Comparative evaluation of lateral flow assays to diagnose chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Bolivia.

Bolivia has the highest incidence of Chagas disease (CD) worldwide. Caused by the parasite Trypanasoma cruzi, CD is generally a chronic condition. Diagnosis is logistically and financially challenging, requiring at least two different laboratory-based serological tests. Many CD cases are missed; in Bolivia it is estimated just 6% of individuals chronically infected with T. cruzi get diagnosed. Achieving control on the way to elimination of CD requires a radical simplification of the current CD testing pathways, to overcome the barriers to accessing CD treatment. We aimed to generate unbiased performance data of lateral flow assays (LFAs) for T. cruzi infection in Bolivia, to evaluate their usefulness for improving T. cruzi diagnosis rates in a precise and efficient manner. This retrospective, laboratory-based, diagnostic evaluation study sought to estimate the sensitivity/specificity of 10 commercially available LFAs for T. cruzi, using the current CD diagnostic algorithm employed in Bolivia as the reference test method. All tests were blinded at the study site and performed by three operators. In total, 470 serum samples were tested, including 221 and 249 characterized as CD-positive/-negative, respectively. The LFAs were scored according to their relative importance using a decision-tree-based algorithm, with the mean decrease in Gini index as the scoring metric. The estimates of sensitivities ranged from 62.2-97.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) lower bound 55.0-94.7%); for specificities the range was 78.6-100% (95% CI lower bound 72.0-97.5%); 5/10 and 6/10 tests had sensitivity >90% and specificity >95%, respectively. Four LFAs showed high values of both sensitivity (93-95%) and specificity (97-99%). The agreement between 6 LFAs and the reference tests was almost perfect (Kappa 0.83-0.94). Most LFAs evaluated thus showed performances comparable with current laboratory-based diagnostic methods.

Evaluation of a custom Sensititre YeastOne plate for susceptibility testing of isavuconazole and other antifungals against clinically relevant yeast and mould species in three Australian diagnostic mycology laboratories.

This study aimed to validate the performance of the custom formulated Sensititre YeastOne One (SYO) microdilution plate which includes isavuconazole (AUSNMRC1) to perform susceptibility testing on clinically relevant yeast and mould species across three Australian reference laboratories. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results were compared with the IVD approved SYO YO10 microdilution plate and isavuconazole gradient strips. A total of 127 isolates were tested on both the YO10 and AUSNMRC1 plates. The overall essential agreement (EA) and categorical agreement (CA) for the eight common drugs was 99.9% and 98.8%, respectively. The EA was 96.9% for the isavuconazole MICs obtained using the AUSNMRC1 plate and gradient strip. The MIC results for all nine antifungals on the AUSNMRC1 panel were highly reproducible for all quality control and reference strains and the overall EA and CA for 45 clinical strains tested across all three participating laboratories were >93% and 94.1%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the SYO AUSNMRC1 plate provides a commercial means to determine isavuconazole MICs by broth microdilution testing.

Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay to Identify and Distinguish between Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes.

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the principle causative agents of cryptococcosis. Differences in epidemiological and clinical features, and also treatment, mean it is important for diagnostic laboratories to distinguish between the two species. Molecular methods are potentially more rapid than culture and cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) detection; however, commercial PCR-based assays that target Cryptococcus do not distinguish between species. Here, we developed a real-time PCR assay targeting the multicopy mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene to detect C. neoformans and C. gattii in clinical specimens. Assay performance was compared with culture, histopathology, CRAG and panfungal PCR/DNA sequencing. The cyt b-directed assay accurately detected and identified all eight C. neoformans/gattii genotypes. High-resolution melt curve analysis unambiguously discriminated between the two species. Overall, assay sensitivity (96.4%) compared favorably with panfungal PCR (76.9%) and culture (14.5%); assay specificity was 100%. Of 25 fresh frozen paraffin embedded (FFPE) specimens, assay sensitivity was 96% (76% for panfungal PCR; 68% for histopathology). The Cryptococcus-specific PCR is a rapid (~4 h) sensitive method to diagnose (or exclude) cryptococcosis and differentiate between the two major species. It is suitable for use on diverse clinical specimens and may be the preferred molecular method for FFPE specimens where clinical suspicion of cryptococcosis is high.

