Portal vein thrombosis with protein C-S deficiency in a non-cirrhotic patient.

There are several conditions that can lead to portal vein thrombosis (PVT), including including infection, malignancies, and coagulation disorders. Anew condition of interest is protein C and S deficiencies, associated with hypercoagulation and recurrent venous thromboembolism. We report the case of a non-cirrhotic 63-year-old male diagnosed with acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis and PVT and combined deficiencies in proteins C and S, recanalized by short-term low molecular heparin plus oral warfarin therapy.

[Third National Ovarian Consensus. 2011. Grupo de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario y Tumores Ginecológicos de México "GICOM"]. / Tercer Consenso Nacional de Cáncer de Ovario 2011. Grupo de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario y Tumores Ginecológicos de México "GICOM".

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide. Most of cases it is of epithelial origin. At the present time there is not a standardized screening method, which makes difficult the early diagnosis. The 5-year survival is 90% for early stages, however most cases present at advanced stages, which have a 5-year survival of only 5-20%. GICOM collaborative group, under the auspice of different institutions, have made the following consensus in order to make recommendations for the diagnosis and management regarding to this neoplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The following recommendations were made by independent professionals in the field of Gynecologic Oncology, questions and statements were based on a comprehensive and systematic review of literature. It took place in the context of a meeting of two days in which a debate was held. These statements are the conclusions reached by agreement of the participant members. RESULTS: No screening method is recommended at the time for the detection of early lesions of ovarian cancer in general population. Staging is surgical, according to FIGO. In regards to the pre-surgery evaluation of the patient, it is recommended to perform chest radiography and CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with IV contrast. According to the histopathology of the tumor, in order to consider it as borderline, the minimum percentage of proliferative component must be 10% of tumor's surface. The recommended standardized treatment includes primary surgery for diagnosis, staging and cytoreduction, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy Surgery must be performed by an Oncologist Gynecologist or an Oncologist Surgeon because inadequate surgery performed by another specialist has been reported in 75% of cases. In regards to surgery it is recommended to perform total omentectomy since subclinic metastasis have been documented in 10-30% of all cases, and systematic limphadenectomy, necessary to be able to obtain an adequate surgical staging. Fertility-sparing surgery will be performed in certain cases, the procedure should include a detailed inspection of the contralateral ovary and also negative for malignancy omentum and ovary biopsy. Until now, laparoscopy for diagnostic-staging surgery is not well known as a recommended method. The recommended chemotherapy is based on platin and taxanes for 6 cycles, except in Stage IA, IB and grade 1, which have a good prognosis. In advanced stages, primary cytoreduction is recommended as initial treatment. Minimal invasion surgery is not a recommended procedure for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Radiotherapy can be used to palliate symptoms. Follow up of the patients every 2-4 months for 2 years, every 3-6 months for 3 years and anually after the 5th year is recommended. Evaluation of quality of life of the patient must be done periodically. CONCLUSIONS: In the present, there is not a standardized screening method. Diagnosis in early stages means a better survival. Standardized treatment includes primary surgery with the objective to perform an optimal cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy Treatment must be individualized according to each patient. Radiotherapy can be indicated to palliate symptoms.

