Clinical characteristics, systemic complications, and in-hospital outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in Latin America. LIVEN-Covid-19 study: A prospective, multicenter, multinational, cohort study.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, and almost 396 million people have been infected around the globe. Latin American countries have been deeply affected, and there is a lack of data in this regard. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and factors associated with ICU admission due to COVID-19. Furthermore, to describe the functional status of patients at hospital discharge after the acute episode of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, multinational observational cohort study of subjects admitted to 22 hospitals within Latin America. Data were collected prospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patients, and multivariate regression was carried out to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 3008 patients were included in the study. A total of 64.3% of patients had severe COVID-19 and were admitted to the ICU. Patients admitted to the ICU had a higher mean (SD) 4C score (10 [3] vs. 7 [3)], p<0.001). The risk factors independently associated with progression to ICU admission were age, shortness of breath, and obesity. In-hospital mortality was 24.1%, whereas the ICU mortality rate was 35.1%. Most patients had equal self-care ability at discharge 43.8%; however, ICU patients had worse self-care ability at hospital discharge (25.7% [497/1934] vs. 3.7% [40/1074], p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that patients with SARS CoV-2 in the Latin American population had a lower mortality rate than previously reported. Systemic complications are frequent in patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19, as previously described in high-income countries.

Usefulness of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Anisakiasis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ultrasound (US) findings of gastrointestinal anisakiasis and the utility of US in its early diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed the imaging findings and clinical data of 21 patients with gastrointestinal anisakiasis. Diagnosis was confirmed by a positive antigen (n = 16), endoscopy (n = 2), or a compatible clinical presentation, physical examination, and history of raw fish consumption (n = 3). Ultrasound findings reviewed included segmental circumferential bowel wall thickening, segmental edema of the valvulae conniventes, dilated small bowel loops with hyperperistalsis or hypoperistalsis, free fluid, and color Doppler hyperemia. RESULTS: Segmental circumferential bowel wall thickening was present in all 21 patients, whereas segmental edema of the valvulae conniventes was visualized in 13 patients, moderately dilated small-bowel loops proximal to the affected segment with increased peristalsis in 14 patients, small-to-moderate ascites in 18 patients, and color Doppler hyperemia in 7 patients. The US evaluation ruled out a surgical pathologic examination in all patients, and the diagnosis of anisakiasis was suggested by the radiologist on the basis of US findings in 12 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Familiarity with the suggestive US presentation of intestinal anisakiasis may allow the radiologist to propose the diagnosis of this overlooked cause of abdominal pain and may also prompt an investigation of recent raw or lightly cooked seafood ingestion. Ultrasound findings of bowel wall thickening, especially segmental edema of the valvulae conniventes, hyperperistalsis, and dilatation of small-bowel loops proximal to the affected segment, ascites, and color Doppler hyperemia, along with a history of raw fish ingestion should aid the radiologist in the diagnosis of anisakiasis.

Experiencia preliminar del tratamiento quirúrgico de la fibrilación auricular con ablación por radiofrecuencia / Preliminary experience of the surgical treatment of auricular fibrillation with radiofrequency ablation

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo descriptivo de 25 pacientes operados de patología mitral con fibrilación auricular crónica, a los cuales se realizó ablación con radiofrecuencia durante 60 s, con 150 W de energía y control de temperatura de 60 ºC. Se comenzó el procedimiento solamente alrededor de las venas pulmonares y luego se incluyeron estas. A todos los pacientes se les realizó seguimiento posoperatorio por espacio de un año y la eficacia del procedimiento se evaluó en éxito y fracaso. La mejor eficacia del tratamiento estuvo relacionada con la menor edad de los pacientes. A medida que el tiempo de evolución de la fibrilación auricular fue mayor, aumentó el ritmo de fracaso del procedimiento y de igual manera ocurrió con el tamaño de la aurícula izquierda. Se observó que, al año, el 76 por ciento de los pacientes se encontraban en ritmo sinusal y ninguna de las complicaciones que se presentaron tuvieron relación con el método en si...(AU)

A prospective and descriptive study of 25 patients operated on of mitral pathology with chronic auricular fibrillation was conducted. They underwent radiofrequency ablation during 60 s, with 150 W of energy and control of a temperature of 60 ºC. The procedure started around the pulmonary veins, and they were later included. All the patients were postoperatively followed up for a year and the efficiency of the procedure was evaluated in success and failure. The best efficacy of the treatment was related to the lowest age of the patients. The longer the time of evolution of the auricular fibrillation, the higher the rhythm of failure of the procedure. The same happened with the size of the left auricle. It was observed that a year later, 76 por ciento of the patients were in sinusal rhythm and none of the complications presented were related to the procedure itself...(AU)

