Diana Dávalos

Hepatoblastoma: Transplant Versus Resection Experience in a Latin American Transplant Center

Background Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary malignant liver tumor in children and is usually diagnosed during the first 3 years of life. Overall survival has increased 50% due to chemotherapeutic schemes, expertise surgery centers, and liver transplantation. Methods A retrospective collection of data was performed from pediatric patients with diagnosis of hepatoblastoma. Variables included demographic, diagnostic tools and histological classification; chemotherapy and surgical treatment; and outcomes and patient survival. The PRETEXT classification was applied, which included the risk evaluation, and according to the medical criterion in an individualized way, underwent resection or transplant. The morbidity of patients was evaluated by the Clavien-Dindo classification. Statistical analysis was performed according to the distribution of data and the survival analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The patients (n = 16) were divided in a resection group (n = 8) and a transplant group (n = 8). The median age at the time of diagnosis was 13.5 months. The motive for the initial consultation was the discovery of a mass; all patients had high levels of &agr;-fetoprotein and an imaging study. Ten of 16 patients required chemotherapy before the surgical procedure. In the resection group, 5 of 8 patients were classified as Clavien I and 4 of 8 patients of the transplant group were classified as Clavien II. Patient survival at 30 months was 100% in the resection group and 65% in the liver transplantation group. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first case report of pediatric patients with hepatoblastoma and liver resection or transplant in Colombia and Latin America. Our results are comparable with the series worldwide, showing that resection and transplant increase the survival of the pediatric patients with hepatoblastoma. It is important to advocate for an increase of reporting in the scientific literature in Latin America.

Pediatric trauma at a general hospital in Cali, Colombia.

BACKGROUND Trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Blunt trauma is the most common type and falls and road traffic injuries (RTI) are the most frequent mechanisms. METHODS Secondary analysis of institutional data included within the Panamerican Society of Trauma Registry (STP-ITSDP). A total of 581 trauma patients younger than 18years, hospitalized between 2012 and 2014, were included. RESULTS Blunt trauma (BT) (68%) was the most common type, and falls (42.5%) the most common mechanism. Median age was: 14years for penetrating trauma (PT), 8years for BT, and 5.5years for other types of trauma (OT). Of all patients, 8.1% had a Glasgow score<8, 9% had a Glasgow score of 8-13 and 81.1% had a Glasgow score higher than 14. Death occurred in 5.2% of patients: 83.3% as inpatients and 16.7% during initial management in the emergency room (ER). Patients dying in the ER were mostly PT victims, with higher ISS and lower Glasgow scores. CONCLUSIONS Trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in our pediatric population. Fundación Valle de Lili (FVL), a referral hospital, receives a high number of trauma patients from southwestern Colombia. Detailed knowledge of epidemiological data will help us to develop rapid response strategies for patients with trauma and to develop prevention and promotion programs.

Acute gastroenteritis in a pediatric population from Cali, Colombia in the post rotavirus vaccine era

BACKGROUND Epidemiological data from Latin America on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in the post rotavirus vaccine era obtained using highly sensitive molecular techniques are scarce. METHODS This prospective surveillance study was performed between March 15, 2015 and March 19, 2016 in two municipal health networks (MHNs) in Cali, Colombia to detect AGE in children <5 years of age. Consecutive sampling was performed simultaneously in all health facilities belonging to both MHNs until completion of the required sample size. Stool samples from AGE patients were tested with a nucleic acid assay for 16 pathogens. Detection frequency and incidence rates were obtained for specific pathogens according to age-group in children with AGE leading to hospitalization or outpatient care. RESULTS Overall incidence rates of AGE-related hospitalization and outpatient care were 20 and 237 per 1000 children <5 years of age, respectively. Despite almost complete rotavirus vaccine uptake, rotavirus was the most common etiology overall, including hospitalization and outpatient treatment of 0-23-month-olds, with incidence rates of 12 and 108 per 1000 children, respectively. Norovirus incidence rates were similar to rotavirus rates in this age group and associated with high Vesikari scores. Shigella predominated in 24-59-month-olds. CONCLUSIONS AGE remains an important cause of morbidity in children under 5 years of age, especially in those under 2 years. Rotavirus remains the leading AGE-associated pathogen, followed closely by norovirus in younger children. Preventive measures, including novel vaccination strategies, are necessary in this population to further reduce AGE-related morbidity.

En-Bloc Transplant of the Liver, Kidney and Pancreas: Experience from a Latin American Transplant Center

Case series Patient: Male, 38 • Male, 48 Final Diagnosis: En-bloc transplantation (liver, kidney, pancreas) Symptoms: Encephalopathy • adynamia • ascites • asthenia Medication: — Clinical Procedure: En-bloc transplantation Specialty: Transplantology Objective: Unusual setting of medical care Background: En-bloc transplantation is a surgical procedure in which multiple organs are transplanted simultaneously. It has some similarities with multi-organ transplantation but offers certain advantages. This report highlights the experience of our interdisciplinary group regarding the treatment and follow-up of patients who received en-bloc transplantation, with the aim of encouraging the development of this surgical technique. Case Report: The first case is a 38-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, and chronic kidney failure who received an en-bloc transplant of the liver, pancreas, and kidney with no intraoperative complications. He had a prolonged hospital stay due to anemia and systemic inflammatory response syndrome, which were resolved successfully. At follow-up, he had no requirement for insulin or for dialysis, or for new interventions. The second case describes a 48-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and liver cirrhosis who received an en-bloc transplant of the liver, pancreas, and kidney with no complications. During the postoperative period, the patient suffered a possible episode of acute tubular necrosis, which evolved towards improvement, with a tendency to normal metabolic and renal functioning, with no additional events. The patient is currently in follow-up and is insulin-independent. Conclusions: En-bloc transplantation is a safe procedure, which is technically simple and which achieves excellent results. This procedure is indicated in patients with end-stage renal disease, cirrhosis, and diabetes mellitus that is difficult to control.