Experiencia del Comité de Ética Asistencial del Hospital Carlos van Buren entre los años 2007-2020

Background: Clinical Ethics Committees are deliberative groups whose main functions are to assess cases with ethical-clinical conflicts, to generate institutional protocols for preventive purposes, and to train health teams. Aim: To analyze the activity of a clinical ethics committee of a general hospital in the period 2007-2020. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all session records, annual reports, case resolution and documents generated by the Clinical Ethics Committee of Carlos van Buren Hospital in Valparaíso, Chile, between 2007 and 2020, was carried out. Results: On average, 12 cases are analyzed per year. Sixty percent correspond to requests from pediatric units and in 78% of these cases there was at least one neurological disease. In 62% of cases, the main ethical dilemma was adequacy of therapeutic effort, followed by dilemmas related to the exercise of autonomy in 18.2%. In education, two courses are identified aimed to doctors, residents, and other members of the health team. Regarding normative functions, several documents were generated at the request of the Hospital management or in different clinical situations. During COVID-19 pandemia, the active role of the committee was linked to the three main functions, namely evaluating cases, participating in morbidity and mortality meetings for preventive purposes, and issuing guidelines and recommendations for action. The active participation of Pediatric Neurology residents in the Committee, for educational and administrative purposes, stands out. Conclusions: The three main functions described for the ethics committees were exerted by this Committee during the evaluated period. The impact of our recommendations remain to be objectively evaluated.

Mucormicosis rinosinusal por mucor hiemalis en una paciente con leucemia mieloide aguda / Rhinosinusal mucormycosis by mucor hiemalis in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia

Se reporta un caso clínico de una paciente femenina de 41 años, con antecedentes de leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA) en remisión. Estudiada por hematología, se confirmó recaída de LMA M4. Se inició quimioterapia. La paciente evolucionó con pancitopenia severa. Presentó dos episodios de neutropenia febril, el primero fue asociado a un absceso glúteo que se trató con antibacterianos, y el segundo a compromiso rinosinusal y úlcera necrótica de punta nasal, columela, tabique, cornete inferior izquierdo y paladar duro. Debido a la clínica e imá- genes radiológicas, se sospechó mucormicosis, por lo que se realizó cirugía con debridación extensa y se inició tratamiento antimicótico con anfotericina B desoxicolato. El cultivo de tejido informó abundante desarrollo de Mucor hiemalis. Se mantuvo pancitopénica durante aproximadamente un mes, siendo diariamente evaluada por un equipo multidisciplinario. Se hicieron varios aseos quirúrgicos, en el último se encontró tejido vital. La paciente completó diez días con anfotericina B desoxicolato y posteriormente se hizo traslape a posaconazol oral. Se realizó mielograma de control que evidenció remisión completa de recaída de LMA. Se dio de alta a su domicilio al día 40 de hospitalización, con hemograma adecuado y tratamiento oral con posaconazol para completar 6 semanas en total.

We report a case of a 41-years-old female patient with a history of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in remission. Hematology studies confirmed relapse of AML M4. Chemotherapy was started. The patient developed severe pancytopenia. She presented two episodes of febrile neutropenia, the first one was associated with a gluteal abscess that was treated with antibacterials, and the second to rhinosinusal involvement and necrotic ulcer of nasal tip, columella, septum, left inferior turbinate and hard palate. Due to clinical and radiological imaging, mucormycosis was suspected, so surgery was performed with extensive debridement and antifungal treatment with amphotericin B deoxicholate was initiated. Tissue culture reported abundant development of Mucor hiemalis. She remained pancytopenic for approximately one month, being evaluated daily by a multidisciplinary team. Several surgical were made, finding vital tissue in the last perform. The patient completed ten days with amphotericin B deoxicholate and later was overlapped to oral posaconazole. A control myelogram was performed, showing complete remission of AML. She was discharged to her home at day 40 of hospitalization, with adequate blood count and oral treatment with posaconazole to complete 6 weeks in total.

