Episiotomía y disfunciones del piso pélvico femenino / Episiotomy and floor dysfunctions female pelvic

Pelvic floor dysfunctions are highly prevalent in our population significantly affecting the quality of life of women. Pregnancy and childbirth are well recognized risk factors. It has recently become clear that pelvic floor trauma encompass more than perineal trauma or “what one could see in the delivery room.” The levator ani muscle may be affected at birth with the loss of the integral structure of the pelvic floor support, secondarily triggering the descent of the pelvic organs. The overdistension of the urogenital hiatus and anal sphincter injuries can also be consequences of a vaginal birth. An episiotomy is an intervention that seeks to facilitate the expulsion of the fetus expanding the perineum preventing tissue distension and perineal tear. However, this claim raised by its developer has no scientific basis. Today the restrictive practice of this procedure is recommended, given the potential complications that may arise when it is systematically performe. Despite this recommendation, there are no conclusive studies that explore the role that episiotomy has in obstetric pelvic floor trauma...

Prevalencia de incontinencia fecal en pacientes ginecológicas y uroginecológicas / Prevalence of fecal incontinence in gynecological and urogynecological patients

Antecedentes: La incontinencia fecal (IF), definida como el paso involuntario de heces en sus formas sólida, líquida o gaseosa por el conducto anal, constituye un problema social o de higiene, alcanzando una prevalencia desde un 0,2 por ciento en población general hasta un 30 por ciento en pacientes con defectos de piso pélvico. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia y severidad de la IF. Método: Se estudia a 859 pacientes referidas por primera vez a los policlínicos de Ginecología General (PGG) y Uroginecología del Hospital Padre Alberto Hurtado, a las que se aplica una encuesta validada para diagnóstico y severidad de IF. Resultados: Una de cada cinco pacientes que consultan por primera vez al PGG y una de cada dos pacientes que consultan al policlínico de Uroginecología, refieren algún grado de IF, además, 1 de cada 30 pacientes y una de cada 7, respectivamente, refieren un episodio de deposiciones líquidas al menos una vez al mes. El riesgo de padecer IF a líquidos es 6 veces mayor en un policlínico de Uroginecología que en un PGG. Conclusión: La prevalencia de la IF es difícil de determinar. La información nacional es escasa y los trabajos internacionales presentan resultados muy difusos. Las pacientes consultan muy raramente en forma espontánea. Nuestros resultados muestran que la prevalencia en un policlínico de ginecología general y sobre todo en uno de uroginecología es significativa, por lo que su búsqueda activa puede traducirse en una mejoría en la calidad de vida para estas pacientes.

Background: According to the International Continence Society, fecal incontinence (Fl) is defined as the involuntary loss of flatus, liquid or solid stool that is a social or hygienic problem. It reaches 0.2 percent in general population and up to 30 percent in women with pelvic floor disorders. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of Fl in a general gynecological setting and at a pelvic floor disorders unit. Method: 859 first consultant patients referred to our general gynecological unit (GGU) and pelvic floor disorders units (PFDU) were studied with a validated Fl score for severity and grading. Results: One out every five patients attending our GGU and one out two attending our PFDU complains of any kind of Fl. Almost 1 out 30 patients attending GGU and 1 out of 6 attending PFDU complains of at least one liquid stool incontinence episode once a month. The risk of having Fl to liquids is 6 times higher in PFDU than at a GGU. Conclusions: Fl prevalence is hard to assess. National data is scarce and the international experience the results are very diffuse. However, above patients rarely ask for medical help spontaneously. Our results show a significant Fl prevalence in a general gynecology and uro-gynecology setting. In our view, in order to improve our patient's quality of life, Fl should be sought and evaluated, especially in those with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Resección histeroscópica de septum uterino / Hysteroscopic uterine septum resection

Se comunica la resección del septum uterino bajo visión directa histeroscópica y control laparoscópico simultáneo. La técnica y los resultados, tanto quirúrgicos como la fertilidad posterior en tres mujeres portadoras de esta mal formación congénita, se presentan y se discuten a la luz de lo publicado, especialmente en cuanto a las complicaciones, su prevención y tratamiento. Se concluye que el procedimiento quirúrgico endoscópico usado representa ventajas significativas respecto a las antiguas técnicas abiertas y es muy reproducible, lo cual lo hace fácil de aprender y enseñar

Diagnóstico antenatal de quiste ovárico fetal / Neonatal diagnosis of fetal ovarian cyst

Se presenta una serie clínica de tres casos de quiste ovárico fetal diagnosticado en el período antenatal. Se realiza una revisión de la literatura, se discute el diagnóstico diferencial y el manejo perinatal

CA 19-9 y antígeno carcino-embrionario en cáncer de la vesícula biliar / CA 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen in gallbladder cancer

The aim of this work was to assess the diagnostic yield of serum tumoral markers, Ca 19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen, in patients with gallbladder cancer. We studied 54 patients of whom 33 had gallbladder cancer and in 21 the tumor was removed previously and were presently free of disease. Twenty one patients with cholelithiasis were used as controls. Ca 19-9 was over 37 U/ml in 22 (65 percent) patients with cancer, in two patients free of disease and two controls. The sensitivity and specificity of Ca 19-9 was 0.66 and 0.90 respectively. Carcinoembryonic antigen was over 2.5 ng/ml in 25 patients with cancer (56 percent) and in sensitivity and specificity was 0.75 and 0.71 respectively. Using a cutoff point of 4 ng/ml, these figures were 0.51 and 0.9 respectively. The better predictive capacity was given by Ca 19-9 over 37 U/ml or a carcinoembryonic antigen over 4 ng/ml. It is concluded that, although the sensitivity and specificity of these markers was adequate in this work, one must hear in mind that studied patients had advanced tumors

Cáncer de la vesícula biliar: estudio de casos y controles / Gallbladder cancer: a case control study

Gallbladder cancer is the principal oncological cause of death in chilean women and cholelithiasis is a well recognized risk factor. Aiming to unravel other risk factors for gallbladder cancer, we compared 50 patients subjected to cholecystectomy in whom a gallbladder cancer was found with 50 age and sex matched operated controls without cancer. Subjects were clinically assessed and interrogated about demographic, obstetrical features and feeding features. Multiples and early pregnacies were factors significantly associated to the development of gallbladder cancer. 20 subjects (44 percent) with cancer knew that they had cholelithiasis and 41 patients in each group were symptomatic. It is concluded that pregnancy may be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer probably due to the lithogenic effect of its hormonal changes. Also, early cholecystectomy in symptomatic individuals may be an effective preventive measure