ABSTRACT
Throughout the entire coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, there were disruptions in the supply chain of test materials around the world, primarily in poor- and middle-income countries. The use of 3D prints is an alternative to address swab supply shortages. In this study, the feasibility of the clinical use of 3D-printed swabs for oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal sampling for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated. For that purpose, paired samples with the 3D printed and the control swabs were taken from 42 adult patients and 10 pediatric patients, and the results obtained in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were compared. Additionally, in those cases where the result was positive for SARS-CoV-2, the viral load was calculated by means of a mathematical algorithm proposed by us. For both adults and children, satisfactory results were obtained in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR; no significant differences were found in the quantification cycle values between the 3D-printed swab samples and the control samples. Furthermore, we corroborated that the 3D-printed swabs caused less discomfort and pain at the time of sampling. In conclusion, this study shows the feasibility of routinely using 3D-printed swabs for both adults and children. In this way, it is possible to maintain local and cheaper consumption along with fewer distribution difficulties.
ABSTRACT
Scrotal arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are extremely rare, making them difficult and complex to diagnose, and a therapeutic challenge; few cases of this type have been reported in the literature. This article reports the case of a male patient, 12 years old, with congenital AVM and background of treatment with sclerotherapy and embolization: it was decided to perform a surgical resection, which was successful. Angiography is obligatory in arteriolar cases, and it was backed up with surgical AVM treatment, taking into account the great importance of pre-surgical embolization.
ABSTRACT
We present the case of a 12-year-old girl with a history of vascular anomalies in the lower pelvic limbs and back, who developed unilateral deep vein thrombosis of the left lower limb after her pubertal development, she was diagnosed with May-Thurner syndrome with an abnormal venous drainage of the pelvic structures through the superior hemorrhoidal veins to the inferior mesenteric vein towards the porta system, this being a chronic manifestation. This kind of behavior has not been documented in the reviewed medical literature. Secondarily, balloon angioplasty was performed without breaking the stenotic ring. As a second attempt, it was decided to place the venous stent, with satisfactory resolution of the symptoms. There are controversies about the indications for the use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, or the indications to place a venous stent in children. We must consider an approach to for effective therapeutic treatment in these cases is to control bleeding, the main goal being trying to avoid ulcerations in the lower limb due to venous insufficiency with irreversible affectation of the valvular system.
