Telemedicine Strategy to Rescue CPAP Therapy in Sleep Apnea Patients with Low Treatment Adherence: A Pilot Study.

Patients with sleep apnea are usually treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This therapy is very effective if the patient's adherence is satisfactory. However, although CPAP adherence is usually acceptable during the first months of therapy, it progressively decreases, with a considerable number of patients accepting average treatment duration below the effectiveness threshold (4 h/night). Herein, our aim was to describe and evaluate a novel telemedicine strategy for rescuing CPAP treatment in patients with low adherence after several months/years of treatment. This two-week intervention includes (1) patient support using a smartphone application, phone and voice recorder messages to be answered by a nurse, and (2) daily transmission and analysis of signals from the CPAP device and potential variation of nasal pressure if required. On average, at the end of the intervention, median CPAP adherence considerably increased by 2.17 h/night (from 3.07 to 5.24 h/night). Interestingly, the procedure was able to markedly rescue CPAP adherence: the number of patients with poor adherence (<4 h/night) was considerably reduced from 38 to 7. After one month, adherence improvement was maintained (median 5.09 h/night), and only 13 patients had poor adherence (<4 h/night). This telemedicine intervention (103€ per included patient) is a cost-effective tool for substantially increasing the number of patients with CPAP adherence above the minimum threshold for achieving positive therapeutic effects.

Fifteen years of experience in the treatment of anorectal malformations.

AIM: To analyze our experience in the treatment of anorectal malformations (ARM) with the posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP), and our modifications through the last few years and the outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 107 cases divided into two groups: Former (F: 1994-2003) and Recent (R: 2004-2008). Type of ARM, associated anomalies, management and complications were noted. A telephone questionnaire regarding continence outcome was addressed to the 74 cases older than 3 years. RESULTS: According to the type of ARM, there were 53 perineal fistulas, 2 anal stenoses, 11 no fistulas, 12 rectourethral fistulas (5 rectobulbar and 7 rectoprostatic fistulas), 22 vestibular fistulas, 1 rectovesical fistulas and 6 cloacas. A total of 47 patients presented with 73 associated malformations. As much as 45 colostomies were performed, including 5 perineal fístulas, with 6 of 7 vestibular fístulas in group F and only 8 of 15 in group R. We had 19 complications of PSARP. The most frequent one was rectal mucosa prolapse in 14 (12F and 2R) and 2 wound infections (F). Continence was good in 62, poor in 3 and fair in 5. Seven out of eight children with poor or fair continence had associated malformations. CONCLUSIONS: All perineal fístulas can be managed without colostomy. Vestibular fístulas can be safely treated without colostomy in otherwise healthy patients without severe malformations. Overall, continence is good, and fair/poor results are related to associated malformations. Cumulative experience helps avoid colostomies and reduce complication and reoperation rates.

Bilateral hydrosalpinx in patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

PURPOSE: Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is uncommon in females. There are very few reports on the patients' obstetric and gynecological outcome. Hydrosalpinx causes pain and infertility. It is rare in nonsexually active teenagers. It may be because of an intrinsic disease of the fallopian tubes or secondary to surgery. AIM: to describe the relationship between hydrosalpinx and HD or its surgical approach; to report the impact of bilateral hydrosalpinx on fertility in HD. METHODS: The records of all females with HD since 1980 were reviewed. Only patients who reached menarche were included. Prevalence of hydrosalpinx and hydrosalpinx-free survival were compared after abdominoperineal (A) or transanal (T) surgery. Treatment for hydrosalpinx was reviewed. RESULTS: Seventeen out of 27 patients had reached menarche (Group A: 13 patients; Group T: 4 patients). Five patients in group A and none in group T presented bilateral hydrosalpinx (p=0.261). There were no statistical differences in hydrosalpinx-free survival between groups (p=0.344). Hydrosalpinx treatment: two bilateral and one unilateral salpingectomy, one pyosalpinx evacuation and one untreated. Three patients had conception desire: one has children; two are on IVF program. CONCLUSION: An association between hydrosalpinx and HD was observed. The development of hydrosalpinx was not associated with surgical approach in our study. Females with HD should have a gynecological follow-up for the development of hydrosalpinx, which can impair fertility. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Thoracoscopic segmentectomy of methylene blue dyed intralobar sequestrations.

Surgical resection of congenital lung lesions has evolved with minimally invasive and parenchyma-preserving techniques. Although these lesions are usually small and their limits can be suspected by direct vision or palpation, there are no clear anatomic landmarks to enable a precise resection. This report presents a new technique that helps to define the limits of intralobar sequestrations, leading to a safe and anatomic thoracoscopic segmentectomy.

