Análisis estadístico de la práctica quirúrgica oncológica de piel, en nuestra especialidad / Statistical analysis of skin cancer surgical practice in our specialty

El cáncer de piel es el más frecuente de todos los tipos de cáncer del ser humano, por lo cual el conocimiento y diagnóstico correcto de la patología oncocutánea, así como la formación impartida a los especialistas de nuestra área, es de vital importancia a la hora de jerarquizar el diagnóstico temprano y lograr un adecuado tratamiento de forma oportuna. El correcto abordaje terapéutico del cáncer cutáneo y sus variantes es de primordial importancia en el manejo quirúrgico de los cirujanos plásticos, por lo cual la Comisión de Oncología Quirúrgica de tumores de piel de la Sociedad Argentina de Cirugía Plástica Estética y Reparadora (SACPER) decide realizar y difundir la siguiente encuesta anónima a los miembros de la SACPER. En esta encuesta evaluativa, se obtuvieron datos sobre el estado actual de formación de los cirujanos de nuestro país, la ejecución de las prácticas relacionadas con el abordaje, la resección o la reconstrucción posterior relacionados a dicha patología.

The knowledge and correct diagnosis of the oncocutaneous pathology, as well as the training provided to the specialists in our area, is of vital importance when prioritizing early diagnosis and achieving adequate treatment. The correct therapeutic approach to skin cancer and its variants is of paramount importance in the surgical management of plastic surgeons, for which we decided to carry out an anonymous survey of the members of the Argentine Society of Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (SACPER). In this questionnaire, we obtained valuable information about the current state of training of surgeons in our country, the execution of practices related to the approach, resection, or subsequent reconstruction related to said pathology.

Dolor pélvico crónico secundario a síndrome de congestión pélvica: resultados del tratamiento endovascular de la insuficiencia venosa pelviana y várices genitales / Embolization of insufficient pelvic veins for pelvic congestion syndrome: analysis of 17 cases

Background: Pelvic venous insufficiency may cause pelvic congestion syndrome that is characterized by chronic pelvic pain exacerbated by prolonged standing, sexual activity or menstrual cycle. It may be treated by embolizing the dysfunctional pelvic venous drainage and sometimes resecting vulvar, perineal and thigh varices. Aim: To assess the results of embolization of insufficient pelvic or ovarian veins on pelvic congestion syndrome. Material and Methods: Analysis of 17 female patients aged 32 to 53 years, who underwent subjected to a selective coil embolization of insufficient pelvic and/or ovarian veins through the jugular, basilic or cephalic veins. In the preoperative period, all patients had a lower extremity venous duplex pelvic ultrasound examination and some had an abdominal and pelvic CT angiogram. Results: The technical success of the procedure was 100% and no complications were registered. During a 32 month follow up, no patient had symptoms of pelvic venous insufficiency or relapse of vulvar or thigh varices. Conclusions: Embolization of insufficient pelvic and ovarian veins is a safe and successful procedure for the treatment of pelvic venous insufficiency or vulvar varices.

Insuficiencia mesentérica crónica luego de radioterapia para aórtica / Surgical revascularization for treatment of chronic mesenteric ischemia secondary to radiotherapy

Background: Chronic mesenteric ischemia is observed in older people and is often due to atherosclerosis. Radiotherapy is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. Aim: To report our experience with chronic mesenteric ischemia secondary to retroperitoneal radiotherapy. Material and methods: Review of medical records of four male patients aged 39 to 65 years, treated for chronic mesenteric ischemia secondary to para-aortic radiotherapy between 1993 and 2011. Results: All of them had the classic symptoms of ischemia characterized by post prandial abdominal pain and weight loss. One had also isolated diarrhea episodes. Revascularization was achieved with open or endovascular surgery, with good results during a follow up period ranging from two to 20 years. Conclusions: Surgical revascularization is a good treatment for chronic mesenteric ischemia secondary to radiotherapy.

