Obstrucción del drenaje venoso hepático tras trasplante: resultados del tratamiento con endoprótesis autoexpandibles / Hepatic venous outflow obstruction after transplantation: outcomes for treatment with self-expanding stents

Objetivos. Evaluar la seguridad y permeabilidad del tratamiento de la obstrucción del drenaje venoso hepático tras trasplante ortotópico con endoprótesis autoexpandibles. Valorar las diferencias en la respuesta en pacientes con obstrucción precoz y tardía. Material y métodos. Análisis retrospectivo de 16 pacientes trasplantados con obstrucción del drenaje venoso hepático tratados con endoprótesis (1996-2011). El seguimiento se realizó mediante venografía/manometría, ecografía, TC y pruebas de laboratorio. Se realizó análisis estadístico descriptivo de supervivencia de pacientes e injertos, éxito técnico y clínico, recurrencia y complicaciones del total de la muestra, así como inferencial para comparar las diferencias entre pacientes con obstrucción precoz y tardía. Resultados. La media de seguimiento fue de 3,34 años (21-5.331 días). La tasa de éxito técnico fue del 93,7%, y la de éxito clínico, del 81,2%. La tasa de complicaciones fue del 25%. La tasa de supervivencia para pacientes fue de 87,5%, y para injertos, de 92,5%. La tasa de recurrencia fue del 12,5%. La tasa de permeabilidad primaria a los 3, 6, 12 y 60 meses fue de 0,96 (IC 95% 0,91-1), 0,96 (IC 95% 0,91-1), 0,87 (IC 95% 0,73-1) y 0,87 (IC 95% 0,73-1), respectivamente. No hubo diferencias significativas entre los pacientes con obstrucción precoz o tardía, aunque las tasas de permeabilidad primaria mostraron tendencia a ser significativamente superiores en el grupo precoz (p = 0,091). Conclusiones. El tratamiento con endoprótesis autoexpandibles en obstrucciones del drenaje venoso hepático tras trasplante ortotópico es efectivo, duradero y seguro. No hay diferencias significativas entre pacientes con obstrucción precoz y tardía (AU)

Objectives. To evaluate the safety and patency of self-expanding stents to treat hepatic venous outflow obstruction after orthotopic liver transplantation. To evaluate differences in the response between patients with early obstruction and patients with late obstruction. Material and methods. This is a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with hepatic venous outflow obstruction after liver transplantation treated with stents (1996-2011). Follow-up included venography/manometry, ultrasonography, CT, and laboratory tests. We did a descriptive statistical analysis of the survival of patients and stents, technical and clinical success of the procedure, recurrence of obstruction, and complications of the procedure. We also did an inferential statistical analysis of the differences between patients with early and late obstruction. Results. The mean follow-up period was 3.34 years (21-5,331 days). The technical success rate was 93.7%, and the clinical success rate was 81.2%. The rate of complications was 25%. The survival rates were 87.5% for patients and 92.5% for stents. The rate of recurrence was 12.5%. The rate of primary patency was 0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1) at 3 months, 0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1) at 6 months, 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-1) at 12 months, and 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-1) at 60 months. There were no significant differences between patients with early and late obstruction, although there was a trend toward higher rates of primary patency in patients with early obstruction (P = .091). Conclusions. Treating hepatic venous outflow obstruction after orthotopic transplantation with self-expanding stents is effective, durable, and effective. There are no significant differences between patients with early obstruction and those with late obstruction (AU)

