[Midfemoral nerve block for foot surgery: is there an anatomical-clinical correlation between motor response and latency?]. / Bloqueo mediofemoral para cirugía de pie: existe relación entre la respuesta motora y la latencia? Correlación anatomoclínica.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The latency times of midfemoral sciatic nerve blocks vary greatly. This study investigated the correlation between the type of motor response to nerve stimulation on the one hand and latency and block efficacy on the other. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 215 consecutive patients (184 women) undergoing orthopedic foot surgery. A tourniquet was applied above the malleolus. The puncture location was found by palpating to locate the groove between the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles, at the mid-point of the line between the posterior edge of the greater trochanter muscle and the insertion of the biceps femoris muscle in the popliteal fossa. A solution of equal proportions (1:1) of 1.5% mepivacaine (with bicarbonate 1:10) and 0.75% levobupivacaine was injected at a dose of 0.45 mL x kg(-1) (maximum 40 mL) using a 10-cm needle. Nerve stimulation was applied at 100-300 ms, 02-0.4 mA, and 2 Hz. Latency was classified as response in less than 15 minutes, in 15 to 30 minutes, or later than 30 minutes. RESULTS: The evoked motor response was inversion in 30 patients, flexion or extension in 38, plantar flexion in 101, dorsiflexion in 37, and eversion in 9. Shorter latencies (15 minutes) were observed in all patients with inversion or flexion/extension and in 84 (83%) of the 101 patients with plantar flexion. Mid-range latencies were observed in 13% of those with a plantar flexion response and in 29.7% of those with dorsiflexion. All 9 patients with eversion and 17 (45.9%) of the 37 patients with dorsiflexion had the longest latencies. The surgical block was complete for all patients. CONCLUSIONS: This approach provides an effective block with minimum latency in patients who have a flexion or extension motor response in the foot and/or fingers, inversion, or plantar flexion, which assumes that the injection has reached the common trunk of the sciatic or tibial nerve. However, a longer latency is associated with a peroneal motor response, particularly eversion.

[Massive intestinal resection. Nutritional adaptation process]. / Resección intestinal masiva. Proceso de adaptación nutricional.

INTRODUCTION: Massive small bowel resection (MSBR) with a remnant jejunum shorter than 60 cm produces severe water, electrolytes, vitamins and protein-caloric depletion. While waiting for a viable intestinal transplantation, most of MSBR patients depend on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). CLINICAL CASE: 32 years old male, with MSBR due to sectioning trauma of the superior mesenteric artery root. First surgical intervention: jejunostomy with small bowel, right colon, and spleen resection. Six months later: jejunocolic anastomosis with 12-cm long jejunum remnant and prophylactic cholecystectomy. NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION: 1st phase. Hemodynamic stabilization and enteral stimulation (6 months): TPN + enteral nutrition with elemental formula + oral glucohydroelectrolitic solution (OGHS) + 15 g/d of oral glutamine + omeprazol. Clinical course indicators: biochemistry, I/L balance. 2a phase. Digestive adaptation with colonic integration (8 months): replacement of TPN by part-time peripheral PN. Progressive cooked diet complemented with pancreatic poly-enzyme preparation, omeprazol, OGHS, glutamine, elemental formula. Clinical course indicators: biochemistry, diuresis, weight and feces. 3a phase. Auto-sufficiency without parenteral dependence: fragmented free oral diet supplemented with pancreatic poly-enzyme preparation, mineralized beverages, enteral formula supplement, Ca and Mg oral supplements, oral multivitamin and mineral preparation, monthly IM vitamin B12. Current situation actual (52 months): slight ponderal gain, diuresis > liter/day, 2-3 normal feces, no clinical signs of any deficiency and normal blood levels of micronutrients. CONCLUSION: It may be possible to withdraw from PN in MSBR considering, as in this case, favorable age and etiology and early implementation of an appropriate protocol of remnant adaptation.

