Validation of the AASLD recommendations for classification of oesophageal varices in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends the use of a 2-grade classification system (small and large) to describe the size of oesophageal varices (OV). Data on observer agreement (OA) on this system are currently lacking. We aimed to evaluate this classification and compare it to the widely used 3-grade classification (grade 1 'small', grade 2 'medium', grade 3 'large') among operators of variable experience. METHODS: High-definition video recordings of 100 patients with cirrhosis were prospectively collected using standardised criteria. Nine observers of variable experience performed independent evaluations of the videos in random order. OV were scored using both systems. All assessments were repeated a year later by the same observers to assess intra-observer agreement. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement (all observers) using the 2-grade and the 3-grade system was k = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.64-0.78) and k = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.66-0.79) respectively. When using the 2-grade system, intra-observer agreement between hepatologists (n = 3), luminal gastroenterologists (n = 3) and trainee gastroenterologists (n = 3) was k = 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.91), k = 0.72 (95% CI: 0.67-0.77), and k = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.67-0.8) respectively. With the 3-grade system; intra-observer agreement between the same three subgroups were k = 0.9 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92), k = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.68-0.78), k = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.71-0.82) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in OA between the 2-grade and 3-grade classification systems. Hepatologists had significantly higher levels of consistency in grading OV. This may have implications to create alternative training models for residents and fellows in the recognition and grading of OV.

Neuro-ophthalmological findings in TAFRO syndrome in a patient from South America, a variant of multicentric Castleman's disease.

BACKGROUND: To report the neuro-ophthalmological findings in the TAFRO syndrome in a South American patient. METHODS: This is a case report of a patient with TAFRO syndrome. RESULTS: We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with TAFRO syndrome and multicentric Castleman disease, who developed ophthalmic manifestations, as a rare complication, including optic disk edema and serous retinal detachment, which improved with conventional therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The optic disk edema could be present as a neuro-ophthalmological finding in TAFRO syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the ophthalmic manifestations in the TAFRO syndrome.

Clinical patterns and outcomes of ischaemic colitis: results of the Working Group for the Study of Ischaemic Colitis in Spain (CIE study).

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of prospective studies evaluating the natural history of colonic ischaemia (CI). We performed such a study to evaluate the clinical presentation, outcome, and mortality as well as clinical variables associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: An open, prospective, and multicentre study was conducted in 24 Spanish hospitals serving a population of 3.5 million people. The study included only patients who met criteria for definitive or probable CI. A website (www.colitisisquemica.org) provided logistical support. RESULTS: A total of 364 patients met criteria for inclusion. CI was suspected clinically in only 24.2% of cases. The distribution of clinical patterns was as follows: reversible colopathy (26.1%), transient colitis (43.7%), gangrenous colitis (9.9%), fulminant pancolitis (2.5%), and chronic segmental colitis (17.9%). A total of 47 patients (12.9%) had an unfavorable outcome as defined by mortality and/or the need for surgery. Multivariate analysis identified the following signs as independent risk factors for an unfavorable outcome: abdominal pain without rectal bleeding [odds ratio (OR) 3.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-9.3], non-bloody diarrhoea (OR 10; 95% CI = 3.7-27.4), and peritoneal signs (OR 7.3; 95% CI = 2.7-19.6). Unfavorable outcomes also were more frequent in isolated right colon ischaemia (IRCI) compared with non-IRCI (40.9 vs. 10.3%, respectively; p < 0.0001). The overall mortality rate was 7.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of CI is very heterogeneous, perhaps explaining why clinical suspicion of this disease is so low. The presence of IRCI, and occurrence of peritoneal signs or onset of CI as severe abdominal pain without bleeding, should alert the physician to a potentially unfavorable course.

Macular findings in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and OCT Angiography in a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To report the clinical, electrophysiological and the anatomical findings in a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS). CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 55-year-old female with KSS, who developed systemic features and ocular manifestations as ophthalmoplegia and retinal dysfunction, that were corroborated by electrophysiological test and High Definition Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (HD SD OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A). CONCLUSION: We report a patient with KSS, accompanied by some alterations of the RPE and photoreceptors observed in the external HD SD OCT and OCT-A. In the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of HD SD OCT findings in a patient with KSS.

Mucocele con expansión orbitaria / Mucocele with orbital expansion

El mucocele es una lesión quística benigna, que se desarrolla en el interior de los senos perinasales por la obstrucción de su drenaje natural en el curso de los procesos inflamatorios, traumas y cirugías. Se presentan tres casos con mucocele frontoetmoidal y expansión intraorbitaria, los cuales fueron atendidos en el Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras entre los meses de febrero a diciembre del año 2013. El propósito del presente estudio es el análisis de los resultados terapéuticos obtenidos y determinar la posible influencia de la vía de abordaje utilizada sobre la efectividad terapéutica y la recidiva tumoral en cada uno de estos pacientes(AU)

Mucocele is a benign cystic lesion that emerges inside the perinasal sinuses due to the obstruction of their natural drainage in inflammatory processes, traumas and surgeries. Here are three cases with frontoethmoidal mucocele and intraorbital expansion, which were treated at Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital from February to December, 2013. The objective of this study was to analyze the therapeutic results and to determine the possible influence of the approach path on the therapeutic effectiveness and the tumor recurrence in each of the patients(AU)

