Evaluation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as a previous step to liver transplantation in pediatric patients. / Evaluación del shunt portosistémico intrahepático transyugular (TIPS) como puente terapéutico al trasplante hepático en pacientes pediátricos.

INTRODUCTION: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was designed to treat complications of portal hypertension (PH). The objective of this study was to analyze the results of the TIPS performed in pediatric patients in our institution as a previous step to liver transplantation (LT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study of pediatric patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing TIPS prior to LT from 2015 to 2020 was carried out. RESULTS: TIPS was performed in 10 patients. The reason for TIPS was hard-to-control ascites in 7 patients (70%), upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophageal varices in 1 patient (10%), and portal hypoplasia in 2 cases (20%). No intraoperative complications were recorded. Stent patency was achieved in all cases. TIPS patency until LT was observed in 6 patients (60%). Indirect signs of patency were noted in 1 patient (10%). 2 patients (20%) required re-intervention, with patency being achieved in the second attempt. And finally, no patency was observed after 3 attempts in 1 patient (10%). A decrease in portocaval gradient (p = 0.001) and an increase in portal velocity (p = 0.006) were observed. No platelet count changes were found. A slight, non-significant increase in ammonia was noted. CONCLUSION: TIPS is a safe and effective procedure to reduce complications of hard-to-control PH in pediatric patients. It allows general condition to be optimized, deterioration to be avoided, and portal vein narrowing to be alleviated in cirrhosis patients as a previous step to LT.

INTRODUCCION: El shunt portosistémico intrahepático transyugular (TIPS) es un procedimiento para tratar las complicaciones de la hipertensión portal. El objetivo del estudio es analizar los resultados de los TIPS realizados en nuestro centro, a pacientes pediátricos como puente al trasplante hepático (TH). MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de pacientes pediátricos con cirrosis hepática a los cuales se les ha realizado un TIPS previo al trasplante hepático entre los años 2015 y 2020. RESULTADOS: Se realizó el TIPS a 10 pacientes. El motivo fue en 7 por ascitis de difícil control (70%), un caso por hemorragia digestiva alta por varices esofágicas (10%) y en 2 por hipoplasia portal (20%). No hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias y en todos los casos se logró permeabilidad de la endoprótesis. En 6 pacientes (60%) se observó permeabilidad del TIPS hasta el TH, en un paciente se observaron signos indirectos de permeabilidad (10%), 2 casos requirieron reintervención, lográndose permeabilidad en el segundo intento (20%) y en otra paciente (10%) no se observó permeabilidad tras 3 intentos. Se apreció una disminución del gradiente portocava (p = 0,001) y un aumento en la velocidad portal (p = 0,006). No se evidenció cambios en la cifras de plaquetas y se produjo un ligero aumento del amonio, sin ser significativos. CONCLUSION: El TIPS es un procedimiento seguro y eficaz para paliar las complicaciones de la hipertensión portal de difícil control en pacientes pediátricos. Nos permite optimizar el estado general, evitar el deterioro y paliar el estrechamiento de la vena porta de los pacientes cirróticos como puente al TH.

Evaluación del shunt portosistémico intrahepático transyugular (TIPS) como puente terapéutico al trasplante hepático en pacientes pediátricos / Evaluation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) as a previous step to liver transplantation in pediatric patients

Introducción: El shunt portosistémico intrahepático transyugular(TIPS) es un procedimiento para tratar las complicaciones de la hiper-tensión portal. El objetivo del estudio es analizar los resultados de losTIPS realizados en nuestro centro, a pacientes pediátricos como puenteal trasplante hepático (TH).Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de pacien-tes pediátricos con cirrosis hepática a los cuales se les ha realizado unTIPS previo al trasplante hepático entre los años 2015 y 2020.Resultados: Se realizó el TIPS a 10 pacientes. El motivo fue en 7por ascitis de difícil control (70%), un caso por hemorragia digestivaalta por varices esofágicas (10%) y en 2 por hipoplasia portal (20%).No hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias y en todos los casos se logrópermeabilidad de la endoprótesis.En 6 pacientes (60%) se observó permeabilidad del TIPS hasta elTH, en un paciente se observaron signos indirectos de permeabilidad(10%), 2 casos requirieron reintervención, lográndose permeabilidaden el segundo intento (20%) y en otra paciente (10%) no se observópermeabilidad tras 3 intentos.Se apreció una disminución del gradiente portocava (p = 0,001) yun aumento en la velocidad portal (p = 0,006). No se evidenció cambiosen la cifras de plaquetas y se produjo un ligero aumento del amonio,sin ser significativos.Conclusión: El TIPS es un procedimiento seguro y eficaz parapaliar las complicaciones de la hipertensión portal de difícil control enpacientes pediátricos. Nos permite optimizar el estado general, evitarel deterioro y paliar el estrechamiento de la vena porta de los pacientescirróticos como puente al TH.

