Search for small-bowel capsule diagnostic yield optimization conducted through observational analysis. / Búsqueda de optimización de la cápsula endoscópica mediante análisis observacional.

OBJECTIVES: To search for parameters susceptible to optimization when performing capsule endoscopy (CE) in a third level hospital with high volume and experience in this test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study, including 1325 CEs performed between 2017 and 2022. Overall diagnostic yield, effective diagnostic yield, by indication, place of request and waiting list, as well as complete examination rate and cleansing degree were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic yield was 70.99%, while the effective diagnostic yield was 72.7%. Diagnostic yields varied between 60.2% and 77.9% depending on the indication and between 64.7% and 74.3% depending on the requesting center. The mean waiting list was 101.15 days, with a tendency to worse results when the waiting list was longer. A total of 77.8% of the examinations were complete. Completion rates were lower in patients >70 years of age (p=0.001), as well as in those with gastric transit >60minutes (p=0.000). A total of 77.3% were clean, with debris that did not impede diagnosis being found in 16.9% and debris that did impede diagnosis in 5.8%. There was a relationship, although not significant, between cleansing degree and age. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic yields of CE in our center are in line with those previously reported. Differences were found according to the place of request. Waiting list could also influence diagnostic yield. Completion rates are lower in >70 years of age and when gastric transit is >60minutes. Cleansing degree achieved is acceptable.

Improving the Diagnosis of Dermatitis Herpetiformis Using the Intraepithelial Lymphogram.

Dermatitis herpetiformis is a cutaneous manifestation of celiac disease. Phenotyping of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the small bowel mucosa can strengthen the diagnosis of celiac disease when it is not clear-cut. We aim to evaluate the usefulness of the intraepithelial lymphogram to confirm dermatitis herpetiformis in equivocal cases. We performed a retrospective multicenter study on patients diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis and collected data from the intraepithelial lymphogram assessed by flow cytometry. A total of 36 patients were analyzed in relation to the severity of intestinal damage (18 had non-atrophic mucosa) at baseline (N = 28) and/or after the adoption of a gluten-free diet (median follow-up of three years, N = 16). We observed that patients with atrophy more often had positive celiac serology (p = 0.019), celiac clinical symptoms (p = 0.018), and iron-deficiency anemia (p = 0.018), but the severity of skin damage was similar in both groups (p = 0.79). At baseline, increased TCRγδ+ cells were present in 94% of patients with atrophy and 67% with non-atrophic lesions (p = 0.13). After a gluten-free diet, increased TCRγδ+ cells persisted in 100% and 63% of cases, respectively (p = 0.21). We concluded that increased TCRγδ+ cells may be helpful in confirming the diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis in equivocal cases, even in patients who were started on a gluten-free diet.

Use of geospatial analysis for priority setting in surgical system investment in Guatemala.

Background: Two-hour and 30 min travel times to a hospital capable of performing emergency general surgery and cesarean section are benchmarks for timely surgical access. This study aimed to estimate the population of Guatemala with timely access to surgical care and identify existing hospitals where the expansion of surgical services would increase access. Methods: The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) Anesthesia Facility Assessment Tool (AFAT) previously identified 37 public Guatemalan hospitals that provide surgical care. Nine additional public non-surgical hospitals were also identified. Geospatial analysis was performed to estimate walking and driving geographic access to all 46 hospitals. We calculated the potential increase in access that would accompany the expansion of surgical services at each of the nine non-surgical hospitals. Findings: The percentage of the population with walking access to a surgical hospital within 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h are 5·1%, 12·9%, and 27·3%, respectively. The percentage of people within 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h driving times are 27·3%, 41·1%, and 53·1%, respectively. The median percentage of the population within each of Guatemala's 22 administrative departments with 2 h walking access was 19·0% [IQR 14·1-30·7] and 2 h driving access was 52·4% [IQR 30·5-62·8]. Expansion of surgical care at existing public Guatemalan hospitals in Guatemala would result in a minimal increase in overall geographic access compared to current availability. Interpretation: While Guatemala provides universal health coverage, geographic access to surgical care remains inadequate. Geospatial mapping and survey data work synergistically to assess surgical system strength and identify gaps in geographic access to essential surgical care. Funding: None.

