[Pharmacist´s contribution on antimicrobial stewardship program: ambispective cohort study]. / Contribución del químico farmacéutico en los programas de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos: estudio de cohortes ambispectivo.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) promotes the rational use of the antimicrobial, ensuring that each patient receives the correct antibiotic, by the correct time and at the correct dose. AIM: To establish the association of the results of an AMSP led by a pharmaceutical chemist, in terms of antibiotic consumption, duration of treatment and costs in a tertiary healthcare setting. METHOD: Ambispective cohort study. In the exposed cohort, in the environment of a AMSP, a pharmacist with training in infectious diseases evaluated and intervened the indication, dosage, duration of treatment and bacterial spectrum of the antimicrobial. The no-exposed cohort corresponded to a retrospective population that was similar (paired) to the exposed cohort, but that did not receive an evaluation of its antimicrobial therapy. RESULT: 258 patients were identified in the exposed cohort and 247 in the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. Decrease in the consumption of antibiotics was observed (119,831 vs 137,678 DDD/100 patients-day, p < 0.001) and a decrease in 34.1% of the costs associated with antibiotic therapy of the exposed cohort, in comparison with the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. CONCLUSION: AMSP led by a pharmacist have better outcomes in terms of consumption and lower costs associated with antibiotic therapy.

Clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia treated with corticosteroids and colchicine in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: To date, there is no specific antiviral therapy for severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Since there is no specific therapy against SARS-CoV2, current efforts aim to prevent contagion through public health measures and develop a protective vaccine. While waiting for the latter, it is necessary to evaluate the drugs that at least, in initial studies, suggested some degree of utility in the management of Covid-19 or its complications. The main objective of the study was to describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with severe Covid-19 Pneumonia treated with corticosteroids and colchicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study of 301 adult patients with Covid-19 Pneumonia confirmed by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for SARS-CoV2 (RT-PCR SARS-CoV2), Berlin protocol, who required hospitalization in three hospitals in Antioquia, Colombia. Patients were treated according to the institutional protocol (from March 20, 2020 to June 30, 2020) with corticosteroid if the patient required supplemental oxygen. From July 1, 2020, the management protocol changed with the addition of colchicine to all patients admitted to the institutions. The treatment was supervised and monitored by the same specialist in Infectology of the institutions. We describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes of the patients who received these treatments. The information of the patients was analyzed according to the outcome of interest (alive/dead) with univariate, bivariate, and multivariate measures to adjust the variables that presented statistical association. RESULTS: All patients had pneumonia documented by chest computed tomography with ground glass images and presented an alveolar pressure/inspired oxygen fraction (PaFi) less than 300. Three hundred one patients were included, 240 (79.7%) received corticosteroids, within these 145 (48.2%) received colchicine also, and the remaining 61 (20.3%) patients did not receive corticosterioids or colchicine. Mortality in the group that received colchicine was lower compared to the group that did not receive it (9.6 vs 14.6%, p-value = 0.179). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with corticosteroids and colchicine for managing patients with severe Covid-19 Pneumonia was associated with low mortality at the hospital level. Randomized, placebo-controlled studies are required to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids and colchicine on complications or death from Covid-19.

Contribución del químico farmacéutico en los programas de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos: estudio de cohortes ambispectivo / Pharmacist´s contribution on antimicrobial stewardship program: ambispective cohort study

