Experiencia con colgajos libres en un centro médico colombiano de alta complejidad / Experience with free flaps in a highly complex Colombian medical center

Introducción y objetivo: La transferencia de tejido libre se ha convertido en una herramienta cada vez más importante en la Cirugía Plástica Re-constructiva. A pesar de las altas tasas de éxito reportadas en la literatura, el procedimiento puede fallar por variables ajenas a la técnica quirúrgica. Realizamos este estudio con el objetivo de conocer la frecuencia de complicaciones en un grupo de pacientes sometidos a transferencia de tejido libre en la Clínica Los Nogales en Bogotá, Colombia, así como determinar los factores ajenos a la técnica quirúrgica con el fin de proponer medidas que optimicen la probabilidad de éxito del procedimiento. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, serie de casos, en el que analizamos retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de 40 pacientes sometidos a reconstrucción con colgajo libre durante los años 2017 a 2021. Evaluamos las variables preoperatorias, intraoperatorias y postoperatorias de cada uno de estos pacientes. Resultados: Los 40 casos de transferencia de tejido libre incluyeron 37 reconstrucciones (92.5%) secundarias a resección oncológica y 3 a trauma agudo (7.5%). El colgajo anterolateral de muslo (ALT) fue el colgajo libre realizado con mayor frecuencia (50%), seguido del colgajo de perforantes de la arteria epigástrica inferior profunda (DIEP) (22.5%), el colgajo libre de peroné (17.5%) y el colgajo radial (10%). El 15% de las reconstrucciones fueron fallidas: en el 10% de los casos por trombosis venosa y en el 5% de los casos por trombosis arterial de la anastomosis. La edad, la radioterapia y el nivel de hemoglobina preoperatoria parecen no afectar la supervivencia del colgajo. El tabaquismo fue determinante en la ocurrencia de complicaciones importantes del colgajo. Las complicaciones médicas postoperatorias ocurrieron en el 20% de los casos, predominando las cardíacas. (AU)

Background and objective: Free tissue transfer has become an increasingly important tool in Plastic Reconstructive Surgery. Despite the high success rates reported in the literature, the procedure can fail due to variables unrelated to the surgical technique. We carried out this study to know the frequency of complications in a group of patients undergoing free tissue transfer at the Clínica Los Nogales in Bogotá, Colombia, as well as determining factors unrelated to the surgical technique to propose measures that optimize the probability of success of the procedure. Methods: Descriptive case series study, in which we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 40 patients undergoing free flap reconstruction between 2017 and 2021. We evaluated the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables of each of these patients. Results: The 40 cases of free tissue transfer included 37 reconstructions (92.5%) secondary to oncological resection and 3 to acute trauma (7.5%). The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap was the most frequently performed free flap (50%), followed by the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap (22.5%), the fibular free flap (17.5%) and the radial flap (10%). Fifteen per cent of the reconstructions were unsuccessful: in 10% of cases due to venous thrombosis, and in 5% of cases due to arterial thrombosis of the anastomosis. Age, radiotherapy and preoperative hemoglobin level do not seem to affect flap survival. Smoking was a determining factor in the occurrence of important complications of the flap. Postoperative medical complications occurred in 20% of cases, predominantly cardiac complications. (AU)

Effects of Prehabilitation on Functional Capacity in Aged Patients Undergoing Cardiothoracic Surgeries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: an increasing number of advanced age patients are considered for cardiothoracic surgeries. Prehabilitation optimizes the patients' functional capacity and physiological reserve. However, the effectiveness of prehabilitation on physical functioning and postoperative recovery in the scope of cardiothoracic surgery is still uncertain. OBJECTIVE: to assess the effectiveness of prehabilitation on pre- and/or postoperative functional capacity and physiological reserve in aged patients that are considered for cardiothoracic surgeries. METHODS: this systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021247117). The searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane CENTRAL until 18 April 2021. Randomized clinical trials that compared different prehabilitation strategies with usual care on the pre- and-postoperative results in aged patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgeries were included. Methodological quality was assessed by means of the Jadad scale, and the effectiveness of the interventions according to the Consensus on Therapeutic Exercise Training. RESULTS: nine studies with 876 participants aged from 64 to 71.5 years old were included. Risk of bias was moderate due to the absence of double-blinding. The content of the interventions (multimodal prehabilitation n = 3; based on physical exercises n = 6) and the result measures presented wide variation, which hindered comparison across the studies. In general, the trials with better therapeutic quality (n = 6) reported more significant improvements in physical functioning, cardiorespiratory capacity, and in the postoperative results in the participants under-going prehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: prehabilitation seems to improve functional capacity and postoperative recovery in aged patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgeries. However, due to the significant heterogeneity and questionable quality of the trials, both the effectiveness of prehabilitation and the optimum content are still to be determined.

