Revista Médica del Uruguay

On the relevance and necessity of national scientific publications in the context of globalization of academic networks

Rodrigo Arim — 2023-10-17

Clinical benefit of cannabinoids to treat chronic non-cancer pain

Julia Galzerano — 2023-10-06

Introduction: Cannabinoids can be a valid option for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain, according to the studies published to date and our clinical experience.
Objectives: To evaluate the clinical benefit of medicinal cannabis preparations (MCPs) for chronic non-cancer pain in patients seen at the Endocannabinology Clinic of Uruguay (CEDU). Method: Descriptive, observational, longitudinal study of a population treated at a private healthcare center. This involves a cohort of 438 patients who spontaneously consulted at CEDU from September 2016 to March 2020. The reason for consultation was chronic non-cancer pain that did not respond to standard treatment.
Results: in the studied cohort, women prevailed and accounted for 74% of patients. Average age was 69 years old and 95% of them sought care within the private healthcare system. Most women had completed secondary school education. The most frequent type of pain was osteoarticular pain. The most used chemovar of Medicinal Cannabis (MC) was 5% cannabidiol (CBD), showing a favorable treatment response in reducing pain levels and the discontinuation or reduction of opioid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usage. Few and mild adverse effects (AE) were observed in the vast majority of patients. Twelve patients (less than 3%) discontinued the treatment.
Conclusions: This retrospective study demonstrated a reduction in pain level of 3.14 (p-value ≤ 0.0001) indicating that MC could be an option for the treatment of non-oncological chronic pain. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of cannabinoids. This depends on many factors (laws facilitating accessibility to a variety of medical-grade MC products, incentives for science and research). Nevertheless, we can assert that the presented results are promising in consideration of their therapeutic potential.

Clinical and demographic characteristics of children hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Patricia Barrios — 2023-08-21

Introduction: In March 2020, the first cases of SARS CoV-2 infection were registered in Uruguay and a health emergency was decreed.
Objective: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of children under 15 years of age hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 13, 2020, to September 30, 2021, at Pereira Rossell Pediatric Hospital, a public reference center in Uruguay.
Method: Descriptive, retrospective study describing age, clinical manifestations, comorbidities, severity and treatment. Results: A total of 207 children were hospitalized, with a frequency of 1.6%. The median (interquartile range) age was 1.5 years (3 months - 8 years); <1 year accounted for 44%, and 54% were male. Comorbidities were present in 59 children. 71% of them were symptomatic, and among the symptomatic cases, 48% presented mild symptoms. Clinical manifestations were respiratory in 96 (65%) cases and non-respiratory in 51 (fever without a focus 15, gastrointestinal 19, viral exanthem 3, pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome 10, and atypical 3). Thirty patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 3 required invasive ventilation. These patients had comorbidities, more days of fever, and required oxygen therapy compared to those who did not need ICU. One 2-year-old patient with comorbidities died.
Conclusion: The hospitalization frequency was 1.6%. Most symptomatic children had mild forms of the disease. Among the symptomatic cases, respiratory manifestations were predominant. The findings from this series contribute to the understanding of the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of maternal COVID-19 disease

Cecilia Santos — 2023-09-04

Introduction: Viral infections during pregnancy can lead to maternal and fetal complications. It is important to describe the maternal and fetal implications of COVID-19 disease.
Objetives: To describe and analyze the characteristics of patients who experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection during gestation, and maternal and fetal outcomes.
Method: A case-control study was conducted. All pregnant patients who presented SARS-CoV-2 infection and were hospitalized in a private healthcare institution (cases) during the period 1/03/2021 – 31/07/2021 were included in the study. Controls were selected from pregnant patients who were admitted during the same time but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Two controls were included for each case. The maternal variables considered were preterm labor, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, (severe or non-severe) preeclampsia, fetal death, fetal growth restriction, placental abruption. The neonatal variables considered were vital status, newborn weight, one-minute and five-minute Apgar scores, need for admission to a specialized neonatal care unit, and length of stay in days. COVID-19 tests for the newborn and their condition at discharge were recorded.
Results: Maternal demographic characteristics were comparable in both groups. Twenty-one (55%) obstetric complications were observed in the case group, and 117 (44.7%) in the control group; OR= 4.2 (95% CI: 1.9-9.7). Twenty-one (30.8%) neonatal complications were observed in the case group, and 3 (3.8%) in the control group; OR= 11.2 (95% CI: 2.9-42.9). The case group was associated with a lower likelihood of being vaccinated; OR = 0.3 (95% CI: 0.13-0.75).
Conclusions: We report an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. Vaccination proves to be a valuable tool against this viral infection.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in patients assisted at Clinicals Hospital Breast Unit

Natalia Camejo — 2023-08-21

Introduction: the COVID-19 health crisis had a significant impact on the management of various pathologies, including cancer. To reduce the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, the number of consultations was reduced, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates for other pathologies, which has been referred to as the “second pandemic.”
Objective: the aim of this study is to describe the clinical activity of the Breast Unit (BU) during the period March 2020-2022 and compare it with the activity during the period March 2019-2021.
Method: retrospective observational study including patients attending the BU during the period March 2019-2022.
Results: in the year before the pandemic, 30 new patients were assisted. Regarding the time between anatomopathological diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment: in 73.3% of cases, it was ≤ 2 months, 16.6% > 2 months and ≤ 4 months, and in 10%, it was > 4 months. During the pandemic, 50 new patients were assisted, representing a decrease of approximately 16.6% in the number of new patients attended Regarding the time between anatomopathological diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment: in 41% of cases, it was ≤ 2 months, 33% > 2 months and ≤ 4 months, and in 25%, it was > 4 months.
Conclusion: although the BU managed to maintain its clinical activity and continuity of most treatments during the COVID pandemic, there was a reduction in the number of patients referred to the service by approximately 16.6% and an increase in the time elapsed between diagnosis and the initiation of the first treatment.