Telemedicine Strategy for CPAP Titration and Early Follow-up for Sleep Apnea During COVID-19 and Post-Pandemic Future / La estrategia de la telemedicina para la regulación de la CPAP y el seguimiento temprano de la apnea del sueño durante la pandemia de covid-19 y el futuro post-pandémico

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Intestinal complications after antenatal fetoscopic laser ablation in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in 9% of monochorionic twin pregnancies. An imbalanced blood flow across placental vascular communications produces a hypovolemic condition in the donor fetus and hypervolemia in the recipient fetus, leading to a variety of postnatal complications. We report 3 cases of intestinal injury in TTTS after fetoscopic laser ablation of the communicating vessels: 2 cases of intestinal atresia, and 1 case of necrotizing enterocolitis of 1 twin. Intestinal ischemic diseases have been reported after prenatal laser treatment in TTTS; with this report, we add 3 more cases.

Heminephroureterectomy for duplex kidney: laparoscopy versus open surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy (Hnu) in pediatric patients with duplex anomalies, in comparison to open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of data from patients who underwent Hnu from 2005 to 2008 was performed. The patients were divided into two groups: laparoscopic (LHnu) and open surgery (OHnu). Laparoscopic surgery was performed by transperitoneal approach in majority of cases. Open surgery was performed by retroperitoneal approach in all cases. RESULTS: Group LHnu: nine patients (8 females, 1 male) with median age of 14 months (range 3-205). Transperitoneal approach was performed in eight patients. Mean operative time was 182 min (CI 95% 146-217). No conversion to open surgery was necessary and there were no complications. Mean hospital stay was 2.44 days (CI 95% 1.37-3.52). Group OHnu: eight patients (3 females, 5 males) underwent nine heminephrectomies at median age of 6.9 months (range 1-12). Mean operating time was 152 min (CI 95% 121-183). There were no complications and mean hospital stay was 4.38 (CI 95% 2.59-6.16) days. Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in operating time between groups while mean hospital stay was significant (P=0.021). CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach is feasible, safe, reduces hospital stay, does not increase operating time and has better cosmetic results. We believe this should be the first option for heminephrectomy.

Myofibroblastic tumor causing severe neonatal distress. Successful surgical resection after embolization.

This report describes a case of a term male 3.1 kg, normal delivery, 38 weeks of gestation with a record of hydramnios by prenatal sonography. He had fetal acute suffering and respiratory distress. The first radiographic study showed a mass filling the whole left thorax cage causing erosion of the inferior edge of the third rib. The mediastinum was displaced to the right. Computed tomography scan confirmed a homogeneous tumor that filled the left thorax and displaced the mediastinum to the right without invasion. Surgical biopsy informed of a highly vascularized mesenchymal tumor. The tumor was embolized with Ivalon microparticles obtaining a nearly avascular mass. Complete surgical excision was made, including the whole mass and costal segments. Microscopically, it was an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. It was composed mainly of spindle-shaped cells without malignant features. On immunohistochemistry, the tumor showed positive staining for vimentin, whereas antidesmin antibodies and S-100 protein were negative. The aim of this article is to present an extremely uncommon case of neonatal distress caused by an intrathoracic, extrapulmonary myofibroblastic tumor. Complete surgical resection was possible after embolization.

Displàsia ectodèrmica: tractament integral maxil·lofacial / No disponible

La displàsia ectodèrmica (DE) és una rara entitat clínicacaracteritzada per diferents afectacions en la morfogènesi de les estructures ectodermals que inclouen el pèl, la pell, les ungles i les dents, causada per la mutació del gen A de l’ectodisplasina. Les afectacions maxil·lofacials produeixen una gran alteració, tant funcional com psicològica. El tractament maxil·lofacial pretén restablir la normalitat anatòmica i funcional, alhora que millorar l’aspecte estètic del pacient i el seu desenvolupament psicològic normal.Presentem el cas d’un nen d’onze anys diagnosticat deDE amb afectació completa maxil·lofacial al qual es va proposar la realització d’un tractament maxil·lofacial integral per col·locar-li una pròtesi dental osteointegrada. Els principals problemes del tractament són com resoldre la hipoplàsia mandibular, l’absència de teixit ossi, i com actuar sobre un os que està en creixement. La col·locació de quatre implantsosteointegrats als maxil·lars superior i inferior persubjectar una pròtesi resol el problema de la provisionalitat de la pròtesi removible i el del creixement ossi. Com a conclusió, ens agradaria destacar que avui en dia hi ha possibilitats de tractament precoç per a aquests pacients, que requereixen la col·laboració de diversos especialistes quirúrgics i odontològics. En el nostre cas, ha proporcionat al pacient una gran millora en la qualitat de vida, tant funcional,ja que pot mastegar normalment, com psicològica i estètica

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