Diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for thrombotic microangiopathy. A report of two cases

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are a group of clinical syndromes associated with haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and organ dysfunction, mainly renal or neurological. They are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential. In this article we report two cases of TMA; a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and a patient with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS).

Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough?

OBJECTIVES

Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12 h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12 h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P = .014) and ID (P = .040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P = .0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

Analysis of Candida auris candidemia cases in an Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital

Candida auris is a multi-resistant emerging fungus.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship between colonization by C. auris and the appearance of invasive candidiasis. Description of the sample of colonized patients, risk factors for colonization and/or infection, and calculation of mortality rates.

METHODOLOGY

Longitudinal observational study in an anesthesia intensive care unit in 2018.

RESULTS

2130 patients were admitted. Surveillance studies were positive in 124 patients; 118 cases involved skin colonization and 52 were pharyngeal. Patients with a positive blood culture were identified. A statistically significant association was found between pharyngeal colonization and the appearance of a positive blood culture. There were significant differences between patients with a high Candida Score as a risk factor for candidemia. In total, 67% of pharyngeal carriers negativized at 1 month compared to 21% of cutaneous carriers, who negativized after 3-4 months. Of the patients with positive blood cultures, 70% of non-survivors received only monotherapy, although this difference was not statistically significant due to the small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of C. auris, a multi-resistant pathogen that is difficult to diagnose, treat and eradicate, is steadily increasing among critically ill patients. Its status as an emerging threat to global health calls for the urgent implementation of early in-hospital detection systems.

Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: Are low doses enough?

OBJECTIVES

Tranexamic acid is used to prevent hyperfibrinolysis and reduce postoperative bleeding and blood transfusions in on-pump cardiac surgery. We evaluate the efficacy of low or high dose tranexamic acid in a prospective cohort study conducted in Valencia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 427 patients were recruited between January 2019 and January 2020, 207 in the Hospital General Universitario (low dose [LD]) and 220 in the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (high dose [HD] and intermediate dose [ID]). We recorded the presence of hyperfibrinolysis on rotational thromboelastometry, intra- and postoperative administration of blood products, chest tube output within the first 12h, and incidence of convulsions. Univariate and multivariate comparisons were performed. Univariate analysis of all categories was performed after propensity score matching between LD and HD and between LD and ID.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in: appearance of hyperfibrinolysis, administration of blood products, postoperative chest tube output within the first 12h, or occurrence of convulsions. Group LD received less fibrinogen than group HD (P=.014) and ID (P=.040) but more fresh frozen plasma than group ID (P=.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of low-dose tranexamic acid is as effective as higher doses in hyperfibrinolysis prophylaxis and the prevention of postoperative bleeding in cardiac surgery.

Diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm for thrombotic microangiopathy. A report of two cases

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are a group of clinical syndromes associated with haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and organ dysfunction, mainly renal or neurological. They are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, so early diagnosis and treatment are essential. In this article we report two cases of TMA; a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and a patient with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS).

A serological and bacteriological survey of dogs to detect Brucella infection in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province

Canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis is a disease of the reproductive tract that may cause miscarriage in females, infection of the sexual organs in males and infertility in both sexes. The prevalence of brucellosis in dogs is unknown and little has been done to control the disease, except in certain breeds and some commercial dog kennels. In the course of a free neuter program in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province, prevalence of antibodies to Brucella sp., bacteriological isolation and clinical observations were performed. Of 224 dogs studied, 33 (14.7%) were found positive for the rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), 24 (10.7%) of which were confirmed by IELISA. Of the 33 RSAT positive, 17 (51.5%) blood cultures were done, and B. canis were isolated from 2 cases. Since infected dogs have been shown to remain bacteremic for prolonged periods, our results also suggest a risk of human infections in this area.

[Oral analgesia versus posterior tibial nerve block for postoperative pain in ambulatory open hallux valgus surgery: a randomized clinical trial]

INTRODUCTION

This trial assessed the safety and efficacy of a continuous posterior tibial nerve block in the ankle provided in the patient's home by elastomeric pump infusion of 0.375% ropivacaine after ambulatory hallux valgus surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients were randomized to 2 groups of 20 each to receive either the conventional oral analgesia prescribed by our team after outpatient surgery (metamizole 575 mg/6 h p.o.) or perineural analgesia with a continuous infusion of 5 mL x h(-1) of 0.375% ropivacaine in the posterior tibial nerve. Surgery was performed under hyperbaric spinal anesthesia with mepivacaine and an injection of 0.25% bupivacaine into the joint. Both groups also received 50 mg/8 h p.o. of tramadol as rescue analgesia. Assessment during visits by the home care team 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery included the following variables: pain on a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10), sleep quality, need for rescue analgesia, acceptance of the technique, side effects and adverse events. Descriptive statistics were calculated and comparisons were performed with the Mann-Whitney U test; sleep quality and need for rescue analgesia were compared by applying the chi2 statistic with a test of linear trend.

RESULTS

The perineural analgesia group had significantly lower VAS scores at 4, 12, and 24 hours and less need for rescue analgesia. No differences in sleep quality were found (P0.07). The incidence of side effects did not differ, and there were no readmissions. The patients expressed a high level of acceptance of the technique.

CONCLUSION

Continuous perineural analgesia in the home setting was found to be effective and safe in our patients.

[Convulsions induced by ropivacaine after brachial plexus block]

Ropivacaine is a local anesthetic frequently used to provide regional blocks because its toxicity threshold is favorable and it is highly selective for sensory nerve fibers. Few reports of adverse events and complications related to use of ropivacaine have been published. We report 2 cases of central nervous system toxicity. Each occurred after a brachial plexus block with 0.75% ropivacaine, one performed by an axillary approach and one by an infraclavicular approach with nerve stimulation.

