Telemonitorización del soporte ventilatorio domiciliario / Telemonitoring of domiciliary ventilatory support

More than 1,000 patients have been admitted to the pediatric ventilatory assistance program of the Chilean Ministry of Health. There are two subprograms depending on the complexity of patients. Since 2006 we have had the non-invasive home ventilatory assistance program (AVNI in Spanish) and the home invasive ventilatory assistance program (AVI in Spanish), derived from the AVNI program in 2008. Both provide coverage for patients under the age of 20, which complements the health network by delivering technology, home visits by professionals and respiratory supplies to ensure an adequate stay at the patients' homes with their families. It is in this context that remote telemonitoring emerges as an alternative to monitor the ventilatory therapy of these patients at home, which consists of remotely monitoring all ventilatory therapy; at present, there exist different tools to achieve this goal. The objective of this review is to describe the main telemonitoring systems available in Chile and their usefulness to check respiratory therapy in patients requiring home ventilatory support. As healthcare technology advances, the survival rate of patients requiring chronic ventilatory support increases; this situation, together with the high costs of hospital management for the health system and families, has brought about, in the last few years, the creation of home ventilatory support programs in Chile's public health system. In this context, telemonitoring emerges as a tool to optimize monitoring and timely adjustment of ventilatory parameters in patients receiving ventilatory support at home. It also seeks to reduce costs and increase safety

Actualmente han ingresado al programa de asistencia ventilatoria pediátrico del Ministerio de Salud de Chile más de 1000 pacientes. Existen dos sub programas dependiendo de la complejidad de los pacientes, es así como tenemos al programa de asistencia ventilatoria no invasiva domiciliaria (AVNI), que surgió durante el año 2006, y el programa de asistencia ventilatoria invasiva domiciliaria (AVI) que nace derivado del programa AVNI a partir del año 2008. Ambos entregan cobertura a pacientes menores de 20 años, complementando a la red de salud entregando la tecnología, visitas de profesionales en domicilio y una canasta de insumos respiratorios que aseguren una adecuada estancia en domicilio de los pacientes, junto a sus familias. Es en este contexto la telemonitorización a distancia surge como una alternativa para el seguimiento de la terapia ventilatoria de éstos pacientes en domicilio, la cual consiste en la monitorización en forma remota de toda la terapia ventilatoria , existiendo diferentes herramientas en la actualidad para llevala a cabo. El objetivo de esta revisión es describir los principales sistemas de telemonitorización disponibles en Chile, y su utilidad en la monitorización a distancia la terapia respiratoria de los pacientes que requieren soporte ventilatorio domiciliario. El avance de la tecnología sanitaría ha impactado en una mayor sobrevida de pacientes que requieren soporte ventilatorio crónico, el manejo hospitalario de estos pacientes tiene elevados costos para el sistema sanitario y las familias. En respuesta a esto durante los últimos años se han creado en el sistema público de salud de Chile programas de soporte ventilatorio domiciliario. En este contexto la telemonitorización surge como una herramienta que permite optimizar el seguimiento y el ajuste oportuno de los parámetros ventilatorios en los pacientes que reciben soporte ventiltorio domiciliario. Además busca disminuir los costos y aumentar la seguridad

Diabetes Gestacional: asociación con grupo ABO / Association of abo blood groups with gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: ABO and Rhesus blood systems are associated with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2). Gestational Diabetes (GDM) is a model to study DM. Aim: To study the association between GDM and ABO and Rhesus groups. Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in 1,078 women who gave birth to a singleton in Talca Regional Hospital, Chile, during 2008. We analyzed personal, obstetric, medical data and ABO and Rh blood groups. Results: GDM was diagnosed in 6.6% of women. Age and body mass index were significantly associated with GDM. There were no differences in Rh blood groups (p = 0.604), while ABO groups were different between GDM and controls. B antigen was present in 3% of GDM women and in 10.8% of controls (p = 0.037), with an odds ratio of 0.25 after adjusting for other associated risk factors (p = 0.06). Conclusions: ABO group is suggested as a possible protector marker for GDM.

EPIDEMIOLOGÍA DE LA URTICARIA AGUDA EN UN SISTEMA DE SALUD PREPAGO DE LA CIUDAD DE BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA / Epidemiology of acute urticaria in a health maintenance organization of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Antecedentes. A pesar de la frecuencia de la urticaria aguda (UA), no existen estudios epidemiológicos sobre su prevalencia y distribución en Argentina. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia y otras características epidemiológicas de la UA en los miembros de una organización privada de salud de Buenos Aires, la mayor área poblada de Argentina. Marco de referencia: Hospital Italiano (HIBA) de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Diseño: Cohorte retrospectivo. Población. Pacientes con diagnóstico de UA miembros del HIBA, y con al menos 12 meses de seguimiento. Métodos. Se analizaron todos los registros médicos para calcular las tasas de prevalencia de UA por 100.000 habitantes con intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC95%) para el período comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 2013 y el 31 de diciembre de 2014. La tasa de prevalencia se calculó para toda la población y luego se discrimino para pacientes adultos y pediátricos (menores de 18 años en el momento del diagnóstico). Resultados. Se analizaron 158.926 miembros de la prepaga. Se identificó un total de 2100 casos de UA en el período analizado (1151 en pediatría, 949 en adultos), con una tasa de prevalencia de 1,32% (IC95%: 1,11-1,55%). La prevalencia de UA en la población adulta fue de 0,83% (IC95%: 0,64-0,97%), mientras que en la población pediátrica fue del 2,5% (IC95%: 1,9-2,8%). Conclusiones: este es el primer estudio que describe la prevalencia de UA en una población cerrada de Argentina y de la región.(AU)

