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Background: We have observed that patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis show bilateral lower lobes atelectasis before pleural effusion that finally forms empyema. Successful treatment of mediastinitis emphasizes optimal early drainage of neck, mediastinum, and antibiotic therapy. Methods: Exploratory study to determine the presence of segmental atelectasis as incipient sign of mediastinitis. We studied patients from August 2018 to July 2019 with tomographies. Results: We evaluated 25 patients operated due to Mediastinitis at our hospital, from August 2018 to July 2019. Ten (40%) were females and 15 (60%) were male patients. Twenty-one (84%) patients showed atelectasis and 4 (16%) did not have atelectasis. Of the patients that showed atelectasis, 17 (81%) were bilateral, 2 (9.5%) were right sided, and 2 (9.5%) were left sided. We also analyzed the occurrence of pleural effusion in this group. Fifteen (60%) patients had pleural effusion and 10 (40%) did not. Of the total patients with pleural effusion 11 (73.3%) were bilateral, 3 (20%) of the right side, and 1 (6.6%) of the left side. Conclusions: Atelectasis is a sign that we can find in most patients that will develop empyema and we assume that it is associated with lymph nodes inflammation, but it is necessary to develop other protocols to confirm that hilar lymph congestion is the cause of atelectasis. As atelectasis of lower lobes is a sign of imminent sepsis, we always decide to do mediastinal drainage when we find them associated with neck abscess. We are proposing a modification of the endo classification to decide surgery.

Background: The superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a rare pathological process caused by the superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO). Aim: To know the main causes of SVCS in a third level hospital. Material and methods: Observational, prospective and descriptive study in 31 patients with SVCS treated between June 2013 and December 2014. Yale, Stanford scores and tumour biopsy were obtained at diagnosis. Results: The main causes of SVCS were malignant tumours: lung cancer (22.5%) and lymphoma (16.1%). For lung cancer, the most common was non small cells (57.1%) and lymphoma was non-Hodgkin (80%). Conclusions: The main causes of SVCS are advanced malignant tumours like lung cancer and lymphomas, benign obstruction causes are relatively rare. Resumen: Antecedentes: El síndrome de vena cava superior (SVCS) es un proceso patológico poco frecuente causado por la obstrucción de la vena cava superior (VCS). Objetivo: Conocer las principales causas de SVCS en un hospital de tercer nivel. Material y método: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y descriptivo en 31 pacientes con SVCS atendidos durante junio de 2013 a diciembre de 2014. Se utilizó la escala de Yale, Stanford y biopsia de tumour al momento del diagnóstico. Resultados: La principal causa de SVCS fue por tumores malignos: cáncer broncogénico (22.5%) y linfoma (16.1%). Del cáncer pulmonar, el más común fue el de células no pequeñas (57.1%) y para el linfoma fue el no Hodgkin (80%). Conclusiones: El SVCS es principalmente ocasionado por tumores malignos avanzados como el cáncer de pulmón y los linfomas, los casos debidos a una obstrucción benigna son relativamente raros. Keywords: Superior vena cava syndrome, Superior vena cava obstruction, Claude Bernard–Horner syndrome, Palabras clave: Síndrome de vena cava superior, Obstrucción de la vena cava superior, Síndrome de Claude Bernard–Horner