Mucocele con expansión orbitaria / Mucocele with orbital expansion

El mucocele es una lesión quística benigna, que se desarrolla en el interior de los senos perinasales por la obstrucción de su drenaje natural en el curso de los procesos inflamatorios, traumas y cirugías. Se presentan tres casos con mucocele frontoetmoidal y expansión intraorbitaria, los cuales fueron atendidos en el Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras entre los meses de febrero a diciembre del a±o 2013. El propósito del presente estudio es el análisis de los resultados terapéuticos obtenidos y determinar la posible influencia de la vía de abordaje utilizada sobre la efectividad terapéutica y la recidiva tumoral en cada uno de estos pacientes(AU)

Mucocele is a benign cystic lesion that emerges inside the perinasal sinuses due to the obstruction of their natural drainage in inflammatory processes, traumas and surgeries. Here are three cases with frontoethmoidal mucocele and intraorbital expansion, which were treated at "Hermanos Ameijeiras" hospital from February to December, 2013. The objective of this study was to analyze the therapeutic results and to determine the possible influence of the approach path on the therapeutic effectiveness and the tumor recurrence in each of the patients(AU)

Resultados de la cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal en la poliposis nasosinusal, con microdesbridador y sin él / Results of the nasosinusal endoscopic surgery in nasosinusal polyposis with and without micro defibrillator

INTRODUCCIÓN. La poliposis nasal es una enfermedad multifactorial con prevalencia en la población general del 2 al 5 por ciento. Fue objetivo de este estudio comparar los resultados quirúrgicos en 60 pacientes con poliposis nasosinusal, operados con microdesbridador y sin él. MÉTODOS. Se analizaron 60 pacientes operados entre el 2002 y el 2006. Se estudiaron factores relacionados, como asma, intolerancia al ácido acetilsalicílico y alergia. Fueron consideradas las cirugías previas, endoscópicas o convencionales, así como las complicaciones menores y mayores derivadas de éstas. Se revisaron los casos que no se lograron controlar con tratamiento médico. RESULTADOS. Los resultados globales fueron satisfactorios: a los 2 años 29 pacientes (48,3 por ciento) estaban asintomáticos, 45 (75 por ciento) con las fosas libres de pólipos, 11 (18,3 por ciento) con recidiva controlada con tratamiento médico y hubo que reintervenir solo a 2 pacientes (3,3 por ciento). El número de complicaciones permaneció muy por debajo del nivel razonable; hubo solo 2 (3,3 por ciento) complicaciones mayores: un hematoma periorbitario y una lesión de lámina papirácea. CONCLUSIONES. Las afecciones inflamatorias nasosinusales, y en especial la poliposis nasal, se benefician con un tratamiento quirúrgico endoscópico. La experiencia y el uso de instrumental motorizado (microdesbridador) han mejorado aún más los resultados de esta técnica(AU)

INTRODUCTION. Nasal polyposis is a multifactor disease with prevalence in general population from 2 to 5 percent. The objective of present paper was to compare the surgical results in 60 patients with nasosinusal polyposis operated on with and without micro-defibrillator. METHODS. Sixty patients operated on between 2002 and 2006. The related factors were studied including asthma, acetylsalicylic acid and allergy. Previous, endoscopic or conventional surgeries were considered as well as the minor and major complications derived from it. The non-controlled cases with medical treatment were reviewed. RESULTS. The overall results were satisfactory: at two years 29 patients (48,3 percent) were asymptomatic, 45 (75 percent) with fossae free of polypi, 11 (18,3 percent) with relapse controlled by medical treatment and only a reintervention in two patients (3,3 percent). The figure of complications remained very low of the reasonable level; there was only 2 (3,3 percent) (major complications): a periorbital hematoma and a lesion of papyraceous plate. CONCLUSIONS. The nasosinusal affections and specially the nasal polyposis to do well out the endoscopic surgical treatment. The experience and the use of motorized instrumental (micro- defibrillator) have improved even more the results of this technique(AU)

Resultados de la cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal en la poliposis nasosinusal, con microdesbridador y sin él / Results of the nasosinusal endoscopic surgery in nasosinusal polyposis with and without micro defibrillator

La poliposis nasal es una enfermedad multifactorial con prevalencia en la población general del 2 al 5 por ciento. Fue objetivo de este estudio comparar los resultados quirúrgicos en 60 pacientes con poliposis nasosinusal, operados con microdesbridador y sin él. Se analizaron 60 pacientes operados entre el 2002 y el 2006. Se estudiaron factores relacionados, como asma, intolerancia al ácido acetilsalicílico y alergia. Fueron consideradas las cirugías previas, endoscópicas o convencionales, así como las complicaciones menores y mayores derivadas de éstas. Se revisaron los casos que no se lograron controlar con tratamiento médico...(AU)

Nasal polyposis is a multifactor disease with prevalence in general population from 2 to 5 percent. The objective of present paper was to compare the surgical results in 60 patients with nasosinusal polyposis operated on with and without micro-defibrillator. Sixty patients operated on between 2002 and 2006. The related factors were studied including asthma, acetylsalicylic acid and allergy. Previous, endoscopic or conventional surgeries were considered as well as the minor and major complications derived from it. The non-controlled cases with medical treatment were reviewed(AU