An App-Based Telemedicine Program for Primary Care and Specialist Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.

Background:The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted the health care system in various ways, one of which is the implementation of telemedicine as a part of the daily clinical practice for many physicians. Sofía is a Mexican health care and technology startup that implemented an app-based telemedicine program during this pandemic in Mexico.Materials and Methods:The telemedicine program included on-demand video consultations with internal medicine specialists from March to September 2020. In the following study, we present a descriptive analysis of all the patients in the telemedicine program, called Coronaid. Results:2,585 video consultations were conducted for a total of 1,545 patients and 44.4% of these were associated with respiratory symptoms. Of all patients, 46% were female and the mean age was 34 years, 52.2% were overweight or obese, and 25% presented at least one comorbid condition. Aside from respiratory complaints, the most common chief complaints were associated with gastrointestinal, psychiatric, and genitourinary symptoms. Patient satisfaction after video consultation services was >80%.Discussion:During the COVID-19 pandemic, an application-based telemedicine program had a high patient satisfaction rate in a significant sample of young patients, which can be attributed to the accessibility of the medical services and widespread use of smartphones in this patient demographic.Conclusion:Telemedicine has proven to be a useful, safe, and effective tool to improve patients' health, which has been boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of mobile applications and video consultation services can encourage patients to improve their health and prevent complications in the short and long terms.

The Coronaid Program: An App-Based Telemedicine Tool for Triaging, Testing, Treating and Monitoring COVID-19 Patients in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of a Mexican telemedicine program for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted to analyze and describe the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who received medical video consultations for respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 1,148 video consultations were given from March to September 2020 via Sofía's mobile app. A total of 580 patients sought medical consultation regarding respiratory symptoms. Of the patients, 51% were male and the mean age was 36 years (SD = 13). Of the patients, 35% had comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, and 1.2% were sent to the ED. Fifty-seven polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for COVID-19 were requested and we detected a 53% positivity rate with a mean follow-up of 4.6 consultations. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine has proven to be a safe and effective tool for triaging, testing, treating, and remote monitoring of patients with mild COVID-19. Patients triaged by Sofía had good overall outcomes and reduced the risks of in-person consultation in the pandemic.

Correlation between the Bethesda system for thyroid nodules and post-thyroidectomy histopathological diagnosis / Correlación entre el sistema Bethesda de nódulos tiroideos y el diagnóstico histopatológico postiroidectomía

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are a common clinical condition. Thyroid nodules may be identified with ultrasonography in roughly 50% of the population. The risk of malignancy varies between 4 and 15% of the nodules. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) with a cytopathology report using the Bethesda system is the most utilized methods to diagnose thyroid carcinoma. MATERIAL AND MEHOTDS: A retrospective, descriptive study was performed to investigate the correlation between the cytopathology of the FNA biopsies, and the final histopathology after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: A total of 128 nodules in 128 patients were studied; 24 males and 104 females. In the Bethesda category I, a 67% malignancy rate was reported, Bethesda II 14%, Bethesda III 28% for follicular lesions and 15% for atypia, Bethesda IV 36%, Bethesda V 79% and Bethesda VI 100%. CONCLUSION: The Bethesda system has been widely adopted internationally and has become an unassailable tool for the pathologist and clinicians for the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules. Since its implementation in the ABC Medical Center, the Bethesda system has granted the institution with favorable and reproducible results.

INTRODUCCIÓN: En la población general, los nódulos tiroideos representan una causa común de consulta al especialista; en poblaciones aleatorizadas, con el uso del ultrasonido se pueden observar hasta en un 50% de los pacientes. El nódulo tiroideo tiene un riesgo de malignidad del 4-15%. El método citopatológico más utilizado para el diagnóstico del cáncer tiroideo es la toma de biopsia por aspiración con aguja fina (BAAF) de los nódulos tiroideos y la utilización del sistema Bethesda para su reporte citopatológico. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo comparando los porcentajes de malignidad entre las piezas quirúrgicas y el reporte citopatológico de las BAAF utilizando el sistema Bethesda 2010. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron 128 nódulos en 128 pacientes. En los nódulos Bethesda I se reportó un 67% de malignidad en la histopatología final; en los Bethesda II, un 14%,; en los Bethesda III, un 28% para atipia y un 15% para lesiones foliculares; en los Bethesda IV, un 36%; en los Bethesda V, un 79%; y en los Bethesda VI, un 100%. CONCLUSIÓN: El sistema Bethesda es una herramienta disponible y de gran utilidad para el patólogo y el clínico. Desde su implementación en el Centro Médico ABC ha demostrado ser comparable con los resultados reportados en la literatura internacional.