Introduction: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)was designed to treat complications of portal hypertension (PH). Theobjective of this study was to analyze the results of the TIPS performedin pediatric patients in our institution as a previous step to liver trans-plantation (LT).Materials and methods: A retrospective, descriptive study of pedi-atric patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing TIPS prior to LT from 2015to 2020 was carried out.Results: TIPS was performed in 10 patients. The reason for TIPSwas hard-to-control ascites in 7 patients (70%), upper gastrointestinalbleeding due to esophageal varices in 1 patient (10%), and portal hypo-plasia in 2 cases (20%). No intraoperative complications were recorded.Stent patency was achieved in all cases.TIPS patency until LT was observed in 6 patients (60%). Indirectsigns of patency were noted in 1 patient (10%). 2 patients (20%) requiredre-intervention, with patency being achieved in the second attempt. Andfinally, no patency was observed after 3 attempts in 1 patient (10%).A decrease in portocaval gradient (p = 0.001) and an increase inportal velocity (p = 0.006) were observed. No platelet count changeswere found. A slight, non-significant increase in ammonia was noted.Conclusion: TIPS is a safe and effective procedure to reduce com-plications of hard-to-control PH in pediatric patients. It allows generalcondition to be optimized, deterioration to be avoided, and portal veinnarrowing to be alleviated in cirrhosis patients as a previous step to LT.

[Anatomical relations in innominate artery compression syndrome: retrospective case-control study]. / Relaciones anatómicas en el síndrome de compresión traqueal por la arteria innominada: estudio de casos y controles retrospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anatomical relations between brachiocephalic trunk (BT), trachea, spine and sternum in patients with Innominate Artery Compressing Syndrome (IACS) and control patients. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study of patients diagnosed with IACS in our center, in whom vascular computerized tomography (CT) was performed. The CT were compared with those of control patients free of obstructive respiratory pathology, without congenital heart disease and free of deforming thoracic mass, in whom CT was performed due to other reason. Each case was paired with three controls per case, in similar age groups. The significance value was set as p<0,05. RESULTS: Nine cases were included (7 boys and 2 girls) with their 27 respective controls (20 boys and 7 girls). The BT origin position with respect to the trachea, thought as a clock face, was 01:30 (00:30- 03:00) in cases and 01:30 (00:30-02:30) in controls. No differences were observed (p=0.72). The relation between anteroposterior/transversal tracheal diameters was 0.44 (0.184-0.6) in cases, 0.885 (0.64-1.16) in controls. The sternum-trachea/sternum-vertebra relation was 0.685 (0.6-0.76) in cases, 0.67 (0.49-0.79) in controls. No differences were observed (p=0.75). The angle of thoracic kyphosis was 29º (9º-34º) in cases, 24º (4º-33º) in controls. There were no statistically significant differences (p=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: We found no differences between the two groups in the BT origin in relation to the trachea. In all cases, the origin was on the left side of the body. Therefore, we question the premise that IACS is due to a more left origin of BT.

