Approach to the patient with cholestasis and jaundice syndrome. Joint AMH, AMG, and AMEG scientific position statement.

The term cholestasis refers to bile acid retention, whether within the hepatocyte or in the bile ducts of any caliber. Biochemically, it is defined by a level of alkaline phosphatase that is 1.67-times higher than the upper limit of normal. Cholestatic diseases can be associated with an inflammatory process of the liver that destroys hepatocytes (hepatitis), withjaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucus membranes, associated with elevated serum bilirubin levels), or with both, albeit the three concepts should not be considered synonymous. Cholestatic diseases can be classified as intrahepatic or extrahepatic, depending on their etiology. Knowing the cause of the condition is important for choosing the adequate diagnostic studies and appropriate treatment in each case. A complete medical history, together with a thorough physical examination and basic initial studies, such as liver ultrasound and liver function tests, aid the clinician in deciding which path to follow, when managing the patient with cholestasis. In a joint effort, the Asociación Mexicana de Hepatología (AMH), the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología (AMG) and the Asociación Mexicana de Endoscopia Gastrointestinal (AMEG) developed the first Mexican scientific position statement on said theme.

Economic impact of improving patient safety using Sugammadex for routine reversal of neuromuscular blockade in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular blocking (NMB) agents are often administered to facilitate tracheal intubation and prevent patient movement during surgical procedures requiring the use of general anesthetics. Incomplete reversal of NMB, can lead to residual NMB, which can increase the risk of post-operative pulmonary complications. Sugammadex is indicated to reverse neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium or vecuronium in adults. The aim of this study is to estimate the clinical and economic impact of introducing sugammadex to routine reversal of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) with rocuronium in Spain. METHODS: A decision analytic model was constructed reflecting a set of procedures using rocuronium that resulted in moderate or deep NMB at the end of the procedure. Two scenarios were considered for 537,931 procedures using NMB agents in Spain in 2015: a scenario without sugammadex versus a scenario with sugammadex. Comparators included neostigmine (plus glycopyrrolate) and no reversal agent. The total costs for the healthcare system were estimated from the net of costs of reversal agents and overall cost offsets via reduction in postoperative pneumonias and atelectasis for which incidence rates were based on a Spanish real-world evidence (RWE) study. The model time horizon was assumed to be one year. Costs were expressed in 2019 euros (€) and estimated from the perspective of a healthcare system. One-way sensitivity analysis was carried out by varying each parameter included in the model within a range of +/- 50%. RESULTS: The estimated budget impact of the introduction of sugammadex to the routine reversal of neuromuscular blockade in Spanish hospitals was a net saving of €57.1 million annually. An increase in drug acquisition costs was offset by savings in post-operative pulmonary events, including 4806 post-operative pneumonias and 13,996 cases of atelectasis. The total cost of complications avoided was €70.4 million. All parameters included in the model were tested in sensitivity analysis and were favorable to the scenario with sugammadex. CONCLUSIONS: This economic analysis shows that sugammadex can potentially lead to cost savings for the reversal of rocuronium-induced moderate or profound NMB compared to no reversal and reversal with neostigmine in the Spanish health care setting. The economic model was based on data obtained from Spain and from assumptions from clinical practice and may not be valid for other countries.

Modelling a budgetary impact analysis for funding drug-based smoking cessation therapies for patients with major depressive disorder in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is associated with high healthcare resource utilisation and cost to society. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibit high susceptibility to nicotine dependence. Varenicline, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy are all indicated for smoking cessation; however funding by the Spanish national health system (SNHS) is limited. We modelled a budgetary impact analysis (BIA) to estimate the impact of the SNHS funding drug-based therapies for smoking cessation in smokers with MDD. METHODS: The BIA compared the current unfunded scenario versus a funded scenario (varenicline, bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy combined with medical follow-up and counselling) using the Spanish SNHS and societal perspectives. The BIA design was a hybrid model using a decision tree algorithm (population size: smokers with MDD) and Markov chains (smoking cessation attempts) over a 5-year horizon. Smoking cessation drug efficacy was derived from clinical trials, and smoking cessation costs avoided were taken from an analysis of the Spanish National Health Survey. Results were shown as incremental cost savings. Scenarios and threshold univariate sensitivity analyses tested model robustness. RESULTS: The funded scenario resulted in an increase of 43,478 cessation attempts and 8930 fewer smokers after 5 years compared to the unfunded scenario. The cost of funding was €25.3 million and costs avoided were €26.5 million. There was a cumulative 5-year incremental cost saving of €1.2 million to Spanish society. Results were robust using alternative scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Funding smoking cessation drugs in patients with MDD is of economic benefit to Spain and could produce net savings from the third year of implementation.

