Infección de prótesis de aorta ascendente: tratamiento con aseo quirúrgico, preservación de prótesis y transposición de colgajo muscular en dos casos / Infection of ascending aortic graft: treatment with surgical cleaning, graft preservation and transposition of muscle flaps, report of 2 cases

Mediastinitis with graft infection is a serious complication of ascending aorta replacement. We report two cases of graft infection, treated with surgical cleaning, graft preservation and transposition of muscle flaps. A 62 years old male was admitted 34 days after an ascending aortic grafting due to a sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis. Antimicrobial treatment was started and a surgical cleaning performed, leaving an open sternotomy. Three days later, the thoracic cavity was closed with a rectus abdominis muscle flap. After 23 months of follow up, the patient is well and without evidence of infection. A 74 years old male was subjected to an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement and a myocardial revascularization. In the postoperative period, the patient developed septic signs, and a purulent drainage. A CAT scan showed a liquid collection surrounding the aortic graft. On tW Sixteenth postoperative day, a surgical cleaning was performed and the thorax was closed with the pectoralis major muscle. After 10 months of follow up, the patient is in Good condition and without evidence of infection

Aneurisma de la vena poplítea / Popliteal vein aneurysm: report of one case

The popliteal vein aneurysm is a rare condition that can lead to local symptoms, thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. We report the case of a 67 years old, otherwise healthy white male, who presented to us with localised swelling and pain in the left popliteal fossa. Duplex ultrasound and venography were obtained, confirming the diagnosis of popliteal vein aneurysm. The patient underwent tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy, recovery was uneventful remaining asymptomatic. The reconstruction was demonstrated patent on a duplex scan. The popliteal vein aneurysm is a potentially fatal condition for which surgical treatment is recommended

Protocolo de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la coledocolitiasis en pacientes candidatos a colecistectomía laparoscópica / Protocol of diagnosis and treatment of choledocholithiasis in patients scheduled to laparoscopic cholecystectomy

En la era de la cirugía mínimamente invasiva el manejo de la coledocolitiasis asociada a colelitiasis es aún motivo de controversia. Presentamos a continuación los resultados de un protocolo de manejo de estos pacientes de acuerdo al riesgo estimado de presentar coledocolitiasis asociada a colelitiasis. Se incluyeron en el estudio 605 pacientes candidatos a colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL). De acuerdo a criterios clínicos, bioquímicos y radiológicos se dividió a los pacientes en tres grupos de acuerdo al riesgo de presentar coledocolitiasis. A los pacientes con diagnóstico ecográfico de coledocolitiasis y a aquellos ictéricos al ingreso, se les practicó una CPRE previa a la CL. A aquellos sin sospecha para coledocolitiasis se les estudió mediante colangiografía endovenosa e intraoperatoria. Se analizan los resultados obtenidos en el tratamiento de la coledocolitiasis asociada a colelitiasis mediante la combinación CPRE + CL versus colecistectomía clásica y coledocostomía. Se concluye que el uso juicioso de los criterios para estimar el riesgo de coledocolitiasis ayuda en el uso selectivo de la CPRE y que está combinada con la CL representa una buena alternativa para el tratamiento clásico

Factores de riesgo de coledocolitiasis / Choledocholithiasis risk factors

El tratamiento de la coledocolitiasis asociada a colelitiasis es aún motivo de controversia. La capacidad para predecir la presencia de coledocolitiasis asociada a colelitiasis en pacientes candidatos a cirugía permite dirigir el manejo en forma selectiva. Con este objetivo se analizaron las fichas clínicas de 1137 pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía laparoscópica entre enero de 1993 y abril de 1994, seleccionando 681 pacientes con estudio colangiográfico. Se analizaron parámetros clínicos como ictericia y coluria, bioquímicos como elevación de fosfatasas alcalinas y bilirrubina total y dilatación de la vía biliar en la ecografía. Las variables se analizaron en forma individual (chi cuadrado) y en conjunto (regresión logística paso a paso). En el análisis univariado los parámetros con mejor correlación fueron la ictericia al ingreso, la elevación de fosfatasas alcalinas y la dilatación de la vía biliar. La combinación de las tres arrojó una concordancia del 72 por ciento

Ventilación mecánica no invasiva intermitente: utilidad en el tratamiento de la insuficiencia cardíaca crónica avanzada / Non invasive intermittent mechanical ventilation: utility in the treatment of advanced chronic cardiac failure

The higher respiratory work and less inspiratory muscle strength of patients with cardiac failure may contribute to dicrease their functional capacity. To assess the effects of non invasive intermittent mechanical ventilation on clinical parameters, peropheral perfusion, cardiac and inspiratory muscle function. Patients with chronic cardiac failure, functional cpacity III-IV were subjected to 6 sessions of nasal non invasive intermittent ventilation during 4 hours or to simulated ventilation (controls). Fifteen ventilated patients and 6 controls completed the protocol. Ventilated patients improved the mahler transition score for dysnea by 4ñ1.6 points. They also improved their aerobic capacity, increasing the exercise duration from 10.9ñ4 to 12.7ñ5 min and their maximal oxygen consumption from 14.6ñ4 to 16.4ñ5.7 ml/kg/min. These patients also decreased their O2 and CO2 ventilatory equivalents. Maximal inspiratory pressure increased from 67.9ñ23.6 to 80.19ñ21.4 cm H2O, sustained maximal inspiratory pressure increased from 101.4ñ48 to 133ñ53 cm H2O and maximal endurance increased from 132ñ52 to 162ñ58 g in ventilated patients. None of these variables was modified in control patients. No changes were observed in renal function, blood volume, arterial gases, spirometry or plasma catecholamine levels in any group. Intermittent nasal ventilation or other measures to improve inspiratory muscle function may be beneficial for patients with severe cardiac failure