Proctitis crónica hemorrágica por radioterapia en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas del Perú, 2011-2013 / Radiotherapy associated chronic hemorrhagic proctitis at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases of Peru, 2011-2013

Objetivo: Estudiar las características clínicas y endoscópicas de la proctitis crónica hemorrágica por radioterapia en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas del Perú. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y longitudinal, con una población de 588 pacientes con esta patología, en el periodo 2011-2013, de donde se seleccionaron 114 pacientes por muestreo probabilístico aleatorizado. Se usó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial para el análisis de las variables cualitativas y cuantitativas. Resultados: La investigación encontró como principales resultados, un periodo de latencia de 439,96 días; la severidad de rectorragia clínica fue grado II y III en el 86,84%, la hemoglobina media fue de 11,63 gr/dl, los hallazgos endoscópicos fueron severidad moderada en el 58,77%, extensión solo rectal en el 92,11%, friabilidad leve del 43,86%, compromiso menor del 33% de la superficie rectal en el 71,93% y una longitud media de 7,28 cm. Los hallazgos inflamatorios fueron de cicatrices en el 0,88%, erosiones del 0,88%, de úlceras del 7%, de fístula del 0,88% y del 3,51% de estenosis rectales, el tratamiento de argón plasma coagulación (APC) único o combinado se ofreció en el 96% de los casos. Conclusiones: La proctitis crónica hemorrágica por radioterapia fue una complicación importante de la radioterapia pélvica, con hallazgos clínicos y endoscópicos característicos.

Objective: To study the clinical and endoscopic features of chronic hemorrhagic proctitis by radiotherapy in the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases of Peru. Materials and methods: The study was descriptive, retrospective and longitudinal, with a population of 588 patients with this pathology, in the period 2011-2013, from which 114 patients were selected by randomized probabilistic sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the analysis of qualitative and quantitative variables. Results: The main results were a latency period of 439.96 days; the severity of clinical rectal bleeding was grade 2 and 3 in 86.84%, the mean hemoglobin in chronic hemorrhagic proctitis by radiotherapy was 11.63 g / dl, the endoscopic findings were moderate severity in 58.77%, extension rectal only in 92.11%, slight friability of 43.86%, compromise less than 33% of the rectal surface in 71.93% and an average length of 7.28 cm. The inflammatory findings were 0.88% scars, erosions of 0.88%, ulcers of 7%, fistula of 0.88% and 3.51% of rectal stenosis, single or combined argon plasma coagulation (APC) treatment was offered in 96% of cases. Conclusion: Chronic hemorrhagic proctitis is an important complication of pelvic radiotherapy, with characteristic clinical and endoscopic findings.

Cobertura de la estrategia preventiva de cáncer gástrico en Chile: resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2009-2010 / Coverage of diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the prevention of gastric cancer in Chile: results from the 2009-2010 National Health Survey

Background: In Chile, gastric cancer (GC) is a major cause of cancer related deaths. The current screening strategy consists of an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) for people aged 40 years or more with epigastric pain. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic coverage of the use of UGE for early detection of GC in Chile. Material and Methods: As part of the digestive module of the 2009-10 National Health Survey, 5293 adults over 15 years were asked about the presence of epigastric pain, possible upper gastrointestinal bleeding (PUGB), use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs), family history of GC and having performed an UGE. Results: Persistent epigastric pain was observed in 3.4% of the population. PUGB signs were observed in 3.3% of the population. The prevalence of PPIs and H2RAs use was 4.3% and 2.2% respectively, reaching 21.6% in people aged 70 years and older. Life span prevalence of UGE was 18.3%, with differences by region, health insurance and educational level. UGE coverage in people aged 40 years or older with and without persistent epigastric pain was 14.4% and 3.2% respectively (Odds ratio 4.8, p < 0.01). The prevalence of UGE was similar among people with or without PUGB or family history of CG. Conclusions: The estimated coverage of the current GC prevention strategy in Chile is 14.4%, evaluated at a population level. Further studies are required to determine the impact of this strategy on early GC diagnosis and mortality.

Infección por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes sintomáticos con patología gastroduodenal benigna: análisis de 5.664 pacientes / Helicobacter pylori infection in symptomatic patients with benign gastroduodenal diseases: analysis of 5.664 cases

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is highly prevalent in Chile, but there are no systematic studies in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Aim: To determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection, according to age, gender and endoscopic pathology in a large sample of patients. Methods: We studied 7,893 symptomatic patients submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between July 1996 and December 2003 in the context of a screening program of gastric cancer in a high risk population. H. pylori infection was determined by rapid urease test (RUT) in antral mucosa. We excluded 158 patients with gastric cancer (2 percent) and 2,071 patients without RUT. Results: We included 5,664 patients, mean age 50.7 ± 13.9 years, women 72.1 percent. Endoscopic diagnoses were normal in 59.3 percent, erosive esophagitis in 20 percent, gastric ulcer (GU) in 8.1 percent, duodenal ulcer (DU) in 6.4 percent, and erosive gastropathy in 6.2 percent. RUT was positive in 78 percent of patients. After adjusting for age and sex and with respect to patients with normal endoscopy, frequency of H. pylori infection was 86.6 percent in DU (OR 2.1, 95 percent CI 1.5-2.8, p < 0.001); 81.4 percent in GU (OR 1.8, 95 percent CI 1.4-2.4; p < 0.001 ); 79.9 percent in erosive gastropathy (OR 1.4, 95 percent CI 1.03-1.8; p = 0.03) and 77.4 percent in erosive esophagitis (OR 1.1, 95 percent CI: 0.9-1.3; p = NS). The probability of H. pylori infection decreased significantly with age, more markedly in men with normal endoscopy. Conclusions: Prevalence of H. pylori infection is very high in symptomatic Chilean patients and even higher in those with gastroduodenal ulcer or erosions, while in patients with erosive esophagitis is similar to those with normal endoscopy. The frequency of infection decreases with age, probably as a consequence of rising frequency of gastric mucosal atrophy.

