: age 70 years or older (P<.0004), prior heart disease (P<.005), patients undergoing operations for lung cancer (P<.04), and type of resection--right bilobectomy (P<.05) and left pneumonectomy (P<.03). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer stage were not risk factors. Likewise, systematic lymph node dissection and other forms of lung resection were not risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: After lung resection, atrial fibrillation is a common complication that seems to be associated with old age, history of heart disease, operations for lung cancer, left pneumectomy, and right bilobectomy. The identification of these risk factors may encourage prospective studies that assess the use of antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent atrial fibrillation during chest surgery.

[Spontaneous hemothorax caused by lung cancer]. / Hemotórax espontáneo por carcinoma broncogénico.

Spontaneous hemothorax is an extremely rare complication of malignant disease. We describe the case of a 26-year-old man with spontaneous hemothorax secondary to large-cell carcinoma of the lung, with liver and bone metastases. The patient died in the fifth week after hospitalization.

[Reduction of the hospital stay in the surgical treatment of hydronephrosis in children]. / Reducción de la estancia hospitalaria en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las hidronefrosis en la infancia.

UNLABELLED: A Hydronephrosis operation represents a relatively frequent surgery in childhood. There is not agreement about the necessity of using drainage neither on the type to use, decisions that rebound in the patient's hospital stay. The objective of the study is to show the reduction of the days of stay according to the type of drainage used. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present 14 children diagnosed of hydronephrosis operated on by Anderson-Hynes technique with an internal drainage double J type no 3 or 4. There were left side predominance (10 kidneys). Age of diagnosis varied from 0 to 11 years. We analysed the decrease of the stay with regard to the system that we used previously, nephrostomy drainage and stent, as well as the presence of complications related with the drainage. A cystoscopy was performed fifteen days later, in ambulatory way, to remove the catheter. A questionnaire of satisfaction was requested to the parents. RESULTS: Thirteen patients abandoned the hospital 2 days postoperatively and 2 three days postoperatively. There were 3 complications, being 2 minor and 1 mayor (double J ascension removed by ureteroscopy and an additional one day stay hospital). The reduction of the stay with regard to the traditional method varied between 7 and 8 days what represents an important saving of costs. In the questionnaire, the methods has appealed to the parents. CONCLUSION: We believe that the placement of a double J catheter represents an improvement that saves time and diminishes nuisances to patients, although a cystoscopy procedure is necessary for its removal. The double J catheters with a straight prolonged end, like a nephrostomy tube, recently in the market can avoid this last procedure.

Factores de riesgo en el desarrollo de fibrilación auricular tras cirugía torácica / Risk factors for atrial fibrillation alter thoracic surgery

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo en la fibrilación auricular (FA) tras la resección pulmonar. Pacientes y método: Entre enero de 2002 y diciembre de 2003 se realizaron en nuestro servicio 149 resecciones anatómicas pulmonares. Se recogieron prospectivamente las características clínicas, quirúrgicas, analíticas y oncológicas de todos los pacientes intervenidos. Se realizó un análisis univariante de todas las variables registradas. Resultados: La edad media (± desviación estándar) de los pacientes operados ­127 varones (85,2%) y 22 mujeres (14,8%)­ fue de 61,8 ± 12,3 años (rango: 17-79). Se detectaron 17 casos de FA (11,4%). La mortalidad a los 30 días fue del 8,1%. Se detectaron los siguientes factores de riesgo de presentar FA: edad >= 70 años (p < 0,0004), enfermedad cardíaca previa (p < 0,005), pacientes operados por carcinoma broncogénico (p < 0,04) y tipo de resección --­bilobectomía derecha (p < 0,05) y neumonectomía izquierda (p < 0,03)--­. No fueron factores de riesgo la hipertensión arterial, la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, el estadio del carcinoma broncogénico, la disección mediastínica sistemática ni otro tipo distinto de resección pulmonar. Conclusiones: La aparición de FA después de la resección pulmonar anatómica es una complicación frecuente que parece asociarse en nuestra serie a edad avanzada, antecedentes de cardiopatía, intervención por carcinoma broncogénico, neumonectomía izquierda y bilobectomía derecha. La identificación de estos factores de riesgo puede ser de utilidad para iniciar estudios prospectivos encaminados a valorar el uso de fármacos antiarrítmicos para prevenir esta complicación