INTRODUCCIÓN: El programa de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos (PGAn) promueve el uso racional de los antimicrobianos, garantizando que cada paciente reciba el fármaco correcto, por el tiempo correcto, por la vía y a la dosis correcta. OBJETIVO: Establecer la asociación de los resultados de un PGAn liderado por un químico farmacéutico, en términos de consumo de antimicrobianos, duración del tratamiento y costos, en una institución prestadora de salud de alta complejidad. MATERIALES Y MÉTODO: Estudio de cohortes ambispectivo. En la cohorte expuesta, (entorno de un PGAn), un químico farmacéutico con entrenamiento en enfermedades infecciosas evaluó e intervino la indicación, dosis, duración del tratamiento y espectro bacteriano del antimicrobiano. La cohorte no expuesta fue una población retrospectiva similar (pareada) a la cohorte expuesta, pero sin la evaluación de su terapia antimicrobiana. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 258 pacientes en la cohorte expuesta y 247 en la cohorte no expuesta al PGAn. Se observó una disminución en el consumo de antimicrobianos (119.831 vs 137.678 DDD/100 pacientes-día, p < 0,001) y una disminución de 34,1% en los costos asociados a la antibioticoterapia de la cohorte expuesta, en comparación con la cohorte no expuesta al PGAn. CONCLUSIÓN: El PGAn liderado por un químico farmacéutico se asocia a mejores resultados en términos de consumo y menores costos de la terapia antimicrobiana.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) promotes the rational use of the antimicrobial, ensuring that each patient receives the correct antibiotic, by the correct time and at the correct dose. AIM: To establish the association of the results of an AMSP led by a pharmaceutical chemist, in terms of antibiotic consumption, duration of treatment and costs in a tertiary healthcare setting. METHOD: Ambispective cohort study. In the exposed cohort, in the environment of a AMSP, a pharmacist with training in infectious diseases evaluated and intervened the indication, dosage, duration of treatment and bacterial spectrum of the antimicrobial. The no-exposed cohort corresponded to a retrospective population that was similar (paired) to the exposed cohort, but that did not receive an evaluation of its antimicrobial therapy. RESULT: 258 patients were identified in the exposed cohort and 247 in the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. Decrease in the consumption of antibiotics was observed (119,831 vs 137,678 DDD/100 patients-day, p < 0.001) and a decrease in 34.1% of the costs associated with antibiotic therapy of the exposed cohort, in comparison with the cohort not exposed to the AMSP. CONCLUSION: AMSP led by a pharmacist have better outcomes in terms of consumption and lower costs associated with antibiotic therapy.

Dexamethasone vs methylprednisolone high dose for Covid-19 pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: There is no effective therapy for the severe acute respiratory syndrome by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) responsible for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). To date, dexamethasone has shown a decrease in mortality in patients who require oxygen, especially those with invasive mechanical ventilation. However, it is unknown if another corticosteroid can be used, the optimal dose and its duration, to achieve a better clinical outcome. The objective of the study was to compare the differences in clinical outcome and laboratory results in hospitalized patients with severe SARS-CoV2 Pneumonia treated with dexamethasone at 6 mg doses versus patients treated with high-dose methylprednisolone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ambispective cohort study with survival analysis of 216 patients diagnosed with severe Covid-19 pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV2 by Berlin protocol, who were hospitalized in a high-complexity clinic in Medellín, Colombia. The patients should also have supplementary oxygen and radiological confirmation of Pneumonia by chest tomography. Sample size was not calculated since the total population that met the inclusion criteria was evaluated. 111 patients were treated with the institutional protocol with intravenous dexamethasone 6 mg QD for seven to 10 days if they required oxygen. Since September 15, 2020, the hospitalization protocol of the clinic was modified by the Infectious Diseases and Pulmonology service, recommending a high dose of methylprednisolone of 250 to 500 mg every day for three days with a subsequent change to oral prednisone 50 mg every day for 14 days. The protocol was not applied in the intensive care unit, where dexamethasone continued to be administered. The clinical outcome and differences in laboratory results of the patients who received dexamethasone vs. the prospective cohort that received methylprednisolone from September 15 to October 31, 2020, were evaluated. Follow-up was carried out by outpatient consultation one month after discharge or by telephone, inquiring about readmission or living-dead status. RESULTS: 216 patients had Covid-19 pneumonia documented by ground-glass imaging and alveolar pressure / inspired oxygen fraction (PaFi) less than 300. 111 patients received dexamethasone (DXM) and 105 received methylprednisolone (MTP). Patients in the DXM group evolved to severe ARDS in a higher proportion (26.1% vs 17.1% than the MTP group). Upon completion 4 days of treatment with parenteral corticosteroid, laboratory markers of severity decreased significantly in the group that received MTP, CRP 2.85 (2.3-3.8) vs 7.2 (5.4-9.8), (p-value < 0.0001), D-dimer 691 (612-847) vs 1083 (740-1565) (p-value = 0.04) and DHL 273 (244-289) vs 355 (270.6-422) (p-value = 0.01). After starting the corticosteroid, transfer to the intensive care unit (4.8% vs. 14.4%) and mortality (9,5% vs. 17.1%) was lower in the group that received MTP. Recovery time was shorter in patients treated with MTP, three days (3-4) vs. DXM 6 days (5-8) (p-value < 0.0001). At 30-day follow-up, 88 (92.6%) were alive in MTP vs 58 (63.1%) of those who received dexamethasone. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the treatment of severe Covid-19 Pneumonia with high-dose methylprednisolone for three days followed by oral prednisone for 14 days, compared with 6 mg dexamethasone for 7 to 10 days, statistically significantly decreased the recovery time, the need for transfer to intensive care and the severity markers C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer and LDH. Randomized controlled studies with methylprednisolone are required to corroborate its effect, and studies in a population hospitalized in intensive care wards.