[The first Mexican consensus of endometrial cancer. Grupo de Investigación en Cáncer de Ovario y Tumores Ginecológicos de México]. / Primer consenso Mexicano de cancer de endometrio.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the second most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide in the peri and postmenopausal period. Most often for the endometrioid variety. In early clinical stages long-term survival is greater than 80%, while in advanced stages it is less than 50%. In our country there is not a standard management between institutions. GICOM collaborative group under the auspice of different institutions have made the following consensus in order to make recommendations for the management of patients with this type of neoplasm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The following recommendations were made by independent professionals in the field of Gynecologic Oncology, questions and statements were based on a comprehensive and systematic review of literature. It took place in the context of a meeting of four days in which a debate was held. These statements are the conclusions reached by agreement of the participant members. RESULTS: Screening should be performed women at high risk (diabetics, family history of inherited colon cancer, Lynch S. type II). Endometrial thickness in postmenopausal patients is best evaluated by transvaginal US, a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm must be evaluated. Women taking tamoxifen should be monitored using this method. Abnormal bleeding in the usual main symptom, all post menopausal women with vaginal bleeding should be evaluated. Diagnosis is made by histerescopy-guided biopsy. Magnetic resonance is the best image method as preoperative evaluation. Frozen section evaluates histologic grade, myometrial invasion, cervical and adnexal involvement. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy should be performed except in endometrial histology grades 1 and 2, less than 50% invasion of the myometrium without evidence of disease out of the uterus. Omentectomy should be done in histologies other than endometriod. Surgery should be always performed by a Gynecologic Oncologist or Surgical Oncologist, laparoscopy is an alternative, especially in patients with hypertension and diabetes for being less morbid. Adjuvant treatment after surgery includes radiation therapy to the pelvis, brachytherapy, and chemotherapy. Patients with Stages III and IV should have surgery with intention to achieve optimal cytoreduction because of the impact on survival (51 m vs. 14 m), the treatment of recurrence can be with surgery depending on the pattern of relapse, systemic chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Follow-up of patients is basically clinical in a regular basis. CONCLUSIONS: Screening programme is only for high risk patients. Multidisciplinary treatment impacts on survival and local control of the disease, including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, hormonal treatment is reserved to selected cases of recurrence. This is the first attempt of a Mexican Collaborative Group in Gynecology to give recommendations is a special type of neoplasm.

[Pulmonary ultrasound in the intensive care unit].

Pulmonary ultrasonography (PUSG) is a new diagnostic tool for pleuropulmonary disease in the critically ill patient. Images obtained in this study result from the interaction between the ultrasound shaft with the pleura, the pulmonary parenchyma and the air/liquid interface. These images are classified as horizontal and vertical. Their correct identification and interpretation requires a learning curve. Currently, PUSG is an excellent alternative to evaluate pulmonary condition of hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Sensitivity and specificity are high for pneumothorax, alveolar-interstitial syndrome and pleural effusion diagnosis. PUSG practiced in the ICU is one of the most promising diagnostic procedures in intensive care medicine, and the practice and indications of this tool will surely extend in the coming years. The objective of this study is to make known the general principles of PUSG and their use in the critically ill patient, based on cases of hospitalized patients in the ICU of the Medica Sur Clinical Foundation that were studied with PUSG.

Ultrasonido pulmonar en la unidad de terapia intensiva: fundamentos y aplicaciones clínicas / Pulmonary ultrasound in the intensive care unit

El ultrasonido pulmonar es una nueva herramienta para el diagnóstico de enfermedades pleuropulmonares en el enfermo grave. Las imágenes que se obtienen resultan de la interacción del haz ultrasónico con la pleura, el parénquima pulmonar y la interfase aire-líquido; se clasifican en horizontales y verticales. Para su correcta identificación e interpretación se requiere una curva de aprendizaje. El ultrasonido pulmonar se ha posicionado como una excelente alternativa para evaluar el estado pulmonar de los enfermos internados en la unidad de terapia intensiva. Tiene una elevada sensibilidad y especificidad para el diagnóstico de pneumotórax, síndrome alvéolo-intersticial y derrame pleural. Es uno de los procedimientos diagnósticos más promisorios en la medicina intensiva, por lo que seguramente se extenderá su práctica e indicaciones en los años venideros. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer a la comunidad médica los principios generales de este procedimiento y sus aplicaciones en el enfermo grave, conforme la experiencia en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva de la Fundación Clínica Médica Sur.

Pulmonary ultrasonography (PUSG) is a new diagnostic tool for pleuropulmonary disease in the critically ill patient. Images obtained in this study result from the interaction between the ultrasound shaft with the pleura, the pulmonary parenchyma and the air/liquid interface. These images are classified as horizontal and vertical. Their correct identification and interpretation requires a learning curve. Currently, PUSG is an excellent alternative to evaluate pulmonary condition of hospitalized patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Sensitivity and specificity are high for pneumothorax, alveolar-interstitial syndrome and pleural effusion diagnosis. PUSG practiced in the ICU is one of the most promising diagnostic procedures in intensive care medicine, and the practice and indications of this tool will surely extend in the coming years. The objective of this study is to make known the general principles of PUSG and their use in the critically ill patient, based on cases of hospitalized patients in the ICU of the Medica Sur Clinical Foundation that were studied with PUSG.