Objective: To determine the risk factors for atrial fibrillation after lung resection. Patients and methods: Between January 2002 and December 2003, 149 patients underwent lung resection in our hospital. For all these patients, clinical, surgical, analytical, and oncological data were prospectively collected. The data were subjected to univariate analysis. Results: The mean (SD) age of the 127 men (85.2%) and 22 women (14.8%) who underwent lung resection was 61.8 (12.3) years (range, 17-79 years). Atrial fibrillation was documented in 17 patients (11.4%). Mortality at 30 days was 8.1%. The following risk factors for atrial fibrillation were identified: age 70 years or older (P<.0004), prior heart disease (P<.005), patients undergoing operations for lung cancer (P<.04), and type of resection--right bilobectomy (P<.05) and left pneumonectomy (P<.03). Hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer stage were not risk factors. Likewise, systematic lymph node dissection and other forms of lung resection were not risk factors. Conclusions: After lung resection, atrial fibrillation is a common complication that seems to be associated with old age, history of heart disease, operations for lung cancer, left pneumectomy, and right bilobectomy. The identification of these risk factors may encourage prospective studies that assess the use of antiarrhythmic drugs to prevent atrial fibrillation during chest surgery

Eficacia y morbilidad del tratamiento con cirugía videoasistida del neumotórax espontáneo primario / Effectiveness and complications of video-assisted surgery for primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Objetivo: Evaluar y describir la eficacia y la morbilidad de la VATS (video assisted toracic surgery [cirugía torácica videoasistida]) en el tratamiento del neumotórax espontáneo primario (NEP). Pacientes y métodos: Entre mayo de 1997 y septiembre de 2003 se programaron en nuestro servicio 147 intervenciones por NEP para VATS en 127 pacientes. Las lesiones bullosas se resecaron mediante endograpadoras. Posteriormente se realizó pleuroabrasión vigorosa. La estadificación según Vanderschueren resultó: estadio I, 10 (6,8%); II, 22 (15%); III, 71 (48,3%), y IV, 44 (29,9%). Se intervino a 102 (80,5%) hombres y 25 (19,5%) mujeres. La media de edad fue de 28,3 ± 11,6 años. Las indicaciones fueron: tercer episodio, 56 (38,1%); fuga aérea persistente, 47 (32%); cirugía electiva, 16 (10,9%); neumotórax bilateral sincrónico, 28 (19%). Se realizó VATS en el lado derecho en 85 pacientes (57,8%) y en el izquierdo en 62 (42,2%). Se realizó intervención bilateral en 16 (11,6%). Resultados: Se realizaron 137 VATS (93,2%). No hubo mortalidad y la tasa de reconversión fue del 6,8%. La incidencia de complicaciones fue del 13,7%. La morbilidad post-operatoria fue: sangrado en 5 pacientes (3,6%); fuga aérea (> 5 días) en 10 (7,2%); infección de herida en 2 (1,4%); neumotórax residual en 4 (2,9%); nuevo drenaje torácico en 3 (2,1%), y empiema pleural en 1 (0,7%). Dos pacientes tomaron analgésicos orales durante más de 30 días después del procedimiento. La recurrencia en seguimiento fue de 7 (5,1%). Se analizó el índice de recurrencia post VATS en relación al estadio Vandeschueren, la edad, el carácter bilateral del neumotórax, la indicación o los días de drenaje post-operatorio y no se encontraron diferencias significativas (p > 0,05). Conclusiones: La VATS con resección de lesiones y pleuroabrasión es un método eficaz y sencillo independiente de los hallazgos intraoperatorios para el tratamiento del NPE

