Addition of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression to Conventional Treatment Improves Volume Reduction Before Lymphatic Surgery for Lower Limb Lymphedema: A Pilot Study.

This study assesses the impact of an advanced intermittent pneumatic compression device (IPC - Lympha Press® Optimal Plus) when added to Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) compared to CDT alone on volume reduction of limbs with lymphedema. The goal is to maximally reduce edema in preparation for microsurgery. Fifty subjects scheduled for Multiple Lymphatic-Venous Anastomosis (MLVA) were randomly (sequentially) assigned to experimental or control group: 25 (21 females and 4 males) in the experimental IPC group and 25 (20 females and 5 males) in the control group. The two groups were similar in age, sex distribution, and type of lymphedema. Results indicate the IPC group reported greater volume loss than the control group (p= 0.00137) comparing final vs. initial limb volume. The average percentage edema volume loss achieved with added IPC was two times greater (11.7%) than in the control group (5.0%). When differences in treatment duration were accounted for, the IPC group achieved consistently greater proportional volume loss (12.83% vs 6.30%) than conservative therapy alone. In our pilot study, IPC added to CDT resulted in greater proportional volume loss and provides better preparation for MLVA surgery.

Ten-Year Efficacy and Safety of Once-Daily Tacrolimus in Kidney Transplant: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Tacrolimus is a cornerstone in the immunosuppressive therapy of kidney transplantation. The once-daily formulation of tacrolimus has been shown to improve adherence of patients without affecting short-term efficacy. However, long-term proof of once-daily tacrolimus efficacy and safety is still lacking. From January 2009 to November 2013, 170 clinically stable kidney transplant patients were offered to change from the ongoing twice-daily tacrolimus (TDT) formulation to a once-daily tacrolimus (ODT) regimen. Kidney transplant recipients agreeing to the change to be treated with an ODT regimen (n = 105, estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 57.1 ± 1.6 mL/min/1.73 m2) and patients continuing on a TDT formulation (n = 65, eGFR 52.0 ± 2.2 mL/min/1.73 m2) were prospectively followed (median follow-up time 10.4 and 12.6 years in the ODT and TDT groups, respectively, P = not significant). At the end of the follow-up, patients in both groups experienced similar eGFR (50.4 ± 2.2 vs 48.0 ± 2.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the ODT and TDT groups, respectively, P = not significant). No differences were observed in biopsy-proven acute rejection, overall graft survival, doubling of serum creatinine, and new onset of proteinuria. The 2 groups also had a comparable rate of death, sepsis, and neoplasia. In conclusion, ODT appears safe and effective in stable kidney graft recipients even 10 years after transplantation. These findings support the use of ODT as a primary tacrolimus formulation in patients with kidney transplantation.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with left ventricular dilatation in primary hypertension.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been shown to predict cardiovascular events in hypertension. Recently, a new four-group left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy classification based on both LV dilatation and concentricity was proposed. This classification has been shown to provide a more accurate prediction of cardiovascular events, suggesting that the presence of LV dilatation may add prognostic information. We investigated the relationship between MS and the new classification of LV geometry in patients with primary hypertension. A total of 372 untreated hypertensive patients were studied. Four different patterns of LV hypertrophy (eccentric nondilated, eccentric dilated, concentric nondilated and concentric dilated hypertrophy) were identified by echocardiography. A modified National Cholesterol Education Program definition for MS was used, with body mass index replacing waist circumference. The overall prevalence of MS and LV hypertrophy (LVH) was 29% and 61%, respectively. Patients with MS showed a higher prevalence of LVH (P=0.0281) and dilated LV geometries, namely eccentric dilated and concentric dilated hypertrophy (P=0.0075). Moreover, patients with MS showed higher LV end-diastolic volume (P=0.0005) and prevalence of increased LV end-diastolic volume (P=0.0068). The prevalence of LV chamber dilatation increased progressively with the number of components of MS (P=0.0191). Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of MS entails a three times higher risk of having LV chamber dilatation even after adjusting for several potential confounding factors. MS is associated with LV dilatation in hypertension. These findings may, in part, explain the unfavourable prognosis observed in patients with MS.

Effects of peritoneal dialysis on protein metabolism.