An atypical distribution of acute calcific periarthritis in the setting of trauma.

Case report of an atypical location of ACP. ACP should be considered even in small joints with characteristic imaging even with trauma involvement.

Propuesta de manejo en reconstrucción microquirúrgica maxilar: serie de casos / Treatment proposal in microsurgical reconstruction of the maxilla: case series

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVO: Para la reconstrucción del maxilar se han descrito múltiples clasificaciones y algoritmos de manejo. Actualmente, el más aceptado es el planteado por Cordeiro y Santamaría. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en reconstrucción microquirúrgica del maxilar con colgajos libres de peroné y ánterolateral de muslo, con el objetivo de que se consideren herramientas de primera elección en la reconstrucción de defectos clasificados como tipo II y III. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo, serie de casos, en el que presentamos 7 casos clínicos de reconstrucción de maxilar con colgajo libre de peroné y ánterolateral de muslo realizados en el Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana (HUS) en Bogotá, Colombia, entre enero de 2018 y febrero de 2019. RESULTADOS: Para la reconstrucción de los defectos IIa, IIb y IIIa utilizamos el colgajo libre de peroné. En maxilectomías clasificadas como IIIb implementamos el colgajo ánterolateral de muslo quimérico con vasto lateral. La supervivencia de los colgajos fue del 100%. CONCLUSIONES: El colgajo libre de peroné es nuestra principal opción reconstructiva en los defectos por maxilectomías IIa, IIb y IIIa, mientras que el colgajo ánterolateral de muslo quimérico con vasto lateral es nuestro colgajo de elección en defectos tipo IIIb

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Multiple classifications and management algorithms have been described for maxillary reconstruction, at the present time, the most widely accepted is described by Cordeiro and Santamaría. We present our experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the maxillary with free flaps retrieved from fibula and anterolateral thigh with the intent to consider it as a first-choice option in the reconstruction of defects classified as type II and III. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive, case series study of 7 maxillary reconstruction cases with free flap from fibula and anterolateral thigh is described. Database was recollected between January 2018 and February 2019 from Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana (HUS) in Bogotá, Colombia. RESULTS: For the reconstruction of IIa, IIb and IIIa defects, a fibular free flap was used. For maxillectomies classified as IIIb, an anterolateral thigh and vast lateral chimeric free flap was implemented. Survival rate of the free flaps was observed at 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The fibular free flap is our primary reconstructive option in defects by maxillectomy classified as IIa, IIb and IIIa. In defects constituted as IIIb, our choice is an anterolateral thigh and vast lateral chimeric flap

Respuesta al comentario del Dr. H. Malagón / No disponible

No disponible

Weightbearing Cone-Beam Computed Tomography of Acute Ankle Syndesmosis Injuries.

Syndesmotic injuries are common, but only a subset of these injuries are unstable. A noninvasive tool for identifying instability would aid in the selection of patients for surgery. Weightbearing computed tomography (CT) data have been reported for healthy patients, but there are limited data on unstable syndesmoses. We evaluated the syndesmotic area of arthroscopically proven unstable ankles after acute injury. This is a prospective comparative study of consecutive patients recruited to a weightbearing CT database. Thirty-nine patients were included for analysis with arthroscopically proven unstable syndesmoses and an uninjured contralateral ankle. The syndesmosis area was measured for both ankles, in non-weightbearing and weightbearing positions, and compared. Syndesmosis area of the unstable ankle was significantly greater than the uninjured ankle of the same patient, by a mean of 22.9 ± 10.5 mm2. This was a significantly greater difference than that observed with non-weightbearing CT (9.8 ± 10.2 mm2, p < .001). Dynamic change in area, from non-weightbearing to weightbearing, of the unstable ankle (13.7% [16.6 ± 9.9 mm2]) was significantly greater than that of the uninjured ankle (3.1% [3.4 ± 6.7 mm2], p < .001). The intraobserver and interobserver correlations were good with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.983 and 0.970, respectively. Weightbearing CT demonstrated significantly greater diastasis in unstable ankles than did conventional non-weightbearing CT. Syndesmosis area measurement was reliable and reproducible. Dynamic change in area and weightbearing comparison with the contralateral uninjured ankle are 2 parameters that may prove useful in the future for predicting syndesmotic instability.

