Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica de los pacientes sometidos a trasplante hepático por cirrosis alcohólica en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe de Medellín entre 2004 y 2015 / Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients undergoing liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín between 2004 and 2015

Introducción. El alcohol ha sido asociado con más de 60 enfermedades diferentes y es el tercer factor de riesgo más común relacionado con muerte y discapacidad en el mundo. La enfermedad alcohólica hepática (EAH) es la causa más común de enfermedad hepática terminal (EHT) en los países occidentales. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la población adulta sometida a trasplante ortotópico hepático (TOH) indicado por EHT secundaria a EAH, en el Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe (HPTU) de Medellín entre 2004 y 2015. Metodología. Estudio observacional retrospectivo. Se revisaron las historias clínicas electrónicas de todos los pacientes trasplantados en el HPTU entre los años 2004 y 2015, sometidos a TOH indicado por EHT secundaria a EAH. Se registraron las características demográficas, comorbilidades médicas y psiquiátricas, complicaciones tempranas y tardías, recaída en el consumo de alcohol posterior al TOH, supervivencia y causa de la muerte. Resultados. Se encontraron 59 pacientes trasplantados por cirrosis de origen alcohólico. El 91,5 % fueron de sexo masculino, el 82,6 % (38/46) tuvo un período abstinencia previo al TOH mayor o igual a 6 meses, y solamente el 10,2 % (6/59) de los pacientes estuvieron vinculados a un programa de adicciones. Se encontró comorbilidad psiquiátrica en el 30 % (18/59) con predomino de depresión. Se identificó recaída pesada en el consumo de alcohol postrasplante en 6 pacientes, este subgrupo se caracterizó por una alta mortalidad (66 %), pobre adherencia a la terapia inmunosupresora y alta frecuencia de depresión (83 %). En general, la cohorte tuvo una supervivencia a 5 y 10 años de 60,8 % y 28,1 %, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Las características epidemiológicas de la población son compartidas con reportes previos en relación al predominio de sexo masculino y adultos en la sexta década de la vida. La recaída en el consumo pesado de alcohol no es la regla, sin embargo, se encuentra asociada con abandono del tratamiento inmunosupresor y muerte. En comparación con reportes de otros países, nuestras tasas de complicaciones y mortalidad a 5 años son superiores.

Introduction. Alcohol has been associated with more than 60 different diseases and is the third most common risk factor related to death and disability throughout the world. Alcoholic liver disease is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease in Western countries. The main objective of this study was to characterize adult patients with orthotopic liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín between 2004 to 2015. Methodology. Observational retrospective study. We reviewed clinical records of all patients with orthotopic liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis at the HPTU between 2004 and 2015, and retrieved demographic data, comorbidities, complications, consumption relapse and survival. Results. We analyzed 59 patients, 91.5% were male, 82.6% had an abstinence period previous to liver transplant equal or greater to six months, 10.2% were part of an addiction program, and 30% had psychiatric morbidities, mainly depression. We identified 6 patients with heavy alcoholic relapse after transplantation, this subgroup was characterized by a high mortality (66%), poor adherence to immunosuppressive therapy and high rates of depression (83%). In general, this cohort had a 5- and 10-year survival of 60.8% and 20.1%, respectively. Conclusions. The epidemiological characteristics of the population are shared with previous reports regarding the predominance of males and adults in the sixth decade of life. Relapse into heavy alcohol consumption is not the rule, however, it is associated with discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment and death. In comparison with other reports, we have higher complications and mortality rates at 5 five years.

Mechanical Valve Thrombosis Secondary to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Case Report.

Although the association of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and thromboembolic disease is well known, cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and mechanical valve thrombosis have not been described enough. Mechanical valve thrombosis is a medical emergency that is associated with a great impact on patients' morbidity and mortality. Here, we report a case of a patient with mechanical valve thrombosis secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infections that required valve replacement with satisfactory postoperative recovery. A 52-year old female patient was presented with a previously implanted mechanical prosthesis (type - St. Jude Medical 29 mm; St. Paul, MN: St. Jude Medical, Inc.) eight years ago due to rheumatic fever, under anticoagulation with warfarin and valvular atrial fibrillation (permanent), congenital single kidney (glomerular filtration rate {GFR}: 89.9 mL/min), and hypothyroidism. She was admitted to the hospital with a high level of complexity due to respiratory difficulty and generalized edematous syndrome, and a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed COVID-19 infection (20 days before admission); the patient was anticoagulated with warfarin (international normalized ratio {INR} at admission was 2.63 seconds). As per protocol, a CT-chest scan tomography was performed and showed organized pneumonia in the right apical lobe. We performed a transesophageal echocardiogram, which showed a thrombus (20 x 15 x 20 mm) in the lateral disc of the mechanical prosthesis, restricting its mobility. The patient presented signs of hypoperfusion (lactate levels: 4 mmol/L; urine per hour: 1 cc/kg) with associated low cardiac output syndrome, requiring double vasopressor support at the maximum dose (achieving a mean arterial pressure of 72 mmHg) due to the clinical condition and the large size of the thrombus, the cardiovascular surgeon, in agreement with the family, decides to carry out emergency valve replacement surgery with replacement of a mechanical prosthesis replacement (St. Jude No. 29; St. Paul, MN: St. Jude Medical, Inc.). The patient presented a satisfactory postoperative recovery, achieving INR goals, with subsequent discharge and follow-up at two months with transthoracic ultrasound, where normofunctional mitral prosthesis was demonstrated, without evidence of thrombi or intracavitary masses. Mechanical mitral valve thrombosis, secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection is a serious complication with poor prognosis that requires a high rate of suspicion, and timely diagnostic aids are essential to confirm the diagnosis. Managing this issue should be interdisciplinary and individualized considering the clinical condition of the patient and the associated comorbidities.