Two-stage esophagojejunal anastomosis: An alternative reconstruction in emergency gastrectomy for high-risk gastric cancer patients.

Emergency total gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer who are in shock carries a high risk of esophagojejunal anastomosis leakage. No alternatives have been reported to reduce this risk. This study reports two patients with gastric cancer who were in shock and underwent emergency gastrectomy and two-stage esophagojejunal anastomosis with good results. In the first stage, immediately after gastrectomy, the esophagus was attached to a Roux-en-Y jejunal loop that prevented retraction of the esophagus into the mediastinum. In the second stage, in a second surgery, the esophagojejunal anastomosis was completed under better clinical conditions.

How COVID-19 has affected emergent visits to a Latin-American trauma department: Experience at a Peruvian national trauma referral center.

INTRODUCTION: By May 2020, Peru was the country with the third most COVID-19 cases in the Americas. The current study's overall aim was to examine the impact of the current COVID-19 outbreak on the number of non-COVID-related patient presentations to a major national emergency traumatology/orthopedics referral center in Latin America. METHODS: An observational study was performed at one of Peru's main tertiary trauma referral centers, during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Numbers of non-follow-up patients presenting to the traumatology/ orthopedics service were counted and compared between January through April 2019 and January through April 2020; and between the month immediately prior to the Peruvian government's implementation of national lock-down measures (Feb 16-Mar 15; Period 1) and the month immediately following (Mar 16-Apr 15; Period 2). The number of surgery service hospitalizations also was compared pre- versus post lockdown initiation (Period 1 vs. 2), as were patient characteristics and outcomes, like age, sex, discharge disposition, mortality, indications for hospital admission, and COVID-19 status. RESULT: Comparing 2019 and 2020, no appreciable differences were detected in the number of patients seen in either January or February. However, relative to March and April 2019, the numbers of patients seen in March and April 2020 (the two months after the first Peruvian case of COVID-19 was detected) were reduced by 55.8 and 88.6%, respectively. Comparing the months immediately pre and post lockdown, the number of service patients declined by 79.9% in April, while the number of hospitalizations declined by 30.9%. The number of admissions for various surgical indications either remained stable or declined in parallel with the overall decline in admissions for all indications except for osteoporotic hip fractures and diabetic foot ulcers (both of which increased proportional to the overall number of admissions) and for hand and foot fractures, both of which decreased. CONCLUSION: At our hospital, not all indications for traumatology/orthopedics service utilization declined despite the national government's directive to reduce non-COVID-related consultations and admissions. Some disorders presented with even greater frequency, which must be considered when developing contingencies for the reallocation of healthcare resources during a pandemic.

Somnolencia diurna excesiva en estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Mayor de San Simón / Evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness on medical students of San Simon University

OBJETIVO: el objetivo primario es determinar si los estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) sufren de somnolencia diurna excesiva mediante el uso de la Escala de somnolencia de Epworth (ESE). MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio transversal, descriptivo. Estudiantes de medicina de la UMSS completaron una encuesta la cual incluía datos demográficos, escala del sueño de Epworth traducida al español, número de horas nocturnas de sueño, siestas y uso de estimulantes del SNC durante el mes anterior a la realización de la encuesta. RESULTADOS: el universo consistió en 1923 estudiantes y la muestra en 324 estudiantes del primer al quinto curso de carrera de medicina (5% margen de error, 95% nivel de confianza); 57% del sexo femenino, media de edad de 21 años (±2,1), la media de la escala de Epworth fue de 9 (±3,3) (95% IC 8,46-9,54); 23,6% presentó algún grado de somnolencia diurna excesiva; 67% de los estudiantes indican dormir 4-6 hrs diarias; 79% goza entre 5 ­ 90 minutos de siesta cada día durante el mes anterior a la encuesta; 76% reporta usar algún tipo de estimulante del sistema nervioso central. CONCLUSIONES: un porcentaje menor pero relevante de estudiantes de medicina de la UMSS tiene algún grado de somnolencia diurna excesiva. Este menor porcentaje puede deberse al uso de siestas; habito comúnmente practicado en nuestro país.

OBJECTIVES: the primary objective is to determine if medical students of San Simon University (UMSS) suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleeping Scale (ESS). METHODS: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Medical students of San Simon University responded to a survey which included demographics, Epworth Sleepiness Scale translated to Spanish, number of nighttime hours of sleep, presence of naps and use of any stimulant of the central nervous system during the month prior to the survey. RESULTS: The universe consisted of 1923 students and the sample was 324 students from the first to the fifth course of the medical school of University of San Simon (5% margin of error, 95% level of confidence); 57% female, mean age was 21 years (±2.1), the average Epworth Sleepiness scale was 9 (±3.3) (95% CI 8.46-9.54); 23.6% presented some degree of excessive daytime sleepiness; 67% of students indicated sleep 4-6 hours daily; 79% enjoy 5 - 90 minute daily naps during the month prior to survey; 76% reported using some type of stimulant of the central nervous system. CONCLUSIONS: A small but relevant number of medical students have some degree of excessive daytime sleepiness. This is maybe due to use of naps; a habit commonly used in our country.