Background: Mediastinitis is a potentially fatal condition. In addition to timely diagnosis, its prognosis depends on an early and systematic approach. Objective: To describe the results of mediastinitis treatment over a period of 34 years in a teaching hospital, its evolution and the current model of care. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study of patients with mediastinitis admitted from 1 June 1982 to 30 July 2016. The analysed variables were demographic, classification and aetiology of mediastinitis, comorbidities, complications, length of hospital and intensive care unit stay and mortality. Results: 1880 patients were included of which 1496 (79.6%) were men. The mean age was 39.4 ± 17.8 years. According to the classification of Endo, 603 (32.1%) corresponded to type I and 1277 (67.9%) to types IIA and IIB. According to the aetiology, in 910 cases the origin was odontogenic (48.4%), 526 due to retropharyngeal abscess (28%), 147 secondary to submandibular abscess (7.8%), 49 due to cervical lymphadenectomy (2.6%), 36 due to pharyngeal trauma (1.9%), 14 due to post-intubation tracheal rupture (0.7%) and 198 were of undetermined origin (10.6%). Mediastinotomy with right thoracotomy was performed in 86% and mediastinotomy with left thoracotomy was performed in 14%. Simultaneous tracheostomy was performed in 83% of cases, standardising this procedure since 2005. Mortality varied between periods and was 50% in 1982â1992, 41% in 1992â2001, 35% in 2002â2011 and 17% in 2012â2016. Conclusion: Along with the standardisation of the management of mediastinitis, a fall in mortality from this cause has been observed over the years. The maturity of the proposed model of care is a result of, among other things, medical and scientific advances and the experience gained in this pathology over more than three decades. Resumen: Antecedente: La mediastinitis es un padecimiento potencialmente fatal. Además del diagnóstico oportuno el pronóstico dependerá de un abordaje sistemático temprano. Objetivo: Describir los resultados del tratamiento de la mediastinitis en un periodo de 34 años en un hospital escuela, su evolución y el modelo de atención vigente. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo y transversal de pacientes con mediastinitis ingresados del 1 de junio de 1982 al 30 de julio de 2016. Las variables que se analizan son demográficas, clasificación y etiología de la mediastinitis, comorbilidades, complicaciones, días de estancia en hospital y en terapia intensiva y mortalidad. Resultados: Se incluye a 1880 pacientes de los cuales 1496 (79.6%) fueron hombres. La edad promedio fue de 39.4 ± 17.8 años. Según la clasificación de Endo, 603 (32.1%) correspondieron al tipo I y 1277 (67.9%) a los tipos IIA y IIB. Según la etiología, en 910 casos fue de origen ondotogénico (48.4%), 526 por absceso retrofaríngeo (28%), 147 secundarios a absceso submandibular (7.8%), 49 a linfadenectomía cervical (2.6%), 36 a trauma faríngeo (1.9%), 14 a ruptura traqueal postintubación (0.7%) y 198 de origen indeterminado (10.6%). Se realizó mediastinotomía con toracotomía derecha en 86% y con toracotomia izquierda en 14%. La traqueostomía simultánea se realizó en el 83% de los casos, estandarizándose desde el año 2005. La mortalidad varió por periodos siendo de 50% en 1982 a 1992, de 41% en 1992 a 2001, de 35% en 2002 a 2011 y de 17% en 2012 a 2016. Conclusión: A la par de una estandarización en el manejo de la mediastinitis, se observa un descenso en la mortalidad por esta causa con el pasar de los años. La madurez del modelo de atención que se propone responde entre otros a avances médico-científicos y a la experiencia acumulada en esta patología en más de tres décadas. Keywords: Mediastinitis, Thoracic surgery, Emergency surgery, Neck abscess, Palabras clave: Mediastinitis, Cirugía de tórax, Cirugía de urgencia, Absceso de cuello

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both sexes, accounting for nearly a third of all cancer deaths. It causes more deaths than breast, colon, prostate and pancreatic cancer combined. Their overall 5-year survival rate is 15%, however, if caught in early stages it can reach up to 60–70%. Unfortunately, over 70% of lung cancers occur in advanced stages. For early clinical stages of non-small cell tumours, surgical treatment is usually recommended. Recently, the video-assisted thoracic surgery approach has proven to be at least equivalent to open surgery regarding oncologic principles, also showing the advantages of a minimally invasive procedure. In this occasion we present the case of a patient with lung cancer IIB on whom a lobectomy was performed using a minimally invasive approach. The patient was discharged three days after surgery.

Background: Improving intensive care unit (ICU) performance is a primary goal in quality of care management; for this purpose, measuring with tools that enable us to make comparisons with proposed standards is necessary. Objective: To describe the clinical performance and resource utilisation of a respiratory ICU (RICU) over a 5-year period. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective, comparative study was conducted in the RICU of a teaching hospital. Using the revised Rapoport–Teres method, the standardised clinical performance index (SCPI) and the standardised resource utilisation index (SRUI) were calculated annually and for the entire study period. The results were compared with those obtained by the ICUs participating in Project IMPACT (in standard deviations) in a four-quadrant coordinate graph designed for this purpose. SCPI and SRUI values greater than zero indicate better survival and a lower resource utilisation than expected. Values below zero indicate a mortality and resource utilisation higher than expected. Results: In the study period, 1177 patients were admitted to the RICU. Readmissions (n = 34) and patients