Assessment of Anesthesia Capacity in Public Surgical Hospitals in Guatemala.

BACKGROUND: International standards for safe anesthetic care have been developed by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Whether these standards are met is unknown in many nations, including Guatemala, a country with universal health coverage. We aimed to establish an overview of anesthesia care capacity in public surgical hospitals in Guatemala to help guide public sector health care development. METHODS: In partnership with the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), a national survey of all public hospitals providing surgical care was conducted using the WFSA anesthesia facility assessment tool (AFAT) in 2018. Each facility was assessed for infrastructure, service delivery, workforce, medications, equipment, and monitoring practices. Descriptive statistics were calculated and presented. RESULTS: Of the 46 public hospitals in Guatemala in 2018, 36 (78%) were found to provide surgical care, including 20 district, 14 regional, and 2 national referral hospitals. We identified 573 full-time physician surgeons, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians (SAO) in the public sector, with an estimated SAO density of 3.3/100,000 population. There were 300 full-time anesthesia providers working at public hospitals. Physician anesthesiologists made up 47% of these providers, with an estimated physician anesthesiologist density of 0.8/100,000 population. Only 10% of district hospitals reported having an anesthesia provider continuously present intraoperatively during general or neuraxial anesthesia cases. No hospitals reported assessing pain in the immediate postoperative period. While the availability of some medications such as benzodiazepines and local anesthetics was robust (100% availability across all hospitals), not all hospitals had essential medications such as ketamine, epinephrine, or atropine. There were deficiencies in the availability of essential equipment and basic intraoperative monitors, such as end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors (17% availability across all hospitals). Postoperative care and access to resuscitative equipment, such as defibrillators, were also lacking. CONCLUSIONS: This first countrywide, MSPAS-led assessment of anesthesia capacity at public facilities in Guatemala revealed a lack of essential materials and personnel to provide safe anesthesia and surgery. Hospitals surveyed often did not have resources regardless of hospital size or level, which may suggest multiple factors preventing availability and use. Local and national policy initiatives are needed to address these deficiencies.

Tratamiento multimodal del dolor agudo postoperatorio agregando paracetamol IV a protocolo ya establecido / Multimodal treatment of acute postoperative pain adding IV paracetamol to an established protocol

Introducción: El paracetamol intravenoso fue autorizado en el año 2001 para Europa, en el 2016 se autoriza en Guatemala. Esta presentación ha generado diferentes expectativas alrededor del mundo, por lo que se evaluó su administración al agregarse al tratamiento de analgesia postoperatoria multimodal. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto analgésico en el tratamiento multimodal de dolor agudo postoperatorio con paracetamol IV en la población guatemalteca. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo caso-control para la evaluación del dolor postoperatorio inmediato (24 horas) al agregar paracetamol IV al protocolo de analgesia estándar. En pacientes de ambos géneros, entre 18 y 70 años de edad, con peso mayor o igual a 50 Kg. con una cirugía electiva abierta o por vía laparoscópica, en una muestra de 110 pacientes dividida en dos grupos. Se comparó el número de pacientes que necesitaron dosis de rescate y el nivel de dolor según la Escala Visual Análoga (EVA) durante 4 evaluaciones en el postoperatorio agudo. Para determinar la correlación entre las variables se utilizó la prueba de independencia de Ji cuadrado. Resultados: Se demostró que agregar paracetamol IV al tratamiento estándar disminuye la cantidad de pacientes que requieren dosis de rescate y mejoran su analgesia durante el postoperatorio agudo. Conclusiones: El paracetamol IV es de beneficio al ser agregado al tratamiento de analgesia multimodal convencional de un hospital privado de Z.10. Palabras clave: Analgesia, anestesia, Escala Visual Análoga, multimodal, paracetamol, control post operativo del dolor

