Cirugía en el paciente cirrótico: características clínicas y complicaciones en una cohorte de pacientes chilenos / Surgical complications in cirrhotic patients: analysis of 102 cases

Background: Cirrhotic patients have an increased surgical risk due to potential intra and postoperative complications. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics and surgical complications of cirrhotic patients undergoing surgery in a Chilean university hospital. Patients and Methods: Review of medical records of 102 cirrhotic patients aged 60 ± 11 years (52% males) who underwent elective or urgency surgery at an university hospital between 2010 and 2016. General, pre-surgical, and post-surgical complications were recorded. Results: The main etiologies of cirrhosis were non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (31%), and alcoholic cirrhosis (28%). Child-Pugh scores were A, B and C in 50, 28 and 22% of cases respectively. Median MELD (Model for End-stage Liver Disease) score was 11 (interquartile range: 10-15). The surgical procedure was elective in 71% of cases, with predominance of abdominal surgery (86%). The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score was three or more in 52% of patients. The frequency of any adverse outcome was 62%. The frequency increased along with the severity of cirrhosis and when surgery was urgent. The most common complications were acute renal failure (24%), increased ascites (23%) and encephalopathy (22%). Admission to intensive care unit occurred on 26% of patients, with six hospital deaths. Conclusions: In these patients, surgical complications were common, although with low mortality.

Manifestaciones cutáneas en adultos con trasplante hepático del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile / Skin manifestations in adults with a liver allograft

Background: Skin manifestations after liver transplantation are increasing due to long term immunosuppressive therapy along with an increase in patient survival. Several studies have reported dermatologic complications following renal transplant, but few have studied dermatologic problems after liver transplantation. Aims: To describe the different types of cutaneous lesions encountered in adults receiving a liver allograft. To evaluate the frequency of cutaneous manifestations of patients in the liver transplant waiting list. Material and Methods: Eighty patients submitted to a liver transplant and 70 patients in the liver transplant waiting list were evaluated with a complete dermatological physical examination. Results: Sixty one percent of patients with a liver allograft had at least one skin manifestation. Of these, 34% had superficial fungal infections, 31% had viral infections, 20% had cutaneous side effects due to immunosuppressive treatment, 10% had malignant lesions, 2% had bacterial infections and one patient had a graft versus host disease. Only 28% of patients in the liver transplant waiting list had dermatologic problems, and the vast majority were lesions linked to liver cirrhosis. Conclusions: Cutaneous infections were the most common skin problems in liver transplant patients. Although neoplastic lesions are the most commonly mentioned lesions in the literature, only a 10% of our liver transplant patients presented these type of lesions.

Eliminación espontánea de virus hepatitis C en trasplantado hepático: a propósito de dos casos / Spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus after liver transplantation: Report of two cases

The spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection is rare, especially after liver transplantation, condition in which recurrence is almost universal. We report two cases in which clearance of the virus was achieved after liver transplantation. We reviewed the literature and described possible mechanisms explaining this phenomenon, with emphasis on therapeutic implications.

Cirugía metabólica: ¿una nueva alternativa para el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2? / Metabolic surgery: new alternative for diabetes mellitus type 2?

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a global epidemic. Classical studies have demonstrated the benefits of tight glycemic control, showing a decrease in complications and mortality. Current therapy based on changes in lifestyle and medication accomplishes these goals in an insufficient number of patients. Follow up of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery has shown us a significant reduction in overweight and control comorbidities. In diabetic patients, there is adequate glycemic control, decreased insulin resistance, and decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin.The pathophysiological mechanisms that explain these effects are being studied, and includes benefits associated with significant and sustained weight loss, and mechanisms independent of weight loss that appear early after surgery. The latter would be due to changes in GI anatomy induced by surgery, including activation of the entero insular axis, exclusion of the foregut, and stimulation of the distal ileum with enhanced incretin production. Since the surgery seems to have an effect on diabetes that is primary, specific and independent of weight loss, authors have suggested de idea of extending surgical indication to diabetic patients with BMI <35. Initial surgical experience in this group of patients show encouraging results, however, at this point there is insufficient data to generalize its indication. The results of on going surgical protocols will help to clarify the role of surgery in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in patients with BMI <35.