Miastenia gravis: resultados inmediatos y alejados de la timectomía transesternal extendida / Results of extended transsternal thymectomy for Myasthenia gravis: experience with 58 patients

Background: Thymectomy improves clinical outcomes and decreases the need for medical treatment in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Aim: To describe the immediate and long-term results of extended transsternal thymectomy (ETT) in patients with MG. Material and Methods: A review of databases, surgical protocols, clinical records and interviews of patients subjected to extended transsternal thymectomy for MG between 1990 and 2016. Perioperative clinical characteristics, anticholinesterase treatment, immediate and remote surgical results were analyzed and patients were followed from one to 10years. Results: We studied 58 patients aged 35 ± 14years (72%) women. In the preoperative period, according to Osserman classification, nine patients (15,5%) were in grade I, eight (13,8%) in grade IIA 8 and 40 (69%) in grade IIB. The pathological study of the surgical piece showed thymic hyperplasia in 39 cases (67,2%). Four patients had postoperative complications but none died. In the Follow-up at 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10years the Masaoka palliation rate was 71.7, 77.5, 67.7, 70.0 and 70,6% respectively. The figures for remission rate were 13.0, 15.0,19.4, 35.0 and 35,3% respectively. The figures for Zielinski positive results were 79.6, 87.5, 87.1, 90.0 and 82,4% respectively. The DeFilippi score improved by 80.4, 87.5, 87.1, 90.0 and 82.4% respectively. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Post-Intervention State improved by 67.4, 77.5, 77.5, 75.0 and 70,6% respectively. Mean Myasthenia Gravis Activities of daily living (MGADL) and Myasthenia Gravis Quality of life scale 15 (MGQOL 15) were 1.65 and 6.31 respectively. Conclusions: In selected patients with MG, extended transsternal thymectomy in MG has good immediate and long-term results.

Resección quirúrgica de plasmocitoma solitario del esternón asociado a cirugía de revascularización miocárdica: seguimiento a largo plazo / Surgical resection of solitary plasmacytoma of the sternum associated with coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: long-term follow up

The plasmacytomas tumors are caused by a malignant proliferation of plasma cells. Primary tumors of the sternum are uncommon, being this kind of tumors exceptional. We present the case of a 72 years old man with a sternal plasmacytoma, that after 2 years of receiving radiotherapy treatment, had tumor growth, associated with coronary artery disease. In this case, surgical resection of solitary sternal plasmacytoma was performed associated with coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The chest wall reconstruction was done with a polypropylene mesh. More than 5 years long-term follow up was completed and the patient is asymptomatic and free of malignant proliferation of plasma cells.

Los plasmocitomas son tumores originados por una proliferación neoplásica de células plasmáticas. Los tumores primarios de esternón son infrecuentes, siendo los plasmocitomas solitarios de esternón excepcionales. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 72 años con un plasmocitoma esternal que después de 2 años post tratamiento con radioterapia presentó aumento de tamaño tumoral asociado a enfermedad coronaria. Se realizó resección quirúrgica del plasmocitoma solitario del esternón asociada a cirugía de revascularización miocárdica con 4 bypass coronarios. La pared torácica fue reconstituida con una malla de polipropileno. A más de 5 años de seguimiento el paciente se encuentra asintomático cardiovascular y libre proliferación maligna de células plasmáticas.

Diseño de un índice pronóstico clinico para el manejo de la neumonía del adulto adquirida en la comunidad / Development of an instrument to assess the severity of community acquired pneumonia among hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND: Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) severity assessment is crucial. AIM: To develop a practical clinical severity assessment model for stratifying immunocompetent adult patients hospitalized with CAP into different management groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 24 months period, 455 adult patients (250 male, mean age 69 +/- 19 years old) were evaluated. All the relevant clinical information recorded and they were followed during hospital stay until discharge or death. Mortality until 30 days after admission was determined. RESULTS: The mean hospital length of stay was 9.9 +/- 9.4 days and 76% had an underlying disease. In hospital mortality was 7.6% and 10.1% at 30 days follow up. Admission prognostic factors associated with high mortality at 30 days follow up were: advanced age, presence of comorbidity, suspicion of aspiration, duration of symptoms < or = 2 days, altered mental status, absence of cough, fever and cbills, low blood pressure, tachypnea, hypoxemia and multilobar radiographic pulmonary infiltrates. A clinical prognostic index derived from a logistic regression analysis including five independent variables associated with mortality (confuson, comorbidity, low systolic blood pressure, temperature < 37.5 degrees C and respiratory rate > 20/min), enabled patients to be stratified according to increasing risk of mortality: class 1: 0.9%, class 2: 4.9%, class 3: 14.2%, and class 4: 35.6%. CONCLUSION: A simple clinical severity assessment tool based on confusion, comorbidity, blood pressure, temperature and respiratory rate could be used to stratify patients with CAP into different risk class categories and management groups.