Optimal Result of One-Stage Secondary Debulking Procedure After Flap Reconstruction of the Ankle.

Skin and soft tissue defect of the ankle usually mandates flap reconstruction; however, bulky flap and difficulty ambulance have been the major disadvantages after flap reconstruction of this area. We used the concept of full-thickness skin graft as a 1-stage method of secondary debulking procedure to achieve both aesthetic and functional results. METHODS: Since January of 2004 to June of 2016, 22 one-stage secondary debulking procedures were performed on 22 patients who had received reconstruction with flaps for ankle defects. Nineteen cases were free myocutaneous flaps, 2 cases were free fasciocutaneous flaps, and 1 case was a distally based sural artery flap. In the operative technique, the full-thickness skin was harvested from the flap and regrafted on the defatted fascia with tie-over dressing. The functional and cosmetic outcomes as well as complications were reviewed. RESULTS: The overall mean follow-up time was 12 months. After the debulking procedure, all of the grafted skins took well. The patients were able to wear their own shoes without difficulty and regained ease of ambulation. The reconstructed area was found to decrease to an average of 28.92% as compared with predebulking area. The reconstructed ankles achieve good symmetry with regard to the contralateral side (P < 0.05). All of the patients were satisfied with the results of the reconstructed ankles. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-stage secondary debulking procedure is a safe and reproducible technique that achieves good functional and aesthetic outcomes after flap reconstruction of the ankle.

68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in advanced prostate cancer: Current state and future trends.

The early and accurate detection of prostate cancer is important to ensure timely management and appropriate individualized treatment. Currently, conventional imaging has limitations particularly in the early detection of metastases and at prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels < 2.0 ng/mL. Furthermore, disease management such as salvage radiotherapy is best at low PSA levels. Thus, it is critical to capture the disease in the oligometastatic stage as disease progression and commencement of systemic therapies can be delayed by metastasis-directed therapy. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is overexpressed in prostatic cancer cells. Novel imaging modalities using radiolabeled tracers with PSMA such as 68Ga-PSMA-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) have shown promising results. We review the literature regarding 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in the setting of primary prostate cancer and biochemical recurrence. At present, the best utilization of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT appears to be in biochemical recurrence. 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT has high diagnostic accuracy for lymph node metastases and has been shown to have superior detection rates to conventional imaging, especially at low PSA levels. The exact role of 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT in primary prostate cancer is not yet entirely clear. It has an improved detection rate for smaller lesions and may be able to identify nodal or distant metastatic disease at an earlier stage. While still experimental, there may also be value in combining 68Ga-PSMA-PET to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for staging of intraprostatic disease. To date, 68Ga-PSMA-PET/CT has been shown to have considerable clinical value and to impact treatment selection for patients with prostate cancer. Still in its infancy, the results of future clinical trials will be excitedly awaited.

Bartonelosis sistémica con lesiones hepatoesplénicas en un paciente inmunocompetente: Presentación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía / Systemic bartonellosis with hepatic and splenic lesions in immunocompetent patient: Presentation of a case and bibliography review

Resumen La enfermedad por arañazo de gato (EAG) es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por Bartonella henselae. Esta enfermedad es de evolución habitualmente benigna, el beneficio del tratamiento antibiótico no está claramente demostrado, sin embargo algunos pacientes desarrollan formas atípicas y más graves con compromiso sistémico como la formación de granulomas hepáticos y esplénicos. Se presenta el caso clínico de una niña de 10 años con granulomas hepáticos que fue asistida en el Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell por fiebre prolongada, astenia, dolor abdominal y adelgazamiento. Lo que obliga a investigar la etiología y descartar diagnósticos diferenciales y proponer alternativas terapéuticas. En ese momento no disponíamos de estudios serológicos para la búsqueda etiológica en el país lo cual generó dificultades diagnósticas en esta paciente. Finalmente se pudo obtener la confirmación serológica de EAG de la paciente al enviar la muestra al Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez en Buenos Aires prácticamente un mes después de iniciado los síntomas. Fue tratada inicialmente con azitromicina vía oral 10 mg/kg/día por 10 días y dada la tórpida evolución se utiliza un segundo plan antibiótico que incluyó claritromicina 15 mg/kg/día más rifampicina 20 mg/kg/día por 6 semanas. La paciente evolucionó favorablemente, presentando disminución progresiva del tamaño de los granulomas hepáticos y esplénicos. Discusión: Los granulomas hepatoesplénicos constituyen una forma de presentación poco frecuente pero orientadora de la EAG. La evidencia en relación a su tratamiento es escasa y deriva de series de casos. Es posible que los pacientes con manifestaciones sistémicas requieran tratamientos combinados y prolongados.

