Bloqueo del plexo hipogástrico superior para manejo de dolor pélvico crónico no oncológico: efectividad y seguridad / Superior hypogastric plexus block for the management of non-oncological chronic pelvic pain: effectiveness and safety

Introducción: El dolor pélvico crónico es un problema ginecológico común, incapacitante y que afecta a la calidad de vida. Se estima la prevalencia hasta del 26,6 % a nivel mundial y en el 30 % de los casos no tienen un desencadenante claro. Dentro del manejo analgésico se propone el uso de intervencionismo como herramienta de control efectivo; para eso se analizan los casos recolectados en el Instituto Colombiano del Dolor (Incodol) con el objetivo de determinar la efectividad y la seguridad del procedimiento.Materiales y métodos: En este estudio retrospectivo descriptivo, se analizaron 100 pacientes a los que se les realizó bloqueo del plexo hipogástrico superior guiado por fluoroscopia. Se obtuvo datos de dolor percibido y requerimiento de analgésicos a los 0, 1, 3 y 6 meses después el bloqueo, y se registraron las complicaciones como sangrado, infección, lesión neurológica, dolor persistente y toxicidad. La percepción del dolor se analizó mediante el modelo lineal generalizado con efectos mixtos para medidas repetidas.Resultados: Todos los pacientes presentaron dolor de tipo visceral con una percepción media basal de 8,4 (SD = 1,5). El dolor percibido presentó disminución clínicamente relevante (> 50 %) del 45 %, 36 % y 23 % para cada periodo y el descenso del requerimiento analgésico a los 1, 3 y 6 meses fueron de 20 %, 19 % y 9 %, respectivamente. Para el sexto mes percepción del dolor fue estadísticamente significativa, siendo mayor en quienes disminuyeron el requerimiento de analgésicos (-5,2; IC 95 %: -6,7, -3,8). No se registraron complicaciones.Conclusiones: Se documenta la reducción estadísticamente significativa a los seis meses en la media del dolor percibido en pacientes con bloqueo del plexo hipogástrico superior guiado por fluoroscopia, sin registrarse complicaciones asociadas. Se considera benéfico en términos de reducción del dolor desde la perspectiva de puntos absolutos con respecto al valor basal de EVA...(AU)

Introduction: Chronic pelvic pain is a common, disabling gynecological problem that affects patient’s quality of life. Its prevalence is estimated to be up to 26.6 % worldwide and in 30 % of the cases there’s no clear trigger. Within the analgesic management, the use of interventionism is proposed as an effective tool, for this reason the cases collected in the Colombian Institute of Pain (Incodol) are analyzed to determine the effectiveness and safety of the procedure.Materials and methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, 100 patients with superior hypogastric plexus block guided by fluoroscopy were analyzed. Data on pain perception and analgesic requirements were obtained at 0, 1, 3, and 6 months after the block, and complications such as bleeding, infection, neurological injury, persistent pain, and toxicity were recorded. Pain perception was analyzed using the generalized linear model with mixed effects for repeated measures.Results: All patients presented visceral pain with a mean baseline perception of 8.4 (SD = 1.5). The perceived pain presented a clinically relevant decrease (> 50 %) of 45 %, 36 % and 23 % for each period and the decrease in analgesic requirement at 1, 3 and 6 months was 20 %, 19 % and 9 % respectively; For the sixth month, the reduction of pain perception was statistically significant, being higher in those who reduced the need for analgesics (-5.2; 95 % CI: -6.7, -3.8). No complications were recorded.Conclusions: The statistically significant reduction at six months in the mean of perceived pain in patients with fluoroscopy-guided superior hypogastric plexus block is documented, without registering associated complications. It is considered beneficial in terms of pain reduction from the perspective of absolute points with respect to baseline VAS value. The safety results give rise to consider it as a complementary and/or rescue technique in selected populations.(AU)

Brain Injury in Fetuses with Vein of Galen Malformation and Nongalenic Arteriovenous Fistulas: Static Snapshot or a Portent of More?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain injury in fetuses with vein of Galen malformations and nongalenic AVFs is a rare complication whose appearance, course, and prognosis are poorly studied. We sought to characterize the MR imaging features and examine associations with postnatal outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of fetal MRIs of subjects with vein of Galen malformation and nongalenic arteriovenous fistulas. Two pediatric neuroradiologists independently reviewed examinations to determine the presence of abnormalities on structural imaging (T1 volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination and T2-HASTE), DWI, and T2*-weighted images; discrepancies were adjudicated by a third reviewer. Radiologic progression of injury was determined by additional fetal or neonatal MRIs. A simple composite score evaluating poor neonatal clinical outcome as either intubation or death by postnatal day 2 was also queried. A body fetal imager evaluated the presence of systemic findings of right heart strain. RESULTS: Forty-nine fetal MR imaging examinations corresponding to 31 subjects (27 vein of Galen malformations and 4 nongalenic AVF cases) were analyzed. Injury was observed in 8 subjects (26%) with 14 fetal examinations; the mean gestational age at identification of injury was 32.2 (SD 4.9) weeks. Structural abnormalities were present in all subjects with injury; restricted diffusion, in 5/7 subjects with available data; and T2* abnormalities, in all subjects with available data (n = 7). Radiologic progression was documented in all cases with follow-up imaging (n = 7). All subjects with fetal brain injury had a poor neonatal clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Brain injury in fetuses with vein of Galen malformation and nongalenic AVFs shows a combination of structural abnormalities, restricted diffusion, and blooming on T2* images. Injury appears to portend a poor prognosis, with relentless progression and a likely association with adverse neonatal outcomes.

Percutaneous sclerotherapy of foot venous malformations: evaluation of clinical response.

AIM: To evaluate a single institutional experience with percutaneous sclerotherapy of venous malformations (VM) of the foot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients (mean age 14.6 years; range 6-27.3 years), who underwent 34 sclerotherapy procedures were retrospectively analysed. Technical success, Puig classification, VM size reduction, and the complication rate were evaluated. In procedures in which C-arm computed tomography (CT) was performed, the VM-to-skin surface distance was measured. Additionally, an e-mail-based questionnaire to evaluate the response to sclerotherapy was answered by the patients. RESULTS: Technical success was 97%. The mean number of procedures per patient was 2.1 (range 1-5). In all procedures, sodium tetradecyl sulphate foam was used. Appropriate follow-up was available for 29/33 procedures (88%). Post-procedural complications occurred after 6/29 procedures (21%), all of which were self-limited skin complications. C-arm CT was performed in 19/33 procedures (58%). The lesion-to-skin surface distance was significantly shorter in patients with skin post-procedural complications (p < 0.001). The e-mail-based questionnaire was completed by 13/16 patients (81%). Decrease in swelling, improvement of foot function and a significant decrease in pain (p = 0.003) was reported. No patient reported dis-improvement after sclerotherapy. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous sclerotherapy is an effective option for treating foot VMs. Skin complication rates are higher with shorter VM-to-skin surface distance.