Mielitis transversa longitudinal extensa: similares presentaciones, diferentes etiologías / Longitudinal transverse myelitis: similar presentations, different etiologies

La mielitis transversa longitudinal extensa (MTLE) se define como lesión de la médula espinal con una extensión de tres o más cuerpos vertebrales. La presentación clínica dependerá del área anatómica afectada incluyendo paraparesia, paraplejia, parestesias o pérdida sensorial en diferentes modalidades, síntomas urinarios entre otros. Sus etiologías son diversas como ser procesos metabólicos, tóxicos, inflamatorios, infecciosos. En el presente artículo describimos tres interesantes casos clínicos de MTLE. El primero una paciente joven con neuromielitis óptica; el segundo una paciente con neurosarcoidosis y el último caso un paciente con mielopatía tóxica producida por abuso de óxido de nitrógeno. Todos ellos con presentación clínica y radiológica similar resaltando la importancia de la obtención de una buena historia clínica.

Longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is defined as a spinal cord lesion that compromise 3 or more vertebral segments. Clinical presentation varies and will depend on the anatomical area that is compromised including paraparesis, paraplegia, paresthesia or sensory loss of any modalities and urinary or bowel symptoms. The etiologies are several such as toxic - metabolic abnormalities, inflammatory or infectious. Here in we present three interesting cases of LETM; the first case is a young patient with neuromyelitis optica; the second a case of neurosarcoidosis and the last case a toxic myelopathy secondary to nitrous oxide abuse. All of them with similarities in their clinical and radiologic presentation but with different etiologies highlighting the importance of obtaining a good medical history.

Trombosis venosa profunda causando embolia pulmonar aguda e infarto cerebral isquémico / Deep vein thrombosis causing pulmonary embolism and ischemic cerebral infarct

En este artículo presentamos el caso de un paciente femenino de 59 años de edad que ingreso al hospital por insuficiencia respiratoria aguda; diagnosticada con trombosis venosa profunda (TVP) y tromboembolia pulmonar (TEP) masiva. Al cuarto día de admisión desarrolló afasia global y hemiplejia derecha. Imagen de resonancia magnética (IRM) del cerebro demuestra un infarto cerebral agudo en el territorio de la arteria cerebral media izquierda. La Ecografía trans-esofágica evidencia un foramen ovale permeable de 1.8 cm de diámetro con una derivación de flujo arterio-venosa de derecha a izquierda significativo. La paciente fue sometida al cierre del defecto cardiaco por cateterismo con resultados favorables sin recurrencia de infartos cerebrales posteriores. También revisamos la literatura sobre embolia paradójica como causa de infartos cerebrales y brindamos algunas recomendaciones para el manejo y prevención de infartos cerebrales criptogénicos.

Herein, we present a case of a 59 years old woman who was admitted to the hospital due to respiratory failure. She was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and massive pulmonary embolism. At the fourth day of admission she developed acute onset of global aphasia and dense acute right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates an acute infarct in the left medial cerebral artery territory. Transesophageal echocardiogram found a large patent foramen ovale of 1.8 cm of diameter with a large right to left shunting. Patient underwent to successful closure of the defect via cardiac catheterization with no recurrence of embolic events. We also review the literature of paradoxical embolus as a cause of cerebral infarcts and provide some recommendations for treatment and prevention of cryptogenic infarcts.

Outcome after laparoscopic enucleation for non-functional neuroendocrine pancreatic tumours.

BACKGROUND: Non-functional endocrine pancreatic tumours (NPT) of more than 2 cm have an increased risk of malignancy. The aim of the present study was: (i) to define the guidelines for laparoscopic enucleation (LapEn) in patients with a non-functional NPT ≤3 cm in diameter; (ii) to evaluate pancreas-related complications; and (iii) to present the long-term outcome. METHODS: Between April 1998 and September 2010, 30 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for a non-functional NPT (median age 56.5 years, range 44-83). Only 13 patients with tumours ≤3 cm in size underwent LapEn. Local lymph node dissection to exclude lymph node involvement was performed in all patients. RESULTS: The median tumour size, operative time and blood loss were 2.8 cm (range 2.8-3), 130 min (range 90-280) and 220 ml (range 120-300), respectively. A pancreatic fistula occurred in five patients: International Study Group of Pancreatic Fistula (ISGPF) A in two patients and ISGPF B in three patients. The median follow-up was 48 months (12-144). Three patients with well-differentiated carcinoma are free of disease 2, 3 and 4 years after LapEn and a regional lymphadenectomy. One patient, 5 years after a LapEn, presented with lymph node and liver metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms the technical feasibility and acceptable morbidity associated with LapEn. Intra-operative lymph node sampling and frozen-section examination should be performed at the time of LapEn; when a malignancy is confirmed, oncologically appropriate lymph node dissection should be performed.