Hepatic venous outflow obstruction after transplantation: outcomes for treatment with self-expanding stents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and patency of self-expanding stents to treat hepatic venous outflow obstruction after orthotopic liver transplantation. To evaluate differences in the response between patients with early obstruction and patients with late obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with hepatic venous outflow obstruction after liver transplantation treated with stents (1996-2011). Follow-up included venography/manometry, ultrasonography, CT, and laboratory tests. We did a descriptive statistical analysis of the survival of patients and stents, technical and clinical success of the procedure, recurrence of obstruction, and complications of the procedure. We also did an inferential statistical analysis of the differences between patients with early and late obstruction. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 3.34 years (21-5,331 days). The technical success rate was 93.7%, and the clinical success rate was 81.2%. The rate of complications was 25%. The survival rates were 87.5% for patients and 92.5% for stents. The rate of recurrence was 12.5%. The rate of primary patency was 0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1) at 3 months, 0.96 (95% CI 0.91-1) at 6 months, 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-1) at 12 months, and 0.87 (95% CI 0.73-1) at 60 months. There were no significant differences between patients with early and late obstruction, although there was a trend toward higher rates of primary patency in patients with early obstruction (P=.091). CONCLUSIONS: Treating hepatic venous outflow obstruction after orthotopic transplantation with self-expanding stents is effective, durable, and effective. There are no significant differences between patients with early obstruction and those with late obstruction.

Drenaje transhepático con guía ecográfica de un absceso mediastínico / US-guided transhepatic drainage of a mediastinal abscess

Las fugas de la anastomosis en cirugías esofágicas son frecuentes y, si no se detectan a tiempo, pueden dar lugar a complicaciones como la aparición de colecciones, sobreinfecciones y mediastinitis. Si bien estas complicaciones suelen requerir tratamiento quirúrgico, se han publicado series de casos con manejo conservador o mínimamente invasivo. Presentamos el caso de un paciente que desarrolló un absceso mediastínico en el postoperatorio de una diverticulectomía epifrénica, al que se le realizó un drenaje percutáneo transhepático guiado con ecografía para evitar la reintervención quirúrgica. Aunque existen casos de abordaje transhepático de lesiones torácicas, se trata de una técnica no descrita en el tratamiento de los abscesos mediastínicos, que se presenta como una opción terapéutica que debe ser considerada en el manejo de estas complicaciones (AU)

Anastomoses often leak after esophageal surgery; if they are not detected in time, leaks can give rise to complications like fluid collections, superinfections, and mediastinitis. Although these complications usually require surgical treatment, different series of patients successfully treated with conservative or minimally invasive approaches have been reported. We present the case of a patient who developed a mediastinal abscess after epiphrenic diverticulectomy. We treated the abscess with US-guided percutaneous transhepatic drainage to avoid surgical reintervention. Although other cases of a transhepatic approach to thoracic lesions have been reported, to our knowledge this is the first report of this technique in mediastinal abscesses. We recommend that transhepatic drainage be considered a therapeutic option in the management of these complications (AU)

[US-guided transhepatic drainage of a mediastinal abscess]. / Drenaje transhepático con guía ecográfica de un absceso mediastínico.

Anastomoses often leak after esophageal surgery; if they are not detected in time, leaks can give rise to complications like fluid collections, superinfections, and mediastinitis. Although these complications usually require surgical treatment, different series of patients successfully treated with conservative or minimally invasive approaches have been reported. We present the case of a patient who developed a mediastinal abscess after epiphrenic diverticulectomy. We treated the abscess with US-guided percutaneous transhepatic drainage to avoid surgical reintervention. Although other cases of a transhepatic approach to thoracic lesions have been reported, to our knowledge this is the first report of this technique in mediastinal abscesses. We recommend that transhepatic drainage be considered a therapeutic option in the management of these complications.