Infusión intravenosa de ketamina a bajas dosis durante cirugía de artrodesis de columna. Una estrategia en el manejo del dolor agudo posoperatorio / Intravenous ketamine infusión at low doses during spinal arthodesis surgery. A strategy in acute postoperative pain management

INTRODUCTION: Acute postoperative pain is a complex problem given the pathophysiological characteristics, increasing health costs and complications and hindering recovery[1],[2]. Spinal arthrodesis is one of the most painful surgical procedures, presenting intense and disabling pain[3],[4]. Multimodal analgesia has been the tool with the best results, based on opioids; however, the combined use of drugs and dependence on opiates are important consequences. Therefore, the analgesic behavior during the use of subanesthetic doses of ketamine is described in the patients undergoing this procedure. METHODOLOGY: A prospective case series study was conducted from January-December 2019, with patients undergoing spinal arthrodesis who met the inclusion criteria, at the Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo University Hospital, Neiva. A univariate statistical analysis of all the variables is performed, with a joint interpretation of the results. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients underwent surgery, one of whom was excluded due to complications related to the surgical material. 88% of the patients showed evaluations of mild or absent pain in at least 4 times, with a number of morphine rescues in 24 hours of 1-2 per patient and patient ambulation in 90% on the first day. CONCLUSIONS. Postoperative spinal arthrodesis patients receiving intravenous ketamine infusion-based analgesia at subanesthetic doses showed mild or absent pain scores at almost all times.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El dolor agudo postoperatorio es un problema complejo dada las características fisiopatológicas, aumentando los costos en salud y las complicaciones y dificultando la recuperación[1],[2]. La artrodesis de columna, es uno de los procedimientos quirúrgicos más dolorosos, presentando un dolor intenso e incapacitante[3],[4]. La analgesia multimodal ha sido la herramienta con mejores resultados, tomando como base los opioides; sin embargo, el uso combinado de fármacos y la dependencia a opiáceos son consecuencias importantes. Por lo anterior, se describe el comportamiento analgésico durante el uso de dosis subanestésicas de ketamina en los pacientes llevados a dicho procedimiento. METODOLOGÍA: Se realiza un estudio tipo serie de casos, prospectivo de enero-diciembre de 2019, con los pacientes llevados a artrodesis de columna que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión en el Hospital Universitario Hernando Moncaleano Perdomo, Neiva. Se realiza un análisis estadístico univariado de la totalidad de las variables, con una interpretación conjunta de los resultados. RESULTADOS: Se intervinieron un total de 17 pacientes, uno de los cuales fue excluido por complicaciones relacionadas con el material quirúrgico. El 88% de los pacientes mostraron valoraciones de dolor leve o ausente en al menos 4 tiempos, con número de rescates de morfina en 24 h de 1-2 por paciente y deambulación de los pacientes en el 90% en el primer día. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes posoperatorios de artrodesis de columna que recibieron analgesia basada en infusión endovenosa de ketamina a dosis subanestésicas mostraron valoraciones de dolor leve o ausente, en casi todos los tiempos.