Rabdomiólisis grave por virus Coxsackie B complicada con síndrome compartimental / Serious rhabdomyolysis dueto Coxsackie B virus complicated with compartment syndrome

La rabdomiólisis como complicación de un síndrome compartimental agudo es algo habitual, pero lo contrario es infrecuente. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 74 años con una infección aguda por virus Coxsakie B que desarrolló una rabdomiólisis con un nivel de creatinfosfocinasa (CPK) máximo de 161.757 UI/l. Se complicó con un fracaso renal agudo y con un síndrome compartimental de la pierna derecha. La función renal se normalizó en unas semanas, pero a consecuencia del síndrome compartimental desarrolló un pie equino, a pesar de la realización de fasciotomías, precisando una ortesis para deambular. El síndrome compartimental es una complicación a tener en cuenta en rabdomiólisis graves, porque puede pasar desapercibida con facilidad, y se puede asociar a secuelas

Rhabdomyolysis as a complication of an acute compartimental syndrome is somewhat common, but on the contrary, is rare. We present the case of a 74 year man with acute infection by Coxsackie B virus who developed a rhabdomyolysis with a maximum CPK of 161, 757 IU/l. It became complicated with acute renal failure and compartment syndrome of the right leg. Renal function normalized in a few weeks, however, due to the compartment syndrome, he developed an equinus foot in spite of the performance of fasciotomies and required an orthesis to walk. Compartment syndrome is a complication to be considered in serious rhabdomyolysis because it may go unnoticed easily and can be associated to sequels

Tratamiento con infliximab en la enfermedad de Crohn fistulizante y active: nuestra experiencia / Our experience in treatment of with anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody (infliximab) in Crohn's disease

Introducción. El infliximab es un anticuerpo sintético IgG1, compuesto por una región constante humana y una región variable murina dirigido contra el factor de necrosis tumoral, de tipo quimérico, indicado en la enfermedad de Crohn (EC) refractaria al tratamiento convencional. Objetivo. Valorar la tasa de respuesta y remisión clínica en la enfermedad de Crohn activa refractaria y en la fistulosa tratados con infliximab, y conocer el número de dosis necesarias para remisión clínica (RC/RP). Pacientes y métodos. 14 pacientes con EC (5 varones) edad media 33.3±10 años. Se indicó tratamiento por enfermedad fistulosa (13 casos) y por broto agudo de corticorresistente (1 caso). Administramos 5mg/kg. De infliximab en perfusión durante 2 horas a las 0, 2 y 6 semanas. Tres de los pacientes con fístula perianal se les administró una cuarta dosis. El paciente con brote grave recibió una sola dosis. Definimos como remisión clínica la del CDAI <150 puntos y como respuesta clínica la reducción de 70 puntos del CDAI desde la medición basal. En el paciente fistuloso definimos como respuesta completa (RC) el cierre total de las fístulas, con ausencia de drenaje y por respuesta parcial (RP) el cierre al menos el 50% de todas las fístulas. Resultados. Siete pacientes (60%) con fístulas obtuvieron RC tras la segunda dosis, tres (29%) con RP tras cuatro dosis de infliximab y tres (20%) no mejoraron y tuvieron que ser intervenidos quirúrgicamente. El paciente con brote grave obtuvo una mejoría total y se suspendió la 2º dosis por presentar como efectos secundarios taquicardia, disnea y calor, siendo el único que presentó efectos adversos. Todos habían recibido tratamiento con inmunosupresores. Conclusiones. El infliximab ha demostrado ser eficaz en el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Crohn fistulizada y en el manejo de la enfermedad aguda moderada a grave. Los efectos secundarios fueron generalmente leves y transitorios. En nuestro caso la respuesta al infliximab tuvo lugar con la segunda dosis en el 60%, con ganancial parcial del 20% con cuatro dosis

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[Eosinophilic enteritis as a rare cause of ascites]. / Enteritis eosinofílica como causa infrecuente de ascitis.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an infrequent entity characterized by tissular eosinophilia that can affect different layers of the intestinal wall. This entity can affect any area of the digestive apparatus from the esophagus to the rectum. Clinical manifestations depend on the affected layers and range from barely perceptible symptoms to intestinal obstruction or ascites. We present the case of an 18-year-old woman who showed abdominal ascites as a rare form of presentation with difficult differential diagnosis with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Epidemiología de la dispepsia en una comunidad del sur de España. Prevalencia de la infección por Helicobacter pylori / Epidemiology of dyspepsia in a random mediterranean population. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection

OBJETIVO: la verdadera prevalencia de la dispepsia en la comunidad es poco conocida, pues la mayoría de los estudios se han realizado sobre muestras no representativas de la -población general. El objetivo fue estudiar la prevalencia de la dispepsia en una muestra aleatoria de una población general, así como sus características sociodemográficas y epidemiológicas. DISEÑO EXPERIMENTAL Y PARTICIPANTES: se realizó un estudio epidemiológico prospectivo basado en una encuesta directa y personal en una muestra de 264 sujetos, elegida al azar, entre una población del sur de España. RESULTADOS: la prevalencia de dispepsia fue del 24 por ciento, sin apreciarse relación entre ésta y diversos parámetros demográficos, hábitos tóxicos o subgrupos de dispepsia. El 49 por ciento de la población se automedicaba y el 44 por ciento acudió en busca de ayuda médica por su dispepsia. Mostraron un síndrome de intestino irritable 36 sujetos (13,6 por ciento) y 20 de ellos referían también síntomas de dispepsia (55,5 por ciento). Habían sido investigados 40 sujetos con dispepsia (80 por ciento mediante radiología con papilla de bario, 45 por ciento con ecografía y 18 por ciento con gastroscopia), obteniéndose un diagnóstico de enfermedad orgánica en el 45 por ciento de ellos. El subgrupo de dispepsia similar a reflujo gastroesofágico fue el más frecuente (60 por ciento), observándose un amplio solapamiento entre los diversos subgrupos de dispepsia. Los anti-H. Pylorí-IgG fueron positivos en el 52 por ciento, pero no hubo relación entre la infección bacteriana y la presencia de dispepsia. CONCLUSIONES: la dispepsia afecta a una cuarta parte de nuestra población, asociándose a síndrome de intestino irritable en la mitad de los casos, pero sin relación con la presencia de una infección por H. pylori (AU)

[Immune response in the surgical patient: effect of anesthesia and blood transfusion]. / Respuesta inmune en el paciente quirúrgico: influencia de la anestesia y la transfusión sanguínea.

Anesthesiology has progressed spectacularly over the last two decades, largely parallel to developments in basic and clinically applied sciences such as immunology. The anesthesiologist's involvement now extends to all matters involved in perioperative care. Surgery, anesthetic procedures themselves, and other associated techniques such as blood transfusion all alter the patient's immune response and all fall within the range of procedures monitored by the anesthesiologist. The repercussions on the patient are important, given that alterations suppose increased risk of postoperative infection and increased recurrence of neoplastic disease. The present article reviews available knowledge on how and to what extent the patient's immune status is affected in the perioperative period. Generally, surgery and anesthesia induce immune system depression. It is possible to demonstrate a decrease in the number and activity of circulating immune cells and alterations of various types in interleukins and in protein synthesis during acute phase response. Research in this field is complex given that the individual effect of each factor involved is difficult to measure and experimental or clinical designs usually yield only biased views. Replacement of lost red blood cells is another factor leading to immunological changes. New anesthetic techniques, the optimization of methods already in use, and the development of modern, less immunodepressant drugs and of alternatives to homologous blood transfusion are all solutions that have been proposed. This is an exciting field of study in which today, perhaps more than ever, the anesthesiologist has a critical role to play.

Respuesta inmune en el paciente quirúrgico: influencia de la anestesia y la transfusión sanguínea / Immune response in the surgical patient: influence of anesthesia and blood transfusion

La anestesiología ha evolucionado de forma espectacular en las dos últimas décadas, y buena parte de este desarrollo es paralelo al de otras disciplinas básicas y de aplicación clínica, como es el caso de la inmunología. La actuación del anestesiólogo se extiende a todos los aspectos implicados en el período perioperatorio. La cirugía, el propio procedimiento anestésico y otras aplicaciones asociadas, como la transfusión sanguínea, alteran los mecanismos de la respuesta inmune del paciente y entran, por tanto, en el ámbito de control del anestesiólogo; la repercusión que tienen sobre el paciente es importante dado que suponen un mayor riesgo de infección postoperatoria y un aumento en la recurrencia de enfermedades neoplásicas. Esta revisión repasa los conocimientos disponibles sobre cómo y en qué medida se afecta el estado inmune en el perioperatorio.En general, la cirugía y la anestesia inducen una depresión inmunitaria. Es posible demostrar un descenso en el número y actividad de las células inmunocompetentes circulantes, y alteraciones de diverso signo en la síntesis de proteínas de fase aguda y de interleucinas. Su estudio es complejo dado que es difícil valorar el efecto aislado de cada factor implicado, y el diseño de los estudios experimentales o clínicos suelen aportar sólo visiones sesgadas. La reposición de las pérdidas hemáticas supone un factor añadido a la alteración inmunológica.La aplicación de técnicas anestésicas nuevas, la optimización de los procedimientos en uso, la utilización de modernos fármacos con menor efecto inmunodepresor, o las alternativas a la utilización de sangre homóloga son algunas de las soluciones planteadas, y representan un apasionante campo de estudio en el que, hoy día, el anestesiólogo tiene un papel determinante, como quizá nunca lo tuvo (AU)