Introducción: La insuficiencia mesentérica crónica es un diagnóstico infrecuente, generalmente secundario a enfermedad aterosclerótica, siendo considerada una enfermedad de pacientes añosos. Se sabe que la radioterapia es un factor de riesgo importante para aterosclerosis. Describimos nuestra experiencia en el manejo de la isquemia mesentérica crónica secundaria a radioterapia retroperitoneal. Materiales y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo de las fichas clínicas de los pacientes tratados en nuestro centro por insuficiencia mesentérica crónica posterior a radioterapia del territorio para-aórtico entre 1993 y 2011. Resultados: Un total de 4 pacientes de sexo masculino fueron identificados. Edad promedio: 49 +/- 12 años (rango 39-65). Todos presentaron los síntomas clásicos de insuficiencia mesentérica caracterizados por dolor abdominal postprandial y baja de peso. Uno de ellos además tenía episodios repetidos de diarrea. La revascularización mesentérica se obtuvo mediante cirugía abierta o endovascular con excelentes resultados a corto y largo plazo con un seguimiento promedio de 9,3 años (rango 2-20). Discusión: El curso acelerado de la aterosclerosis posterior a radioterapia se ha descrito en múltiples territorios vasculares. Síntomas de insuficiencia mesentérica crónica pueden ser malinterpretados en estos pacientes debido a su similitud con los síntomas observados en la ileitis actínica. Un diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno son críticos para evitar complicaciones mayores y deterioro de calidad de vida de estos pacientes. Conclusión: La insuficiencia mesentérica crónica inducida por radioterapia es una condición infrecuente. El manejo con cirugía abierta o endovascular son seguras y otorgan resolución sintomática a largo plazo.

Tratamiento híbrido de arteria subclavia derecha aberrante / Hybrid treatment aberrant right subclavian artery

Introduction: An aberrant right subclavian artery is the most frequent aortic arch malformation. It is frequently an incidental finding of imaging studies and serious complications may arise if left untreated. Clinical case: We present a case of a young woman with a dilated aberrant right subclavian artery that was successfully treated by a hybrid approach.

Introducción: La arteria subclavia derecha aberrante es la malformación arterial más frecuente del arco aórtico. Su diagnóstico es habitualmente un hallazgo de estudios de imágenes solicitados por otras causas pero puede tener serias complicaciones si se obtiene en forma tardía. Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso de una mujer joven con diagnóstico de arteria subclavia lusoria dilatada sometida exitosamente a tratamiento híbrido electivo.

Tratamiento "híbrido" del aneurisma tóraco-abdominal: revascularización visceral extraanatómica e inserción de endoprótesis / Extra anatomical revascularization and endovascular stent-grafting for thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: Report of four cases

Surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms is a big technical challenge with a high rate of complications and mortality. It requires a large exposure and transient interruption of vital organ perfusion during its repair. Endovascular repair is a less invasive alternative available over the last decade. We report four male patients aged 44 to 76 years, with thoracic aortic aneurysms and involvement of visceral aorta, treated with a two stage procedure. During the first stage, a retrograde revascularization of the superior mesenteric and renal arteries from the infrarenal aorta was done, associated in two cases to a concomitant repair of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm. In the second stage, an endovascular graft was placed through the femoral artery, from the segment proximal to the aneurysm to the infrarenal aorta, above the origin of the visceral artery reconstructions, excluding the aneurysm from circulation. In one patient, both stages were concomitant and in three the second stage was delayed. One patient presented a postoperative bleeding that required reintervention without adverse consequences. No patient died, presented paraplegia or deterioration of renal function. After follow up of 6 to 20 months, there is no evidence of aneurysm growth or complications derived from the procedure.