Intervenciones farmacéuticas y desenlaces clínicos en un programa de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos / Pharmaceutical interventions and clinical outcomes in an antimicrobial stewardship program

Resumen Introducción: La participación del farmacéutico en el programa de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos (PGAn) se ha asociado con mejores resultados. Objetivos: Describir las intervenciones farmacéuticas y desenlaces clínicos de un PGAn centrado en antimicrobianos de amplio espectro, en pacientes hospitalizados en una institución de alta complejidad. Método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, en pacientes ingresados a una clínica de alta complejidad entre agosto de 2016 y septiembre de 2017. En el entorno de un PGAn, un farmacéutico con entrenamiento en enfermedades infecciosas evaluó e intervino la antibioticoterapia, en conjunto con el médico infectólogo, quien realizó la modificación de la antibioticoterapia pertinente. Adicionalmente, se documentó el desenlace clínico. Resultados: Se incluyeron 258 pacientes. El 16,1% de los antimicrobianos se valoró como no indicado. Se realizaron 126 intervenciones farmacéuticas con 82,5% de aceptación. El desenlace principal fue la curación clínica y/o microbiológica de la patología infecciosa. Conclusión: El problema asociado al antimicrobiano con mayor frecuencia en la población de estudio fue el espectro antimicrobiano con respecto a la sensibilidad del microorganismo. Siendo consecuentes, el de-escalamiento fue la intervención farmacéutica con mayor prevalencia. Se alcanzó un porcentaje de aceptación similar a otros estudios, de las intervenciones realizadas por el farmacéutico en el entorno del PGAn. La curación clínica y/o microbiológica fue la principal causa de egreso hospitalario.

Abstract Background: The pharmacist's participation in the antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) has been associated with better outcomes. Aims: To describe the pharmaceutical interventions and clinical outcomes of a PGA focused on broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitalized patients in a tertiary healthcare setting. Method: Prospective observational study in patients admitted to a tertiary healthcare setting between August-2016 and September-2017. In the context of a AMSP, a pharmacist training in infectious diseases evaluated and intervened antibiotic therapy, with the infectious disease specialist, who performed relevant modification of the antibiotic therapy. In addition, the clinical outcome was evaluated and documented. Results: 258 patients were included. 16.1% of antibiotics were assessed as not indicated. A total of 126 pharmaceutical interventions were performed with 82.5% acceptance. The main outcome was the clinical and/or microbiological cure of infection. Conclusion: The problem associated with the antibiotic most frequently in the study population was the antimicrobial spectrum. Being consistent, de-escalation was the pharmaceutical intervention with the highest prevalence. A high percentage of acceptance of the interventions performed by the pharmacist in the environment of the PGAn was considered. Clinical and/or microbiological cure was the main cause of hospital discharge.

Role of Region-Specific Brain Decellularized Extracellular Matrix on In Vitro Neuronal Maturation.

Recent advancements in tissue engineering suggest that biomaterials, such as decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM), could serve to potentiate the localization and efficacy of regenerative therapies in the central nervous system. Still, what factors and which mechanisms are required from these ECM-based biomaterials to exert their effect are not entirely understood. In this study, we use the brain as a novel model to test the effects of particular biochemical and structural properties by evaluating, for the first time, three different sections of the brain (i.e., cortex, cerebellum, and remaining areas) side-by-side and their corresponding decellularized counterparts using mechanical (4-day) and chemical (1-day) decellularization protocols. The three different brain subregions had considerably different initial conditions in terms of cell number and growth factor content, and some of these differences were maintained after decellularization. Decellularized ECM from both protocols was used as a substrate or as soluble factor, in both cases showing good cell attachment and growth capabilities. Interestingly, the 1-day protocol was capable of promoting greater differentiation than the 4-day protocol, probably due to its capacity to remove a similar amount of cell nuclei, while better conserving the biochemical and structural components of the cerebral ECM. Still, some limitations of this study include the need to evaluate the response in other biologically relevant cell types, as well as a more detailed characterization of the components in the decellularized ECM of the different brain subregions. In conclusion, our results show differences in neuronal maturation depending on the region of the brain used to produce the scaffolds. Complex organs such as the brain have subregions with very different initial cellular and biochemical conditions that should be considered for decellularization to minimize exposure to immunogenic components, while retaining bioactive factors conducive to regeneration. [Figure: see text] Impact statement The present study offers new knowledge about the production of decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds from specific regions of the porcine brain, with a direct comparison of their effect on in vitro neuronal maturation. Our results show differences in neuronal maturation depending on the region of the brain used to produce the scaffolds, suggesting that it is necessary to consider the initial cellular content of the source tissue and its bioactive capacity for the production of an effective regenerative therapy for stroke.

