Intercostal nerve block is effective in open biopsies of the anterior mediastinal region: Case report and review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Anterior mediastinal masses are rare conditions that can become symptomatic through compression of the airways and vascular structures. Fatal or severe complications can occur during anesthesia and surgery. With this review we aim to describe the state of the art in peri-anesthetic management of mediastinal tumors, which we illustrate with a clinical case. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a case of a young female patient suffering from a large anterior mediastinal mass that underwent an open biopsy after intercostal nerve blocks (INB) in six consecutive right intercostal spaces (2nd to 7th). A right anterior mediastinotomy was performed and an excellent analgesic effect was achieved. The patient was awake and did not experience significant pain or cough, having received paracetamol 1 g and returned home later in the day. The diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was later confirmed. DISCUSSION: Our review showed that anesthesia for mediastinal masses' resection or open biopsy is rare and prone to severe complications. Such complications are more important in children, patients in supine position, under general anesthesia and already symptomatic prior to the procedure. INB presents some advantages against paravertebral block (PVB) and thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), is easier to reproduce and has a shorter learning curve. Airway stenting with a rigid bronchoscope can be an alternative. CONCLUSION: Multilevel medial axillary line INBs are safer and easier to reproduce than PVB, have less hemodynamic repercussion than TEA and can, therefore, be preferable for open anterior mediastinal biopsies or small masses resection.

Surgical approach to uterine myomatosis in patients with infertility: open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery; results according to the quantity of fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To compare approaches to myomectomy (laparotomic, laparoscopic, and robotic). To show the relationship between the number of fibroids and the reproduction diagnosis. METHODS: Observational, analytical, retrospective, and cross-sectional study; where the surgical approach used, was evaluated in terms of surgical bleeding, time, number and weight of fibroids and reproductive results. RESULTS: 69 patients were treated through different approaches and divided into 3 groups. The differences found among groups were in favor of laparotomic myomectomy in terms of the number (p=0.000) and weight of fibroids (p=0.004). Robotic surgery was also longer (p=0.000). In the analysis of the influence of the number of fibroids to achieve pregnancy, the result was in favor of the minimally invasive routes, after surgery, both in the group of < 6 fibroids (p=0.017), and that of > 6 fibroids (p=0.001), without differences in the time from surgery to pregnancy (p=0.979). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical approach decision should consider the number and size of resected fibroids, surgical time, and reproductive diagnosis. The minimally invasive route should be offered whenever possible due to its better outcome on achieving pregnancy, without forgetting the benefits of laparotomy, while also accrediting the recently introduced robotic-assisted approach.

Prevalencia de hormona antimülleriana en mujeres latinas atendidas en un centro de fertilidad en México / Antimüllerian hormone prevalence in Latin women treated at a fertility center in Mexico

Resumen Antecedentes: La hormona antimüllleriana (HAM) ha sido utilizada como marcador de reserva ovárica, lo cual ayuda a predecir el éxito. Se desconoce si valores de otros países son apicables a México. Objetivo: Determinar los valores de HAM en nuestra población para graficarlas acorde a grupos de edad y evaluar su comportamiento. Metodología: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal de pacientes del 2008 al 2018, con reporte de nivel de HAM excluyendo a pacientes con enfermedades que alteran su nivel, analizando por grupos de edad en un laboratorio. Resultados: 450 pacientes de 36.93 años, el rango del valor de la HAM fue desde 0.003 ng/ml hasta 9.4 ng/ml, con una media de 1.5, con una disminución anual a partir de los 40 años (0.1-0.3). Correlación de Spearman de -436 (p < 0.000) con una asociación leve entre la edad y el nivel de HAM, pero sí lineal (p < 0.000). Conclusiones: La HAM es útil y sirve para dar recomendaciones personalizadas, así como base de estudios epidemiológicos en pro de una medicina individualizada.

Abstract Background: Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) has been used as a marker of ovarian reserve, which helps predict success. It is unknown if values from other countries are applicable to Mexico. Objective: To determine the AMH values in our population to graph them according to age groups and evaluate their behavior. Methodology: Observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study of patients from 2008 to 2018, with a AMH level report excluding patients with diseases that alter their level, analyzing by age groups in a laboratory. Results: 450 patients of 36.93 years old, the range of the AMH value was from 0.003 ng/ml to 9.4 ng/ml, with a mean of 1.5, with an annual decrease from 40 years of age (0.1-0.3). Spearman's correlation of -436 (p < 0.000) with a slight association between age and AMH level, but it was linear (p < 0.000). Conclusions: AMH is useful and serves to give personalized recommendations, as well as basis of epidemiological studies in favor of an individualized medicine.

[Small bowel obstruction secondary to incomplete torsion of proximal ileum following laparoscopic hysterectomy. Case report]. / Oclusión intestinal por torsión incompleta de íleon proximal post histerectomía laparoscópica. Un caso clínico.

A minimally invasive approach for gynecologic procedures has become popular in recent years. Despite the advantages of this kind of surgery over open technique, laparoscopic hysterectomy is not free of complications. A case of small bowel obstruction secondary to incomplete torsion of proximal ileum ten days after an uneventful total laparoscopic hysterectomy is reported. Partial small bowel obstruction (PSBO) is a rare complication after gynecologic laparoscopy; its post-operatory incidence is 0.036% within a month after. A clean, adequate surgical technique, with minimal manipulation of internal organs, reduces the risk of adhesive process and PSBO.