Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound Pattern in Healthy Parturients: Prevalence of Pulmonary Interstitial Syndrome Following Vaginal Delivery, Elective and Unplanned Intrapartum Cesarean Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related cardiovascular physiologic changes increase the likelihood of pulmonary edema, with the risk of fluid extravasating into the pulmonary interstitium being potentially at a maximum during the early postpartum period. Data on the impact of labor and peripartum hemodynamic strain on lung ultrasound (LUS) are limited, and the prevalence of subclinical pulmonary interstitial syndrome in peripartum women is poorly described. The primary aim of this exploratory study was to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary interstitial syndrome in healthy term parturients undergoing vaginal (VD), elective (eCD), and unplanned intrapartum cesarean deliveries (uCD). Secondary aims were to estimate the prevalence of positive lung regions (≥3 B-lines on LUS per region) and to assess the associations between positive lung regions and possible contributing factors. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, healthy women at term undergoing VD, eCD, or uCD were enrolled. Following international consensus recommendations, a LUS examination was performed within 4 hours after delivery applying an 8-region technique. Pulmonary interstitial syndrome was defined by the presence of 2 or more positive lung regions per hemithorax. Ultrasound studies were reviewed by 2 blinded reviewers and assessed for interobserver reliability. RESULTS: Seventy-five women were assessed (n = 25 per group). No pulmonary interstitial syndrome was found in the VD and eCD groups (each 0 of 25; 0%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0-13.7). Pulmonary interstitial syndrome was found in 2 of 25 (8%, 95% CI, 1-26) women undergoing an uCD (P = .490 for VD versus uCD and P = .490 for eCD versus uCD). In 1 woman, this correlated clinically with the development of pulmonary edema. One or more positive lung regions were present in 5 of 25 (20%), 6 of 25 (24%), and 11 of 25 (44%) parturients following VD, eCD, and uCD, respectively (P = .136). Positive lung regions were predominantly found in lateral lung regions. The number of positive lung regions showed a weak correlation with patient age (r = 0.25, 95% CI, 0.05-0.47; P = .033). No significant association was found between LUS pattern and parity, duration of labor, labor augmentation, labor induction, estimated total intravenous fluid intake, or net intravenous fluid intake. CONCLUSIONS: Although many focal areas of increased extravascular lung water (20%-44% prevalence) can be identified on LUS, the overall prevalence of pulmonary interstitial syndrome was 2.7% (2 of 75; 95% CI, 0.3-9.3) among healthy term parturients soon after delivery. Focal areas of positive lung water regions were weakly correlated with maternal age.

[Quality of corneal tissue procured by trained non-ophthalmologist medical personnel]. / Calidad de tejido corneal procurado por personal médico no oftalmólogo capacitado.

BACKGROUND: The cornea is the first tissue awaiting transplantation at a national level. It is imperative to train health personnel in procurement technique with excision of corneoscleral button in situ. The objective was to compare the quality of corneal tissue procured by social service medical interns and Ophthalmology residents in a third level hospital. METHODS: We performed a quasi-experimental pilot study with two groups: group 1, which included trained social service medical interns, and group 2, which included trained residents of Ophthalmology. RESULTS: 10 participants in two groups had a mean endothelial cell density of 2662.35 ± 223.92, a percentage of hexagonal cells of 53.89 ± 5.61 %, and a coefficient of variation of 0.43 ± 0.06 in group 1; also, and respectively, group 2 presented these results: 2656.44 ± 156.14, 64.15 ± 5.90 %, and 0.45 ± 0.06. The macroscopic and microscopic quality of procured corneal tissues was similar in both groups. Besides the learning curve and complications were minimal. CONCLUSION: All trained medical personnel acquired skills necessary to obtain optimal corneal tissue.

Glaucoma primario crónico para el médico de atención primaria / Chronic primary glaucoma for physicians in primary settings

Los glaucomas crónicos son enfermedades que afectan el nervio óptico, pudiendo llevar a serias secuelas visuales. En este artículo hacemos una revisión sobre estas enfermedades. Debido a que en general son inicialmente asintomáticas, se requiere un alto índice de sospecha para diagnosticarlas tempranamente, y el médico de atención primaria debe jugar un papel importante en su detección precoz. En este artículo revisamos libros de texto reconocidos y empleando MEDLINE, artículos representativos sobre este tema y mostramos un panorama general del estado actual, clínico e investigativo, del diagnóstico y tratamiento de los glaucomas primarios crónicos. [Galvis V, Tello A, Rueda JC, Parra JC, Valarezo P, Álvarez L. Glaucoma primario crónico para el médico de atención primaria. MedUNAB 2009; 12:144-150].

Chronic glaucomas are diseases affecting the optic nerve. In this article we make a review of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of those diseases. Since they are in general not symptomatic it is necesary to have a high suspicion index to detect them early, and the primary care physician has an important role in this early detection. In this article we reviewed recognized textbooks and using MEDLINE we found some representative articles on this subject. We provide an overview of the current clinical and research status on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic primary glaucomas. [Galvis V, Tello A, Rueda JC, Parra JC, Valarezo P, Álvarez L. Chronic primary glaucoma for physicians in primary settings. MedUNAB 2009; 12:144-150].