Evaluación de factores que inciden en el promedio de permanencia en UCIP por pacientes crónicos dependientes de tecnología del subsector publico / Factors that affect extension of stay in the PICU chronic technology dependent in the public sector

En los últimos años, el avance tecnológico permitió disminuir la mortalidaden Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (UCIP) e incrementar lasupervivencia con secuelas dependientes de tecnología. Al alcanzar laestabilidad clínica, los pacientes deben ser externados con internacióndomiciliaria; muchos de ellos carecen de cobertura social o financiamiento,quedan internados y ocupan así camas críticas para pacientes agudos.ObjetivosIdentificar los factores generales que prolongan la estadía de pacientes crónicosdependientes de tecnología (CDT) internados en las UCIP del subsectorpúblico. Determinar la frecuencia de factores relacionados con el retrasoen la externación de esos niños. Describir las características, la evolución, laincidencia y la prevalencia de la población de pacientes CDT. Especificar lascausas médicas y no médicas que prolongan la estadía de pacientes CDT.MétodosSe realizó un estudio descriptivo multicéntrico observacional en cinco UCIPpolivalentes: tres de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires y dos de la Provinciade Buenos Aires. Se incluyó a los pacientes CDT internados en las UCIP entre el1/6/2014 y el 31/3/2015. Se registraron datos poblacionales globales de incidencia,de prevalencia e individuales para el análisis de las dificultades del egreso.ResultadosSe estudió a 76 pacientes CDT, que representaron un 3,36% de los ingresos y el28% de la estadía global. La incidencia global de pacientes CDT fue del 2,12%. Laprevalencia inicial fue del 25%; la segunda, post IRAB (infecciones respiratoriasagudas bajas), del 26%; y la tercera, del 31% sin diferencias significativas.ConclusionesLas causas financieras, los problemas de vivienda y la situación social complejason los obstáculos que más demoran la externación al domicilio de pacientesCDT. Debido a la prolongación de estadía en UCIP a la espera de externación,las camas críticas ocupadas no permitieron el ingreso de 132 pacientes agudosen las cinco unidades.

Interferon-alpha 2b combined with daily ketoprofen administration improves virological response in chronic hepatitis C: a prospective and randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Less than 15% of patients with chronic hepatitis C show a sustained virological response to interferon treatment. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different doses of ketoprofen combined with interferon-alpha 2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. PATIENTS/METHODS: Seventy compensated patients with chronic hepatitis C received interferon-alpha 2b 3 million units three times a week for six months. They were randomly assigned to: group 1 (n = 23), interferon-alpha 2b alone; group 2 (n = 23), interferon-alpha 2b plus 200 mg ketoprofen three times a week; group 3 (n = 24), interferon-alpha 2b plus 200 mg ketoprofen twice a day. Complete and sustained responses were defined as normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels and negative serum hepatitis C virus RNA at six and 12 months respectively. RESULTS: Complete and sustained responses were similar in groups 1 and 2: 10% v 5% and 5% v 0% respectively. In group 3, complete response was 29% (p = 0.13 v group 1 and p = 0.04 v group 2) and sustained response was 26% (p = 0.07 v group 1 and p = 0.01 v group 2). Overall, adverse events were similar in the three groups. However, 'flu-like syndrome was less common in group 2 (30%) and group 3 (37%) than in group 1 (77%) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Twice daily ketoprofen administration combined with interferon-alpha 2b produced an increase in complete and sustained responses. Although the combination of interferon-alpha 2b with ketoprofen was well tolerated and decreased the incidence of 'flu-like syndrome, it is advisable to monitor possible non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug hepatotoxicity.

Lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide serum determinations to analyze liver function of cirrhotic patients after oral administration.