Tratamento endoscópico de lesões sangrantes do trato gastrointestinal por meio de eletrocoagulação com argônio / Endoscopic treatment of bleeding lesions of the gastrointestinal tract by argon plasma coagulation

Introdução e objetivos: A eletrocoagulação com argônio (APC) é um método térmico de não-contato que pode ser utilizado como alternativa ao laser em endoscopia. Um amplo espectro de indicações têm sido propostas para tratamento através de APC, desde a introdução do uso em endoscopia, em 1991. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar a eficácia do uso do APC na hemostasia endoscópica de lesões sangrantes do esôfago, estômago, duodeno, cólon e reto. Metodologia: Um total de 22 pacientes consecutivos (14M/8F, média de idade 66,7 anos) foram submetidos ao tratamento com APC entre 1998 e fevereiro de 2002. As causas de sangramento incluíam retite actínica (12 pacientes), ectasia vascular do antro gástrico (GAVE) ­ watermelon stomach (6 pacientes), angiodisplasias de esôfago, estômago e cólon (2 pacientes), gastrite actínica (1 paciente) e síndrome de Osler-Weber-Rendu (1 paciente). Resultados: Um total de 49 sessões foram realizadas (média de 2,2 sessões por paciente). Sucesso no tratamento endoscópico foi obtido em 18 pacientes (85,8%). Complicações foram observadas em 3 pacientes: 2 apresentaram dor local após as sessões de APC e um paciente desenvolveu estenose retal tratada com sucesso em uma sessão de dilatação endoscópica. Não houve mortalidade relacionada ao método. Conclusões: APC é um método seguro, efetivo, de relativo baixo custo e boa aceitação pelos pacientes para o tratamento de lesões sangrantes do trato gastrointestinal. Deve, portanto, ser considerado método de primeira escolha no tratamento dessas afecções (AU)

Background and aims: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an innovative non-touch electrocoagulation technique. A broad spectrum of indications has been proposed for APC since its introduction into endoscopy in 1991. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of utilizing APC in the endoscopic hemostasis of bleeding lesions of the esophagus, stomach, duodenun, colon and rectum. Methodology: A total of 22 consecutive patients (14M/ 8 F, mean age 66.7 years) underwent APC treatment between 1998 and february 2002. Causes of bleeding included radiation colitis (12 patients), gastric antral vascular ectasia ­ watermelon stomach (6 patients), esophagus,stomach and colon angiodysplasia (2 patients), radiation gastritis (1 patient) and Osler-Weber-Rendu Syndrome (1 patient). Results: A total of 49 sessions were performed (mean 2.2 sessions / patient). Succesful endoscopic APC treatment was achieved in 18 patients (85,8%). Complications were observed in 2 patients that referred local pain after therapy and 1 patient that developed a rectal stenosis succesfully reversed in one session of endoscopic dilation. No mortality related to APC was observed. Conclusions: APC is a safe, effective, and relative low-cost hemostatic modality for bleeding vascular lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, APC should be considered as a first-line therapy for these conditions (AU)

Hallazgos endoscópicos del tracto digestivo superior en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica terminal / Endoscopic findings of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with chronic renal failure in hemodialysis

Se estudiaron pacientes en hemodialisis (HD) que fueron sometidos a una endoscopia superior como rutina pre-operatoria. Las historias médicas de 71 pacientes trasplantados entre 1982 y 1989 fueron revisadas retrospectivamente para determinar la presencia de las lesiones gastrointestinales superiores. Para el momento de la endoscopia las variables predictivas estudiadas fueron: edad, sexo, BUN, creatinina, hemoglobina, hematocrito, calcio y duración en HD. Los pacientes se dividieron en dos grupos: a) pacientes con lesiones y b) grupo control, sin lesiones. La comparación entre los dos grupos fue hecha usando pruebas de "t" no pareadas (unpaired t-test) para variables continuas, X cuadrado para variables dicótomas y una p<0,05 fue considerada como estadísticamente significativa. Treinta y dos pacientes (45 por ciento) presentaron lesiones del tracto digestivo superior; esofágicas: 17 por ciento; 30 por ciento y duodenales: 23 por ciento. La edad fue la única variable predictiva estadísticamente significativa para las lesiones gástricas, pero no para las lesiones esofágicas ni duodenales. Nosotros concluimos que las lesiones gastrointestinales son frecuentemente en pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica terminal (IRCT). Las lesiones gástricas son las más frecuetnes y aparecen en pacientes de mayor edad. Recomendamos estudios endoscópicos en todo paciente con IRCT como parte de la evaluación pre trasplante. También sugerimos realizar endoscopia de seguimiento despues del trasplante