Mucormicosis en una paciente diabética: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Mucormycosis in a diabetic patient: case report and literature review

Presentamos un caso de Mucormicosis Rinoorbitaria en una mujer de 48 años, diabética, en cetoacidosis, a quien se hizo el diagnóstico por histopatología. Tratada con anfotericina B intravenosa y un agresivo debridamiento quirúrgico para eliminar tejidos infartados y necróticos de gran parte de la hemicara y ojo derecho, logra sobrevivir a esta catastrófica infección. La mucormicosis es una infección aguda y extremadamente grave causada por hongos oportunistas y ubicuos del orden Mucoroles pertenecientes a la clase Phycomycetes, que afecta principalmente a un grupo de pacientes cuyas condiciones inmunológicas y metabólicas favorecen el desarrollo del hongo. Hacemos una definición del grupo de "pacientes en riesgo", lo que es extremadamente importante, ya que de la sospecha clínica se puede abordar un diagnóstico precoz para evitar la alta mortalidad y morbilidad que esta enfermedad provoca. Analizamos la patogenia de la enfermedad, así como una revisión de la literatura sobre modalidades de diagnóstico y terapéutica. El diagnóstico de urgencia sigue siendo de responsabilidad del patólogo, y el tratamiento de mayor éxito es la anfotericina B.

We present a case of rhinoorbital mucormycosis in a diabetic, developing ketoacidose, 48-year old woman. Diagnosis was established through histopathology. The patient was successfully treated and survives with a combination of anphotericin B and an aggressive surgery in order to eliminate all the ischemic and necrotic tissues affecting almost the entire right side of the face and intraorbital structures surviving to this catastrophic infection. Mucormycosis is an acute and often fatal infection caused by opportunistic fungus of the class Zygomycetes, order Mucoroles that affects a select group of patients associated with underlying metabolic and immunological disorders. A definition of "risk-group" is proposed. This definition is of extreme importance for a prompt diagnosis avoiding the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with this condition. We review both pathogenic mechanism and literature related to diagnostic modalities and new therapeutical approaches. Emergency diagnosis is still in hands of pathologists and the most successful treatment is with anphotericin B.

Docencia de pregrado en medicina interna en un hospital privado: Diez años de experiencia / Undergraduate teaching of internal medicine in a private hospital

There is a 10 years teaching experience for fourth year medical students and interns in a Chilean private hospital. The students attend an eight weeks practical course. The interns rotate during 16 weeks by specialties and make shifts. The hospital structure with Clinical Services and Medical-Surgical departments facilitates the teaching process. There are approximately 30,000 admissions per year with a mean stay of 3.7 days, that allow the students to be in touch with patients with different diseases that are managed with updated technology. We emphasize the ethical and clinical management of concrete problems of patients, self ¡earning and communication skills. The students evaluate their stay answering surveys and with semi structured interviews. Teaching is assessed by tutors and heads of departments, in clinical rounds, sometimes prepared by the students, by a thorough revision of problem oriented medical records and with practical and theoretical tests. The results of the program have been quite satisfactory for participants.

Nefritis intersticial aguda y lamotrigina / Acute interstitial nephritis associated to lamotrigine use: report of one case

Acute interstitial nephritis is a mononuclear and sterile inflammation of the renal interstice caused by drugs, infections or immune phenomena. The clinical presentation is characterized by the triad of rash, fever and eosinophilia. We report a 32 years old man, in treatment with lamotrigine for depression, admitted to the hospital due to fever, abdominal pain, jaundice, cutaneus rash and malaise. Due to an oliguric renal failure of acute onset, a renal biopsy was done. The pathological study showed a granulomatous acute interstitial nephritis. He was started on hemodialysis and treated with cessation of the drug and corticosteroids, with complete recovery of the renal function (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 742-6).

Epistaxis masiva asociada a trauma: una indicación de angiografía y embolización superselectiva: caso clínico / Massive epistaxis associated to trauma, treated with angiography and selective embolization: clinical case

We report a 23 years old male admitted to the hospital after a fall from a great altitude with severe trauma. During the second week of hospitalization he presented a severe nosebleed that did not respond to conventional tamponade. A selective angiography was performed and the branches of the internal maxillary artery were embolized in two occasions, stopping the bleeding. The patient was discharged from the hospital after 71 days of hospitalization