Background. In spite of the frequency of acute urticaria (AU), there are no epidemiological studies on its prevalence and distribution in Argentina. Objetive. Was to estimate the prevalence and other epidemiological characteristics of AU in the members of a health maintenance organization of Buenos Aires, the largest populated area in Argentina. Setting: Italian Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Design. Retrospective cohort. Population. All patients with diagnosis of AU who are members of the IHMCP, and with at least 12 months of follow up were included in the study. Methods. All medical records were analyzed to calculate the prevalence rates for AU per 100,000 population with 95% CI for the period of January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Prevalence rate was calculated for the entire population and then discriminated for adults and pediatric members (less than 18 years old at diagnosis). Results. 158,926 members were analyzed. A total of 2100 cases of AU were identified on prevalence period (1151 in pediatrics, 949 in adults), yielding a prevalence rate of 1.32% (CI 95% 1.11-1.55%). The prevalence of AU in adult population observed was 0.83 % (95% CI 0.64-0.97%), while in pediatrics it was 2.5 % (95% CI 1.9-2.8%). Conclusions. This is the first study to describe the prevalence of AU in a closed population of Argentina and the region(AU)

Tenosinovitis química de dedo medio por corticoides intraarticulares con evolución a síndrome compartimental en paciente con lupus eritematoso sistémico / Chemical tenosynovitis in middle finger after intra-articular corticosteroids infiltration evolving to compartment syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the tendon and synovial sheath. It is commonly affects hands and wrist. The etiology may be infectious or inflammatory. In patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) the periarticular and tendinous commitment is frequent. Intra-articular corticosteroids (CO) are effective as adjuvant of the systemic therapy. Complications of use are infrequent. The case of a female patient is presented, 32 years old, with SLE and chronic renal failure secondary to lupus nephritis, chronic user of oral CO. She is infiltrates with intra-articular deposit betamethasone in metacarpal-phalangeal (MCP), because of articular edema. Twelve days later evolves with Compartment Syndrome (SC). Fasciotomy show findings compatible with chemical synovitis by betamethasone crystals. Currently there are quite few reports in the literature of CS with presentation in fingers. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. The common use of intra-articular CO is not without risk and should be planned and diagnosed early...

Tenosinovitis es la inflamación del tendón y vaina sinovial. Es más frecuente en manos y muñecas. Su etiología es infecciosa o inflamatoria. En pacientes con Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico (LES) el compromiso periarticular y tendíneo es frecuente. Los corticoides (CO) intraarticulares son efectivos como adyuvante de terapia sistémica. Las complicaciones de su uso son infrecuentes. Se presenta el caso de paciente sexo femenino, 32 años, con LES e insuficiencia renal crónica secundaria a nefropatía lúpica, usuaria de CO orales. Por edema articular se le infiltra betametasona de depósito intraarticular en metacarpo-falángica (MCF). Evoluciona doce días después con Síndrome Compartimental (SC). Durante la fasciotomía se evidencian hallazgos compatibles con sinovitis química por cristales de betametasona. Existe escaso reporte en la literatura de SC en dedos de la mano. El diagnóstico es principalmente clínico. El uso común de CO intraarticulares no está exento de riesgos y deben ser previstos y diagnosticados precozmente...

Proceso para priorizar las líneas de investigación esencial de interés para el Ministerio de Salud de Chile / Definition of priorities in health research for the Ministry of Health

Health research oriented to solve the most relevant sanitary problems in Chile must be encouraged. In 2001, the National Health Research Fund (FONIS) was created by the National Research Council of the Ministry of Health and the National Scientifc Research Commission, to stimulate relevant health research that contributes to develop health care policies. In 2008 an experts meeting proposed eighty research areas. These areas were grouped in twelve thematic containers. Each of these containers were classifed as having maximal, intermediate or minimal priority. The seven most important containers were grouped in three areas. Among the latter, two were selected. One is evaluation of the Ministry programs and, within this area, with the following priorities in decreasing importance: primary prevention, health care priorities, and diseases included in the Explicit Guarantees plan. The second area corresponds to diseases with high prevalence, incidence, costs or impact, including the following priorities in diminishing importance: mental health, diseases of high prevalence and problems with social impact.

Chronic heart failure: a review for the primary care physician

Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome. The pharmacological therapy for chronic heart failure has been changing in the past decade with acquired knowledge of the pathophysiology of this medical condition. Primary care physicians currently treat a significant number of patients. This article summarizes core topics of heart failure including epidemiological information, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and diagnostic tools. Also, we review some of the most relevant research studies that have led to the current recommendations for the pharmacological therapeutic strategies in the management of chronic heart failure. We make reference to the latest guidelines in the management of chronic heart failure submitted by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA). New technological advances, such as the biventricular-pacing devices, are an important adjuvant to the established pharmacological therapies for chronic heart failure

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.