Aspergilosis invasora pulmonar en paciente con leucemia mieloide aguda en quimioterapia / Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with leukemia acute myeloid chemotherapy

Se reporta un caso clínico de un paciente masculino de 65 años, que ingresó al hospital por cuadro de 10 días de evolución, con sospecha clí- nica y de laboratorio de un síndrome mieloproliferativo. Estudiado por hematología, se confirmó Leucemia Mieloide Aguda M5. Se inició quimioterapia de inducción. El paciente evolucionó con pancitopenia, destacando neutropenia severa hasta 200 /mm3, febril y sin foco precisado. Se trató con antibióticos de amplio espectro por 10 días con buena respuesta. Cinco días después de finalizar su tratamiento antibiótico, nuevamente comenzó con fiebre, alza de parámetros inflamatorios, neutropenia severa y clínica de foco respiratorio. Se realizó Tomografía Computada (TC) de tórax y galactomanano en sangre, ambos compatibles con aspergilosis pulmonar, por lo que se inició tratamiento con voriconazol. El paciente evolucionó con buena respuesta clínica y de laboratorio, mejoría de imá- genes del TC de tórax y negativización de galactomanano. Al mes cedió la pancitopenia. Fue dado de alta en buenas condiciones generales, con indicación de volver a hospitalizar para quimioterapia de consolidación.

A report of a clinical case of a male patient aged 65 is presented. He entered to the hospital for 10 days evolution box with clinical and laboratory suspicion of a myeloproliferative syndrome. Studied by hematology, acute myeloid leukemia M5 was confirmed. induction chemotherapy began. The patient developed pancytopenia, highlighting severe neutropenia up to 200 / mm3, fever and without pointed focus. He was treated with broadspectrum antibiotics for 10 days with good response. Five days after finishing his antibiotic treatment began with fever again, rising inflammatory parameters, neutropenia and severe respiratory clinical focus. Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest and blood galactomannan was realized, both were compatible with pulmonary aspergillosis, starting treatment with voriconazole. The patient developed good both clinical and laboratory, improvement in chest CT images and negativization galactomannan response. Month later yielded pancytopenia. He was discharged in good general condition, indicating again been hospitalized for consolidation chemotherapy.

Leucemia promielocítica aguda: Resultados del protocolo terapéutico LPA2000, Programa Nacional de Cáncer del Adulto (PANDA), Ministerio de Salud, Chile / Acute promyelocytic leukemia: Results of the Chilean protocol LPA2000

Background: The current recommendations for treatment of patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) include all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline based chemotherapy. Aim: To evaluate the results of the Chilean protocol following the LPA99 regimen of the Spanish PETHEMA group, except for the replacement of Idarubicin by Daunorubicin. Patients and Methods: Induction consisted of Daunorubicin 45 mg/m² on days 2, 4, 6 and 8 plus ATRA 45 mg/m² daily until complete remission. Patients in complete remission (CR) received three monthly chemotherapy courses: Daunorubicin 45 mg/m²/d/4days i.v. and ATRA 45 mg/m²/d/15 days p.o. (course no. 1); Mitoxantrone 10 mg/m²/d/5 days i.v. and ATRA 45 mg/m²/d/15 days p.o. (course no. 2); Daunorubicin 60 mg/m²/d/ day 1 i.v. in the low risk group, and 1 and 2 in the intermediate-high risk groups and ATRA 45 mg/m²/d/15 days p.o. (course no. 3). Maintenance therapy consisted of mercaptopurine 90 mg/m²/d p.o., methotrexate 15 mg/m²/wk p.o. and, ATRA intermittently, 45 mg/m²/d p.o. for 15 days every three months. Results: Between January 2000 and December 2005, 56 patients with newly diagnosed APL from 10 centers were enrolled. A total of 46 patients achieved CR (85%), 8 (15%) died of early complications, seven patients relapsed, with a 16% relapse risk at three years. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival and relapse-free survival were 64% and 84% respectively. Conclusions: These data indicate that this protocol has a good antileukemic effect but further reduction of early death and relapse, especially in the high risk group is needed.