Our aim was to compare standard liver function tests (serum bilirubin, serum albumin and prothrombin concentration), with lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide pharmacokinetic parameters, after oral lidocaine administration, to assess hepatic function of cirrhotic individuals. Twenty-one consecutive cirrhotic patients, nine consecutive acute hepatitis patients, and nine healthy individuals received oral lidocaine. Lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations were determined by the TDx system. Cirrhotic patients had higher lidocaine and lower monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations and differences in its pharmacokinetic variables, compared to control and hepatitis groups (P < 0.05). Sensitivity of lidocaine serum determinations (100%) was greater than sensitivity of serum bilirubin (57%), serum albumin (62%), and prothrombin concentrations (43%) and monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations (57%) in differentiating cirrhotic individuals from controls. In conclusion, after oral administration, lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide pharmacokinetic parameters are significantly altered in cirrhotic patients compared to normal and acute hepatitis subjects. Lidocaine pharmacokinetic parameters would be better than those of monoethylglycinexylidide and standard liver function tests in the evaluation of liver function of cirrhotic patients.

Gluten sensitivity in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: Whereas celiac disease and primary biliary cirrhosis have been reported to coexist in the same patient, the frequency of this relationship has not been clarified. Nowadays, the concept of celiac disease has been extended from that of a severe enteropathy to a broader concept of gluten-driven intestinal immunological response. In this study we assessed features of gluten sensitivity in a cohort of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: Ten patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were evaluated a mean of 2 yr after diagnosis. The following features of gluten sensitivity were assessed: serum antigliadin and endomysial antibodies, small bowel histology (degree of atrophy and quantitative histological parameters), the presence of the typical celiac HLA genotype (DQ2), and intraepithelial lymphocyte response in the rectal mucosa after local gluten instillation (rectal gluten challenge). RESULTS: Overall, three patients presented evidence of gluten sensitivity. All three had abnormal titers of antigliadin antibody type IgA and one was positive for endomysial antibody. Two patients had partial villous atrophy. The rectal gluten challenge showed a celiac-like response, evidenced by an increase in intraepithelial lymphocyte infiltration after gluten exposure, in the three patients. The characteristic celiac HLA genotypes (DQA1 0501 and DQB1 0201) were identified in three patients. One of them also exhibited other features of gluten sensitivity. However, despite evidence of gluten intolerance, patients had minimal or no symptoms characteristic of celiac disease. CONCLUSION: We detected features of gluten sensitivity in a high proportion of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the clinical significance of this association.

Hemostatic and hemodynamic effects of vasopressin analogue DDAVP in patients with cirrhosis.

Desmopressin (DDAVP), a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, has been shown to improve the bleeding time in patients with cirrhosis. The duration of this effect and the hemodynamic changes associated with DDAVP have not been studied so far. To evaluate these issues, 14 cirrhotics with portal hypertension were studied in basal conditions and after DDAVP (0.3 uk/kg). In 8 patients, hemostatic tests were done at basal conditions and 1, 3, 6 and 24 hs after drug administration. In the remaining 6 patients, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, portal and femoral blood flows were evaluated. Hemodynamic parameters were measured by Doppler ultrasound. DDVP caused a marked decrease in bleeding time at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hs (14 +/- 9 vs 8 +/- 3, 7 +/- 4, 6 +/- 4 and 8 +/- 4 min, respectively); the decrease was maximal and statistically significant at 6 hs (55 +/- 15%, p < 0.02) after DDAVP infusion. Bleeding time reduction was observed in every patient studied. In the hemodynamic study, DDAVP caused a mild but significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (12 +/- 8%, p < 0.05); no significant changes were observed in the rest of hemodynamic parameters studied. These findings show that DDAVP can be used to shorten the bleeding time for a period of at least 24 hs in patients with cirrhosis, without deleterious hemodynamic effects. This beneficial effect may be of potential relevance in the medical management of patients with chronic liver diseases.