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is an infectious disease caused by Bartonella henselae. This disease is usually benign and the benefit of antibiotics has not been clearly proved yet. However, a few patients develop atypical forms that are more severe, with systemic involvement, such as the formation of hepatic and splenic granulomas. The study presents the case of a ten year old girl with hepatic granuloma who was seen at the Pereira Rossell Hospital Center. She consulted for prolonged fever, asthenia, abdominal pain and weight loss. Etiology was investigated and differential diagnosis was performed to suggest possible therapies. There were no serologic tests in the country at that time to be used for the etiological search, what resulted in diagnostic difficulties for this patient. At last, we obtained serologic confirmation of CSD in the patient by sending the sample to the Ricardo Gutierrez Hospital of Buenos Aires, almost one month after the initiation of symptoms. The patients was initially treated with oral Azithromycin (10 mg/kg/day) for ten days and given the slow and unsuccessful evolution, a second antibiotic plan was used, including Clarithromycin (15 mg/kg/day) and rifampicin (15 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. Evolution was favorable, a progressive reduction of the size of hepatic and spleen granulomas was seen. Discussion: hepatic and spleen granulomas are an unusual form of presentation of CSD, though rather an orientating one. Evidence about treatment is scarce, and it results from case series- Patients with systemic involvement may require combined and long treatments.

Foliar application of microbial and plant based biostimulants increases growth and potassium uptake in almond (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D. A. Webb).

The use of biostimulants has become a common practice in agriculture. However, there is little peer-reviewed research on this topic. In this study we tested, under controlled and replicated conditions, the effect of one biostimulant derived from seaweed extraction (Bio-1) and another biostimulant derived from microbial fermentation (Bio-2). This experiment utilized 2-years-old almond plants over two growing seasons in a randomized complete design with a full 2 × 4 factorial structure with two soil potassium treatments (125 µg g(-1) of K vs. 5 µg g(-1)) and four foliar treatments (No spray, Foliar-K, Bio-1, Bio-2). Rubidium was utilized as a surrogate for short-term potassium uptake and plant growth, nutrient concentration, and final plant biomass were evaluated. There was a substantial positive effect of both biostimulant treatments on total shoot leaf area, and significant increases in shoot length and biomass under adequate soil potassium supply with a positive effect of Bio-1 only under low K supply. Rubidium uptake was increased by Bio-1 application an effect that was greater under the low soil K treatment. Though significant beneficial effects of the biostimulants used on plant growth were observed, it is not possible to determine the mode of action of these materials. The results presented here illustrate the promise and complexity of research involving biostimulants.

Fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid: correlating suspicious cytology results with histological outcomes.

PURPOSE: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) assists the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. A 'suspicious for malignancy' on FNAC creates a management dilemma. The aims of this study were to investigate the malignancy rate for patients with suspicious cytology, and to describe a management approach for those with a suspicious result. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data in an endocrine surgery database was undertaken. Patients undergoing thyroidectomy with preoperative FNAC from 1992 to 2012 were analysed. RESULTS: Preoperative FNAC was undertaken in 2,692 patients, and the FNAC result was 'suspicious for malignancy' in 94 (3.5 %) patients. Of these, 53 (56.4 %) were malignant, with the majority 44 (83.0 %) being papillary thyroid cancer. 48 patients went straight to total thyroidectomy, 40 patients had an initial diagnostic hemithyroidectomy, and 1 patient had a diagnostic isthmusectomy. 5 patients required reoperative total thyroidectomy as an initial procedure. Of the 94 suspicious cases, 55 were reported by an unknown, presumably non-expert, thyroid cytopathologist. 38 of these cases were available for review and re-reporting by an experienced cytopathologist. On review, 28 (73.7 %) were reclassified as cytologically malignant, and all of these were confirmed as malignant on subsequent histopathology. CONCLUSIONS: Suspicious cytology has a high risk of malignancy. Expert thyroid cytopathology can improve diagnostic accuracy and a preoperative malignant diagnosis should be pursued to enable one-stage surgery where possible.