OBJETIVO: Analizar las distintas relaciones anatómicas entre el tronco braquiocefálico (TB), la tráquea, la columna vertebral y el esternón en pacientes diagnosticados de síndrome de compresión de la arteria innominada (SCAI) y compararlas con las de los pacientes controles. METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles de los pacientes diagnosticados de SCAI en nuestro centro, a los que se realizó una tomografía computarizada con contraste (TC) y/o resonancia magnética (RM). Se compararon con pacientes controles, elegidos entre enfermos sin malformación cardiaca ni masa torácica deformante, y a los que se les había realizado una TC vascular torácico por distintos problemas respiratorios no obstructivos. Por cada caso, se seleccionaron tres controles, agrupándolos por grupos de edades. Se estableció pp<0,05 como valor de significancia estadística. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 9 casos (7 niños y 2 niñas) y 27 controles (20 niños y 7 niñas). Se estudió en cortes transversales de la TC la posición horaria del nacimiento del TB respecto a la tráquea, resultando en los casos una posición mediana correspondiente a las 01:30 (00:30- 03:00) y en los controles a las 01:30 (00:30-02:30), sin hallarse diferencias significativas (p= 0,72). Se midió el ratio entre el diámetro anteroposterior/diámetro transverso de la tráquea, este fue de 0,44 (0,184-0,6) en los casos y 0,885 (0,64-1,16) en los controles (p=0,00001). El ratio de la distancia esternón-tráquea/esternón-columna fue 0,685 (0,6-0,76) en los casos y 0,67 (0,49-0,79) en los controles (p=0,75). El ángulo de la cifosis torácica fue 29º (9-34) en los casos y 24º (4-33) en los controles (p=0,45). CONCLUSIONES: No observamos la existencia de diferencias en el nacimiento del TB en pacientes con SCAI respecto a la población general. El TB nace en todos los niños en el lado izquierdo del cuerpo, poniendo en duda que el SCAI sea debido a un nacimiento más izquierdo del TB.

[Endoscopic sclerosis with pneumatic distension for pyriform sinus fistula treatment]. / Esclerosis endoscópica con distensión neumática para el tratamiento de las fístulas del seno piriforme.

Classic treatment for pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) has been surgical excision; however, less invasive therapeutic alternatives whose aim is the obliteration of the sinus have been described subsequently. The authors present a technical modification of endoscopic sclerosis with diathermy (ESD): continuous infusion of air flow through the flexible endoscope was used to distend the pyriform sinus and facilitate recognition of the fistula opening. The sinus obliteration was performed with a wire guide and diathermy. In the last 15 years, 9 patients were diagnosed of suffering from PSF in our institution. Initial treatment was antibiotics therapy associated in some cases to cervical abscess drainage. Fistulectomy was performed in 4 cases and ESD in 4. The ninth patient received both treatments, performing electrocauterization after a surgical recurrence. Three of the patients who underwent surgery relapsed; none treated by ESD did, or had any complications. In our experience, endoscopic sclerosis with pneumatic distension is a simple technique, reproducible, not invasive and very effective; hence we consider it might become a first line therapy for PSF.

[Outcome of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis after pyloromyotomy]. / Evolución de la estenosis hipertrófica de píloro tras la piloromiotomía.

Twenty four patients diagnosed and operated of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were examined by ultrasonography at diagnostic and sequential after pyloromyotomy. We measured pyloric diameter, thickness and length of the muscle and we calculated the pyloric volume. The overall configuration of the pylorus is more important than specific pyloric dimensions for diagnosis. The pyloric volume is the most discriminating criterion. Sequential sonograms at one and four months showed that all measurements fell to normal levels within four weeks, except pyloric volume.

Infected intraabdominal hematomas: percutaneous drainage.

Percutaneous drainage of infected intraabdominal hematomas has often been contraindicated due to its greater number of complications. The results of percutaneous drainage of infected localized hematomas in five cases are described, two in the lesser sac and three in the right subphrenic space. The catheter size ranged from 8.4 to 24 French. Mean maintenance time of the drainage was 37 days. Drainage tube obstruction occurred in three patients, in two of whom the drainage tube had to be changed for one with a broader gauge. Hematomas were completely resolved in all the cases. We describe our experience with one patient in whom we used intracavitary urokinase who showed successful results. Percutaneous drainage is not contraindicated in the management of infected hematomas, although the drainage tube must be closely controlled; drainage time may be longer than in other types of abscesses.