Prolonged SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid conversion time in military personnel outbreaks with presence of specific IgG antibodies.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is transmitted person-to-person mainly by close contact or droplets from respiratory tract. However, the actual time of viral shedding is still uncertain as well as the different routes of transmission. We aimed to characterize RNA shedding from nasopharyngeal and rectal samples in prolonged cases of mild COVID-19 in young male soldiers. Seventy patients from three different military locations were monitored after recommending to follow more strict isolation measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Then, nasopharyngeal, rectal, and blood samples were taken. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by RT-PCR and specific antibodies by chemiluminescent immunoassays. The median nucleic acid conversion time (NACT) was 60 days (IQR: 7-85 days). Rectal swabs were taken in 60 % of patients. Seven patients (10 %) were positive in nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs, and five (7.14 %) remained positive in rectal swabs, but negative in nasopharyngeal samples. Four patients (5.71 %) that had been discharged, were positive again after 15 days. No significant difference was found in nucleic acid conversion time between age groups nor clinical classification. Maintaining distancing among different positive patients is essential as a possible re-exposure to the virus could cause a longer nucleic acid conversion time in SARS-COV-2 infections.

Seroprevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody in healthcare workers: a multicentre cross-sectional study in 10 Colombian cities.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are at increased risk of infection due to occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers in Colombia. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study focused on estimating the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers from 65 hospitals in 10 cities in Colombia during the second semester of 2020. The seroprevalence was determined using an automated immunoassay (Abbott SARS-CoV-2 CLIA IgG). The study included a survey to establish the sociodemographic variables and the risk of infection. A multivariate model was used to evaluate the association between the results of seroprevalence and risk factors. RESULTS: The global seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 35% (95% Bayesian CI 33% to 37%). All the personnel reported the use of protective equipment. General services personnel and nurses presented the highest ratios of seroprevalence among the healthcare workers. Low socioeconomic strata have shown a strong association with seropositivity. CONCLUSION: This study estimates the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers. Even though all the personnel reported the use of protective equipment, the seroprevalence in the general services personnel and nurses was high. Also, a significant difference by cities was observed.

Female-committed infanticide followed by juvenile-enacted cannibalism in wild white-faced capuchins.

On 5 February 2021, we observed the first instance of female-committed infanticide followed by cannibalism in a long-studied (> 35 years) population of wild white-faced capuchins (Cebus imitator) in the Santa Rosa Sector of the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The events leading up to and including the infanticide and cannibalism were observed and documented ad libitum, with segments digitally recorded, and a post-mortem necropsy performed. Here we detail our observations and evaluate the events within the framework of leading adaptive explanations. The infanticide may have been proximately motivated by resource competition or group instability. The circumstances of the observed infanticide provided support for the resource competition, adoption avoidance, and social status hypotheses of infanticide, but not for the exploitation hypothesis, as neither the perpetrator nor her kin consumed the deceased infant. The subsequent cannibalism was performed by juveniles who observed the infanticide and may have been stimulated by social facilitation and their prior experience of meat consumption as omnivores. To our knowledge, cannibalism has been documented only once before in C. imitator, in an adjacent study group, with the two cases sharing key similarities in the context of occurrence and manner of consumption. These observations add to our growing knowledge of the evolutionary significance of infanticide and its importance as a reproductive strategy in nonhuman primates.

Infant cannibalism in wild white-faced capuchin monkeys.

Cannibalism has been observed in a variety of animal taxa; however, it is relatively uncommon in primates. Thus, we rely heavily on case reports of this behavior to advance our understanding of the contexts under which it occurs. Here, we report the first observation of cannibalism in a group of wild white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator). The subject was a dead infant, estimated to be 10 days old, and the probable victim of infanticide. Consumption of the corpse was initiated by a 2-year-old male (second cousin of the infant), though it was eventually taken over and monopolized by the group's alpha female (grandaunt of the infant). Although most group members expressed interest in the corpse (sniffing, touching, and threatening it), no others made an attempt to consume it. Given that this is the only observation of cannibalism recorded in over 37 years of study on this population, we consider it to be a rare behavior in this species. This detailed record contributes new data, which, when combined with other reports within and across species and contexts, enables the evaluation of adaptive explanations of cannibalism.