Selection of best candidates for multiorgan resection among patients with T4 gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Indications for gastrectomy in T4 gastric carcinoma (GC) remain controversial. Our aim was to define prognostic factors to select those patients with best chance to benefit from multiorgan resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of patients with T4 GC treated in a 19-year period. Surgical morbidity-associated factors were identified by logistic regression analysis. Prognostic factors were defined by Kaplan-Meier and Cox methods. RESULTS: Seven hundred eighteen patients were included (gastrectomy performed in 169). Surgical morbidity and mortality were 39% and 10.7%, respectively. Surgical morbidity were associated to extent of gastrectomy, age, serum albumin, and lymphocyte count (P = 0.0001). Presence of metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.19-2.36), albumin <3 g/dl plus lymphocytes <1,000 cells/mm(3) (HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8-4.6), presence of ascites (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.06-4.2), age >or=50 (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02-1.8), and unresectable disease (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.7-4.1) defined poor survival (P = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Performing a multiorgan resection must be balanced between chances for long-term survival and surviving a potentially fatal operation. Absence of metastases, serum albumin levels >3 g/dl, and accomplishment of R0 resection select patients with high probability of benefit from multiorgan resection.

Treatment of the adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction at a single institution in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) is rapidly increasing in the west. Our aim is to define the prognostic factors and treatment of EGJ carcinoma in Mexico, particularly the location after the Siewert's classification. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of patients suffering from EGJ adenocarcinoma treated from 1987 to 2000. The Kaplan-Meier and the Cox's models were used to define prognostic factors. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-four patients were included, 90 females and 144 males. Surgical resection was possible in 68 cases only (29%). Significant prognostic factors were tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage [stages I-II: risk ratio (RR) is 1; stage III RR is 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-2.4; stage IV RR, 2.04, 95% CI 1.1-3.7], gender (male RR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05-2.05), metastatic lymph node ratio (no resection: RR = 1; ratio 0.2-1 RR=0.67, 95% CI 0.39-1.14; ratio 0-0.19 RR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.76) and seralbumin (3 mg/dL or less RR = 2.05 95% CI 1.3-3.2; 3.1-3.4 mg/dL RR = 1.9 95% CI 1.2-3.03; 3.5-3.8 mg/dL RR = 1.3 95% CI 0.8-1.9; 3.9 mg/dL or more: RR = 1) (model P = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: EGJ adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal neoplasia and the location after the Siewert' classification is not a prognostic factor. In Mexico, TNM clinical stage, serum albumin, gender, surgical resection and metastatic lymph node ratio are significant prognostic factors. Curative treatment is infrequent but radical resection is associated to longer survival. Consequently, the management must consider quality of life and surgical morbidity.

Serum albumin as a significant prognostic factor for patients with gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The definition of prognostic factors in gastric carcinoma (GC) remains controversial. The potential of serum albumin as a prognostic factor for GC is emphasized because the technique to measure it is simple as well as being cheap and widely available. Our aim was to define the prognostic role of serum albumin in GC. METHODS: A cohort treated from January 1987 to December 2002 was studied. Relevant clinical, pathological and therapeutic variables were recorded. Kaplan-Meier and Cox's methods were used to define prognostic factors associated with cancer-related survival. RESULTS: One thousand and twenty-three patients were included. Serum albumin did impact survival, showing a dose-response effect. This effect was present after adjustment for other prognostic factors, including Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage, surgical resection and type of lymphadenectomy. In multivariate analysis, TNM stage [Stage Ia and Ib Hazard Ratio [HR] 1, Stage II HR 1.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-4.7), Stage IIIa HR 4.4 (95% CI 1.7-11.3), Stage IIIb HR 5.6 (95% CI 2.6-17.2), Stage IV HR 6.8 (95% CI 2.7-17.5), high albumin HR 1, medium albumin HR 1.2 (95% CI 0.8-1.7), low albumin HR 1.2 (95% CI 0.8-1.8), very low albumin HR 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.6), D2 dissection HR 1, D1 dissection HR 1.9 (95% CI 1.3-2.97), and no resection HR 3.7 (95% CI 2.4-5.7)] were the most significant prognostic factors associated to survival (model P = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: Pretherapeutic serum albumin level is a significant prognostic factor, which should be evaluated along with other well-defined prognostic factors in decisions concerning therapy for GC.