Background: In 2001 was authorized IV paracetamol for its use in Europe. In Guatemala it was used for the first time until 2016. This formulation has awakened different expectations around the world, for this reason its administration was evaluated when added to the multimodal postoperative analgesia treatment to demonstrate its efficiency. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the analgesic effect in the multimodal treatment for acute postoperative pain with IV paracetamol in a group of Guatemalans patients. Methods: Retrospective case-control study for the evaluation of acute postoperative pain (24 hours) by adding IV paracetamol to the standard analgesic protocol. Patients of both sexes, between 18 and 70 years old, with a weight greater than or equal to 50 kg with open or laparoscopically elective surgery, in a sample of 110 patients divided into two groups. The number of patients needing rescue dose and the level of pain according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared during 4 evaluations in the acute postoperative period. To determine the correlation between the variables, the chi square independence test was used. Results: Adding IV paracetamol to standard treatment decreases the number of patients who require rescue doses with opioids and improves their analgesia during the acute postoperative period. Conclusions: IV paracetamol is of benefit when added to the conventional multimodal postoperative analgesia treatment of a private hospital. Keywords: Analgesia, anesthesia, Visual Analogue Scale, multimodal, paracetamol, postoperative pain control

Reducción de la mortalidad materna antes y después de la implementación de oximetría de pulso en hospitales departamentales de Guatemala / Impact on the use of pulse oximeters in the reduction of maternal mortality in regional hospitals in Guatemala

Introducción: la oximetría de pulso es un método de monitoreo que permite evaluar la saturación arterial y la frecuencia cardíaca y con el cual es posible detectar de forma temprana episodios de hipoxia, bradicardia o taquicardia. Se ha implementado su uso como estrategia para disminuir las tasas de mortalidad. Guatemala recibió la donación de 142 oxímetros de pulso a 33 hospitales departamentales en noviembre del 2013. Objetivos: evaluar el impacto de la oximetría de pulso a través de la medición de la razón de mortalidad materna antes y después de su implementación en el área de recuperación de los hospitales departamentales del país. Métodos: Conocer la mortalidad materna por medio de datos publicados por el Ministerio de Salud de los años 2013 (antes de la implementación) y 2014 (después de la implementación). Resultados: La mortalidad materna disminuyó un 13.26% luego de la implementación de la oximetría de pulso, sin embargo no existe una diferencia significativa. Discusión: No es posible concluir que la causa de la disminución de la mortalidad materna se deba a la implementación de la oximetría pues, otros factores como mejora de calidad de vida, mayor acceso a servicios de salud se ven involucrados

Introduction: Pulse oximetry is a monitoring method that measure a patient´s arterial saturation and heart rate allowing to detect early signs of hypoxia, bradycardia or tachycardia. Its use has been implemented as a strategy to lower mortality rates. Guatemala received the donation of 142 pulse oximeters to 33 regional hospitals on November 2013. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pulse oximetry by measuring maternal mortality ratio before and after its implementation in these hospitals recovery rooms. Methods: Estimation of maternal mortality ratio from data published by the Ministry of Health during the years 2013 (before its implementation) and 2014 (after its implementation). Results: Maternal mortality ratio was 13.26% lower after the implementation of pulse oximetry, however there is no statistical significant difference. Discussion: Is not possible to conclude that the implementation of the pulse oximetry is the only reason in the decrease in maternal mortality since other factors like improvement in quality of life and more access to health services are also involved

Acceptance of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist among surgical personnel in hospitals in Guatemala city.