SARS-CoV-2 and RT-PCR in asymptomatic patients: Results of a cohort of workers at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, 2020 / [SARS-CoV-2 y RT-PCR en pacientes asintomáticos: resultados de una cohorte de trabajadores del Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado de Bogotá, 2020].

Introduction: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has caused around 25 million cases worldwide. Asymptomatic patients have been described as potential sources of transmission. However, there are difficulties to detect them and to establish their role in the dynamics of virus transmission, which hinders the implementation of prevention strategies. Objective: To describe the behavior of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in a cohort of workers at the El Dorado "Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento" International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort of 212 workers from the El Dorado airport was designed. The follow-up began in June, 2020. A survey was used to characterize health and work conditions. Every 21 day, a nasopharyngeal swab was taken to identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. We analyzed the behavior of the cycle threshold (ORF1ab and N genes) according to the day of follow-up. Results: In the first three follow-ups of the cohort, we found an incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of 16.51%. The proportion of positive contacts was 14.08%. The median threshold for cycle threshold was 33.53. Conclusion: We characterized the asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of workers. The identification of asymptomatic infected persons continues to be a challenge for epidemiological surveillance systems.

Introducción. La pandemia de COVID-19 ha ocasionado cerca de 25 millones de casos en el mundo. Se ha descrito que los pacientes asintomáticos pueden ser fuentes de transmisión. Sin embargo, es difícil detectarlos y no es claro su papel en la dinámica de transmisión del virus, lo que obstaculiza la implementación de estrategias para la prevención. Objetivo. Describir el comportamiento de la infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2 en una cohorte de trabajadores del Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado "Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento" de Bogotá, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó una cohorte prospectiva de trabajadores del Aeropuerto El Dorado. El seguimiento se inició en junio de 2020 con una encuesta a cada trabajador para caracterizar sus condiciones de salud y trabajo. Cada 21 días se tomó una muestra de hisopado nasofaríngeo para detectar la presencia del SARS-CoV-2 mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa (RT-PCR). Se analizó el comportamiento del umbral del ciclo (cycle threshold) de los genes ORF1ab y N según el día de seguimiento. Resultados. En los primeros tres seguimientos de la cohorte se encontró una incidencia de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 del 16,51 %. La proporción de contactos positivos fue del 14,08 %. La mediana del umbral del ciclo fue de 33,53. Conclusión. Se determinaron las características de la infección asintomática por el SARSCoV-2 en una cohorte de trabajadores. La detección de infectados asintomáticos sigue siendo un reto para los sistemas de vigilancia epidemiológica.

SARS-CoV-2 y RT-PCR en pacientes asintomáticos: resultados de una cohorte de trabajadores del Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado de Bogotá, 2020 / SARS-CoV-2 and RT-PCR in asymptomatic patients: Results of a cohort of workers at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, 2020

Introducción. La pandemia de COVID-19 ha ocasionado cerca de 25 millones de casos en el mundo. Se ha descrito que los pacientes asintomáticos pueden ser fuentes de transmisión. Sin embargo, es difícil detectarlos y no es claro su papel en la dinámica de transmisión del virus, lo que obstaculiza la implementación de estrategias para la prevención. Objetivo. Describir el comportamiento de la infección asintomática por SARS-CoV-2 en una cohorte de trabajadores del Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado "Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento" de Bogotá, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó una cohorte prospectiva de trabajadores del Aeropuerto El Dorado. El seguimiento se inició en junio de 2020 con una encuesta a cada trabajador para caracterizar sus condiciones de salud y trabajo. Cada 21 días se tomó una muestra de hisopado nasofaríngeo para detectar la presencia del SARS-CoV-2 mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa inversa (RT-PCR). Se analizó el comportamiento del umbral del ciclo (cycle threshold) de los genes ORFlab y N según el día de seguimiento. Resultados. En los primeros tres seguimientos de la cohorte se encontró una incidencia de la infección por SARS-CoV-2 del 16,51 %. La proporción de contactos positivos fue del 14,08 %. La mediana del umbral del ciclo fue de 33,53. Conclusión. Se determinaron las características de la infección asintomática por el SARS-CoV-2 en una cohorte de trabajadores. La detección de infectados asintomáticos sigue siendo un reto para los sistemas de vigilancia epidemiológica.