Neumonía neumocócica adquirida en la comunidad en adultos hospitalizados / Community acquired pneumococcal pneumonia in hospitalized adult patients

BACKGROUND: S pneumoniae is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. AIM: To evaluate the clinical characteristics, antibiotic resistance, management and prognostic factors in pneumococcal pneumonia. METHODS: Prospective evaluation in 46 adults (age +/- sd: 68 +/- 17 years) hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia confirmed by sputum, blood or pleural fluid cultures. Clinical and radiographic variables, risk factors for antibiotic resistance, and hospital mortality rate were recorded. RESULTS: Heart disease (39 per cent), COPD/asthma (25 per cent), and diabetes mellitus (18 per cent) were the most frequent underlying diseases. None of the patients had previously received pneumococcal vaccine. Only 17 per cent of the patients had the classic triad of chills, fever and productive cough. At admission, interestingly, 17 per cent presented with congestive heart failure. Resistance of pneumococci to penicillin, cefotaxime or erythromycin was 15 per cent, 6 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively. Antibiotic use prior to admission was significantly associated with antibiotic resistance (OR = 6; CI 95 per cent = 1.1-32; p < 0.05). Fifty per cent of the patients were admitted to intermediate or intensive care units, 15 per cent were mechanically ventilated, 20 per cent developed septic shock, 20 per cent developed acute renal failure and 13 per cent died in the hospital. Clinical factors significantly associated with higher mortality were systolic hypotension (< or = 90 mmHg), ICU admission and BUN > 30 mg per dL. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that pneumococcal pneumonia is still a severe infection with high mortality; hence, efforts should be made at prevention using pneumococcal immunization.

Neumonía adquirida en la comunidad en el adulto hospitalizado. Cuadro clínico y factores pronósticos / Community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized adult patients. Clinical presentation and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious health problem in Chile. AIM: To study prognostic factors on admission and outcome of CAP, in immune competent adult patients, hospitalized in the Catholic University Clinical Hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All adult patients admitted with a CAP in a period of 2 years were prospectively studied. Patients with immunodeficiency, solid tumors or receiving oral adrenal steroids were excluded from the study. RESULTS: In the study period, 463 patients (69 +/- 19 years, 55 per cent male) were evaluated. Ninety four percent were treated with 2nd or 3rd generation cephalosporins. Mean hospital length of stay was 10 days. Mortality during hospital stay was 8 per cent and in the ensuing 30 days, it was 12 per cent. Bacterial etiology was established in 25 per cent of cases. The most frequent pathogens isolated were Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.2 per cent), Haemophilus influenzae (3.7 per cent), Staphylococcus aureus (2.8 per cent) and Gram negative bacilli (5.2 per cent). Admission prognostic factors associated with hospital mortality were an age over 65 years, presence of comorbidity, chronic neurological and hepatic disease, suspicion of aspiration, duration of symptoms for less than 3 days, presence of dyspnea and altered mental status, absence of cough, fever and chills; low blood pressure, tachypnea, metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, high blood urea nitrogen, hypernatremia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypoalbuminemia, multilobar radiographic pulmonary infiltrates, bacteremia, high risk categories of the Fine Index (IV and V), and admission to Intermediate Care Unit or ICU. CONCLUSIONS: The features of community acquired pneumonia of these patients are similar to those reported abroad.