BACKGROUND: Studies have highlighted the effects the use of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist can have on lowering mortality and surgical complications. Implementation of the checklist is not easy and several barriers have been identified. Few studies have addressed personnel's acceptance and attitudes toward the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Determining personnel's acceptance might reflect their intention to use the checklist while their awareness and knowledge of the checklist might assess the effectiveness of the training process. METHODS: Through an anonymous self- responded questionnaire, general characteristics of the respondents (age, gender, profession and years spent studying or working at the hospital), knowledge of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (awareness of existence, knowledge of objectives, knowledge of correct use), acceptance of the checklist and its implementation (including personal belief of benefits of using the checklist), current use, teamwork and safety climate appreciation were determined. RESULTS: Of the 147 surgical personnel who answered the questionnaire, 93.8% were aware of the existence of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist and 88.8% of them reported knowing its objectives. More nurses than other personnel knew the checklist had to be used before the induction of anesthesia, skin incision, and before the patient leaves the operating room. Most personnel thought using the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is beneficial and that its implementation was a good decision. Between 73.7% and 100% of nurses in public and private hospitals, respectively, reported the checklist had been used either always or almost always in the general elective surgeries they had participated in during the current year. CONCLUSIONS: Despite high acceptance of the checklist among personnel, gaps in knowledge about when the checklist should be used still exist. This can jeopardize effective implementation and correct use of the checklist in hospitals in Guatemala City. Efforts should aim to universal awareness and complete knowledge on why and how the checklist should be used.

Folding and self-assembling with beta-oligomers based on (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid.

Improved methodologies are provided to synthesize (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid derivatives and their incorporation into beta-peptides of 2-8 residues bearing different N-protecting groups. The conformational analysis of these oligomers has been carried out by using experimental techniques along with theoretical calculations. This study shows that these oligomers adopt preferentially a strand-type conformation in solution induced by the formation of intra-residue six-membered hydrogen-bonded rings, affording cis-fused [4.2.0]octane structural units that confer high rigidity on these beta-peptides. Moreover, all of them are prone to self-assemble producing nano-sized fibres, as evidenced by TEM, AFM and SPFM, and, in some instances, they also form gels. These techniques and molecular modelling allowed us to suggest an aggregation model for the assembly structures in which a parallel molecular-arrangement is preferred and the conformation is similar to that observed in solution. According to this model, both hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions would account for formation of the assemblies.

(+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids and their incorporation into highly rigid beta-peptides: stereoselective synthesis and a structural study.

[Chemical reaction: See text] Several derivatives of (+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, 1, have been prepared through enantiodivergent synthetic sequences. The stereoselective synthesis of free amino acid (+)-1 has been achieved, and this product has been fully characterized for the first time. Stereocontrolled alternative synthetic methodologies have been developed for the preparation of bis(cyclobutane) beta-dipeptides in high yields. Among them, enantio and diastereomers have been synthesized. beta,beta- and beta,delta-Dimers resulting from the coupling of a cyclobutane residue and a linear amino acid have also been prepared. The ability of the cyclobutane ring as a structure-promoting unit both in the monomers and in the dimers has been manifested. The NMR structural study and DFT theoretical calculations evidence the formation of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds giving rise to cis-fused [4.2.0]octane structural units that confer high rigidity on these molecules both in solution and in the gas phase. The contribution of a cis-trans conformational equilibrium derived from the rotation around the carbamate N-C(O) bond has also been observed, the trans form being the major conformer. In the solid state, this equilibrium does not exist, and moreover, intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present.

14-helical folding in a cyclobutane-containing beta-tetrapeptide.

The efficient synthesis of tetrapeptide 5 containing, in alternation, cyclobutane and beta-alanine residues is described. NMR experiments both at low temperature in CDCl(3) and at 298 K in DMSO-d(6) solutions show the contribution of a strong hydrogen bond in the folded major conformation of 5. Temperature coefficients and diffusion times point out a hydrogen bond involving the NH proton from the cyclobutane residue 1 whereas NOEs manifest the high rigidity of the central fragment of the molecule and are compatible with a 14-membered macrocycle. Theoretical calculations predict a most stable folded conformation corresponding to a 14-helix stabilized by a hydrogen bond between NH(10) in the first residue and OC(25) in the third residue. This structure remains unaltered during the molecular dynamics simulation at 298 K in chloroform. All these results provide evidence for a 14-helical folding and reveal the ability of cis-2-aminocyclobutane carboxylic acid residues to promote folded conformations when incorporated into beta-peptides.