Protein-energy wasting is relatively common in renal patients treated with haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (PD) and is associated with worse outcome. In this article, we review the current state of our knowledge regarding the effects of PD on protein metabolism and the possible interactions between PD-induced changes in protein turnover and the uraemia-induced alterations in protein metabolism. Available evidence shows that PD induces a new state in muscle protein dynamics, which is characterized by decreased turnover rates and a reduced efficiency of protein turnover, a condition which may be harmful in stress conditions, when nutrient intake is diminished or during superimposed catabolic illnesses. There is a need to develop more effective treatments to enhance the nutritional status of PD patients. New approaches include the use of amino acid/keto acids-containing supplements combined with physical exercise, incremental doses of intraperitoneal amino acids, vitamin D and myostatin antagonism for malnourished patients refractory to standard nutritional therapy.

Radiofrecuencia pulsada del ganglio dorsal de las raíces lumbares / No disponible

No disponible

Management and investigation of neonatal thromboembolic events: genetic and acquired risk factors.

Newborns comprise the largest group of children developing thromoboembolic events (TE(S)), due to the peculiarities of their developmental hemostatic system. Moreover, in the sick newborn, especially preterm, numerous acquired perinatal and iatrogenic conditions might result in a disturbance between coagulation and fibrinolysis, leading to thrombus formation. Nevertheless, the contribution of acquired prothrombotic disorders in the pathogenesis of thromboembolic disease in newborns remains poorly defined. Few data are currently available regarding the influence of maternal or fetal genes on thrombotic risk in the fetus and neonate. Ongoing National and International registries are partially answering these questions. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current knowledge about the role of inherited, acquired perinatal and maternal prothrombotic risk factors in neonatal cerebral nervous system (CNS) thrombotic events and non-CNS thrombotic events.

[Assessment of agreement between anesthesiologists' location of anatomical landmarks]. / Evaluación de la concordancia en la localización de los puntos anatómicos de referencia por los anestesiólogos.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to evaluate agreement between anesthesiologists' location of specific anatomical landmarks in regional anesthesia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We administered an anonymous written questionnaire asking for the location of the T5 and T10 dermatomes, Tuffier's line (L3-L4 space), and the T7-T8 and C6-C7 spaces on an anatomical drawing. We asked about each anesthesiologist's number of years of experience and type of block most commonly performed and in what type of surgery, number of blocks performed per year, whether or not levels of sensory and motor blocks were assessed, and whether training had been received. Relative frequencies were then calculated. The relationships between years of experience and number of blocks performed and number of correct identifications of anatomical points were analyzed using the chi2 test. RESULTS: We studied 100 doctors (66 residents and 24 staff anesthesiologists). The landmark for which agreement was highest was T10 (91.8%); agreement was lowest for T5 (38.1%). Forty-five percent of anesthesiologists performed between 100 and 250 neuraxial blocks per year. The most commonly performed procedure was a lumbar block (98% of the anesthesiologists). Level of sensory block was evaluated by 95% of the respondents and level of motor block by 83%. Response to heat and cold was used by 94.8%; the Bromage scale was used by 81%. The number of years of experience and the number of correctly located points appeared to be unrelated (P=.76). Nor was there a correlation between the number of blocks performed and number of correctly located points (P=.2). CONCLUSIONS: T10 was the landmark correctly identified by the largest number of respondents; T5 was correctly identified by the fewest respondents, with answers differing by as much as 4 dermatomes.

Evaluación de la concordancia en la localización de los puntos anatómicos de referencia por los anestesiólogos / Assessment of agreement between anesthesiologists’ location of anatomical landmarks

OBJETIVO: El objetivo principal de este trabajo es evaluarla concordancia de los anestesiólogos para la localizaciónde algunas referencias anatómicas en anestesiaregional.MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: En encuesta anónima escrita,se pidió la localización de los dermatomas T5 y T10,línea de Tuffier (espacio L3-L4), espacio T7 -T8 y C6-C7sobre un dibujo anatómico. Interrogamos respecto a losaños de experiencia del anestesiólogo, tipo de cirugía ybloqueo realizado con más frecuencia, número de bloqueos/año/anestesiólogo, comprobación del nivel sensitivo,motor y enseñanza recibida. Se realizó un cálculo defrecuencias relativas. La relación entre años de experienciay números de bloqueos y número de aciertos, secomparó mediante un test de Chi-cuadrado (SPSS 13.0).RESULTADOS: Incluimos 100 médicos (66 residentes y34 de plantilla). El punto mejor localizado fue T10(91,8%) y el peor T5 (38,1%). El 45% de los anestesiólogosrealiza entre 100 y 250 bloqueos neuroaxiales al año.El bloqueo lumbar es el más frecuentemente realizado(98% de anestesiólogos). El 95% de los encuestadoscomprueba el nivel sensitivo y el 83% el nivel motor. El94,8% utiliza la técnica de frío-calor y el 81% la escalade Bromage. Parece que el número de años de experienciano está relacionado con el número de aciertos(p=0,76). Tampoco existe relación entre el número debloqueos realizados y los aciertos en la localización(p=0,2).CONCLUSIONES: La localización de los puntos de referenciaes máxima para T10 y mínima para T5, con oscilacionesen las marcas anatómicas de hasta 4 dermatomas (AU)

