Inyección intraesfinteriana de toxina botulínica en pacientes con acalasia esofágica / Intrasphincteric injection of botulinum toxin in patients with achalasia

Eight patients received 80 units of BoTx. Assessment of response was based on changes in the symptom scores (0-9) and esophageal manometric studies. Results: Six out of 8 patients (75 percent) had sustained clinical improvement after therapy. This effect was maintained for a mean time of 17.8 months. The symptom score decreased from a mean of 6.7 to 0.5 (p < 0.01) and after treatment, LES pressure decreased from 63 to 25.5 mm Hg (p = 0.07).l There were no serious adverse effects. Five of the six responders have relapsed. Two of these patients received a second BoTx infection with satisfactory results, two went to surgery and one refused other type of therapy and died of pneumonia. Conclusions: Intrasphincteric BoTx injection is a simple, safe and effective method of treatment in patients with achalasia, with a duration of response averaging 1.5 years. Its use may be suggested in some patients with high surgical risk and those who refuse a more invastive therapy. It is also useful in malnourished patients to attain an adequate nutritional status before surgery

Trombosis de la vena porta asociada a trombocitosis esencial: casos clínicos y revisión de la literatura / Thrombosis of the portal vein associated to primary thrombocytosis: clinical cases and literature rewiew

Lately, myeloprolipherative disorders are frequently reported as causes of portal vein thrombosis, probably due to the early detection of latent cases of this condition. We report 2 patients with portal vein thrombosis that presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and clinical consequences of portal hypertension such as variceal hemorrhage, splenomegaly and ascitis. Diagnosis was made by a CAT scan in one patient and doppler ultrasound in the other. Both patients had a higher platelet counts and an essential thrombocytosis in the bone marrow