Vasodilatory effects of propylthiouracil in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An experimental study has shown that propylthiouracil increases portal blood flow in normal rats. Whether propylthiouracil has a similar effect in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis remains to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral propylthiouracil (300 mg) on systemic and portal hemodynamics in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. METHODS: Plasma propylthiouracil levels were also measured by high performance liquid chromatography in five patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. In eight patients with cirrhosis, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and portal blood flow were evaluated before and after placebo and propylthiouracil administration. Hemodynamic measurements were performed by the Doppler technique. The plasma peak level of propylthiouracil was achieved at 1.4 +/- 0.1 h in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. This time was chosen to express hemodynamic changes. RESULTS: Propylthiouracil administration caused a significant increase in portal blood flow (+16.5%, p < 0.05) in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. This effect was associated with a mild and significant rise in cardiac output (from 5.8 +/- 0.2 to 6.1 +/- 0.3 l/min, p < 0.05) and a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance (from 1171 +/- 69 to 1070 +/- 67 dyn . s-1 . cm-5, p < 0.01). A significant correlation was observed between changes in portal blood flow and peripheral vascular resistance (r = 0.79, p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed after placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that propylthiouracil has a vasodilatory effect in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. We postulate that this effect could be the mechanism by which propylthiouracil decreases hypermetabolic state, and increases oxygen delivery to the liver, in patients with alcoholic liver diseases.

Postprandial vascular response in patients with cirrhosis. Short-term effects of propranolol administration.

Systemic and portal hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in eight cirrhotic patients in basal conditions and after food intake and placebo. Following seven days of oral propranolol administration, hemodynamic parameters were reevaluated in the fasting and postprandial states under similar conditions. Cardiac output and portal blood flow were measured by Doppler technique. Intraobserver variability of repeated measurements was less than 10%. Food intake caused a significant increase of portal blood flow (+28%, P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the other hemodynamic parameters studied. Propranolol at doses achieving effective beta blockade (84 +/- 14 mg/day) (mean +/- SD) reduced portal blood flow (-24%, P < 0.05). Food intake caused a significant increase in portal blood flow (+35%, P < 0.05) in propranolol treated patients. However, in absolute values, postprandial portal blood flow during propranolol treatment was significantly lower (986 +/- 402 ml/min) than that obtained after the initial food intake (1214 +/- 537 ml/min, P < 0.05). Placebo administration had no significant hemodynamic effects in either group. This study demonstrates that chronic propranolol administration could protect from portal hemodynamic changes following food intake. Doppler technique is a reliable technique to evaluate changes on portal and systemic hemodynamic parameters during a short period of time in patients with cirrhosis.

Analysis of clinical course and prognosis of culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and neutrocytic ascites. Evidence of the same disease.

The clinical significance and prognosis of culture-negative neutrocytic ascites in cirrhotic patients is a controversial topic. In the present study, the clinical and humoral presentation and the short- and long-term prognosis were analyzed in 36 patients with cirrhosis and culture-positive spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and in 28 patients with cirrhosis and ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear count greater than 250/mm3, a negative ascitic fluid culture, and without previous antibiotic therapy. On admission there were no significant differences between groups related to age, sex, alcoholism, fever, abdominal pain, serum albumin, serum urea, serum creatinine, Child-Pugh score, polymorphonuclear count, and total protein concentration in ascitic fluid. A greater frequency of positive blood culture was found in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (15/21 vs 2/18) (P < 0.001). Mortality during the first episode was 36% in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and 46% in patients with culture-negative neutrocytic ascites (NS). Mortality during follow-up was high and survival probability at 12 months was 32% in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and 31% in culture-negative neutrocytic ascites. The probability of recurrence at 12 months was 33% in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and 34% in culture-negative neutrocytic ascites. Our results show that spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and culture-negative neutrocytic ascites are variants of the same disease with a high mortality and poor prognosis.

Paracentesis with Dextran 70 vs. paracentesis with albumin in cirrhosis with tense ascites. Results of a randomized study.