[Pharmaceutical interventions and clinical outcomes in an antimicrobial stewardship program]. / Intervenciones farmacéuticas y desenlaces clínicos en un programa de gerenciamiento de antimicrobianos.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacist's participation in the antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP) has been associated with better outcomes. AIMS: To describe the pharmaceutical interventions and clinical outcomes of a PGA focused on broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitalized patients in a tertiary healthcare setting. METHOD: Prospective observational study in patients admitted to a tertiary healthcare setting between August-2016 and September-2017. In the context of a AMSP, a pharmacist training in infectious diseases evaluated and intervened antibiotic therapy, with the infectious disease specialist, who performed relevant modification of the antibiotic therapy. In addition, the clinical outcome was evaluated and documented. RESULTS: 258 patients were included. 16.1% of antibiotics were assessed as not indicated. A total of 126 pharmaceutical interventions were performed with 82.5% acceptance. The main outcome was the clinical and/or microbiological cure of infection. CONCLUSION: The problem associated with the antibiotic most frequently in the study population was the antimicrobial spectrum. Being consistent, de-escalation was the pharmaceutical intervention with the highest prevalence. A high percentage of acceptance of the interventions performed by the pharmacist in the environment of the PGAn was considered. Clinical and/or microbiological cure was the main cause of hospital discharge.

Outcomes of traumatic brain injury: the prognostic accuracy of various scores and models.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a worldwide health problem, and is a pathology that causes significant mortality and disability in Latin America. Different scores and prognostic models have been developed in order to predict the neurological outcomes of patients. We aimed to test the prognostic accuracy of the Marshall CT classification system, the Rotterdam CT scoring system, and the IMPACT and CRASH models, in predicting 6-month mortality and 6-month unfavourable outcomes in a cohort of trauma patients with TBI in a university hospital in Colombia. METHODS: We analysed 309 patients with significant TBI who were treated in a regional trauma centre in Colombia over a two year period. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken. The discriminatory power of each model, as well as its accuracy and precision, were assessed by logistic regression and AUC. Shapiro Wilks, chi2 and Wilcoxon test were used to compare the actual outcomes in the cohort against the predicted outcomes. RESULTS: The median age was 32 years, and 77.67% were male. All four prognostic models showed good accuracy in predicting outcomes. The IMPACT model had the greatest accuracy in predicting an unfavourable outcome (AUC 0.864; 95% CI 0.819 - 0.909) and in predicting mortality (AUC 0.902; 95% CI 0.862 - 0.943) in patients with TBI. CONCLUSION: All four prognostic models are applicable to eligible TBI patients in Colombia. The IMPACT model was shown to be more accurate than the other prognostic models, and had a higher sensitivity in predicting 6-month mortality and 6-month unfavourable outcomes in patients with TBI in a university hospital in Colombia.

Consideraciones anestésicas en el paciente con enfermedad por virus dengue / Anesthetic considerations in the patient with dengue virus disease

El dengue continúa siendo un problema de salud pública en América. Suele presentarse como una enfermedad febril leve, sin embargo, los pacientes con enfermedad grave pueden presentar síndromes hemorrágicos y choque por dengue. Diferentes circunstancias pueden surgir en el curso evolutivo de los pacientes con dengue impactando en la posibilidad de que sea necesario realizar en ellos una intervención quirúrgica, ante lo cual es necesario plantear las consideraciones anestésicas que deben ser tenidas en cuenta para el correcto abordaje. El presente texto tiene como objetivo establecer consideraciones clínicas útiles para el manejo anestésico en el paciente con enfermedad por dengue para reducir el riesgo de complicaciones peri-operatorias y muerte.