Tratamiento endovascular de aneurisma aórtico abdominal: resultados en 80 pacientes consecutivos / Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm: Results in 80 consecutive patients

Background: Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) avoids laparotomy, shortens hospital stay and reduces morbidity and mortality related to surgical repair, allowing full patient recovery in less time. Aim: To report short and long term results of endovascular repair of AAA in 80 consecutive patients treated at our institution. Patients and Methods: Between September 1997 and February 2005, three women and 77 men with a mean age 73.6±7.7 years with AAA 5.8±1.0 cm in diameter, were treated. The surgical risk of 38 percent of patients was grade III according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Each procedure was performed in the operating room, under local or regional anesthesia, with the aid of digital substraction angiography. The endograft was deployed through the femoral artery (83.7 percent bifurcated, 16.3 percent tubular graft). A femoro-femoral bypass was required in 11.3 percent of cases. Follow-up included a spiral CT scan at 1, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and then annually. Results: Endovascular repair was successfully completed in 79/80 patients (98.7 percent technical success). The procedures lasted 147±71 min. Length of stay in the observation unit was 20.6±13.5 h. Blood transfusion was required in 10 percent. Sixty two percent of the patients were discharged before 72 h. One patient died 8 days after surgery due to a myocardial infarction (1.3 percent). During follow-up (3-90 months), 1 patient developed late AAA enlargement due to a type I endoleak, requiring a new endograft. No AAA rupture was observed. Survival at 4 years was 84.2 percent (SE =9.2). Endovascular re-intervention free survival was 82.7 percent (SE =9.5). Conclusion: Endovascular surgery allows effective exclusion of AAA avoiding progressive enlargement and/or rupture and is a good alternative to open repair. Close and frequent postoperative follow up is mandatory.

Tratamiento endovascular del síndrome de vena cava superior / Endovascular treatment of superior vena cava syndrome

Background: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is caused by the obstruction of venous drainage from the upper portion of the body. Common clinical findings are headache and cervical, facial and upper limb edema. Occasionally, clouding of consciousness appears. Aim: to report our experience with endovascular treatment of SVCS. Material and methods: Retrospective review of all patients with SVCS subjected to endovascular treatment between 1999 and 2005. Results: Eight patients were treated, all of them with malignancies. Six had a benign obstruction due to the presence of a chemotherapy catheter located in the superior vena cava, one had obstruction secondary to radiation therapy and one a tumor compression of the superior vena cava. Two patients underwent thrombolytic therapy. Angioplasty and stenting was performed in all patients. The chemotherapy catheter was removed to all patients and installed again in one. One patient had a hemothorax secondary to a simultaneous needle lung biopsy under video thoracoscopy. No patient died in relation to the procedure. Congestive signs and symptoms subsided in all patients within 24 hours after the procedure. During follow up, only one patient had symptoms related to vena cava obstruction and three died due to their malignant tumor. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of SVCS has a low rate of complications and provides immediate and mid-term symptom relief.

Tratamiento endovascular del trauma de aorta descendente / Endovascular treatment of descending aorta trauma

Background: Mortality of traumatic aortic lesions is over 80 percent. A group of those who survive, develop a chronic pseudo aneurism, usually asymptomatic, that is detected during imaging studies. Since conventional surgical treatment of traumatic aortic lesions has a great mortality, endovascular treatment has been used as an alternative treatment in the last decade. Aim: To report our experience with endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic lesions. Patients and methods: Report of seven patients aged 22 to 65 years, with traumatic aortic lesions. Under general anesthesia an endovascular prosthesis was inserted through the femoral artery. Results: No complications were observed in the postoperative period, and after a follow up ranging from 4 to 40 months, no endoleaks or other complications have been detected. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic lesions has good immediate and midterm results.

Síndrome del martillo hipotenar / Hypothenar hammer syndrome

Hypothenar hammer syndrome is an infrequently diagnosed labor disease. We report a 51 years old male who used the medial aspect of his left hand as a hammer over the past 12 years. He presented with ipsilateral ring finger embolization. An angiogram demonstrated an ulnar artery occlusion at the hypothenar eminence. No other source of emboli was found and treatment was conservative. This disease is a consequence of repetitive traum aon the ulnar artery, that leads to vessel wall changes and promotes local thrombosis, distal embolization and eventually, occlusion in situ. Treatment options are conservative in case of occlusion or reconstruction with exclusion of the emboligeneous area