Forty-one patients with cirrhosis and tense ascites were randomized to receive daily paracentesis of 5 liters associated with Dextran 70 as volume expander (6 g for each 1000 ml of ascites removed) (group I = 20 patients) or paracentesis with albumin (6 g for each 1000 ml of ascites) (group II = 21 patients). The basal clinical features, laboratory data, and plasma renin activity were similar in both groups. The volume of ascites removed was 12.9 +/- 4.4 and 10.9 +/- 3.7 liters in group I and II, respectively (n.s.). No significant changes were observed in liver and renal function tests, KPTT, platelet count, factor VIII, serum electrolytes or plasma renin activity 24 and 96 h after the last paracentesis in both groups, except for a decrease in bilirubin in group I and a transient increase of serum albumin in group II. Four patients developed complications in each group, mainly hyponatremia, while one patient in each group developed renal impairment. One patient from group I died with hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, the probability of survival and readmission to the hospital because of tense ascites were similar in both groups of patients during the follow-up. The treatment cost with Dextran 70 was 15.50 dollars vs. 364.30 dollars with albumin for each patient treated. These results indicate that repeated large volume paracentesis associated with Dextran 70 is as effective and safe as paracentesis associated with albumin in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites. However, due to its reduced cost, paracentesis with Dextran 70 may be considered the treatment of choice in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites without liver cancer and renal failure.

Treatment of pruritus of primary biliary cirrhosis with rifampin.

Pruritus can be a debilitating symptom in patients with chronic cholestasis. Based on previous reports of its efficacy, we evaluated the impact of rifampin on the pruritus associated with primary biliary cirrhosis. Fourteen patients were included in a randomized, crossover study. After a 15-day washout period, subjects were followed for three weeks. During the first and third week, patients received 600 mg of rifampin or placebo; no treatment was administered during the second week. Pruritus was subjectively scored on a scale from 0 to 100. With rifampin, pruritus disappeared in 11 patients and partially improved in three; with placebo, only two had a partial response (P less than 0.001). Six patients with a prior poor or no response to cholestyramine improved with rifampin. No changes in biochemical tests or side effects were observed during this period. We conclude that short-term administration of rifampin relieves pruritus in primary biliary cirrhosis. When administered over a period of eight months in an open study, the relief of pruritus was maintained, while one individual developed an allergic reaction. Rifampin appears to be a safe drug in the management of the pruritus of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver: report of two cases.

This report describes two patients with hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: a 33-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man. The first case presented with a palpable abdominal mass and has survived without treatment for 6 years since diagnosis, with ascites but a good general condition. The other patient presented with abdominal pain and cholestasis. He had a rapid course and death occurred 6 months after the onset of symptoms. Histologically the tumors consisted of a proliferation of neoplastic cells with an angiogenic tendency embedded in a myxohyaline stroma. Positivity for the factor VIII-related antigen, for UEA-I and for vimentin and negativity for keratin of the neoplastic cells in the immunohistochemical investigation permitted identification of their endothelial origin. In both cases, the initial diagnosis was erroneous.

Abscesos intracraneanos en el niño / Intracraneal abcess in the child

Se presenta la experiencia del Instituto de Neurocirugía basada en el manejo de 130 colecciones supuradas intracraneanas atendidas entre 1940 y 1986. Corresponden a 95 abscesos cerebrales, 35 empiema yuxtadurales, 15 microabscesos y 5 tuberculomas. En el caso de los abscesos se preconiza una conducta quirúrgica agresiva como única manera de reducir la morbimortalidad. Las colecciones yuxtadurales tienen per se un mejor pronóstico con baja morbilidad y menor proporción de secuelas. Los microabscesos y microgranulomas constituyen una nueva patología después del advenimiento del TAC y su manejo actual es básicamente médico con excelentes resultados. Finalmente se analiza una corta serie de tuberculomas para objetivar el estado actual de esta patología

Peritonitis espontanea en el cirrótico: nuestra experiencia / Spontaneus peritonitis in cirrhosis: our experience