Valoración de la comorbilidad cardíaca en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica mediante tomografía computarizada multidetector / Multidetector computed tomography assessment of cardiac comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

La comorbilidad cardíaca es uno de los factores pronósticos más importantes en las enfermedades pulmonares, particularmente en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). Entre las distintas técnicas de imagen disponibles para estudiar dicha manifestación sistémica concomitante a la EPOC se incluyen el cateterismo cardíaco, la ecocardiografía transtorácica y la resonancia magnética. La tomografía computarizada multidetector (TCMD) ha supuesto un progreso significativo en este campo, al permitir obtener estudios simultáneos de la anatomía cardiopulmonar que van más allá del análisis anatómico-morfológico e incluyen una aproximación funcional a dicha afectación. En este trabajo se repasan aspectos prácticos necesarios para valorar la comorbilidad cardíaca en pacientes con EPOC, tanto desde el punto de vista de la hipertensión pulmonar, como del análisis de la disfunción ventricular y de la enfermedad coronaria (AU)

Cardiac comorbidity is one of the most important prognostic factors in lung disease, especially in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The imaging techniques available for the study of this systemic manifestation concomitant with COPD include heart catheterization, transthoracic echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) represents a significant advance in this field because it enables the acquisition of simultaneous studies of the cardiopulmonary anatomy that go beyond anatomic and morphologic analysis to include a functional approach to this condition. In this article, we review the practical aspects necessary to evaluate cardiac comorbidity in patients with COPD, both from the point of view of pulmonary hypertension and of the analysis of ventricular dysfunction and coronary heart disease (AU)

[Multidetector computed tomography assessment of cardiac comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Valoración de la comorbilidad cardíaca en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica mediante tomografía computarizada multidetector.

Cardiac comorbidity is one of the most important prognostic factors in lung disease, especially in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The imaging techniques available for the study of this systemic manifestation concomitant with COPD include heart catheterization, transthoracic echocardiography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) represents a significant advance in this field because it enables the acquisition of simultaneous studies of the cardiopulmonary anatomy that go beyond anatomic and morphologic analysis to include a functional approach to this condition. In this article, we review the practical aspects necessary to evaluate cardiac comorbidity in patients with COPD, both from the point of view of pulmonary hypertension and of the analysis of ventricular dysfunction and coronary heart disease.

Low radiation and low-contrast dose pulmonary CT angiography: Comparison of 80 kVp/60 ml and 100 kVp/80 ml protocols.

AIM: To determine the image quality and diagnostic performance of an optimized pulmonary computed tomography angiography (CTA) protocol in terms of radiation and contrast volume saving. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy consecutive patients weighting ≤80 kg with clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) were prospectively enrolled. Two pulmonary CTA protocols (group A: n = 35, 80 kV/60 ml; group B: n = 35, 100 kV/80 ml) were compared. The presence of PE, image quality parameters [contrast attenuation, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)] and effective radiation dose (mSv) were assessed. RESULTS: PE was found in 11 patients (five of group A, six of group B). The total mean attenuation of the pulmonary arteries was significantly higher in group A (362.4 ± 100.2 HU) than in group B (262.4 ± 134.3 HU), whereas the CNR and SNR did not differ statistically (14.8 ± 7.4 and 16.3 ± 7.5 for group A and 12.5 ± 8.6 and 13.8 ± 9.1 for group B, respectively). The estimated effective radiation dose was significantly lower in group A (1.1 ± 0.7 mSv) than in group B (2.7 ± 1.2 mSv). CONCLUSION: In individuals weighting ≤80 kg, the evaluated pulmonary CTA protocol allows similar image quality to be achieved as compared with the conventional pulmonary CTA protocol while reducing radiation exposure by 60% and contrast media volume by 25%.

Ergonomía del puesto de trabajo en radiología / Ergonomics of the workplace in radiology

La sustitución de la película convencional y los negatoscopios por monitores y ordenadores en los nuevos sistemas PACS ha cambiado por completo los puestos de trabajo en los servicios de radiodiagnóstico, suponiendo un avance claro en este campo. Estos sistemas ofrecen muchas ventajas como la mejora de la productividad de los radiólogos al reducir de forma global el tiempo necesario para la interpretación de imágenes. Por otro lado, su implantación ha provocado que factores como la posición de la silla y la mesa de trabajo, el ratón, el teclado, los monitores y el tipo de iluminación de la habitación cobren una especial relevancia para prevenir lesiones que puedan inhabilitar al radiólogo. La influencia de estos factores es habitualmente poco valorada a la hora de la planificación e implantación de los puestos de trabajo radiológico. El presente trabajo aporta recomendaciones para el correcto diseño de los mismos, basados en los datos aportados por la ergonomía, que es la ciencia que estudia su influencia en la actividad humana (AU)

