Abdome agudo oncológico: diagnóstico e manejo / Oncological acute abdomen: diagnosis and management

Introdução: Queixas gastrointestinais em pacientes oncológicos podem representar um dilema diagnóstico com taxas significativas de morbidade e mortalidade. O abdome agudo secundário à neoplasia é geralmente multifatorial. Causas relacionadas à neoplasia podem ser diretas (efeito mecânico do tumor, sangramento tumoral, progressão de doença) ou indiretas (manifestações sistêmicas como imunossupressão e hipercoagulabilidade). Devido às diversas possíveis causas subjacentes, a avaliação clínica se torna complicada dado o quadro clínico por vezes atípico e a apresentação eventualmente tardia, visto que a imunossupressão pode atenuar muitos achados. O exame de imagem, em especial a tomografia computadorizada, desempenha um papel fundamental na identificação da causa subjacente, no mapeamento da extensão da doença e na triagem de candidatos cirúrgicos. Métodos: Realizou-se busca nas bases de dado PubMed, Scielo e Embase, procurando os termos "Oncologic Acute Abdomen" e "Oncological Acute Abdomen", sendo selecionados os artigos mais relevantes e focados na prática clínica, de forma a resumir as principais etiologias, diagnóstico e manejo. Resultados: A causa mais recorrente de abdome agudo oncológico é, de forma ampla, intestinal, abarcando diagnósticos de obstrução, perfuração e causas inflamatórias. Conclusão: A cirurgia para emergências abdominais em pacientes com câncer avançado carrega um alto risco operatório e requer discussão multidisciplinar de indicações, com total respeito pelas regras éticas. O objetivo da cirurgia é melhorar os sintomas e focar tanto na qualidade de vida quanto na duração da sobrevida. Muitas alternativas existem e suas vantagens e limitações devem ser pesadas antes de recorrer a um procedimento cirúrgico.

Introduction: Gastrointestinal complaints in cancer patients may represent a diagnostic dilemma with significant morbidity and mortality rates. The acute abdomen secondary to neoplasia is usually multifactorial. Causes related to neoplasia can be direct (mechanical tumor effect, tumor bleeding, disease progression) or indirect (systemic manifestations such as immunosuppression and hypercoagulability). Due to the many possible underlying causes, clinical evaluation becomes complicated given the sometimes-atypical clinical picture and the eventually late presentation, since immunosuppression may attenuate many findings. Imaging, especially computed tomography, plays a key role in identifying the underlying cause, mapping the extent of disease, and screening surgical candidates. Methods: We searched the databases PubMed, Scielo and Embase, searching for the terms "Oncologic Acute Abdomen" and "Oncological Acute Abdomen", being selected the most relevant articles and focused on clinical practice, in order to summarize the main etiologies, diagnosis, and management. Results: The most frequent cause of acute oncologic abdomen is the intestinal cause, encompassing diagnoses of obstruction, perforation and inflammatory causes. Conclusion: Surgery for abdominal emergencies in patients with advanced cancer carries a high surgical risk and requires a multidisciplinary discussion of indications, with full respect for ethical rules. The goal of surgery is to improve the symptoms and focus on both quality of life and duration of survival. Many alternatives exist and their advantages and limitations must be weighed before resorting to a surgical procedure.

Motivos de consulta al servicio de urgencias de los pacientes adultos con enfermedades hemato-oncológicas en un hospital de cuarto nivel de atención / The main symptoms leading to consult adult patients with diseases hemato-oncology to emergency care service on a quaternary care hospital

Objetivos: Describir los motivos de consulta de los pacientes con enfermedades hemato-oncológicas que asisten al servicio de urgencias de un hospital de cuarto nivel de complejidad. Además se realizó un seguimiento para determinar la causa de egreso del hospital. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio longitudinal descriptivo de los pacientes adultos con antecedente de patología hemato-oncológica que consultaron al servicio de urgencias del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio entre el 1 de noviembre de 2011 y el 29 de febrero de 2012. Resultados: Se identificaron 672 consultas en cuatro meses, con antecedente de tumor sólido en el 84,52% y el resto correspondía a neoplasia hemato-oncológica. El 9,2% de las consultas correspondían a condiciones emergentes, 25,5% a condiciones urgentes y 65,3% a no urgentes. Los motivos de consulta más frecuentes fueron: dolor abdominal (26,3%) y disnea (19,3%). Posterior a la atención inicial, requirieron hospitalización el 56,2%, observación 30,8% y alta el 13% de los pacientes. Conclusión: La mayoría de las consultas al servicio de urgencias corresponden a condiciones no urgentes. Este grupo de pacientes se beneficiaría de la creación de consultas prioritarias para cuidados paliativos en servicios de consulta externa, lo que ayudaría a descongestionar los servicios de urgencias y dar al paciente una atención adecuada ofreciendo calidad de vida, acompañamiento y apoyo.

Objectives: To describe the reasons and outcome of patients with hemato-oncological diseases who were attended at the emergency care service on a quaternary care hospital and determine the most common causes for admission by hemato-oncological diseases. Methods: This was a descriptive longitudinal study of adult patients with a history of hemato-oncological disease who visited the emergency department between 1st November 2011 and 29th February 2012. Results: during the period study, 672 consultations were recorded, with a history of solid tumour in 84.52% and the remainder were hemato-oncological neoplasm; 9.2% of consultations were emergencies, 25.5% were urgencies and 65.3% were not urgent. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (26.3%) and dyspnoea (19.3%). Conclusion: The majority of emergency department visits are non-urgent conditions. This group of patients would benefit with the creation of priority consultations for palliative care in outpatients services. This would help decongest the emergency services and give the patient an adequate quality of life, guidance and support.

Recaída extramedular de leucemia linfocítica aguda: reporte de un caso / Extramedullary relapse of acute linfoblastic leukemia: report of a case

El síndrome de vena cava superior (SVCS), considerado una emergencia, requiere tratamiento inmediato, por lo que el diagnóstico etiológico es esencial antes de decidir una conducta terapéutica. El manejo del SVCS consiste en el alivio de los síntomas y de la enfermedad subyacente. Los tratamientos tienen el objetivo de restituir el flujo sanguíneo. Se presenta un paciente de 5 años de edad, masculino, con antecedente de LLA tipo B. Su estado oncohematológico era remisión total y, en febrero de 2013, consultó por síndrome de dificultad respiratoria (SDR) de rápida evolución y edema facial, que progresó en 24 h. Se realizó angio TC de tórax y vasos de cuello, que evidenció tejido pseudonodular que comprime VCS. Se realiza biopsia endocavitaria de urgencia, que informa infiltración difusa Knfroproliferativa. Tratamiento quimioterápico, con buena evolución y egreso hospitalario. El SVCS es una emergencia oncológica que requiere diagnóstico oportuno y tratamiento inmediato a fin de mejorar los resultados.

The superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is considered an emergency and requires immediate treatment; therefore, the etiologic diagnosis is essential before deciding on its implementation. The management of SVCS consists on the relief of symptoms and treatment of the underlying disease, aiming to restore the blood flow. We present a 5 years old boy with a history of B-cell ALL. His oncologic state was that of complete remission. In February 2013 he consulted for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of rapid evolution, and facial edema which progressed within 24 hours. CT chest and neck angiography was performed, showing pseudo nodular tissue compressing the SVC. Emergency endocavitary biopsy reported diffuse lymphoproliferative infiltration Chemotherapy is administered, with good results and hospital discharge. The SVCS is an oncologic emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment in order to improve results.