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was toevaluate agreement between anesthesiologists’ locationof specific anatomical landmarks in regional anesthesia.MATERIAL AND METHODS: We administered ananonymous written questionnaire asking for the locationof the T5 and T10 dermatomes, Tuffier’s line (L3-L4space), and the T7-T8 and C6-C7 spaces on an anatomicaldrawing. We asked about each anesthesiologist’s numberof years of experience and type of block most commonlyperformed and in what type of surgery, number of blocksperformed per year, whether or not levels of sensory andmotor blocks were assessed, and whether training hadbeen received. Relative frequencies were then calculated.The relationships between years of experience andnumber of blocks performed and number of correctidentifications of anatomical points were analyzed usingthe ÷2 test.RESULTS: We studied 100 doctors (66 residents and24 staff anesthesiologists). The landmark for whichagreement was highest was T10 (91.8%); agreementwas lowest for T5 (38.1%). Forty-five percent ofanesthesiologists performed between 100 and 250neuraxial blocks per year. The most commonlyperformed procedure was a lumbar block (98% of theanesthesiologists). Level of sensory block wasevaluated by 95% of the respondents and level ofmotor block by 83%. Response to heat and cold wasused by 94.8%; the Bromage scale was used by 81%.The number of years of experience and the number ofcorrectly located points appeared to be unrelated(P=.76). Nor was there a correlation between thenumber of blocks performed and number of correctlylocated points (P=.2).CONCLUSIONS: T10 was the landmark correctlyidentified by the largest number of respondents; T5 wascorrectly identified by the fewest respondents, withanswers differing by as much as 4 dermatomes (AU)

Apendicitis aguda en pacientes mayores de 60 años / acute appendicitis in patients over sixty years

Introducción: la apendicitis aguda es la patología quirúrgica más frecuente, estimada que un 7 por ciento de la población será intervenida por esta causa. La distribución de esta enfermedad es igual para ambos sexos, siendo más frecuente en rangos de edad que fluctúan entre 10 a 30 años. Su incidencia es notoriamente menor en mayores de 50 años. Destaca que en este grupo el diagnóstico se realiza en forma tardía esto sumado a comorbilidad asociada, conduciría a rangos de complicaciones más elevados, sumado a mortalidad considerable (4-8 por ciento). Material y Método: se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de los casos egresados con diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda entre Enero de 1998 y Diciembre de 2002. Se registraron los datos demográficos, quirúrgicos y médicos. Resultados: la serie presentada (61 casos) tuvo una distribución por sexos similar para ambos grupos. El promedio de comorbilidades por pacientes fue de 1,3 siendo la más frecuente la hipertensión arterial. Al ingreso se diagnosticó apendicitis aguda en un 56 por ciento de los casos. El cuadro clásico se presentó en un 13 por ciento de los casos. La latencia entre el inicio del cuadro clínico y el momento de la consulta fue en promedio de 6,3 días. El rango de perforación observado alcanzó el 47,3 por ciento, la peritonitis un 54 por ciento y el plastrón 36,8 por ciento. Se observó un 42,1 por ciento de complicaciones. La mortalidad de la serie fue en promedio 3,5 por ciento. Discusión: La serie presentada refleja la dificultad en el diagnóstico y el manejo de los pacientes mayores de 60 años de edad que presentan cuadros de apendicitis aguda. Los resultados refuerzan la necesidad de un alto índice de sospecha diagnóstica para este grupo etáreo, en el que la apendicitis aguda aparece como un fantasma en cualquier caso de dolor abdominal o íleo del paciente mayor.