The replacement of conventional films and view boxes with digital images and computer monitors managed by PACS has clearly improved the diagnostic imaging workplace. The new setup has many advantages, including increased productivity brought about by decreased overall time required for image interpretation. On the other hand, the implementation of the digital workplace has increased the importance of factors like background lighting and the position of the chair, work table, mouse, keyboard, and monitor to prevent lesions that can disable the radiologist. The influence of these factors is often undervalued in the design and implementation of the radiological workplace. This article provides recommendations for the design of the radiological workplace based on ergonomics, which is the science that studies interactions among humans and other elements of a system (AU)

[Ergonomics of the workplace in radiology]. / Ergonomía del puesto de trabajo en radiología.

The replacement of conventional films and view boxes with digital images and computer monitors managed by PACS has clearly improved the diagnostic imaging workplace. The new setup has many advantages, including increased productivity brought about by decreased overall time required for image interpretation. On the other hand, the implementation of the digital workplace has increased the importance of factors like background lighting and the position of the chair, work table, mouse, keyboard, and monitor to prevent lesions that can disable the radiologist. The influence of these factors is often undervalued in the design and implementation of the radiological workplace. This article provides recommendations for the design of the radiological workplace based on ergonomics, which is the science that studies interactions among humans and other elements of a system.

[Right aortic arch, Kommerell's diverticulum and aberrant left subclavian artery]. / Arco aórtico derecho, divertículo de Kommerell y arteria subclavia izquierda aberrante.

The right aberrant subclavian artery or "arteria lusoria" is the most common anatomical variant of the embryonic development of the aorta and its branches, with a presence in 0.5-2% of the population. Less frequently, a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery may be present. These anatomical variations should be included in the differential diagnosis of superior mediastinal widening seen on chest radiographs. In this report, we present a right aortic arch with left aberrant subclavian artery dilated at its origin (Kommerell's diverticulum) as a cause of superior mediastinal widening detected incidentally on a chest radiograph.

Arco aórtico derecho, divertículo de Kommerell y arteria subclavia izquierda aberrante / Right aortic arch, Kommerell’s diverticulum and aberrant left subclavian artery

La arteria subclavia derecha aberrante o «arterialusoria» es la variante anatómica más común del desarrolloembrionario de la aorta y sus ramas, llegando aestar presente en un 0,5-2% de la población; con menosfrecuencia se puede encontrar una arteria subclaviaizquierda aberrante asociada al arco aórtico derecho.Estas variantes anatómicas deben incluirse en el diagnósticodiferencial del ensanchamiento mediastínicosuperior visible en la radiografía de tórax. Se presentael caso clínico de un paciente que presentaba arcoaórtico derecho y arteria subclavia izquierda aberrantecon dilatación en su origen (divertículo de Kommerell)como causa de ensanchamiento mediastínico superiorde etiología incierta detectado de manera incidental enuna radiografía de tórax realizada en un paciente consintomatología respiratoria (AU)

The right aberrant subclavian artery or «arterialusoria» is the most common anatomical variant of theembryonic development of the aorta and its branches,with a presence in 0.5-2% of the population. Less frequently,a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavianartery may be present. These anatomical variationsshould be included in the differential diagnosisof superior mediastinal widening seen on chest radiographs.In this report, we present a right aortic archwith left aberrant subclavian artery dilated at its origin(Kommerell’s diverticulum) as a cause of superiormediastinal widening detected incidentally on a chestradiograph (AU)