Impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19 en una Residencia Universitaria de Cirugía Plástica / Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a university-based residency program in plastic surgery

RESUMEN Antecedentes: la pandemia por COVID-19 plantea un desafío inédito en la educación quirúrgica mundial. La falta de actividad práctica, fruto de las suspensiones y restricciones, pone en jaque la capacidad de los programas de entrenamiento de ajustarse a los estándares de idoneidad requeridos para el ejercicio de la especialidad. Objetivo: comparar la actividad quirúrgica de los residentes antes y durante la cuarentena, y describir los cambios de roles asistenciales y de las tácticas para su formación. Material y métodos: observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo. Se registraron las ciru-gías realizadas por residentes en los períodos marzo 2019-febrero 2020 (Prepandemia) y marzo 2020-febrero 2021 (Intrapandemia). Se compararon la cantidad y tipo de procedimientos, así como el año de la residencia. Se analizó también el porcentaje de variación en las consultas de consultorios externos. Resultados: se experimentó una reducción global del número de operaciones del 59% (n = 368 vs. n = 152). Los procedimientos estéticos programados disminuyeron un 64%. En cirugía reconstructiva hubo una caída del 55%: tumores de piel -64%, reconstrucción mamaria -54%, reconstrucción de miembro -40%, reconstrucción cabeza y cuello -13%. En las reconstrucciones interdisciplinarias llevadas adelante con otros Servicios se observó un comportamiento dispar. La atención ambulatoria en consultorios externos experimentó una disminución del 50% (n = 2603 vs. n = 1308) en las consultas presenciales. Conclusiones: durante la cuarentena se registró una marcada disminución en todos los tipos de actividad quirúrgica y asistencial de los residentes de cirugía plástica, lo que influirá en su formación y plantea un desafío para minimizar ese impacto.

ABSTRACT Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to surgical education worldwide. The lack of hands-on activity, due to suspensions and restrictions, jeopardizes the ability of training programs to meet the competence standards required for the practice of the specialty. Objective: To compare residents' surgical activity before and during the lockdown, and describe the changes in healthcare roles and training strategies. Material and Methods: We conducted a descriptive, observational and retrospective study. The surgeries performed by residents during pre-pandemic (March 2019-February 2020) and intrapandemic (March 2020-February 2021) periods were recorded. The number and type of procedures and the year of the residency program were compared in both periods. The percent change in outpatient consultations was also analyzed. Results: The total number of plastic surgery procedures was reduced by 59% (n = 368 vs. n = 152). Scheduled cosmetic procedures decreased by 64%. Reconstructive procedures decreased by 55%: skin tumors -64%, breast reconstruction -54%, extremity reconstruction -40%, head and neck reconstruction -13%. Multidisciplinary reconstructions performed with other specialists showed different patterns. Face-to-face consultations decreased by 50% (n = 2603 vs. n = 1308). Conclusions: During the lockdown, there was a marked decrease in all the types of surgical and healthcare activities among residents in plastic surgery which will influence their training, posing a challenge to minimize this impact.

Apendicectomías: ¿llega tarde el paciente o las complicamos nosotros? / Appendicectomies: Does the patients arrive late or otherwise are complicated by us?

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the vermiform appendix. Acute appendictis is the most common surgical emergency, and the most frequent cause of abdominal pain. It is considered that between 7 to 12% of the world population will develop the disease in some ciurcumstances of their lifes, being more frequent during the second and third decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comlications derivated from the delay in the anagement of the patients with this complaint. Usually, the signs and symptoms are frequently typical and the diagnosis quickly made. However, the classic syndrome may not be evident and the correct diagnosis may be obscure, in whom a delay in diagnosis can result in a lifebreatening situation. Inflammation of the appendix usually results from the obstruction of the appendiceal lumen. The diagnosis of appendicitis depends primarily on the history and physical findings, but confirmation of the diagnosis usually requires appropriate laboratory, radiographic or endoscopic studies. Pain is usually the first simptom. vomiting usually develops. Acute appendicitis should always be included in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. Low-grade fewer is usual. The most characteristic sign is point tenderness at Mc-Burney's pint, which is located one third of the distance from the anterior-superior iliac spine to the umbilicus.We present a retrospective analysis, descriptive and observational. In our study the Alvarado score was empliye. The complications observed are detailed, and the results obtained are commented