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Epidemiology of dyspepsia in a random mediterranean population. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

AIM: The prevalence of dyspepsia in the community is poorly known, because most studies have used samples that were not representative of the general population. This study was intended to determine the prevalence of dyspepsia in a random sample of the general population, and its epidemiologic and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: In this descriptive study we used a questionnaire administered during a personal interview to survey a random sample of 264 subjects in a Mediterranean population. RESULTS: The prevalence of dyspepsia was 24%; we found no relation between prevalence and demographic characteristics, smoking and drinking, or type of dyspepsia. Forty subjects with dyspepsia were examined and the specific diagnosis was found in 18 (45%) of them. The subgroup with reflux-like dyspepsia was the largest (60%), although there was considerable overlap between subgroups with reflux-like, ulcer-like and dysmotility-like dyspepsia. Anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies (IgG) were found in 52% of the subjects, but bacterial infection was not related with dyspepsia. CONCLUSIONS: Up to one-fourth of the general population in the city where the subjects reside may have dyspepsia. This disorder was associated with irritable bowel syndrome in half of the cases, but was not associated with H. pylori infection.

Are there changes in gastric emptying during the menstrual cycle?

BACKGROUND: The questions of whether gastric emptying of solids and liquids differs in men and women and whether emptying is influenced by the action of sex hormones on gastric smooth muscle remain unresolved. METHODS: We analysed the gastric emptying of digestible solids (GES), liquids (GEL), and radiopaque indigestible solids (GER) in three groups of healthy volunteers: 50 women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, 50 women in the luteal phase, and 100 men. [99mTc]-labelled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) was used as the radioactive marker for digestible solids, and [111In]DTPA was used as the marker for liquids, to time gastric motility after a solid and a liquid meal. GER was evaluated on a different day in abdominal roentgenograms. RESULTS: GES and GEL were slower in women than in men (P < 0.05), but GER was similar in the two sexes. However, there were no significant differences in GES, GEL, or GER between women in the follicular and those in the luteal phase, between plasma concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone and the variables used to characterize gastric emptying. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of postprandial 'physiologic gastroparesis' was found in women, although no differences were found between men and women in gastric motility during fasting. The rate of emptying was not related to changes in plasma concentrations of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle.

Irritable bowel syndrome in patients with dyspepsia: a community-based study in southern Europe.

OBJECTIVES: Dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share aetiopathogenic factors, and may therefore be part of a single disorder. This study was intended to determine their prevalence in the general population, and the degree of overlap between these two digestive disorders. DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: A sample of 264 subjects chosen randomly from the population census of a city in Spain, and considered representative of the general population in this city, was surveyed by questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of dyspepsia was 23.9%, and that of IBS was 13.6%. Of the subjects with dyspepsia, 31.6% had IBS, and of the subjects with IBS, 55.6% reported symptoms of dyspepsia. The prevalence of IBS was higher among subjects with dyspepsia (31.7%) than among those who reported no symptoms of dyspepsia (7.9%; P < 0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of IBS was similar in three subgroups identified according to the type of dyspepsia described (ulcer-like, reflux-like or dysmotility-like). When we compared subjects with both dyspepsia and IBS and those with dyspepsia alone, we found no significant differences in clinical characteristics except for abdominal pain and fear of cancer, which were more frequent in the former. Of the entire sample, 27.7% of the subjects sought medical attention for IBS and 17% missed work because of IBS. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that functional dyspepsia and IBS are two manifestations of a single, more extensive digestive system disorder.

[Prospective study of nosocomial infections in a medical ICU. A proposal for the generalized use of the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System rates]. / Estudio prospectivo de la infección nosocomial en una UCI médica. Una propuesta para el uso generalizado de las tasas del National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System.