Clinical actions of subarachnoid sevoflurane administration in vivo: a study in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Halogenated ethers produce clinical effects at spinal sites. Nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo studies have not determined whether the immobilizing effect in the spinal cord is due to inhibition of nociceptive or motor transmission or both. Our goal was to characterize the clinical effects of direct spinal sevoflurane administration. METHODS: Five adult beagle dogs completed the study. In a randomized and blinded manner each animal received placebo (saline 0.1 ml kg(-1)) and three concentrations of pure sevoflurane administered intrathecally (0.05, 0.075 and 0.1 ml kg(-1)) by means of a permanent spinal catheter. Sensory and motor block and state of consciousness were determined at baseline and at predetermined regular intervals until at least 2 h after total recovery. RESULTS: None of the dogs presented a decrease in consciousness with either 0.05 or 0.075 ml kg(-1) of sevoflurane. Administration of 0.1 ml kg(-1) produced light sedation (2 on a four-point sedation scale) in three of the five dogs. A comparison of the duration of the sensory and motor blocks among the three sevoflurane dosages shows a significant dose-dependent increase that is greater in all cases than that for the saline solution. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal administration of pure sevoflurane resulted in a dose-related and totally reversible motor and sensory regional block without any signs of clinical neurotoxicity or significant decrease in consciousness. Therefore the model allows us to comment on the analgesic effects at the spinal level in addition to the direct immobilizing effects of sevoflurane.

Relación entre el motivo de ingreso y la causa de muerte en pacientes fallecidos en un Servicio de Medicina Interna / Relationship between the cause of admission and the cause of death in patients admitted to an internal medicine departament

Background: When patients are admitted to an internal medicine ward, they and their relatives believe that they will leave the internal medicine service in a better health condition or, if they die, their cause of death will be the same that motivated the hospital admission. Sometimes, patients die due to a different disease than the cause of admission or due to complications of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Aim: To assess the proportion of deaths that occurred in internal medicine wards for causes that differ from the cause for admission and the proportion of deaths related to complications of diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Patients and methods: Three hundred and three consecutive patients were studied during 28 months. Their cause of death was classified in four groups: A. If it was the same illness of admission; B. A frecuent or expected complication of the illness that motivated the admission; C. A complication of one of their chronic diseases and not the one of admission; D. If it was not related to an already present chronic illness or the cause for admission. Results: Sixty nine percent of deaths corresponded to group A, 7.9 percent to group B, 11.2 percent to group C and 11.9 percent to group D. Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures were the cause of death in 0.7 and 3.6 percent of cases respectively. Conclusions: Twenty three percent of patients died due to causes that differ from the cause of admission. A low percentage of deaths were related to procedures and most of them were due to complications of therapeutic measures (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 707-17).

Apendicectomía diferida en el hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke: retrospectiva de 5 años / Interval appendectomy at the Dr. G. Fricke hospital: a 5 years retrospective study

La apendicitis aguda continúa siendo la patología quirúrgica más frecuente en el mundo. Una de sus formas de presentación es la masa apendicular, que ocurre en la mayoría de los casos tras la perforación del apéndice cecal. Esta definición incluye los plastrones y los abscesos apendiculares. Dicha situación se produce en un 2 a 10 por ciento de las apendicitis agudas. Existe acuerdo sobre la terapia inicial conservadora con antibioterapia y fluidoterapia, además del drenaje de las posibles colecciones. La apendicectomía en el abordaje inicial no se recomienda. Dentro del manejo de esta patología, la apendicectomía de itervalo sigue siendo motivo de controversia entre distintos autores, existiendo comunicaciones recientes que no recomiendan la realización de éste procedimiento. No se conoce la realidad del manejo de esta entidad en nuestro hospital, además no existen comunicaciones sobre masa apendicular en nuestro país.

Epoetin alpha in elective coronary and valve surgery in Jehovah's Witnesses patients. Experience in 45 patients.

BACKGROUND: The religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse homologous and autologous blood transfusion poses serious problems for surgeons when operating on patients requiring a mean transfusion requirement of =/>2 units of blood. METHODS: After a number of encouraging studies in a randomised sample of patients 2-3 and after the treatment of some Jehovah's Witnesses 1, a group of 45 patients (23 females and 22 males) underwent elective heart surgery between June 1998 and December 2000. The patients, who were all Jehovah's Witnesses, received pre-treatment with epoetin alpha and ferrous sulphate. In the light of recent studies, it was also decided to repeat medullary preconditioning using the same intervals but with a higher dose. The patients underwent surgery involving myocardial revascularisation, mitral and/or aortic valve replacement, associated interventions, valvuloplasty and ascending aortic aneurysms. After obtaining informed and signed consent, the treatment protocol comprised the administration of 140 IU/kg epoetin alpha three times a week for 3 weeks associated with oral ferrous sulphate 3 times a day. Hematochemical levels (hemoglobin, free hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin, transferrin, haptoglobin, reticulocytes, iron levels) were monitored from admission to Day Hospital to discharge. RESULTS: No patient in the study required blood transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: The short, medium and long-term follow-up reconfirmed the substantial reliability of this drug linked to the absence of collateral effects.