Debido a la escasez de publicaciones en nuestro país, se analiza retrospectivamente la incidencia de peritonitis espontánea (PE) observados durante 2 años, en 76 episodios de ascitis provenientes de 63 pacientes con cirrosis hepática. Trece pacientes (17%) presentaron PE y la relación hombre-mujer fue de 5 a 1; el 70% de los gérmenes encontrados en el líquido ascítico fue de origen entérico, principalmente Escherichia Coli. En tres pacientes el diagnóstico se efectuó por el recuento de polinucleares y la clínica, a pesar del cultivo negativo. No hubo diferencias significativas en la presencia de complicaciones o alteraciones humorales al ingreso entre pacientes con ascitis estériles y con PE, pero sí con la mortalidad que fue de 7,9% (5/63) en los primeros y de 38% (5/13) en las ascitis infectadas. El 80% de los fallecidos presentaban falla renal en el final de la evolución y una vinculación con el uso de aminoglucósidos no puede ser descartado. La peritonitis espontánea en el cirrótico, buscada rutinariamente, parece tener la misma incidencia en nuestro medio que la descripta en la literatura

Peritonitis espontanea en el cirrótico: nuestra experiencia / Spontaneus peritonitis in cirrhosis: our experience

Debido a la escasez de publicaciones en nuestro país, se analiza retrospectivamente la incidencia de peritonitis espontánea (PE) observados durante 2 años, en 76 episodios de ascitis provenientes de 63 pacientes con cirrosis hepática. Trece pacientes (17%) presentaron PE y la relación hombre-mujer fue de 5 a 1; el 70% de los gérmenes encontrados en el líquido ascítico fue de origen entérico, principalmente Escherichia Coli. En tres pacientes el diagnóstico se efectuó por el recuento de polinucleares y la clínica, a pesar del cultivo negativo. No hubo diferencias significativas en la presencia de complicaciones o alteraciones humorales al ingreso entre pacientes con ascitis estériles y con PE, pero sí con la mortalidad que fue de 7,9% (5/63) en los primeros y de 38% (5/13) en las ascitis infectadas. El 80% de los fallecidos presentaban falla renal en el final de la evolución y una vinculación con el uso de aminoglucósidos no puede ser descartado. La peritonitis espontánea en el cirrótico, buscada rutinariamente, parece tener la misma incidencia en nuestro medio que la descripta en la literatura (AU)

[Spontaneous peritonitis in the patient with cirrhosis, our experience]. / Peritonitis espontánea en el cirrótico, nuestra experiencia.

Due to scarce printed information in our country, the incidence regarding spontaneous peritonitis observed during two years in 76 ascites episodes, found in 63 patients with hepatic cirrhosis, is analysed retrospectively. Thirteen patients (17%), showed spontaneous peritonitis and the relationship man-woman was 5 to 1; 70% of the germs found in the ascites fluid was of enteric origin, mainly Escherichia Coli. In three patients the diagnosis was made by both counting the leucocytes and the clinical symptoms, in spite of the negative culture. There were no significant differences in the presence of humoral complications or alterations when patients appeared with sterile ascites and spontaneous peritonitis, but there were differences with the death rate which was 7.9% (5/63), in the former and 38% (5/13), in infected ascites; 80% of the dead patients showed renal deficiency at the end of the evolution and a relationship with the use of aminoglucosides can not be discarded. The search for spontaneous peritonitis in the cirrhotic patient, as a routine, seems to have the same incidence among as, as the one described in the literature.

Peritonitis espontánea en el cirrótico, nuestra experiencia. / [Spontaneous peritonitis in the patient with cirrhosis, our experience]

Due to scarce printed information in our country, the incidence regarding spontaneous peritonitis observed during two years in 76 ascites episodes, found in 63 patients with hepatic cirrhosis, is analysed retrospectively. Thirteen patients (17

), showed spontaneous peritonitis and the relationship man-woman was 5 to 1; 70

of the germs found in the ascites fluid was of enteric origin, mainly Escherichia Coli. In three patients the diagnosis was made by both counting the leucocytes and the clinical symptoms, in spite of the negative culture. There were no significant differences in the presence of humoral complications or alterations when patients appeared with sterile ascites and spontaneous peritonitis, but there were differences with the death rate which was 7.9

(5/63), in the former and 38

(5/13), in infected ascites; 80

of the dead patients showed renal deficiency at the end of the evolution and a relationship with the use of aminoglucosides can not be discarded. The search for spontaneous peritonitis in the cirrhotic patient, as a routine, seems to have the same incidence among as, as the one described in the literature.