Introduction: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has caused around 25 million cases worldwide. Asymptomatic patients have been described as potential sources of transmission. However, there are difficulties to detect them and to establish their role in the dynamics of virus transmission, which hinders the implementation of prevention strategies. Objective: To describe the behavior of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 virus infection in a cohort of workers at the El Dorado "Luis Carlos Galán Sarmiento" International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. Materials and methods: A prospective cohort of 212 workers from the El Dorado airport was designed. The follow-up began in June, 2020. A survey was used to characterize health and work conditions. Every 21 day, a nasopharyngeal swab was taken to identify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR. We analyzed the behavior of the cycle threshold (ORFlab and N genes) according to the day of follow-up. Results: In the first three follow-ups of the cohort, we found an incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection of 16.51%. The proportion of positive contacts was 14.08%. The median threshold for cycle threshold was 33.53. Conclusion: We characterized the asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of workers. The identification of asymptomatic infected persons continues to be a challenge for epidemiological surveillance systems.

[Clinical profile and results of acute pancreatitis in the Intensive and Intermediate Care Unit of a general hospital]. / Perfil clínico y resultados de la pancreatitis aguda en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos e Intermedios de un hospital genera.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas that, according to the 2012 Atlanta classification, can be mild, moderate or severe. OBJECTIVE: Describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and outcomes of patients with AP admitted to the intensive care and intermediate care unit of a general hospital and compare them with those described in the national and international literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational study of patients with AP treated over a period of 3 years. RESULTS: 59 cases were included; the female sex prevailed (54.2%), the average age was 59.3 years, the most frequent etiology was biliary (84.7%). Average entry severity scores were APACHE II of 12.4 points, SOFA of 4.9 points and Marshall modified of 2.8 points; The most frequent organ failure was respiratory (47.5%). The average stay in care was 13.9 days and in the hospital it was 23.3 days. No patients with mild or moderate AP died during their hospital stay, 6 patients with severe AP died during their hospital stay (20% of cases of severe AP). CONCLUSION: The cases of our hospital had a clinical and therapeutic profile similar to that described in the world and Latin American literature. A hospital staying was greater than that described in recent works, but our mortality was lower.

Towards Urban Archaeo-Geophysics in Peru. The Case Study of Plaza de Armas in Cusco.

One of the most complex challenges of heritage sciences is the identification and protection of buried archaeological heritage in urban areas and the need to manage, maintain and inspect underground services. Archaeology and geophysics, used in an integrated way, provide an important contribution to open new perspectives in understanding both the history of cities and in helping the decision makers in planning and governing the urban development and management. The problems of identification and interpretation of geophysical features in urban subsoil make it necessary to develop ad hoc procedures to be implemented and validated in significant case studies. This paper deals with the results of an interdisciplinary project in Cusco (Peru), the capital of Inca Empire, where the georadar method was applied for the first time in the main square. The georadar method was successfully employed based on knowledge of the historical evolution of Cusco and the availability of archaeological records provided by some excavations nearby the study area. Starting from a model for the electromagnetic wave reflection from archaeological structures and pipes, georadar results were interpreted by means of comparative morphological analysis of high amplitude values observed from time slices with reflectors visualized in the radargrams.