Minimally invasive thoracotomy for myocardial revascularisation. A study of 32 cases.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the advantages offered by a myocardial revascularisation technique proposed by Kolessov in 1967: minimally invasive thoracotomy for myocardial revascularisation. The aim was to assess its short and medium-term benefits. During the course of the 1980s, the problems linked to extracorporeal circulation (ECC) and the contraindications for traditional myocardial revascularisation led to a renewed popularity of "beating heart" revascularisation techniques. METHODS: The largest and most extensive series of patients in the literature undergoing myocardial revascularisation during left mini-thoracotomy was reported by Calafiore et al. In this study we report the series treated by our centre which, albeit involving only 32 cases, obtained good results in the short and medium term. This surgical procedure can only be applied to patients presenting monovasal obstructive coronary disease affecting the anterior interventricular artery (IVA) which must not present small calibre, calcified walls or a lateralised or intramyocardial anatomic position. RESULTS: Invasive and non-invasive instrumental tests carried out to control the distal anastomoses of the left internal mammary artery (IMA) did not reveal angulations and/or stenosing tractions before the anastomosis of IMA to a significant extent also for treatment, when isolating IMA, able to obtain the longest possible length and the best mobility. No infection of surgical wounds was reported postoperatively, as sometimes occurs in median longitudinal sternotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-year follow-up showed the resolution of angina in 100% of the patients studied, as well as a satisfactory and rapid renewal of social relations.

Atherosclerotic aneurysm of the left main coronary artery. Case report and review of the literature.

Coronary artery aneurysms involve the right coronary artery, the left anterior descending and the left circumflex coronary arteries in descending order of frequency; aneurysms involving the main left coronary artery are extremely rare. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause. Only eleven patients surgically treated with atherosclerotic left main coronary artery aneurysms are reported. We observed the twelfth case of atherosclerotic aneurysm of the left main coronary artery, successfully treated. In a 65-year-old man we found a large aneurysm originating at the distal segment of the left main coronary artery. A thromboendarterectomy was per-formed and was extended back into the left main and down the left anterior descending artery. An aneurysmorrhaphy and a three-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting were also performed. Three years later the patient was asymptomatic. Management of these cases is still controversial and based on anedoctal experience rather than controlled trials. Although surgery has been recommended to prevent complications, there are no available data comparing medical and surgical management. We feel that coronary bypasses should be performed in coronary artery aneurysm patients only when indicated by the severity of stenosis or progressive angina despite medical therapy. It is our opinion that anurysmorraphy should preserve native flow as much as possible.

Quadricuspid aortic valve, parossistyc supraventricular tachycardia and double right kidney: an uncommon association.

Fourteen years after surgery for replacement of the aortic valve, an interesting case previously unreported was brought to our attention. The female patient came to our OP Dept for a routine follow-up: she had been found at surgery to have a quadricuspid aortic valve. Operation dated October 1985. At a careful appraisal of the world-wide literature, we noticed that such an association of pathologies had never been reported before: quadricuspid aortic valve, paroxystical supraventricular tachycardia and right double kidney with double renal pelvis and double proximal ureter. Other anomalies associated with the quadricuspid valve, available in the literature are: patent duct, subvalvular fixed aortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect, hypoplastic anterior mitral leaflet and pulmonary stenosis. The pathologic findings at autopsy of this congenital malformation vary between 0.008% and 0.033%; attention must be turned to the fact that the incidence can be underestimated if not expressly searched for. The first quadricuspid aortic valve was described in 1862 by Balington in an autoptic report and sixty other cases have been reported since. In rare cases this pathology has been diagnosed at angiography. At follow up our patient remains in SR with rare transitory episodes of supraventricular tachycardia.

Maullinia ectocarpii gen. et sp. nov. (Plasmodiophorea), an intracellular parasite in Ectocarpus siliculosus (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) and other filamentous brown algae.

An obligate intracellular parasite infecting Ectocarpus spp. and other filamentous marine brown algae is described. The pathogen forms an unwalled multinucleate syncytium (plasmodium) within the host cell cytoplasm and causes hypertrophy. Cruciform nuclear divisions occur during early development. Mature plasmodia become transformed into single sporangia, filling the host cell completely, and then cleave into several hundred spores. The spores are motile with two unequal, whiplash-type flagella inserted subapically and also show amoeboid movement. Upon settlement, cysts with chitinous walls are formed. Infection of host cells is accomplished by means of an adhesorium and a stachel apparatus penetrating the host cell wall, and injection of the cyst content into the host cell cytoplasm. The parasite is characterized by features specific for the plasmodiophorids and is described as a new genus and species, Maullinia ectocarpii.