OBJECTIVE: To know the more relevant nosocomial infection (NI) rates in our Intensive Care Unit (ICU), risk factors associated with NI and trends in the infective flora. METHODS: During a three-month period, the cumulative incidence, density of overall incidence and device associated infection rates were determined in a total of 308 patients admitted to the medical ICU, following the recommendations of the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNIS) in the USA. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence was 8.4 infections per 100 admissions. The density of overall incidence was 12.9 nosocomial infections per 1,000 days of ICU stay. Device-associated infection rates were: 28.9 pneumonia per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days, 5.3 urinary tract infections per 1,000 days of catheter use and 0.4 bacteremia per 1,000 days of central venous catheter. Pneumonia was the more common NI, followed by urinary tract infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the microorganism recovered most frequently. The most common used antibiotics were third generation cephalosporins, followed by quinolones and macrolides. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NNIS rates is advisable because its allows to know the impact of NI on our unit and to perform comparative studies with other units of similar characteristics.

[Endoscopic, histologic and morphometric evaluation of the gastric mucosa in patients with osteoarthritis treated with piroxicam and zinc acexamate]. / Evaluación endoscópica, histológica y morfométrica de la mucosa gástrica en pacientes con osteoartritis tratados con piroxicam y acexamato de cinc.

Zinc acexamate (ZAM) is an antiulcer agent with antisecretory and gastroprotective properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate endoscopically and morphometrically the efficacy of ZAM in the prophylaxis of gastroduodenal lesions induced by pyroxicam. Thirty nine patients from 30 to 70 years of age diagnosed with osteoarthritis without lesions in the upper digestive tract on basal endoscopy were studied. A randomized, double blind study was designed in which the patients received 20 mg/day of pyroxicam together with 300 mg/day of ZAM or placebo for 4 weeks. Clinical controls were undertaken on days 0, 14, 28 and endoscopic and histologic controls performed on days 0 and 28. The two groups were homogeneous regarding basal parameters. Endoscopic grading of the gastroduodenal lesions at the end of the study was lower in the group treated with ZAM (p < 0.001). Ulcers were found in only 2 patients (one antral and one duodenal) both of whom were in the placebo group (10.5%). Histologic scoring following treatment demonstrated higher values in the placebo group (p < 0.001) and scarce alterations with respect to base values in the group treated with ZAM. Morphometric quantification showed lower cell densities in both groups at the body level (p < 0.001). However, these did not vary in the antrum in the group treated with ZAM but increased in the placebo group (p < 0.001) as an expression of proliferative cell response to mucosal damage. At a single nightly dosis of 300 mg ZAM is effective in the prophylaxis of gastric and duodenal lesions induced by pyroxicam.

Parietal cell hyperactivity is not due to Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and parietal cell mass and functional status in 10 patients with duodenal ulcer and 22 patients with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: We measured pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, determined the activity status of parietal cells on the basis of ultrastructural morphological features, and measured parietal cell mass and canalicular area with computerized densitometric morphometry. The number of antral G cells per square millimeter of mucosa was estimated inmunohistochemically, and basal serum gastrinemia was determined. RESULTS: In patients with duodenal ulcer, acid secretion, the percentage of activated parietal cells, and canalicular area were increased, but there was no difference between patients and dyspeptic controls in parietal cell mass. Helicobacter pylori infection did not modify these parameters, although it was associated with basal hypergastrinemia. CONCLUSION: In patients with duodenal ulcer, parietal cells display functional hyperactivity, which causes hypersecretion of acid; this effect is apparently unrelated to Helicobacter pylori infection.

Colitis cystica profunda: imaging diagnosis and conservative treatment: report of two cases.

UNLABELLED: Rectally localized colitis cystica profunda can simulate mucosecretory carcinoma. PURPOSE AND METHODS: Because endoscopic examination and barium enema do not clarify the diagnosis, other diagnostic imaging methods such as transrectal ultrasonography, computerized tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging are needed. RESULTS: Transrectal ultrasonography identifies multiple cysts in the rectal submucosa, with areas of echorefringent fibrosis between cysts, and confirms the absence of lymph node involvement or invasion of the muscular layer. Findings with computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have not previously been described for colitis cystica profunda. With computerized tomography, the lesion appears as a noninfiltrating entity in the submucosa, with loss of perirectal layers of fatty tissue and thickening of the levator ani muscle. With nuclear magnetic imaging, nodulations produce intense signals that increase in T2, illustrating the mucoprotein content of the cysts. The presence in surgical biopsy material of large, whole cysts confirms the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Reeducation of bowel habits aimed at avoiding straining and a high-fiber diet together with bulk laxatives can lead to complete remission of lesions in 6 to 18 months.