Ascitis quilosa post cirugía abdominal: caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Chylous ascites management: clinical case and literature review

Chylous ascites is a peritoneal collection with milky appearance, rich in triglycerides produced by the presence of thoracic or intestinal lymph in the abdominal cavity. The increasing number of surgical interventions has meant an increase of this disease in the last time. We present the case of a 39-yearsold woman with a history of a retroperitoneal cystic lesion in the abdominal ultrasound, which was a finding, and was followed up for 5 years. In the last control abdominal ultrasound showed an accelerated growth, the study was complemented with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the abdomen showed a retroperitoneal cystic lesion, 7 cm larger diameter in contact with aorta, left ureter and lower pole of the left kidney, suspecting malignancy, reason why its surgical resection was decided. It evolved after the surgical intervention with progressive increase of the abdominal perimeter, diffuse pain and early satiety, performing abdominal ultrasound showing a liver of normal structure with moderate ascites. The diagnostic paracentesis gave out 1,000 mL of milky-white liquid with triglycerides of 1,287 mg/dL. The diagnosis of chylous ascites was proposed, secondary to thoracic duct injury and it was managed with a diet with low intake of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, with medium chain triglycerides with favorable results. The pathophysiology, etiology, nutritional and non-nutritional management of chylous ascites are discussed.

La ascitis quilosa es una colección peritoneal con apariencia lechosa, rica en triglicéridos producido por la presencia de linfa torácica o intestinal en la cavidad abdominal. El creciente número de intervenciones quirúrgicas ha significado un aumento de esta patología en el último tiempo. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 39 años, con historia de una lesión retroperitoneal quística en la ecotomografía abdominal, que fue un hallazgo, realizándose seguimiento por 5 años. En la última ecotomografía de control presentó crecimiento acelerado por lo que se complementa estudio con una Resonancia Nuclear Magnética de abdomen que muestro lesión quística retroperitoneal de 7 cm de diámetro mayor en contacto con aorta, uréter izquierdo y polo inferior del riñón izquierdo, sospechándose malignidad, por lo que se decide su resección. Evolucionó posterior a la intervención quirúrgica con aumento progresivo del perímetro abdominal, dolor difuso y saciedad precoz, realizándose ecotomografía abdominal que muestra un hígado de estructura normal con ascitis moderada. La paracentesis diagnóstica dio salida a 1.000 mL de líquido blanquecino de aspecto lechoso con triglicéridos de 1.287 mg/dL. Se planteó el diagnóstico de ascitis quilosa, secundario a lesión del conducto torácico y se manejó con dieta con bajo aporte en grasas saturadas, poliinsaturadas y monoinsaturadas, con aporte de triglicéridos de cadena media con resultados favorables. Se discuten la fisiopatología, etiología, manejo nutricional y no nutricional de la ascitis quilosa.

Detección precoz de cáncer pulmonar con tomografía computarizada de tórax en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica tabáquica / Early detection of lung cancer using computed tomography among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) scan may improve lung cancer detection at early stages in high risk populations. Aim: To assess the diagnostic performance of chest CT in early lung cancer detection in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and Methods: One hundred sixty one patients aged 50 to 80 years, active or former smokers of 15 or more pack-years and with COPD were enrolled. They underwent annual respiratory functional assessment and chest computed tomography for three years and were followed for five years. Results: Chest CT allowed the detection of lung cancer in nine patients (diagnostic yield: 5.6%). Three cases were detected in the initial CT and six cases in follow-up scans. Most patients were in early stages of the disease (6 stage Ia and 1 stage Ib). Two patients were diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease and died due to complications of cancer. Two thirds of patients had nonspecific pulmonary nodules on the initial chest CT scan (100 patients, 62%). Seventy four percent had less than three nodules and were of less than 5 mm of diameter in 57%. In 92% of cases, these were false positive findings. In the follow-up chest CT, lung nodules were detected in two thirds of patients and 94% of cases corresponded to false positive findings. Conclusions: Chest CT scans may detect lung cancer at earlier stages in COPD patients.

Predictores clínicos de bacteriemia en adultos inmunocompetentes hospitalizados por neumonía adquirida en la comunidad / Clinical predictors of bacteremia in immunocompetent adult patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia

Background: The clinical usefulness of blood cultures in the management of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is controversial. Aim: To determine clinical predictors of bacteremia in a cohort of adult patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia. Material and Methods: A prospective cohort of 605 immunocompetent adult patients aged 16 to 101 years (54% male) hospitalized for CAP was studied. The clinical and laboratory variables measured at admission were associated with the risk of bacteremia by univariate and multivariate analysis using logistic regression models. Results: Seventy seven percent of patients had comorbidities, median hospital stay was 9 days, 7.6% died in hospital and 10.7% at 30 days. The yield of the blood cultures was 12.6% (S. pneumoniae in 69 patients, H. influenzae in 3, Gram negative bacteria in three and S. aureus in one). These results modified the initial antimicrobial treatment in one case (0.2%). In a multivariate analysis, clinical and laboratory variables associated with increased risk of bacteremia were low diastolic blood pressure (Odds ratio (OR): 1.85, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.02 to 3.36, p < 0.05), leukocytosis e" 15,000/mm³ (OR: 2.18, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.88, p < 0.009), serum urea nitrogen e" 30 mg/dL (OR: 2.23, 95% CI 1.22 to 4.05, p < 0.009) and serum C-reactive protein e" 30 mg/dL (OR: 2.20, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.97, p < 0.01). Antimicrobial use before hospital admission significantly decreased the blood culture yield (OR: 0.14, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.46, p < 0.002). Conclusions: Blood cultures do not contribute significantly to the initial management of patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia. The main clinical predictors of bacteremia were antibiotic use, hypotension, renal dysfunction and systemic inflammation.