Dengue fever continues to be a public health problem in America. It usually presents as a mild febrile illness, however, patients with severe disease may have hemorrhagic syndromes and dengue shock. Different circumstances can arise in the evolutionary course of patients with dengue impacting on the possibility that it is necessary to perform a surgical intervention, before which it is necessary to raise the anesthetic considerations that must be taken into account for the correct approach. The present text aims to establish useful clinical considerations for anesthetic management in the patient with dengue disease to reduce the risk of peri-operative complications and death.

External Validation of the Rotterdam Computed Tomography Score in the Prediction of Mortality in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health problem. It is a pathology that causes significant mortality and disability in Colombia. Different calculators and prognostic models have been developed to predict the neurological outcomes of these patients. The Rotterdam computed tomography (CT) score was developed for prognostic purposes in TBI. We aimed to examine the accuracy of the prognostic discrimination and prediction of mortality of the Rotterdam CT score in a cohort of trauma patients with severe TBI in a university hospital in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 127 patients with severe TBI treated in a regional trauma center in Colombia over a 2-year period. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. The discriminatory power of the score, its accuracy, and precision were assessed by logistic regression and as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-square, and Wilcoxon tests were used to compare the real outcomes in the cohort against the predicted outcomes. RESULTS: The median age of the patient cohort was 33 years, and 84.25% were male. The median injury severity score was 25, the median Glasgow Coma Scale motor score was 3, the basal cisterns were closed in 46.46% of the patients, and a midline shift of >5 mm was seen in 50.39%. The 6-month mortality was 29.13%, and the Rotterdam CT score predicted a mortality of 26% (P < 0.0001) (area under the curve: 0.825; 95% confidence interval: 0.745-0.903). CONCLUSIONS: The Rotterdam CT score predicted mortality at 6 months in patients with severe head trauma in a university hospital in Colombia. The Rotterdam CT score is useful for predicting early death and the prognosis of patients with TBI.

Predicted Unfavorable Neurologic Outcome Is Overestimated by the Marshall Computed Tomography Score, Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH), and International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury (IMPACT) Models in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Managed with Early Decompressive Craniectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is of public health interest and produces significant mortality and disability in Colombia. Calculators and prognostic models have been developed to establish neurologic outcomes. We tested prognostic models (the Marshall computed tomography [CT] score, International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in Traumatic Brain Injury (IMPACT), and Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury) for 14-day mortality, 6-month mortality, and 6-month outcome in patients with TBI at a university hospital in Colombia. METHODS: A 127-patient cohort with TBI was treated in a regional trauma center in Colombia over 2 years and bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. Discriminatory power of the models, their accuracy, and precision was assessed by both logistic regression and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Shapiro-Wilk, χ2, and Wilcoxon test were used to compare real outcomes in the cohort against predicted outcomes. RESULTS: The group's median age was 33 years, and 84.25% were male. The injury severity score median was 25, and median Glasgow Coma Scale motor score was 3. Six-month mortality was 29.13%. Six-month unfavorable outcome was 37%. Mortality prediction by Marshall CT score was 52.8%, P = 0.104 (AUC 0.585; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0 0.489-0.681), the mortality prediction by CRASH prognosis calculator was 59.9%, P < 0.001 (AUC 0.706; 95% CI 0.590-0.821), and the unfavorable outcome prediction by IMPACT was 77%, P < 0.048 (AUC 0.670; 95% CI 0.575-0.763). CONCLUSIONS: In a university hospital in Colombia, the Marshall CT score, IMPACT, and Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury models overestimated the adverse neurologic outcome in patients with severe head trauma.

Differences in the Clinical Outcome of Osteomyelitis by Treating Specialty: Orthopedics or Infectology.