Experiencia preliminar del tratamiento quirúrgico de la fibrilación auricular con ablación por radiofrecuencia / Preliminary experience of the surgical treatment of auricular fibrillation with radiofrequency ablation

INTRODUCCIÓN. La fibrilación auricular es la arritmia cardíaca preoperatoria más frecuente entre los pacientes de cirugía cardiovascular. Entre las modalidades de tratamiento se hallan el tratamiento médico, la cardioversión transtorácica o intracardíaca con choque de corriente continua sincronizada, la estimulación (marcapasos), la ablación con catéter y la cirugía, en la cual se incluyen los métodos quirúrgicos propiamente dichos, las técnicas de catéteres para ablación y las técnicas mixtas. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo descriptivo de 25 pacientes operados de patología mitral con fibrilación auricular crónica, a los cuales se realizó ablación con radiofrecuencia durante 60 s, con 150 W de energía y control de temperatura de 60 ºC. Se comenzó el procedimiento solamente alrededor de las venas pulmonares y luego se incluyeron estas. A todos los pacientes se les realizó seguimiento posoperatorio por espacio de un año y la eficacia del procedimiento se evaluó en éxito y fracaso. RESULTADOS. La mejor eficacia del tratamiento estuvo relacionada con la menor edad de los pacientes. A medida que el tiempo de evolución de la fibrilación auricular fue mayor, aumentó el ritmo de fracaso del procedimiento y de igual manera ocurrió con el tamaño de la aurícula izquierda. Se observó que, al año, el 76 por ciento de los pacientes se encontraban en ritmo sinusal y ninguna de las complicaciones que se presentaron tuvieron relación con el método en sí. CONCLUSIONES. Consideramos que la ablación con radiofrecuencia intraoperatoria durante el tratamiento quirúrgico de la válvula mitral constituyó un proceder efectivo y seguro en el tratamiento de pacientes con fibrilación auricular crónica asociada(AU)

INTRODUCTION. Auricular fibrillation is the most frequent preoperative cardiac arrhytmia among the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. The medical treatment, the transthoracic or intracardiac cardioversion with shock of synchronized continuous current, the stimulation (pacemaker), the ablation with catheter and surgery, where the surgical methods, the catheter techniques for ablation and the mixed techniques are included, are among the treatment modalities. METHODS. A prospective and descriptive study of 25 patients operated on of mitral pathology with chronic auricular fibrillation was conducted. They underwent radiofrequency ablation during 60 s, with 150 W of energy and control of a temperature of 60 ºC. The procedure started around the pulmonary veins, and they were later included. All the patients were postoperatively followed up for a year and the efficiency of the procedure was evaluated in success and failure. RESULTS. The best efficacy of the treatment was related to the lowest age of the patients. The longer the time of evolution of the auricular fibrillation, the higher the rhythm of failure of the procedure. The same happened with the size of the left auricle. It was observed that a year later, 76 percent of the patients were in sinusal rhythm and none of the complications presented were related to the procedure itself. CONCLUSIONS. It was concluded that the ablation with intraoperative radiofrequency during the surgical treatment of the mitral valve was an effective and safe procedure in the treatment of patients with chronic associated auricular fibrillation(AU)

Cumplimiento de la prescripción médica en los Barrios de la Zona Norte de Santo Domingo, 1995 / Medical prescription compliance in the Northun neighforhood of Santo Domingo, 1885

Mediante un diseño descriptivo transversal estudiamos la prevalencia de incumplimiento de la prescripción médica en los barrios de la parte norte de la ciudad de Santo Domingo, encontrando una prevalencia global de incumplimiento de la prescripción médica del orden de 421/1000, principalmente en las edades de 35 a 44 años y de 55 y más (495/1000 y 494/1000 respectivamente). Los de origen urbano, los analfabetos, educación intermedia y primaria, los chiriperos y desempleados también obtuvieron una mayor tasa de prevalencia. Concluyendo que las causas más frecuentes del incumplimiento de la prescripción fueron: la falta de recursos económicos, rápida recuperación y alivio de síntomas, pérdida de fe en el tratamiento, entre otras