[Drug related colonic perforation: Case report]. / Perforación colónica secundaria a polifarmacia: reporte de caso.

BACKGROUND: Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon is a disorder characterised by an increase in intra-luminal pressure that leads to ischaemia and necrosis of the intestinal wall. The mechanism that produces the lesion is unknown, although it has been associated with: trauma, anaesthesia, or drugs that alter the autonomic nervous system. The pathophysiology of medication induced colon toxicity can progress to a perforated colon and potentially death. OBJECTIVE: Present a case of a colonic pseudo-obstruction in a patient with polypharmacy as the only risk factor and to review the medical literature related to the treatment of this pathology. CLINICAL CASE: The case is presented of a 67 year old woman with colonic pseudo-obstruction who presented with diffuse abdominal pain and distension. The pain progressed and reached an intensity of 8/10, and was accompanied by fever and tachycardia. There was evidence of free intraperitoneal air in the radiological studies. The only risk factor was the use of multiple drugs. The colonic pseudo-obstruction progressed to intestinal perforation, requiring surgical treatment, which resolved the problem successfully. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider drug interaction in patients with multiple diseases, as it may develop complications that can be avoided if detected on time.

[Intestinal carcinoid tumour: Case report]. / Tumor carcinoide intestinal: reporte de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoid of the small intestine, is a well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor that rarely presents with clinical signs. This tumour can be associated with other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, presenting a wide range of symptoms. In some cases they have an aggressive and highly symptomatic behaviour; thus, clinical suspicion must be high to make an early diagnosis. CLINICAL CASE: A 60 year-old male patient with Crohn's disease and gastrointestinal symptoms attributed to this disease within the last year. He presented with intestinal obstruction initially treated with conservative management with no improvement. Exploratory laparotomy was performed finding a mesenteric tumour that caused the bowel obstruction. Bowel resection with primary anastomosis was performed. The pathology report showed an intestinal carcinoid tumour with lymph node metastases. The patient recovered well, and was discharged without complications to continue medical treatment and follow-up by the Oncology department. CONCLUSION: In almost 42% of the cases, the most common site of carcinoid tumours is the small intestine, and of these, 41% are presented as locoregional disease. Patients with Crohn's disease present a higher incidence. In these cases, the most common presentation is an acute intestinal obstruction (90%). Surgery is usually curative, and follow up is important as the symptoms of Crohn's disease can hide any recurrence.

[Intestinal volvulus. Case report and a literature review]. / Vólvulo de intestino delgado. Reporte de caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel volvulus is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in adult patients. This disease is more common in children and its aetiology and management is different to that in adults. CLINICAL CASE: A 30 year-old male with sarcoidosis presents with acute abdomen and clinical data of intestinal obstruction. Small bowel volvulus is diagnosed by a contrast abdominal tomography and an exploratory laparotomy is performed with devolvulation and no intestinal resection. In the days following surgery, he developed a recurrent small bowel volvulus, which was again managed with surgery, but without intestinal resection. Medical treatment for sarcoidosis was started, and with his clinical progress being satisfactory,he was discharged to home. CONCLUSIONS: Making an early and correct diagnosis of small bowel volvulus prevents large intestinal resections. Many surgical procedures have been described with a high rate of complications. Therefore, conservative surgical management (no intestinal resection) is recommended as the best treatment with the lowest morbidity and mortality rate.

[Laparoscopic management of a congenital diaphragmatic hernia]. / Manejo laparoscópico de la hernia diafragmática congénita.

Morgagni diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect whose presentation in adults is rare. Diagnosis is usually made as an incidental finding through image studies; infrequently, patients may present with symptoms such as dyspnea or retrosternal pain. Open surgical repair has been the preferred management method of symptomatic presentation. In this paper we present the case of a 42 year-old-male with symptoms of retrosternal pain and dyspnea. Diaphragmatic hernia diagnosis was made ​​by CT and it was managed by laparoscopic repair of the diaphragmatic hernia.