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and describe the complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Patients and methods: Between May 1997 and September 2003, our department scheduled 147 VATS procedures for spontaneous pneumothorax in 127 patients (102 men [80.5%]). The mean (SD) age for the series was 28.3 (11.6) years. Bullae and blebs were resected by endostapler and vigorous pleural abrasion was carried out. Vanderschueren staging was as follows: stage I, 10 (6.8%); stage II, 22 (15%); stage III, 71 (48.3%); and stage IV, 44 (29.9%). The procedure was indicated for the following reasons: third episode, 56 (38.1%); persistent air leak, 47 (32%); elective, 16 (10.9%); simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, 28 (19%). VATS was performed on the right side only in 85 patients (57.8%), on the left in 62 (42.2%), and on both sides in 16 (11.6%). Results: A total of 137 of the 147 VATS procedures scheduled (93.2%) were performed, and there were no deaths. The rate of conversion to thoracotomy was 6.8%, and the overall rate of complications was 13.7%. Postoperative complications were due to bleeding in 5 cases (3.6%), air leak (>5 days) in 10 (7.2%), wound infection in 2 (1.4%), residual pneumothorax in 4 (2.9%), need to insert a new pleural drain in 3 (2.1%), and pleural empyema in 1 (0.7%). Two patients took oral analgesics for more than 30 days after the procedure. Pneumothorax recurred during follow-up in 7 patients (5.1%). No significant correlation was found between recurrence of pneumothorax after VATS and Vandeschueren stage, age, bilaterality of the procedure, indication, or days of postoperative drainage (P>.05). Conclusions: VATS for resection of pleural lesions plus pleural abrasion is an efficacious and simple treatment for primary spontaneous pneumothorax regardless of intraoperative findings

Hemotórax espontáneo por carcinoma broncogénico / Spontaneous hemothorax caused by lung cancer

El hemotórax espontáneo como forma de presentación de una enfermedad maligna es extremadamente raro. Describimos el caso de un varón de 26 años con un hemotórax espontáneo secundario a un carcinoma broncogénico de células grandes con metástasis hepáticas y óseas que falleció en la quinta semana de ingreso

Spontaneous hemothorax is an extremely rare complication of malignant disease. We describe the case of a 26-year-old man with spontaneous hemothorax secondary to large-cell carcinoma of the lung, with liver and bone metastases. The patient died in the fifth week after hospitalization

Reducción de la estancia hospitalaria en el tratamiento quirúrgico de las hidronefrosis en la infancia / Reduction of the hospital stay in the surgical treatment of the hydronephrosis in children

La cirugía de las hidronefrosis representa un acto relativamente frecuente en la infancia. No existe acuerdo sobre la necesidad o no de utilizar drenaje, ni el tipo a emplear, decisiones que repercuten directamente sobre la estancia hospitalaria del paciente. Dada la relevancia de ésta sobre los costes del sistema sanitario, el objetivo del estudio es mostrar la reducción de los días de ingreso en esta patología variando el tipo de drenaje empleado. Material y Métodos. Durante 1 año y 3 meses hemos intervenido 14 niños con hidronefrosis obstructiva mediante pieloplastia tipo AndersonHynes y derivación interna con catéter doble J del n° 3 ó 4 Fr en vez de nefrostomía y tutor ureteral que era el sistema empleado hasta ahora. Predominó la afectación izquierda con 10 riñones y la edad de diagnostico varió de r.n a 11 años. Analizamos la disminución de los días de estancia hospitalaria y las complicaciones presentadas con este drenaje. A partir del 15 día del postoperatorio practicamos cistoscopia, con ingreso en el hospital de día, para retirar el catéter, dando una encuesta de satisfacción a los padres que fue devuelta en el primer control. Resultados. En 13 enfermos se dio el alta a los 2 días y en uno a los 3 días. Hubo 3 complicaciones, 2 menores y una mayor (ascensión del doble J que precisó su retirada con ureterorenoscopia, lo que supuso un ingreso adicional de un día). La reducción de los días de ingreso, con respecto al método de nefrostomía y tutor, varió entre 7 y 8, lo que representa un ahorro importante de dinero. El resultado de la encuesta arroja que la utilización del doble J ha sido considerada satisfactoria por los padres. Conclusión. Creemos que el empleo del catéter doble J representa una mejora que ahorra tiempo, da seguridad y disminuye las molestias postoperatorias, aunque precisa de otro procedimiento, cistoscopia, para su extracción. Últimamente la aparición de catéteres doble J con un extremo prolongado, que sale al exterior tipo nefrostomía, evita la cistoscopia (AU)