Osteomyelitis is a heterogeneous infection with regard to etiology and treatment, and currently no single management protocol exists. Management of the condition is typically an interdisciplinary approach between orthopedics and infectious disease; however, the orthopedist is often the person who manages treatment. The aim of the study was to determine differences in the outcome of osteomyelitis according to its treating specialty and to identify factors associated with the recurrence of the disease. An ambispective cohort study of 129 patients with osteomyelitis was conducted and the proportions for qualitative variables and central tendency and dispersion measures for quantitative variables were calculated; the latter were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. A bivariate analysis was conducted with measures of association based on the chi square test and crude relative risk. A logistic regression model was applied and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, including the model of relevant clinical variables that fit the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. We found that 70% of patients were treated either by orthopedics or infectious disease. Patients who were treated by an orthopedist alone presented a greater risk of relapse or reinfection (RR = 4.6; 95% CI 2.3;8.9). Risk factors of osteomyelitis recurrence as determined in the regression model included the following: age of 57 years or older (RR = 1.3; 95% 0.3;5.2), long bones (RR = 1.9; 95% CI 0.5;7.1), fracture (RR = 5.0; 95% CI 0.4;51.4), monotherapy (RR = 3.0; 95% CI 0.6;14.5), receiving less than 4 weeks of antibiotics (RR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.2;10.1), inadequate treatment (RR = 3.1; 95% CI 0.4;20.1), and receiving orthopedics treatment (RR = 5.5; 95% CI 1.6;18.2). Most patients evaluated jointly by orthopedics and infectious disease received adequate treatment for osteomyelitis and had fewer relapses.

Plasmodium vivax cerebral malaria complicated with venous sinus thrombosis in Colombia.

Complicated malaria is usually due to Plasmodium falciparum. Nevertheless, Plasmodium vivax is infrequently related with life-threatening complications. Few cases have been reported of severe Plasmodium vivax infection, and most of them from Southeast Asia and India. We report the first case of cerebral malaria due to Plasmodium vivax in Latin America, complicated with sagittal sinus thrombosis and confirmed by a molecular method.

Aneurismas de la aorta toracica y abdominal / Aneurysms of thoracic and abdominal aorta

El tratamiento de los aneurismas de la aorta requiere tecnica precisa de diagnostico, preparacion preoperatoria adecuada y procedimientos quirurgicos estandarizados, que exigen del medico tratante un conocimiento detallado de todos sus aspectos. En el presente articulo se revisan las historias clinicas de los pacientes con diagnostico de aneurisma de la aorta, intervenidos quirurgicamente en el Hospital San Jose de Bogota, en el periodo comprendido entre 1972-1986. El estudio incluye 42 pacientes: 26 hombres (61.9%) y 16 mujeres (38.1%), en una proporcion aproximada de 2 a 1 en favor de los hombres. Las edades oscilaron entre los 18 y los 74 anos con un promedio de 61 anos. La arterioesclerosis con ateroesclerosis constituye la etiologia predomianate (84%). Vale la pena mencionar las enfermedades degenerativas de la pared aortica, en especial el sindrome de Marfan, responsable de la diseccion aortica en dos de los pacientes, (5%). Se practico cateterismo cardiaco a todos los pacientes mayores de 50 anos para evaluar el estado de las arterias coronarias y la funcion ventricular. El compromiso de la aorta toracica fue demostrado en 21 pacientes (50%), 6 de ellos correspondieron a la aorta ascendente; cuatro pacientes presentaron compromiso toraco-abdominal y diecisiete se localizaron en la aorta abdominal. Las complicaciones inmediatas mas frecuentes fueron la hemorragia tanto intra como postoperatoria, la isquemia y la insuficiencia renal aguda. La mortalidad global fue de 8 pacientes (19%): tres en la sala de cirugia y cinco en el postoperatorio inmediato.

Lorazepam y amitriptilina en depresion neurotica: un estudio doble ciego / Neurotic depresion treated with lorazepam and amitryptiline: A double blind study

50 Pacientes con depresion neurotica fueron tratados siguiendo una tecnica doble-ciego con lorazepam o con amitriptilina, durante 7 semanas. Para valorar y calificar la evolucion de los pacientes, se usaron las escalas de Hamilton para la medicion de la depresion y de la ansiedad, obteniendose resultados igualmente efectivos en el tratamiento de la neurosis depresiva. Aunque la somnolencia se observo mas frecuentemente con el lorazepam, este y otros efectos colaterales desaparecieron a la tercera semana, con aumento de la dosis, sugiriendo que se trataba de manifestaciones psicosomaticas de la neurosis. Es llamativo el hecho de que un ansiolitico como el Lorazepam sea util en el manejo de la depresion neurotica, lo que refuerza las observaciones hechas en este sentido por otros investigadores