Surgical treatment of pancreaticojejunal stenosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy: case report.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is established as the procedure of choice for malignant tumor pathologies of the head of the pancreas or ampulla, where the patient's life prognosis is low. Complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (e.g. pancreatic fistulas, hemorrhages, or intra-abdominal collection) are well described in the literature and are generally acute. However, there is still a small risk for late complications (e.g. pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency), and due to its low incidence, there has not been a consensus on the treatment. We present the case of an 18-year-old female with recurrent bouts of acute pancreatitis as a late complication of a pancreaticoduodenectomy plus pancreatojejunal anastomosis due to a pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. The complication was managed though surgical revision consisting of dilation and stent placement in the stenosis. The patient had an adequate postoperative evolution without further complications. Despite the advances in the surgical field, pancreaticoduodenectomy represents a highly complex surgery with high morbidity and mortality rates. The late complications of this surgery are under continuous study due to its low incidence associated with low patient survival.

Axillary Management Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical trial data indicate that omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is feasible and may reduce morbidity for carefully selected patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT). However, there remains a need to understand how these findings translate to broader clinical practice and to identify which patients benefit most. This study utilizes a national dataset to assess outcomes in axillary management, aiming to inform best practice in axillary de-escalation. METHODS: The National Cancer Data Base was used to identify women diagnosed with clinically node-positive invasive breast cancer between 2012 to 2020 who received NCT and subsequent ALND. Associations between clinicopathologic factors and axillary pCR were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Of the 59,791 patients included, 8,827 (14.76%) achieved nodal pCR. Patients with HR-negative and HER2-positive receptor status more frequently underwent ALND instead of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Conversely, patients over the age of 70, those with private or public insurance, and cases classified as ypT1 or ypT2 were less likely to undergo ALND. CONCLUSION: A subset of patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer received ALND despite achieving axillary pCR following NCT. This highlights an opportunity to enhance precision in identifying candidates for axillary de-escalation, potentially reducing morbidity and tailoring treatment more closely to individual patient needs.

Reliability of artificial intelligence chatbot responses to frequently asked questions in breast surgical oncology.

INTRODUCTION: Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots, capable of simulating human-like conversations, are becoming more prevalent in healthcare. While this technology offers potential benefits in patient engagement and information accessibility, it raises concerns about potential misuse, misinformation, inaccuracies, and ethical challenges. METHODS: This study evaluated a publicly available AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in its responses to nine questions related to breast cancer surgery selected from the American Society of Breast Surgeons' frequently asked questions (FAQ) patient education website. Four breast surgical oncologists assessed the responses for accuracy and reliability using a five-point Likert scale and the Patient Education Materials Assessment (PEMAT) Tool. RESULTS: The average reliability score for ChatGPT in answering breast cancer surgery questions was 3.98 out of 5.00. Surgeons unanimously found the responses understandable and actionable per the PEMAT criteria. The consensus found ChatGPT's overall performance was appropriate, with minor or no inaccuracies. CONCLUSION: ChatGPT demonstrates good reliability in responding to breast cancer surgery queries, with minor, nonharmful inaccuracies. Its answers are accurate, clear, and easy to comprehend. Notably, ChatGPT acknowledged its informational role and did not attempt to replace medical advice or discourage users from seeking input from a healthcare professional.

Expanding Access to Immediate Lymphatic Reconstruction Through an Axillary Surgery Referral Program: A 6-Year Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in breast cancer have progressed toward less aggressive axillary surgery. However, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) remains necessary in specific cases and can increase the risk of lymphedema. Performing ALND with immediate lymphatic reconstruction (ILR) can help lower this risk. This report outlines the implementation of an Axillary Surgery Referral Program (ASRP) to broaden access to ILR, providing insights for institutions considering similar initiatives. METHODS: A retrospective study analyzed patients referred to the ASRP at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) between 6 January 2017 and 10 December 2022. Patients were identified from a prospective registry, with data subsequently extracted from electronic medical records. This analysis specifically centered on patients referred from external institutions to undergo ALND with ILR. RESULTS: The program received referrals for 131 patients from institutions across five different states. Annual referrals steadily increased over time. The primary indication for referral was residual axillary disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (41.2%). Among the referrals, 20 patients (15.3%) no longer required ALND due to axillary pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant therapy. Care coordination played a crucial role in streamlining the patient care process for both efficiency and effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The ASRP expands access to ILR for patients with breast cancer, the majority referred for surgical management of residual disease after chemotherapy. The program provides a model for health care institutions aiming to establish similar specialized referral services. Continued program evaluation will be instrumental in refining axillary surgery referral practices and ensuring optimal patient care.

Effect of High Altitude on the Survival of COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: The effect of high altitude ( ≥ 1500 m) and its potential association with mortality by COVID-19 remains controversial. We assessed the effect of high altitude on the survival/discharge of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for mechanical ventilation compared to individuals treated at sea level. Methods: A retrospective cohort multi-center study of consecutive adults patients with a positive RT-PCR test for COVID-19 who were mechanically ventilated between March and November 2020. Data were collected from two sea-level hospitals and four high-altitude hospitals in Ecuador. The primary outcome was ICU and hospital survival/discharge. Survival analysis was conducted using semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of the study population (n = 670), 35.2% were female with a mean age of 58.3 ± 12.6 years. On admission, high-altitude patients were more likely to be younger (57.2 vs. 60.5 years old), presented with less comorbidities such as hypertension (25.9% vs. 54.9% with p-value <.001) and diabetes mellitus (20.5% vs. 37.2% with p-value <.001), less probability of having a capillary refill time > 3 sec (13.7% vs. 30.1%, p-value <.001), and less severity-of-illness condition (APACHE II score, 17.5 ± 8.1 vs. 20 ± 8.2, p < .01). After adjusting for key confounders high altitude is associated with significant higher probabilities of ICU survival/discharge (HR: 1.74 [95% CI: 1.46-2.08]) and hospital survival/discharge (HR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.18-1.55]) than patients treated at sea level. Conclusions: Patients treated at high altitude at any time point during the study period were 74% more likely to experience ICU survival/discharge and 35% more likely to experience hospital survival/discharge than to the sea-level group. Possible reasons for these findings are genetic and physiological adaptations due to exposure to chronic hypoxia.