[Laparoscopic management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Experience with 100 cases]. / Manejo laparoscópico de la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico. Experiencia en 100 casos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti funduplication and to compare them with the results obtained in open surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, observational, longitudinal, pre and post-procedure. CENTERS: Beneficencia Española, Hospital Angeles, and Hospital Francisco Galindo Chávez, ISSSTE, in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. PATIENTS AND METHOD: From December 1992 to February 1999, 100 patients with surgical indications due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) prospectively underwent a laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti procedure. A clinical and endoscopic follow up from 3 months to 9 years was performed in 87 cases. RESULTS: Symptomatic control was achieved in 98% (85/87) of the cases and remission of overall endoscopic esophagitis in 79% (69/87); excluding Barrett cases, esophagitis remission was observed in 93% (67/72) of the subjects. The following recurrences took place: two with G-II and two with G-III esophagitis, one requiring pyloroplasty due gastric stasis, and other patient with G-IV esophagitis, who has needed to continue with postoperative dilations. Of 16 cases with Barrett's esophagus, two-showed remission and one did not return control. Perioperative complications included gastric perforations (3), acute pulmonary edema during the immediate postoperative period (1), deep vein thrombosis (1), and late esophageal perforation (1). All were resolved satisfactorily. Surgical mortality was 0 in the 100 cases undergoing the procedure. Eighty-six percent of cases had a 24-h hospital stay. Early morbidity: dysphagia in 60 patients, early satiety in 91 cases, abdominal distention in 25 cases, all this symptomatology disappears during the subsequent 3 months. Persistent morbidity: flatulence in 60% of patients, difficulty for vomiting in 10% of cases. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic procedure is as effective as the open method with the advantage of being minimally invasive.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Analysis of 50 cases]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica. Análisis de 50 casos.

Biliary lithiasis is considered a significant health problem. Traditionally open cholecystectomy has been considered the gold standard procedure for symptomatic cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has recently emerged as an alternative, but its usefulness in community hospitals is still being evaluated. Herein we reported our experience in 50 patients treated for 7 months (August of 1991, to February of 1992) by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It has been necessary to convert one case into an open surgery. There has been no mortality. Seven patients developed right shoulder pain postoperative, it was controlled with minor non addictive analgesics. One had umbilical hematoma, another patient had a superficial phlebitis, and another one developed urinary retention. 43 patients (86%) had had 12 to 24 h hospital stancy, and were back to their normal activities in 7 days; during a 7 months follow-up no complications have been reported. We concluded that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure and can be done by the average general surgeon in community hospitals in a selected patient population. However, we strongly support a continuous monitoring of a protocol for patient management for record-keeping-purposes and as an educational tool.

[Pancreatic resections at general hospitals in Torreon, Coahuila]. / Resecciones pancreáticas en hospitales generales de Torreón, Coahuila.

A retrospective study of nine patients with pancreato-biliary neoplasias were operated in several general hospitals in Torreon, Mexico. Six had pancreatic adenocarcinoma, two ampullary carcinoma and one with common bile duct benign adenoma. We had a morbidity of 55% (5/9); three cases with pancreatic fistula (resolved with nutritional support and general measures) two had obstruction of gastricyeyuno anastomosis (one required surgical management). One patient (11%) died of massive pulmonary embolism. We have now the possibility to perform an earlier diagnosis with update invasive and non invasive diagnostic studies such ERCP, computed tomography and angiography. We are proud to have in our hospitals, intensive care units and well trained surgeons that allow us to perform such kind of specialized surgery.

[Absence of bacteremia after dental extractions]. / Inexistencia de bacteriemia consecutiva a la odontectomía

A study was made on 100 subjects of both sexes between the ages of 3 and 15 years to detect the presence of bacteria in the circulation after performing dental extractions. Two groups were formed of 42 and 57 subjects respectively. One of these groups was subjected to preoperative antisepsis of the region to be operated on, the rest of the conditions were similar for both groups. All the patients were submitted to a preoperative gingival smear and 5 c.c. of blood taken for cultures. Two postoperative blood cultures, one immediately after the operations and another 24 hrs. later were also done in all patients. All the extracted teeth presented severe infections at the root level and some showed complicated infection such as osteomyelitis. All blood cultures performed 24, 48, 72 hrs. and 21 days after the operation, were negative; therefore, there is no justification based on the study, to assume the existance of focal infection related to the presence of bacteremia.