Systematization of results from the first ten years of the Medical Ethics Tribunal of the Uruguayan Medical Association

Frances Borches Duhalde — 2023-10-06

Mandatory medical membership is the exclusive jurisdiction for the adjudication of ethical responsibilities of physicians in Uruguay.
Objectives: To systematize the results of the first ten years of mandatory membership, to learn about the number of complaints and their historical evolution, to identify relevant characteristics of the complaints, the complainants, and the physicians accused of alleged breaches of medical ethics, to examine the features and outcomes of the proceedings, and to document the ethical and legal standards referenced by the courts in punitive rulings.
Method: Publicly accessible sources of information were analyzed, including rulings from the Ethics Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, Resolutions from the Ministry of Public Health, and data regarding TEM’s (Tribunal de Ética Médica or Medical Ethics Tribunal) activities found in the annual reports of the CMU (Colegio Médico del Uruguay or Medical Association of Uruguay).
Results: As of the report’s closing date, 100 final rulings had been published. The reporting individuals were primarily individuals (n=85), with most of them being medical professionals (n=56). The remaining 29 reporting individuals included patients, patients’ family members, or other community members. There were 15 complaints filed by institutions: 8 private institutions and 7 public institutions. Most of the allegations were initiated by physicians or medical institutions (n=63). The reports involved 131 physicians, of whom 89 were male (male-to-female ratio: 0.68), with an average age of 52 years. The final rulings established that 71 physicians had committed the alleged ethical misconduct.
Conclusions: 1. There was a degree of stability in the number of admitted allegations, with a trend toward growth. 2. The group of individuals who were reported is characterized by a higher proportion of males and tends to be older compared to the average. They also have a greater exposure to emergency or inpatient services, surgical specialties, or fields involving invasive procedures, as well as holding positions in management, administration, or politics. 3. Most of the investigations and sanctions issued stemmed from conflicts within healthcare teams. 4. The most severe sanctions resulted from conflicts with patients or their families, particularly those involving abusive acts with sexual connotations. 5. The punitive rulings were based on various legal standards, including recent references to international conventions and national human rights legislation.

Burnout Syndrome in Neonatology Fellows in a Hospital Center

Jennise De los Santos — 2023-10-06

Introduction: Residents and postgraduates are a fundamental part of hospital services. Burnout Syndrome is defined as physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from chronic exposure to stress in the workplace. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) is an instrument designed and validated to evaluate it.
The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in our service and to compare it among students of different generations to then implement mechanisms that allow monitoring, early detection and identification of modifiable factors.
Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study carried out in April 2021 through the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) test to carry out a diagnosis of the situation. This study will continue with a 2nd stage consisting of the application of the test every 4 months, which we will not develop in this work. The target population is all residents and postgraduates in the neonatology specialty at a tertiary level hospital. The MBI-HSS questionnaire and a general questionnaire were applied to characterize the population.
Results: A total of 22 participants were included, of which 13 presented high scores of emotional exhaustion, 9 obtained an altered value of depersonalization and 9 presented low scores of personal fulfillment. Six participants, 27%, presented altered scores for the three variables.
Conclusions: A high prevalence of Burnout was evidenced, being 27% in the total population. Statistically significant differences were found for the items “depersonalization” and “personal fulfillment” between the different years of the specialty, with higher depersonalization scores and lower personal fulfillment scores in the second and third years. This constitutes an alarm element, which requires immediate modification of the operation and activities.

Bioethics in controlled asystole donor

Armando Mario Cacciatori Castro — 2023-10-12

Campaigns for health prevention and promotion, along with advancements in therapeutic measures for neurocritical patients, have succeeded in reducing the incidence of patients with acute brain injury (ABI) progressing to brain death (BD). However, in most Latin American countries, suitable perfusable organs for transplantation (TX) come from deceased donors in brain death (BD). Donation after circulatory death (DCD), particularly controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD), represents an accepted and valid option for organ procurement that would contribute to reducing transplant waiting lists. During the cDCD process, strong bioethical principles are applied, and their implementation is crucial when making decisions.
The purpose of this article is to analyze these concepts, aiming to provide valid tools to the healthcare team for processes involving moral deliberation, such as controlled circulatory death organ donation, considered an integral part of end-of-life care.

Pneumorrhachis and spontaneous pneumomediastinum associated with asthmatic crisis in adults

Nancy Godani — 2023-10-06

A case report: Pneumomediastinum is the most common form of air leak syndrome in asthmatic crisis and is usually benign in nature. Pneumorrhachis is a complication that is rarely described in the literature. We present the clinical case of a 35-year-old patient with intermittent asthma who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit due to a severe bronchoobstructive crisis, cervical subcutaneous emphysema, and anterior chest wall emphysema. Chest computed tomography revealed extensive pneumomediastinum and pneumorrhachis Pneumothorax or hemodynamic compromise due to the crisis was not documented. The patient showed a satisfactory outcome with invasive mechanical ventilation, bronchodilators, and systemic corticosteroids.

Adrenal carcinoma

Laura Tasende — 2023-10-06

Adrenal carcinoma is a very rare disease with nonspecific clinical presentation, where symptoms from the neoplasia itself are predominant. The aim of this publication is to present an uncommon clinical case, emphasizing the role of imaging studies in diagnosis and surgical strategy planning.

Congenital syphilis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Leonel Briozzo — 2023-08-21

New therapeutic tools in the management of vitiligo

Diego Gerardo Prado Molina — 2023-10-06