Sistema de evacuación seguro de neumoperitoneo y humo quirúrgico en cirugía laparoscópica mediante trampa de agua en tiempos de COVID-19 / Safe evacuation system for pneumoperitoneum and surgical smoke in laparoscopic surgery using a water trap in times of COVID-19

INTRODUCCIÓN: La reciente pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) ha hecho resurgir preocupación sobre la exposición inadvertida del equipo quirúrgico a agentes infecciosos transmisibles por vía aérea durante el acto quirúrgico. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la confección de un sistema de filtrado simple y de bajo costo que permite reducir el riesgo de exposición al virus, particularmente en el proceso de aspiración, recambio y remoción del neumoperitoneo en cirugía laparoscópica. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO: Se diseñó e implementó un circuito cerrado de evacuación y de filtrado del neumoperitoneo en cirugías ginecológicas laparoscópicas en un centro de salud terciario. El circuito incluye un filtro HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) y una trampa de vacío que contiene una solución de inactivación en base a amonio cuaternario o hipoclorito de sodio. RESULTADOS: Desde su implementación se han realizado 17 cirugías laparoscópicas ginecológicas por diversas patologías. Dos de ellas fueron en pacientes Covid-19 (+). A la fecha no se han reportado contagios en el equipo médico que participó en la cirugía. CONCLUSIONES: Es posible implementar un sistema de evacuación del neumoperitoneo en cirugía laparoscópica presumiblemente eficaz en minimizar el riesgo de exposición al virus SARS-COV-2 (Covid-19). Su bajo costo lo hace especialmente recomendable en países en vías de desarrollo.

INTRODUCTION: The recent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemics has raised concern on the incidental exposition of health team to air transmissible infectious agents during surgeries. The main goal of this work is to communicate a simple and low-cost filtering system allowing to reduce the risk of contagion related to the virus, associated with pneumoperitoneum removal during surgical laparoscopy. METHODS: A closed circuit of gas removal and filtering was developed and implemented in laparoscopic gynecologic procedures at a tertiary teaching hospital. The circuit included an HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter and a vacuum trap containing an inactivating solution based on quaternary ammonium or sodium hypochlorite. RESULTS: Since its introduction, seventeen laparoscopic surgeries have been carried out for different gynecologic pathologies. Two of them in Covid (+) cases. To date, no contagion has been reported among health teammates participating in these surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to implement a pneumoperitoneum evacuation system in laparoscopic surgery presumably effective in minimizing the risk of exposure to the SARS-COV-2 virus (Covid-19). Its low cost makes it especially recommended in developing countries.

El método CONO-UC: un protocolo integrado de toma de decisión y manejo de lesiones pre-invasoras del cuello uterino útil para especialistas jóvenes / The CONO-UC method: an integrated protocol for decision-making and management of pre-invasive cervical lesions useful for young specialists

OBJETIVOS: En la actualidad, existe una alta tasa de sobre-tratamiento de lesiones precursoras cervicales, la cual, en su causalidad, depende de la inexperiencia del operador que toma las decisiones. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue desarrollar un método estandarizado de ponderación/juicio de variables diagnósticas y tratamiento útiles de ser usadas por especialistas jóvenes a fin de minimizar el riesgo de manejo inadecuado. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 471 pacientes referidos por citología anormal y tratados mediante asa de LEEP. Se calcularon la sensibilidad, la especificidad, los valores predictivos y las relaciones de probabilidad para el diagnóstico de NIE2+ para cada uno de los métodos de diagnóstico. A cada residente se le enseñó un protocolo estandarizado de tratamiento mediante asa. Una vez identificados los mejores predictores, se construyó una escala de puntaje que ponderaba las variables y se definió mediante curva ROC el major punto de corte para la predicción de NIE2+. Las diferencias entre los grupos se compararon mediante Chi-cuadrado, ANOVA o t-test. Se construyó curva de fallas mediante el método de 1-Kaplan Meier. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de NIE2+ en esta cohorte fue 66%. La concordancia entre las pruebas diagnósticas fue baja, teniendo la colposcopia el peor valor predictivo positivo y el mayor riesgo de sobre-tratamiento. Para la escala de puntaje se incluyeron la edad, la citología, la colposcopia (estratificación basada en la extensión de compromiso por cuadrantes), la biopsia por mascada y la concordancia entre pruebas diagnósticas. Un puntaje≥ 9 asociado al uso de un protocolo estandarizado, obtuvo tasas de sobre-tratamiento <15%, de recurrencias de NIE2+ <5% a 5 años y una baja tasa de procedimientos sub-óptimos o con complicaciones (<2 %). CONCLUSIONES: El método CONO-UC al combinar un sistema de puntaje integrado (punto de corte) con un protocolo estandarizado de excisión, permite minimizar el riesgo de sobretratamiento o tratamiento inadecuado, por parte de especialistas jóvenes, de lesiones preinvasoras del cuello uterino, reduciendo además el número de procedimientos indicados innecesariamente y manteniendo una alta tasa de éxito terapéutico.

