Diagnostic value of distal colonic polyps for prediction of advanced proximal neoplasia in an average-risk population undergoing screening colonoscopy

For colorectal cancer screening, the predictive value of distal findings in the ascertainment of proximal lesions is not fully established. The aims of this study were to assess distal findings as predictors of advanced proximal neoplasia and to compare the predictive value of endoscopy alone vs. combined endoscopic and histopathologic data. METHODS: Primary colonoscopy screening was performed in 2210 consecutive, average-risk adults. Age, gender, endoscopic (size, number of polyps), and histopathologic distal findings were used as potential predictors of advanced proximal neoplasms (i.e., any adenoma > or =1 cm in size, and/or with villous histology, and/or with severe dysplasia or invasive cancer). Polyps were defined as distal if located in the descending colon, the sigmoid colon, or the rectum. Those in other locations were designated proximal. RESULTS: Neoplastic lesions, including 11 invasive cancers, were found in 617 (27.9%) patients. Advanced proximal neoplasms without any distal adenoma were present in 1.3% of patients. Of the advanced proximal lesions, 39% were not associated with any distal polyp. Older age, male gender, and distal adenoma were independent predictors of advanced proximal neoplasms. The predictive ability of a model with endoscopic data alone did not improve after inclusion of histopathologic data. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the predictive ability of models that use age, gender, and any combination of distal findings was relatively low. The proportion of advanced proximal neoplasms identified if any distal polyp was an indication for colonoscopy was only 62%. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy in which colonoscopy is performed solely in patients with distal colonic findings is not effective screening for the detection of advanced proximal neoplasms in an average-risk populatio

Use of colonoscopy as a primary screening test for colorectal cancer in average risk people

The use of colonoscopy as a primary screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC) in average risk adults is a subject of controversy. Our primary objective was to build a predictive model based on a few simple variables that could be used as a guide for identifying average risk adults more suitable for examination with colonoscopy as a primary screening test. METHODS: The prevalence of advanced adenomas was assessed by primary screening colonoscopy in 2210 consecutive adults at least 40 yr old, without known risk factors for CRC. Age, gender, and clinical and biochemical data were compared among people without adenomas, those with non-advanced adenomas, and those with any advanced neoplasm. A combined score to assess the risk of advanced adenomas was built with the variables selected by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Neoplastic lesions were found in 617 subjects (27.9%), including 259 with at least one neoplasm that was 10 mm or larger, villous, or with moderate-to-severe dysplasia, and 11 with invasive cancers. Advanced lesions were more frequent among men, older people, and those with a higher body mass index (BMI). These three variables were independent predictors of advanced adenomas in multivariate analysis. A score combining age, sex, and BMI was developed as a guide for identifying individuals more suitable for screening colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Age, gender, and BMI can be used to build a simple score to select those average risk adults who might be candidates for primary screening colonoscop

Gastroduodenal injury after radioembolization of hepatic tumors

Radioembolization is a new tool for the treatment of hepatic tumors that consists in the injection of biocompatible microspheres carrying radioisotopes into the hepatic artery or its branches. METHODS: We have performed radioembolization in 78 patients with hepatic tumors using resin-based microspheres loaded with yttrium-90. All patients were previously evaluated to minimize the risk of hazardous irradiation to nontarget organs and to obtain the data needed for dose calculation. RESULTS: We report a complication found in three cases (3.8%) that consists of abdominal pain resulting from gastroduodenal lesions and that had a chronic, insidious course. Microscopically, microspheres were detected in the specimens obtained from all affected gastric areas. Since these gastroduodenal lesions do not appear when nonradiating microspheres are injected in animals, lesions are likely to be due to radiation and not to an ischemic effect of vascular occlusion by spheres. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that a pretreatment evaluation that includes a more thorough scrutiny of the hepatic vascularization in search of small collaterals connecting to the gastroduodenal tract can help prevent this awkward complicatio

5-year revision (2015-2019) of immediate alloplastic reconstruction in Hospital and University Center of Coimbra, Portugal

Introduction: With breast cancer being the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, conservative treatment is of tremendous importance. Nevertheless, in many cases, mastectomy remains the indicated surgical procedure, and like any other amputation, it carries a significant burden on those patients. In the case of mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction is the standard of care. Alloplastic reconstruction remains the most widely performed type of immediate breast reconstruction. Methods: In this article, the authors present a series of 105 cases of immediate alloplastic reconstruction in 5 years from 2015 to 2019 in Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal. It includes curative and risk-reducing mastectomies performed by oncologic gynecologists. The reconstruction options offered by the plastic reconstructive team included both direct-to-implant reconstruction and two-stage reconstruction with the use of tissue expanders. Results: Data regarding the oncologic disease, type of mastectomy, patient selection criteria and immediate and late postoperative outcomes with different techniques of immediate reconstruction were collected, analyzed, and compared to literature. In our study, body mass index was the single most significant predictor of complications and, its impact was statistically significant. Conclusion: The results obtained represent an essential step to improving care quality for women undergoing breast reconstruction

