Clinical characteristics, imaging findings, management, and outcomes of patients with scimitar syndrome at a tertiary referral healthcare center in Colombia.

Scimitar Syndrome is part of a complex spectrum of congenital cardiovascular anomalies related to anomalous pulmonary venous return. Depending on the extent of involvement, treatment can be either expectant or surgical. Prognosis and survival have been controversial, with some results supporting early surgical management. This research aims to disclose the outcomes and describe the management, clinical and imaging characteristics of patients diagnosed with Scimitar Syndrome treated in a tertiary referral healthcare center. Longitudinal descriptive observational study. The study included all patients diagnosed with scimitar syndrome in our institution between January/2011 and December/2022. A description of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, diagnostic tools used, treatment features, and patient outcomes is provided. Eleven patients were included, with a mean age at diagnosis of five years (CI 0-17), six of which were female (54.55%). Nine (81.82%) patients had evidence of a scimitar vein on the chest radiograph, six (54.55%) cardiac dextroposition, six (54.55%) pulmonary hypoplasia, five (45.45%) right pulmonary artery hypoplasia, and three (27.27%) had aortopulmonary collaterals. Four (36.36%) patients had horseshoe lungs, and four (36.36%) had bronchopulmonary sequestration. In the associations, two (18.18%) patients were found to have an atrial septal defect, three (27.27%) ventricular septal defect, and one (9%) had Tetralogy of Fallot. Pulmonary hypertension was demonstrated in two (18.18%) patients. Seven (63.64%) required surgical management to correct the scimitar vein, and two patients died due to unrelated complications. Scimitar syndrome presents diagnostic and treatment challenges, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach for timely care. Chest radiography and CT scans are primary diagnostic tools, with surgical intervention often warranted alongside other heart defects or significant hemodynamic repercussions. Medical management is effective for mild to moderate cases. Long-term patient outcomes remain uncertain due to study limitations, but improved life expectancy is anticipated with ongoing care.

Estenosis bronquial congénita, papel de las imágenes en el diagnóstico: presentación de un caso / The role of diagnostic imaging in congenital bronchial stenosis: A Case report

En este artículo se presenta el caso de un lactante menor de 2 meses de edad que a los 15 días de nacido presentó estridor y dificultad respiratoria, por lo que fue llevado a una clínica de primer nivel, donde se le realizó una radiografía de tórax en la cual se documentó la presencia de una hiperinflación del campo pulmonar derecho. Se le realizó una fibrobroncoscopia óptica, de resultado normal, y una gammagrafía de ventilación/perfusión que mostró una hipoplasia pulmonar derecha. Fue manejado con oxígeno suplementario y terapias respiratorias sin mejoría clínica, motivo por el cual fue trasladado a otra institución para un manejo especializado. Con el fin de obtener un mapa vascular prequirúrgico, se realizó una angiografía pulmonar por tomografía, unas reconstrucciones con mínima intensidad de proyección y una broncoscopia virtual multicorte. Con todo ello se documentó una estenosis del bronquio fuente derecho, producida por un repliegue de la pared bronquial y con efecto de válvula, que producía una hiperinsuflación secundaria del pulmón derecho. Estos hallazgos fueron confirmados en la cirugía correctiva. Este es un caso de gran interés porque, a pesar de lo inusual de la patología y la edad del paciente, fue posible establecer un diagnóstico certero mediante el uso de la TAC multidetector que permitió utilizar herramientas de reconstrucción tridimensional y navegación endoluminal, como la broncoscopia virtual.

This article reports the case of a lactating infant, 2 months old, who 15 days after birth presented gasping and respiratory difficulty. For this reason, he was taken to a first-degree clinic, where a thorax radiography was performed. This thorax radiography documented the presence of a hyper-inflation of the right lung. An optic fiber bronchoscopy was performed, with normal results, and a ventilation/perfusion scan which reported a hypoplasia of the right lung. It was treated with complementary oxygen and respiratory therapies without any clinical improvement. Therefore, the patient was sent to a different institution for more specialized treatment. A pulmonary angiography through a tomography, a minimum projection intensity reconstruction, and a multi-slice virtual bronchoscopy were performed in order to obtain a presurgical vascular map. This process showed a stenosis of the right source bronchus, caused by a fold of the bronchial wall with a valve effect, causing a secondary hyperinsuflation of the right lung. These findings were confirmed in the corrective surgery. We consider this case especially interesting because, in spite of the unusual pathology and the age of the patient, it was possible to establish a correct diagnosis through the use of the multi detector CAT scan, enabling us to use the reconstructive three-dimensional tools, as well as endoluminal navigation such as virtual bronchoscopy.

Ruptura traumática de la aorta: hallazgos radiológicos con TAC multidetector: serie de casos / Traumatic rupture of the aorta: multidetector CT radiologic findings: case series

La ruptura traumática de la aorta es la lesión vascular mayor que más frecuentemente se asocia a trauma cerrado de tórax luego de accidentes automovilísticos. Por lo general, es ocasionada por un mecanismo de desaceleración súbita, producida por la colisión. La tomografía computarizada con multidetectores y las reconstrucciones multiplanares mejoran la exactitud diagnóstica, al detectar lesiones de menor tamaño.