GOALS: Currently, there is a high rate of over-treatment of precursor cervical lesions, which, in their causality, depends on the inexperience of the decision-making operator. The objective of the present study was to develop a standardized method of weighting / judgment of diagnostic variables and treatment useful to be used by young specialists in order to minimize the risk of improper handling. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 471 patients referred by abnormal cytology and treated by LEEP. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios for the diagnosis of CIN2+ were calculated for each of the diagnostic methods. Each resident was taught a standardized protocol to carry out a LEEP procedure. Once the best predictors were identified, a scoring scale was constructed that weighted the variables and the best cut-off point for the prediction of CIN2+ was defined by ROC curve. Differences between groups were compared using Chi-square, ANOVA or t-test. Failure curves were built up using the 1-Kaplan Meier method. RESULTS: The prevalence of CIN2+ in this cohort was 66%. The agreement between the diagnostic tests was low, with colposcopy having the worst positive predictive value and the highest risk of over-treatment. Age, cytology, colposcopy (stratification based on the extent of compromise by quadrants), punch biopsy, and agreement between diagnostic tests were included for building the scoring scale. A score ≥ 9 in association with the use of a standardized protocol obtained rates of over-treatment <15%, recurrences of CIN2+ <5% at 5-year follow-up and a low rate of suboptimal procedures or complications (<2%). CONCLUSIONS: The UC-CONE method, by combining an integrated scoring system with a standardized excision protocol, minimizes the risk of over-treatment or inadequate treatment of pre-invasive cervical lesions by young specialists, reducing the number of procedures indicated unnecessarily and maintaining a high rate of therapeutic success.

Evaluación prospectiva de la venografía mediante angioTC en el diagnóstico de enfermedad tromboembólica / Diagnostic yield of CT pulmonary angiography and venography for thromboembolic disease

Background: CT pulmonary angiography is the diagnostic procedure of choice for non-massive pulmonary embolism. Aim: To assess the diagnostic yield for thromboembolic disease of CT pulmonary angiography and venography using a 64- slice multidetector tomography. Material and Methods: Prospective study of patients with a clinical suspicion of thromboembolic disease, subjected to CT pulmonary angiography and venography. The presence and location of pulmonary thromboembolism, of isolated or concomitant deep venous thrombosis and of other significant radiological findings, were registered. Results: A 64-MDCT scanner was performed to 893 patients and thromboembolic disease was demonstrated in 240. Pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed in 218 patients. It was concomitant with deep venous thrombosis in 79 patients (36 percent) and isolated in the rest. Thirty fve of the 218 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism had radiological evidence of right ventricular overload. Twenty two patients (10 percent) had an isolated deep venous thrombosis. In 65 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (30 percent) a possibly new or old malignant lesion, was observed. Seventy one of 653 patients without evidence of thromboembolic disease had potentially pathological findings on CT. Conclusions: The combined use of CT pulmonary arteriography and venography using a 64 MDCT scanner increases the diagnostic yield of the procedure for thromboembolic disease. It also allows the diagnosis of other related conditions, specially malignant tumors.