Commercially available endoscopy facemasks to prevent aerosolizing spread of droplets during COVID-19 outbreak

We read with great interest the ESGE and ESGENA Position Statement [1] on gastrointestinal endoscopy and the COVID-19 pandemic. We share the concerns listed in the suggested research agenda, particularly about enhancing procedural protection in the endoscopy unit to reduce risk of COVID-19 dissemination. We would like to bring attention to commercially available endoscopy masks that can be used to avoid aerosolizing spread of droplets during upper endoscopic procedures. These products seem to improve intra-procedure risk management and can serve as an alternative to a modified ventilation mask reported for this purpose by Marchese et al [2]

Práticas de Enfermagem na Reeducação Profissional de Soldados na Casa Pia de Lisboa durante a I Guerra Mundial

In the period of the First Republic in Portugal, during the First World War, professional re-education was implemented, based on the teaching experience of Casa Pia in Lisbon, and was particularly important in the recovery of mutilated and maimed soldiers. Objective: To interpret and analyse the nurses' practices in the professional re-education of Portuguese soldiers at the Santa Izabel Institute for the Re-education of War Mutilates at Casa Pia in Lisbon during the First World War. Methodology: Use of the historical method to synthesise the historical narrative. Results: Important references can be found in the Casa Pia of Lisbon Yearbooks to the functions carried out by the nurses, namely "the propaganda that the nurses made to the wounded about the advantages of re-education"; the "massotherapy treatment"; "the massage treatments" and also to the "extremely important role" of the ladies (nurses) in the "small infirmary" headed by Dr V. Pontes where there was a small "massotherapy" service, a "provisional prothesis" workshop and a laboratory for examining aptitudes. Conclusion: This confirms that the nurses played an important role in the "preparatory re-education" services at the Santa Izabel Institute for the Re-education of Mutilated People at Casa Pia in Lisbon, intervening in a distinctive and effective way, earning good recognition.En el período de la Primera República en Portugal, durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, se implantó la reeducación profesional, basada en la experiencia pedagógica de la Casa Pia de Lisboa, y fue particularmente importante en la recuperación de soldados mutilados. Objetivo: Interpretar y analizar las prácticas de las enfermeras en la reeducación profesional de los soldados portugueses en el Instituto Santa Izabel de Reeducación de Mutilados de Guerra de la Casa Pia de Lisboa durante la Primera Guerra Mundial. Metodología: Utilización del método histórico para sintetizar el relato histórico. Resultados: Se encuentran importantes referencias en los Anuarios de la Casa Pia de Lisboa a las funciones desempeñadas por las enfermeras, a saber: "la propaganda que las enfermeras hacían a los heridos sobre las ventajas de la reeducación"; el "tratamiento de masoterapia"; "los tratamientos de masaje" y también al "importantísimo papel" de las señoras (enfermeras) en la "pequeña enfermería" dirigida por el Dr. V. Pontes, donde había un pequeño servicio de "masoterapia", un taller de "prótesis provisionales" y un laboratorio de examen de aptitudes. Conclusión: Esto confirma que las enfermeras desempeñaron un papel importante en los servicios de "reeducación preparatoria" del Instituto de Reeducación de Mutilados Santa Izabel, de la Casa Pia de Lisboa, interviniendo de forma diferenciada y eficaz, mereciendo un buen reconocimiento.No período da Primeira República em Portugal, no decorrer da I Guerra Mundial, implementou-se, com base na experiência de ensino da Casa Pia de Lisboa, a reeducação profissional tendo sido particularmente importante na recuperação de mutilados e estropiados de guerra. Objetivo: Interpretar e analisar quais as práticas das enfermeiras na reeducação profissional de soldados portugueses no Instituto de Reeducação de Mutilados de Guerra de Santa Izabel na Casa Pia de Lisboa durante a I Guerra Mundial. Metodologia: Recurso ao método histórico para a síntese da narrativa histórica. Resultados: Encontram-se referências importantes nos Anuários da Casa Pia de Lisboa a funções exercidas pelas enfermeiras nomeadamente “a propaganda que as sr.as enfermeiras fizeram junto dos feridos sobre as vantagens da reeducação”; o “tratamento massoterápico”; “os tratamentos pela massagem” e ainda ao “papel importantíssimo” das senhoras (enfermeiras) na “pequena enfermaria” chefiada pelo Dr. V. Pontes onde havia um pequeno serviço de “massotherapia”, uma oficina de “prothese provisória” e um laboratório de exame de aptidões. Conclusão: Confirma-se que as enfermeiras desempenharam um papel importante nos serviços de “reeducação preparatória” no Instituto de Reeducação de Mutilados de Santa Izabel da Casa Pia de Lisboa, intervindo de forma diferenciadora e eficaz, obtendo um bom reconhecimento