Elevación de creatinina sérica como indicador de necrosis pancreática / Elevation of serum creatinine as an indicator of pancreatic necrosis

La Pancreatitis Aguda (PA) es una patología que se autolimita en el 80% de los casos; estos casos en general evolucionan hacia la recuperación total. Su evolución puede ser de leve a severa. La forma grave varía desde un 10% a un 25% y se asocia con falla orgánica y/o complicaciones locales como necrosis pancreática. En Venezuela, la PA Severa es un importante problema de salud pública, encontrándose entre las primeras 25 causas de muerte. Este estudio plantea la utilización de una prueba de laboratorio ampliamente disponible, de fácil uso e interpretación, para pronosticar la aparición de complicaciones como necrosis pancreática. Objetivo: Determinar la utilidad de la creatinina sérica como factor predictivo de necrosis pancreática en pancreatitis aguda. Materiales y Metodos: Estudio de tipo analítico, transversal y retrospectivo. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes que ingresaron al hospital “Dr. Miguel Pérez Carreño”, con diagnóstico de pancreatitis aguda entre 2008 y 2009. Se registró creatinina sérica y se relacionó con la clasificación de severidad tomográfica según Balthazar. Resultados: La población estuvo conformada por 50 casos, de éstos se excluyeron 4, por embarazo o enfermedad renal crónica. Treinta de sexo femenino (65%) y 16 masculino (35%). Edades comprendidas entre 18 a 77 años, con media de 40,2. La estancia hospitalaria media fue de 8,74 días. Del total de 46 pacientes, presentó Balthazar A 63% (n=29), B 17,39% (n=8), C 14,04% (n= 6) y D 6,5% (n=3). No se obtuvo ningún E. Al aplicar un análisis de varianza se observó relación estadística significativa directamente proporcional de la creatinina sérica de ingreso (p=0,001) y de las 48 horas (p=0,001) con el Balthazar y el hematocrito. Conclusiones: La evaluación de los niveles y variaciones de creatinina sérica son de utilidad para predecir la aparición de necrosis pancreática en pacientes con pancreatitis aguda.

Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is a self-limited pathology in 80% of the cases; these cases generally evolve towards total recovery. Its evolution can be mild or severe. The severe form varies from a 10% to a 25%, and is associated with organ failure and/or local complications as pancreatic necrosis. In Venezuela severe AP is an important public health problem, being in the first 25 causes of death. The present study proposes the use of a widely available laboratory test, of easy use and interpretation, to predict the appearance of complications as pancreatic necrosis. Objective: To determine the usefulness of the serum creatinine as predictive factor of pancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis. Materials and Methods: An analytic, transversal and retrospective study. Clinical histories of patients admitted to the “Dr. Miguel Perez Carreño” hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis between years 2008 and 2009 were reviewed. Serum creatinine was registered and compared according to the Balthazar classification of tomographic severity. Results: The sample was comprised by 50 cases, from which 4 were excluded, due to pregnancy or chronic renal disease. Thirty were female (65%) and 16 male (35%). Between the ages of 18 and 77, with mean age of 40,2. The median hospital stay was 8,74 days. From total of 46 patients, 63% had Balthazar A (n=29); B 17.39% (n=8); C 14,04% (n= 6) and D 6.5% (n=3). No Balthazar E was obtained. When applying a variance analysis, a significant statistical relation was observed, directly proportional to the serum creatinine upon admission (p=0,001) and the 48 hours (p=0,001) with the Balthazar and hematocrit. Conclusions: The evaluation of the levels and variations of serum creatinine is a useful tool for predicting the appearance of pancreatic necrosis in patients with acute pancreatitis.

Sonografia Duplex-Color en la evaluación dé la disfunción erectil de origen vascular / Duplex-color sonography in the evaluation of erectile dysfunction of vascular origin

The authors review the penile ultrasound records of 47 patients referred from the Urology Service with a diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction. The pear systolic and and diastolic pressures were measured every 5 minutes for 30 minutes after the intracavernous injection of 60 mg of Papaverine, as well as the diameter of the cavernous arteries before and after the injection which was made using a 25 gauge needle. A tourniquet was applied at the base of the penis while injecting and was kept in place for 2 minutes after the injection was completed. The results were normal in 16 (34.04%) and abnormal in 31 (65.95%) patients. Of these, 27 (87.1%) had an abnormal vascular response and in 4 (12.9%) it was of an undetermined type. The abnormal vascular response was due to arterial insufficiency in 12 (44%) and to venous insufficiency in 15 (56%). The authors also found that the diameter of the cavernous arteries increased 15% to 120% (-/+ = 68%) in the patients with normal studies, 17% to 100% (-/+ = 58.1%) in those with arterial insufficiency and 23% to 89% (-/+ = 52.3%) in those with signs of venous insufficiency

Sonografía Duplex en el diagnóstico de trombosis venosa profunda en miembros inferiores / Duplex sonography in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs

Duplex ultrasonography (DUS) has shown high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It is now considered the initial procedure of choice for the evaluation of this entity because of its advantages (low cost, non invasiveness, no need for contrast media, no ionizing radiation) and because of the possibility of making other diagnoses, v.g. Baker's cyst. With the development of color Doppler, this study has become easier and now includes the calf and iliac vessels. Nevertheless, it has not improved the sensitivity and specificity of DUS. Phlebography, until now the [quot ]golden standard[quot ], has become a [quot ]second choice[quot ] procedure for proximal DVT but it continues to be of value in the evaluation of calf veins, which are more difficult to evaluate with DUS, and other venous pathology