Perfil clínico y análisis de sobrevida en pacientes con neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal diagnosticados por ecoendoscopía / Clinical profile and survival analysis in patients with intraductal papilar mucinous neoplasm by endoscopic ultrasound

RESUMEN Introducción. La neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal (IPMN) se diagnostica ahora con mayor frecuencia debido al mayor uso de los métodos de imágenes, y conlleva un desafío clínico su manejo y seguimiento por su probable transformación maligna. Objetivos. Conocer las características por ecoendoscopía (USE), evolución clínica y sobrevida de los pacientes diagnosticados de IPMN por USE. Materiales y métodos. Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo con análisis de sobrevida en pacientes diagnosticados de IPMN por USE entre 2013 y 2018 en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM). Se analizaron variables demográficas y ecoendoscópicas, además de seguimiento hasta el fallecimiento o 6 meses después del término del estudio. Se realizó el análisis de sobrevida con los métodos de Kaplan-Meyer y de regresión de Cox. Resultados. Se incluyeron 133 pacientes con IPMN. Edad media fue 68,6 años, 80 (60,2%) fueron mujeres. Según subtipos, 89 (66,9%) fueron de rama secundaria, 23 (17,3%) de ducto principal y 21 (15,8%) de tipo mixto. La principal localización fue cabeza de páncreas (41,4%). En el seguimiento, 22 (16,5%) fueron a cirugía, 22 (16,5%) fallecieron después de una mediana de seguimiento de 522 días. En 8 pacientes (6%) se detectó neoplasia maligna. La tasa de sobrevida global fue 86.8% (IC 95%, 79,6-91,6) al año y de 81.9% (IC95%, 73,3-88,0) a los 3 años. En análisis univariado los factores asociados a la sobrevida fueron los subtipos de IPMN-DP (p=0,02) y mixto (p=0,005), sexo masculino (p=0,004), tamaño de lesión ≥30 mm (p=0,000), nódulos (p=0,014) y Wirsung ≥10 mm (p=0,01). En el análisis multivariado, los factores predictores asociados con la sobrevida fueron: IPMN-DP (HR=6,3, p=0,005), IPMN mixto (HR=4,9, p=0,008) y tamaño de lesión ≥30 mm (HR=7,1, p=0,000). Conclusiones. El diagnostico de IPMN de ducto principal y mixto se asocian como factores predictores de sobrevida, al igual que el tamaño de la lesión ≥30 mm.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are diagnosed more frequently because the higher use of radiologic exams, in that sense they are a great challenge to define its management and treatment in relation to its potential malignant transformation. Objective: To describe IPMN clinical profile, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) characteristics and survival in all patients diagnosed with IPMN by EUS at HNERM. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort of patients with IPMN diagnosed at HNERM by EUS from 2013 to 2018. Descriptive statistics was used for clinical profile and EUS characteristics. Kaplan Meir Method and Cox regression analysis was applied for survival analysis. Results: 133 patients with IPMN were included. Medium age was 68.6 years, 80 (60.2%) were female. According to IPMN subtypes, 89 (66.9%) originated from secondary branch, 23 (17.3%) from main duct (MD) and 21 (15.8%) were mixed type (MT). Head of pancreas was the main localization (41.4%). In follow-up, 22 (16.5%) were derived to surgery. Mortality occurred in 16.5% (22 cases) after a median follow-up of 522 days. Malignant transformation was diagnosed in 6% (8 cases). Survival was 86.8% (IC 95%, 79.6-91.6) at 1 year and 81.9% (IC95%, 73.3-88.0) at 3 years. Univariate analysis demonstrated that factors associated to survival were MD-IPMN (p=0.02) y MT-IPMN (p=0.005), male gender (p=004), nodule size ≥30 mm (p=0.000), presence of nodules (p=0.014) and Wirsung ≥10 mm (p=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that predictive factors for survival were MD-IPMN (HR=6.3, p=0.005), MT-IPMN (HR=4.9, p=0.008) and nodule size ≥30 mm (HR=7.1, p=0.000). Conclusions: Diagnosis of MD-IPMN and MT-IPMN are predictive factors for survival as well as nodule size ≥ 30mm.

[Safety and efficacy of the use of self-expanding metal stents in the management ofunresectable malignant biliary stenosis]. / Seguridad y eficacia del uso de prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles en elmanejo de estenosis malignas de la vía biliar irresecables.

