Embarazo tubario: revisión actualizada de factores de riesgo y diagnóstico / Ectopic pregnancy: the current review risk factors and diagnosis

Debido a diversas variaciones epidemiológicas, la incidencia del embarazo ectópico ha aumentado significativamente llegando a convertirse en prácticamente el 2 por ciento de todas las gestaciones. Si a esto le agregamos su elevada mortalidad entendemos por qué esta patología debe ser manejada tanto por el médico general, como por el especialista. El curso de la enfermedad no complicada es indolente por lo que debemos tener presente un alto índice de sospecha en las pacientes que presentan factores de riesgo, como son: el antecedente de cirugía tubaria, de EE previo y la presencia de un embarazo producto de TRA. Cuando la enfermedad debuta por su complicación el diagnóstico debe establecerse a la brevedad y debe considerarse a una paciente en edad fértil con un abdomen agudo, portadora de EE hasta demostrar lo contrario. Además de la sospecha clínica, los 2 elementos más importante en el diagnóstico de la enfermedad son la determinación de beta-HCG y la USTV. La mayor disponibilidad de estas dos herramientas en los servicios de urgencia, ha permitido establecer un diagnóstico precoz del EE agilizando su tratamiento, el que clásicamente ha sido quirúrgico. Actualmente la laparoscopía es la pieza clave del manejo quirúrgico de la enfermedad, sea este radical o conservador. Sin embargo dada la precocidad de los diagnósticos, hemos visto como el tratamiento farmacológico es actualmente una alternativa segura y eficaz en grupos seleccionados. De esta manera el EE inicial no complicado, en algunos centros, es considerado una patología de tratamiento médico.

Due to many epidemiologic variations, the incidence of the ectopic pregnancy has increased its significance tobecome practically 2 percent of all the gestations. Its high mortality allows us to understand why this pathologymust be handled by general doctor, and by the specialist. The course of the noncomplicated disease is indolent so we must strongly suspect in the patients who present risk factors: the antecedent of surgery, previous ectopic pregnancy and fertility treatment due pregnancy. When the disease starts with its complication, the diagnosis must be quickly done and must be considered to all female in fertile age presenting an acute abdomen, until discarding. Inaddition to the clinical suspicion, the 2 elements more important in the diagnosis of the disease are thedetermination of beta-HCG and ultrasound. The greater availability of these two tools in the urgency services,has allowed to establish a precocious diagnosis of EE facilitating its treatment, the one that classically has been surgical. At the moment, laparoscopy is the key piece of the surgical handling of the disease, radical or conservative. Nevertheless, given the precocity of thediagnoses, pharmacologic treatment may be a safe and effective alternative in selected groups. Initial, noncomplicated EE , in some centers, is considered a medical treatment pathology.

[Echography performed by surgeons in the management of patients with trauma]. / Ecografía realizada por cirujanos en el manejo de pacientes con trauma.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography is useful in trauma patients to detect pleural effusions or peritoneal fluid. AIM: To assess the value of ultrasonography performed by surgeons in the assessment of trauma patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of ultrasonography reports and clinical history of 284 trauma patients. RESULTS: One hundred fifty six patients had blunt trauma and 128 had penetrating trauma. Ultrasonography detected peritoneal fluid in 20%, pericardial effusion in 1% and pleural effusion in 1%. Eight percent had visceral damage or hematomas, without peritoneal fluid. None of the patients with a normal ultrasonography required surgery for hemoperitoneum; however, four patients had intestinal perforations and required surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography had a 100% sensitivity and specificity for the detection of clinically significant hemoperitoneum. Emergency ultrasonography performed by surgeons is useful and accurate.