Case report: Infrequent littoral cell angioma of the spleen.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Littoral cell angioma is a rare solid spleen tumor with uncertain malignant potential. It is usually asymptomatic; therefore, its diagnosis is usually incidental. There are approximately 150 cases reported in the medical literature, but none of them in the Hispanic population. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 54-year-old woman who presented to our clinic with nonspecific abdominal pain. Imaging studies show a splenic mass with littoral cell angioma characteristics. The patient underwent an open splenectomy with subsequent histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies that confirmed the presence of a littoral cell angioma of a diameter of 8 × 4.5 × 3.5 cm. The patient was discharged after an uneventful postoperative recovery and was referred to the outpatient clinic for follow up. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case report highlights the close relationship between the littoral cell angioma, neoplasias, and autoimmune diseases. Even though LCA has a good prognosis, there is still the possibility of malignant transformation, especially when the spleen weighs 1500 g; our patient's sample pointed towards a benign pathology. LCA has a positive IHC for endothelial and histiocyte tissues. The IHC results of our patient were positive for CD34+ and CD68+, confirming the LCA diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Within red pulp spleen tumors, LCA should be highly considered as a differential diagnosis in all types of populations. In the case of a confirmed LCA, routine screening for neoplasias and autoimmune diseases should be performed.

Uveitic Glaucoma and Hansen's disease, A case report.

BACKGROUND: The number of Hansen's disease cases in Latin America and the Caribbean has decreased in the last decade; nevertheless, the region is still struggling with infections caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This is a case report that portrays the diagnostic and management challenges associated with atypical uveitic glaucoma that is due to Hansen's disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old female was referred with a 2-year history of anterior uveitis of unknown etiology and ocular hypertension. Past medical history and general physical examination were unremarkable. Upon ocular examination, her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/25 in the OD and 20/60 in the OS. Tonometry showed intraocular pressures (IOPs) of 29 mmHg and 22 mmHg in her right and left eyes, respectively. The slit-lamp examination showed clinical signs of bilateral granulomatous anterior uveitis and cataracts; gonioscopy revealed open angles with some peripheral anterior synechiae for both eyes. Fundus examination and glaucoma tests revealed mild glaucomatous damage in the right eye. Given the presentation of uveitis, the respective questionnaire was completed by internal medicine and rheumatology. Four months later, after bilateral cataract surgery, the patient developed skin plaques on the face, neck, upper back, and extremities, which were biopsied and identified as positive for tuberculoid leprosy. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report in Ecuador of atypical glaucoma triggered by infectious uveitis produced by Mycobacterium leprae. We describe a female patient's clinical presentation with several ocular signs of leprosy and other nonspecific and rarely seen symptoms. Uveitis is a condition that often requires a multidisciplinary team of ophthalmologists and clinicians because of the possible manifestation of an underlying systemic disease, creating a challenge for all the medical personnel involved in the management of the case.

Hepatolitiasis izquierda manejada con hepatectomía: Reporte de un caso

La hepatolitiasis es un desorden de las vías biliares caracterizado por la presencia de cálculos en los conductos biliares intrahepáticos. Existen varios factores de riesgo asociados a esta patología, pero su complicación más temida es el desarrollo de un colangiocarcinoma. En el Ecuador no hay literatura sobre el manejo de esta patología y su pronóstico postoperatorio. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 50 años de edad, con un cuadro de dolor abdominal en epigastrio, acompañado de hiporexia y náusea, sin hallazgos relevantes en el examen físico. Se encontraron pruebas de función hepática alteradas y marcadores tumorales elevados, además, los estudios radiológicos evidenciaron dilatación de la vía biliar intrahepática, con litos en su interior. Se decidió realizar una hepatectomía izquierda y, posteriormente, el estudio histopatológico evidenció cambios sugestivos de displasia en los conductos intrahepáticos. El paciente es dado de alta con una evolución dentro de los parámetros esperados y es remitido a seguimiento por Consulta Externa. En conclusión, la hepatolitiasis es una condición que al no ser tratada puede desarrollar un colangiocarcinoma, aumentando el riesgo del paciente

Hepatolithiasis is a bile duct disorder characterized by the presence of stones in the intrahepatic bile ducts1. There are several risk factors associated with this pathology, but its most feared complication is the development of cholangiocarcinoma2. In Ecuador there is not published literature regarding the management and prognosis of this pathology. A 50-year-old male patient with a picture of abdominal pain in the epigastrium, accompanied by hyporexia and nausea, without relevant findings on the physical exam. Altered liver function tests and raised tumor markers were found, in addition, radiological studies showed dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct, with bile stones inside. A left hepatectomy was performed, and subsequently the histopathological study demonstrated suggestive dysplasia changes in the intrahepatic ducts. Patient is discharged with a positive evolution and is referred to clinic for further follow up. To sum up, hepatolithiasis is a condition that should promptly be treated to avoid the development of a cholangiocarcinoma, which could put in risk the patient's life.