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been an increase in the use of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) in patients with unresectable malignant stenosis of the bile duct. However, in Peru there are no reports on the safety and efficacy of this procedure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of SEMS in the palliative management of malignant stenosis of the bile duct. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort. All patients referred for placement of biliary SEMS as part of a palliative treatment between January 2016 and August 2018 were included. Rates of successful placement of SEMS, adequate palliation of the obstruction, and complications associated with the procedure were obtained. The patency of the prosthesis was evaluated during follow-up. Survival was determined after placement of the prosthesis. RESULTS: We included 32 patients with indication of palliative management due to an unresectable malignant stenosis of the bile duct. Pancreatic cancer (56.25%) followed by cholangiocarcinoma (31.25%) were the most frequent etiologies. A successful first-time placement rate of 96.97% was achieved. Adequate palliation of biliary obstruction was achieved in 100% of patients (p<0.05). Two SEMStc migrated during follow-up (6.25%) being managed with the placement of a new SEMSuc. CONCLUSIONS: The placement of SEMS is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in the palliative management of patients with malignant obstruction of the biliary tract.

Seguridad y eficacia del uso de prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles en el manejo de estenosis malignas de la vía biliar irresecables / Safety and efficacy of the use of self-expanding metal stents in the management of unresectable malignant biliary stenosis

Antecedentes: En los últimos años se ha producido un incremento del uso de prótesis metálicas autoexpandibles (SEMS) en pacientes con estenosis malignas irresecables de la vía biliar. Sin embargo, en Perú no se cuentan con reportes sobre la seguridad y eficacia de este procedimiento. Objetivo: Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia del uso de las SEMS en el manejo paliativo de las estenosis malignas de la vía biliar. Materiales y métodos: Cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron a todos los pacientes referidos para colocación de SEMS biliar como parte de un tratamiento paliativo entre enero del 2016 y agosto del 2018. Se obtuvieron las tasas de colocación exitosa de las SEMS, de paliación adecuada de la obstrucción y de complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento. Se evaluó la patencia de la prótesis durante el seguimiento. Se determinó la supervivencia luego de la colocación de la prótesis. Resultados: Se incluyeron 32 pacientes con indicación de manejo paliativo debido a una estenosis maligna irresecable de la vía biliar. El cáncer de páncreas (56,25%) seguido del colangiocarcinoma (31,25%) fueron las etiologías más frecuentes. Se alcanzó una tasa de colocación exitosa en primera intención de 96,97%. La paliación adecuada de la obstrucción biliar se alcanzó en el 100% de los pacientes (p<0,05). Dos SEMStc migraron durante el seguimiento (6,25%) siendo manejados con la colocación de una nueva SEMSnc. Conclusiones: La colocación de SEMS constituye una estrategia segura, con alta tasa de éxito terapéutico en el manejo paliativo de los pacientes con obstrucción maligna de la vía biliar.

Background: In recent years there has been an increase in the use of self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) in patients with unresectable malignant stenosis of the bile duct. However, in Peru there are no reports on the safety and efficacy of this procedure. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the use of SEMS in the palliative management of malignant stenosis of the bile duct. Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort. All patients referred for placement of biliary SEMS as part of a palliative treatment between January 2016 and August 2018 were included. Rates of successful placement of SEMS, adequate palliation of the obstruction, and complications associated with the procedure were obtained. The patency of the prosthesis was evaluated during follow-up. Survival was determined after placement of the prosthesis. Results: We included 32 patients with indication of palliative management due to an unresectable malignant stenosis of the bile duct. Pancreatic cancer (56.25%) followed by cholangiocarcinoma (31.25%) were the most frequent etiologies. A successful first-time placement rate of 96.97% was achieved. Adequate palliation of biliary obstruction was achieved in 100% of patients (p<0.05). Two SEMStc migrated during follow-up (6.25%) being managed with the placement of a new SEMSuc. Conclusions: The placement of SEMS is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in the palliative management of patients with malignant obstruction of the biliary tract.

Fasciola hepatica in the common bile duct: spyglass visualization and endoscopic extraction

We report the case of a 60-year-old Peruvian female who was admitted with abdominal pain and jaundice. Cholangioscopy revealed a leaf-like trematode, Fasciola hepatica. This trematode was extracted with a Dormia's basket via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

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Factors associated with complications during endoscopic esophageal dilation.