[0.2% ropivacaine vs. 0.1% ropivacaine plus fentanyl in obstetric epidural analgesia]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the analgesic efficacy of epidural administration of 0.2% ropivacaine alone to that of 0.1% ropivacaine plus 0.0002% fentanyl during childbirth.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective, randomized single-blind study of 84 women in labor (aged 16 to 40 y, ASA I-II, weight over 110 kg, height over 150 cm, gestational age 37 to 42 weeks). The women were randomly assigned to two groups: group I consisted of 42 patients who received an initial bolus of 10 ml of ropivacaine 0.2% followed by continuous perfusion of ropivacaine 0.2% at a rate of 6 to 10 ml/h; group II was composed of 42 women who received an initial bolus of ropivacaine 0.2% with 50 micrograms of fentanyl followed by continuous infusion of ropivacaine 0.1% and fentanyl 2 micrograms/ml at a rate of 6 to 10 ml/h. Data recorded were parity and type of delivery, blood pressure, heart rate (HR), time to onset of pain relief, motor blockade on a modified Bromage scale, pain on a visual analog scale (VAS) and fetal HR, Apgar score and arterial and venous pH of umbilical blood.

RESULTS

We found no significant differences in demographic or hemodynamic data in mothers or fetuses, in type of delivery or motor block, although the latter tended to be slightly lower in group II. In group II, the total anesthetic dose used was significantly lower (p = 0.003); time until onset of pain relief was significantly shorter (p = 0.044); and VAS scores were significantly lower at 15 min (p = 0.005), 30 min (p = 0.029), 60 min (p = 0.017) and 90 min (p = 0.002). The number of top-up boluses needed for deliveries involving instruments was significantly greater in group II (p = 0.37).

CONCLUSION

The protocol of ropivacaine 0.1% with 2 micrograms/ml of fentanyl provides satisfactory analgesia throughout labor, allowing lower doses of local anesthetic to be used, with shorter onset of pain relief and reduced motor blockade; however the analgesia provided is insufficient for deliveries assisted by instruments.

[The prevalence of antibodies to the rubella virus in pregnant women at a health center]

OBJECTIVE

To know the prevalence of antibodies against rubella in pregnant women of a health centre.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional descriptive study, for 4 years.

SETTING

Llíria health centre. Zone 9. Area 5. Valencia.

PATIENTS

Random sample of 405 pregnant women (15-45 years) of 3500 women in fertile age, extracted from the obstetrics unity.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

We collected the following variable: age of the mother in the last gestation, number of previous gestations (including abortions), determination of antibodies against rubella, degree of schooling and occupation index. The results show a prevalence of antibodies against rubella of the 95.2% (CI 95% 93.1-97.3). We find meaningful differences between the antibodies protective titles and the age (p < 0.0005) and instruction level (p = 0.0263), so when the women are elder and they have a instruction level better the antibodies protective titles are bigger. We don't find meaningful differences with the mother occupational level (p = 0.0945), either with the number of previous gestations (p = 0.2947). The prevalence of antibodies against rubella, according to groups of age in the pregnant women population, varies from 81.8% (CI 95% 59.7-94.8) in the group of 15 to 19 years, until a 100% (CI 95% 66.4-100) in the group of 40-44 years. The relationship between the number of gestations and the lack immunization against rubella is for the first pregnancy 52.6%, second pregnancy 36.8%, several pregnancy 10.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of antibodies against rubella in pregnant women is 95%, similar to other published studies. This prevalence increases with the age what suggests the primary paper of the wild virus in the maintenance of the rate of prevalence. It should be to incise more in the immunization after the labour, overcoat, in those pregnant women with less schooling, so corroborate our results. It is necessary to take the adequate measures so that 47.4% of the total of seronegative women (with more than one pregnancy), don't escape to the controls of the sanitary system.

[Sino-bronchial infections and male sterility. Presentation of a new variant]

The association of repeated sinus-bronchial-pulmonary infection and male infertility is well known in the literature in conditions such as cystic fibrosis, immotile cilia syndrome and Young's syndrome. Outside the context of these clinical entities, however, the association is unusual. We report the case of a 36-year-old man with sinusitis, bronchiectasis and sterility due to Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, an association that has not been described to date. Testicular biopsy showed absence of spermatogones and other germ cells, and non specific alterations were found in nasal cilia axonemes, in the presence of DNA branches. A sweat test was negative. Given that recent studies have shown an increase in the prevalence os Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, other cases might be described and this association may correspond to a specific entity.

[Chronic calcifying pancreatitis and chronic renal failure]

We report a case of chronic calcifying pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic deficiency in a patient with chronic renal failure under hemodialysis. We analyze the possible relationship between these two entities with special reference to the role of secondary hyperparathyroidism and extraosseous or metastatic calcification.

[Reintervention in gliomas: the necessity of nuclear magnetic resonance]

The reoperation of patients with recurrence of cerebral glioma is a technique offering survival with a good quality of life. The accepted criteria are a Karnofski index until reoperation greater than or equal to 70, young age, and a favourable histologic grade of tumor. NMR offers better sensitivity than other neuroimaging techniques for the detection of tumoral extension, local and at a distance, and allows a good tumoral resection. We report a patient with recurrence of a cerebral astrocytoma grade II with the criteria for reoperation, but when we performed NMR a dissemination of the tumor to the posterior fossa was seen, and reoperation was consequently counter-indicated. We discuss the mechanism of the extension of cerebral gliomas, the value of neuroimaging techniques and the role of reoperation in this context. We consider it necessary to perform NMR prior to reoperation in this special group of patients with a cerebral glioma recurrence.