ABSTRACT
El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el rol de Proteína C reactiva (PCR) como marcador de inflamación en el diagnóstico de la apendicitis aguda y relacionarlo con la histopatología de una serie de pacientes intervenidos por sospecha de apendicitis aguda. Pacientes y métodos: 36 pacientes consecutivos fueron operados por sospecha de apendicitis aguda. A todos ellos como parte del estudio se les solicitó en forma preoperatoria PCR. Una vez apendicectomizados, las biopsias fueron estudiadas en el Isntituto de Anatomía del Hospital y correlacionadas con el valor de la PCR. Resultados: Del total de pacientes, en 33 de 36 la sospecha clínica fue confirmada como apendicitis aguda y 3 biopsias fueron informadas normales. PCR se encontró elevada en 31 casos y en 5 con valores bajo los 5 mg/dl. Al analizar los resultados histopatológicos con PCR se encuentra que en el 87,8 por ciento de los casos que tuvieron apendicitis, la PCR se encontraba elevada y de los casos que tenían elevación de la PCR un 93,5 por ciento tenían apendicitis. Conclusiones: La elevación de la PCR tiene un alto valor predictivo positivo (93,5 por ciento) apendicitis aguda en ausencia de otra causa de inflamación sistémica. Puede ser utilizada como ayuda diagnóstica en los casos donde la clínica no puede aclarar el diagnóstico.
Subject(s)
Appendicitis , Appendectomy , C-Reactive Protein/administration & dosage , C-Reactive Protein/pharmacokineticsABSTRACT
Background: Atrial fibrillation can originate in arrhythmogenic foci coming from the pulmonary veins. Patients with atrial fibrillation, initiated from triggering foci, can be treated with radiofrequency ablation. Aim: To report the results of radiofrequency ablation in patients with focal atrial fibrillation. Patients and methods: Thirteen patients with focal atrial fibrillation (8 male, aged 19 to 60 years old) are reported. Twelve had frequent crises refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. Two had also flutter and tachycardia. One had a permanent atrial fibrillation lasting five years. Two had ventricular dysfunction and left atrial dilatation. The triggering focus was identified during the electrophysiological study, by the precocity of the potential that initiated the atrial fibrillation. Results: All patients had early atrial extrasystolic beats, isolated or repetitives, that preceded atrial fibrillation. During the electrophysiological study, 18 foci (3 in the right and 15 in the left atrium all in pulmonary veins) were identified. Radiofrequency ablation had immediate success in 11 patients. In 5, a flutter was also ablated. One patient had a sinus dysfunction after the procedure and atrial fibrillation was not eliminated. In this and other patient in whom the procedure failed, a pacemaker was implanted and the atrioventricular node was blocked. In a follow up, ranging from 4 to 31 months, eight patients are asymptomatic and 3 recidivated. No complications have been detected. Conclusions: Patients with focal atrial fibrillation have common clinical and electrocardiographic features. Radiofrequency ablation of the triggering focus is possible and effective in most cases