BACKGROUND: endoscopic dilation is considered as the treatment of choice for esophageal strictures. However, there are no studies in our region that have assessed the safety of the procedure. OBJECTIVE: to assess the safety of esophageal dilation and the factors associated with the development of complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a retrospective cohort was studied. All patients referred for esophageal dilation between January 2015 and June 2017 were included in the study. A complication rate was obtained and the association between nonadherence to the "rule of 3" and the development of complications was determined. Other predictive factors associated with complication development were also analyzed. RESULTS: a total of 164 patients that underwent 474 dilations were included in the study. Surgical anastomosis stricture was the most prevalent etiology. A total of six complications occurred, including three perforations (0.63%), two bleeding events (0.42%) and one episode of significant pain that required post-procedure observation (0.21%). Endoscopic esophageal dilation without adherence to the "rule of 3" was not associated with a higher risk of complications. Balloon dilation was the only predictive factor for complications. CONCLUSIONS: esophageal dilation is a safe procedure. Nonadherence to the "rule of 3" does not appear to be associated with a higher risk of complications, including esophageal perforation.

Factores asociados a complicaciones en las dilataciones esofágicas endoscópicas / Factors associated with complications during endoscopic esophageal dilation

Antecedentes: las dilataciones endoscópicas se consideran el tratamiento de elección para las estenosis esofágicas, sin embargo, no se cuenta en nuestra región con estudios en los que se evalúe la seguridad de este procedimiento. Objetivo: evaluar la seguridad de las dilataciones esofágicas y los factores asociados a las complicaciones. Material y métodos: cohorte retrospectiva. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes referidos para dilatación esofágica entre enero de 2015 y junio de 2017. Se obtuvo la tasa de complicaciones y se determinó la asociación entre la no adherencia a la "regla de los tres" y el desarrollo de complicaciones. Se analizaron otros factores predictivos asociados al desarrollo de complicaciones. Resultados: se incluyeron 164 pacientes en los que se realizaron 474 dilataciones. La etiología más prevalente fue la estenosis de anastomosis quirúrgica. Se presentaron seis complicaciones: tres perforaciones (0,63%), dos sangrados (0,42%) y un episodio de dolor significativo que requirió observación posprocedimiento (0,21%). La dilatación endoscópica esofágica fuera de la "regla de los tres" no se encontró asociada a un mayor riesgo de complicaciones. La dilatación con balón fue el único factor predictivo para el desarrollo de complicaciones. Conclusiones: la dilatación esofágica es un procedimiento seguro. La no adherencia a la "regla de los tres" no parece estar asociada a un mayor riesgo de complicaciones, incluyendo la perforación esofágica

Background: endoscopic dilation is considered as the treatment of choice for esophageal strictures. However, there are no studies in our region that have assessed the safety of the procedure. Objective: to assess the safety of esophageal dilation and the factors associated with the development of complications. Materials and methods: a retrospective cohort was studied. All patients referred for esophageal dilation between January 2015 and June 2017 were included in the study. A complication rate was obtained and the association between nonadherence to the "rule of 3" and the development of complications was determined. Other predictive factors associated with complication development were also analyzed. Results: a total of 164 patients that underwent 474 dilations were included in the study. Surgical anastomosis stricture was the most prevalent etiology. A total of six complications occurred, including three perforations (0.63%), two bleeding events (0.42%) and one episode of significant pain that required post-procedure observation (0.21%). Endoscopic esophageal dilation without adherence to the "rule of 3" was not associated with a higher risk of complications. Balloon dilation was the only predictive factor for complications. Conclusions: esophageal dilation is a safe procedure. Nonadherence to the "rule of 3" does not appear to be associated with a higher risk of complications, including esophageal perforation

Fasciola hepatica in the common bile duct: spyglass visualization and endoscopic extraction.

We report the case of a 60-year-old Peruvian female who was admitted with abdominal pain and jaundice. Cholangioscopy revealed a leaf-like trematode, Fasciola hepatica. This trematode was extracted with a Dormia's basket via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).