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Background: One of the main limitations to achieving a complete tumor resection in patients with technically resectable liver tumors is the presence of a small future liver remnant (FLR). Portal vein embolization (PVE) allows hypertrophy of the non-embolized lobe, reducing the risk of postoperative liver failure., Aim: To describe the experience of portal embolization prior to hepatectomy and its effectiveness in converting advanced unresectable liver tumors into resectable tumors., Methods: Non-concurrent cohort study. All patients who underwent PVE before hepatectomy between 2016 and 2020 in our center were included. Demographic and diagnostic variables, pre and post-PVE volumes, perioperative variables, and global and disease-free survival were analyzed., Results: Nineteen patients were included. Median age 66 (54-72) years and 57.9% (n= 11) were women. Bilateral metastases were present in 78.9% (n= 15). Sixteen patients (84.2%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. One patient (5.3%) had a complication after PVE. The median time between embolization and volumetry was 5.3 weeks (4.7-7.1). Median FLR before and after PVE were 19.8% (16.2-27.7) and 30% (25.2-40.5), respectively. The median percentage of hypertrophy was 48% (40.4-76.5). Fifteen patients (78.9%) underwent hepatectomy. Significant complications occurred in 26.6% (n= 4); among them, three patients (20%) presented postoperative liver failure., Conclusions: PVE is safe and effective in promoting FLR hypertrophy in the presence of chemotherapy, allowing patients with advanced liver tumors to undergo surgery with curative intent.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequent bacterial infections in pediatrics, however, its diagnosis and management can be complicated due to the nonspecific clinical presentation, the difficulty of exams interpretation, especially in the younger group, and due to an uncertain progno sis regarding kidney damage. In recent years, due to evidence-based medicine contribution, there has been a significant worldwide change in treatment, diagnosis and imaging studies that have been performed to date, arising the need for update the current recommendations on UTI management published by the Pediatric Nephrology branch of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics in previous years. The purpose of these recommendations is to reduce the variability of clinical practice in management of UTI in our pediatric population, favoring diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are carried out in the most appropriate way, improving detection and management of structural pathology and others risk factors for kidney damage, avoiding unnecessary actions in children at low risk. Diagnosis and treatment recommendations were published as a first part. This second part includes study re commendations, prevention and follow-up of urinary tract infection in pediatric age.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most frequent bacterial infection in pediatrics. However, its diagnosis and management can be complicated due to the nonspecific clinical presentation, the difficulty of exams interpretation, especially in younger children, and an uncertain prognosis regar ding renal damage. In recent years, significant worldwide change has come in treatment, diagnosis, and images studies, we have decided to update the current recommendations on UTI management published by the Pediatric Nephrology branch of Chilean Pediatrics Society in previous years. The purpose of these recommendations is to reduce the variability of clinical practice in management of UTI in our pediatric population, favoring diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the most ap propriate way, improving detection and management of structural pathology and other risk factors of renal damage, avoiding unnecessary actions in children with low risk. This first part includes diag nosis and treatment recommendations of urinary tract infection in pediatric age. In the second part the study, prevention and monitoring of urinary tract in pediatric age is detailed.

Background: A spontaneous coved-type ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram (ECG) has long been recognized as a risk stratification tool in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). This Type-I ST segment elevation is known to exhibit high dynamicity, fluctuating between coved-type and non-coved ST segment elevation. Our objectives in this study were to: 1) Compare ECG parameters in patients with spontaneous coved-type (Type-I) vs. non-coved-type ST segment ECGs; 2) Determine the variability of these ECG parameters with repeated measurements; and 3) Assess the predictive value of ECG parameters in these two groups during follow-up., Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with BrS and implanted ICD were studied between 2000 and 2017. Serial ECGs and clinical characteristics were obtained over a period of 199 months., Results: QT-interval, QTc-interval, QRS duration, Tp-e interval and Tp-e dispersion were all significantly longer in spontaneous Type I vs. non-Type 1 ECGs and all ECG parameters displayed significant variability during serial recording obtained throughout the follow-up period. Patients with a spontaneous Type I ECG during the 114 ± 56 months follow-up period were at a much higher risk for VT/VF than those without a Type I ECG (p = 0.016). Moreover, the risk for development of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias was directly related to the fraction of ECGs displaying a spontaneous Type I pattern during follow-up., Conclusion: Our study illustrates the need for multiple ECGs to aid with both the diagnosis and prognosis of BrS. Serial ECGs can assist with risk stratification based on the fraction of ECGs that display a spontaneous Type-I BrS ECG., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly utilized in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Prediction of the occurrence of shocks is important if improved patient selection is desired. The electrocardiogram (ECG) has been the first-line tool predicting the risk of sudden death, but data in CHD patients are lacking. We aim to evaluate the predictive value of electrocardiographic markers of appropriate therapy of ICD in young people with CHD. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study, in twenty-six CHD patients (mean age 24.7 ± 5.3 years) who underwent first ICD implantation. Forty-two age- and diagnosis-matched controls were recruited. Twelve-lead ECG and 24 h Holter analysis were performed during a mean follow-up of 38.9 months. Data included heart rate, heart rate variability, QRS duration (QRSd), QTc interval and its dispersion, Tpeak-Tend (Tp-Te) interval and its dispersion, presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS), T wave alternans, atrial arrhythmias, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Implant indication was primary prevention in ten cases (38.5%) and secondary prevention in 16 (61.5%). Overall, 17 subjects (65.3%) received at least one appropriate and effective ICD discharge. fQRS was present in 64.7% of cases with ICD therapy compared with patients without events or controls (p < 0.0001). Tp-e and Tp-e dispersion were significantly prolonged in patients with recurrences (113.5 and 37.2 ms) versus patients without ICD discharge (89.6 and 24.1 ms) or controls (72.4 and 19.3 ms) (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). On univariate Cox regression analysis QRSd (hazard ratio: 1.19 per ms, p = 0.003), QTc dispersion (hazard ratio: 1.57 per ms, p = 0.002), fQRS (hazard ratio: 3.58 p < 0.0001), Tp-e (hazard ratio: 2.27 per ms, p < 0.0001), and Tp-e dispersion (hazard ratio: 4.15 per ms, p < 0.0001), emerged as strong predictors of outcome. On multivariate Cox analysis fQRS, Tp-e and Tp-e dispersion remained in the model. The presence of fQRS, and both Tp-e and Tp-e dispersion are useful ECG tools in daily clinical practice to identify CHD patients at risk for appropriate ICD therapy.

Check dams are useful structures at a catchment scale to determine erosion rates using the sediment retained in their wedges. Several studies employ different complex, accurate methods to estimate them. We likewise evaluate which catchment variables affect these erosion rate values. Our study aims to compare five frequently used methods (two prismatic and three topographic) to evaluate how they estimate total sediment yield (TSY) at two locations in Central Spain. For this purpose, we determine the sediment trapped in each area by 25 check dams built during the twentieth century. We also evaluate the catchment variables influencing TSY rates. Results show differences between methods in TSY determinations at the 90 % confidence level, although there are no differences between locations or the location-method iteration. We found that the natural logarithm of the drainage area was the factor that best explained TSY, presenting a negative trend (partial correlation coefficient, 0.83). Vegetation cover factor had no influence in estimating TSY for the two locations. We conclude that the determination of TSY rates depends on the chosen method and four related variables: check dam length, check dam height, wedge length and check dam drainage area. Furthermore, it is important to analyse and select the best method to estimate erosion rates based on the sediment retained by check dams depending on the characteristics of the study area (channel and sediment wedge shape), method accuracy and field effort. A more accurate estimation of erosion rates will allow researchers to determine the role of check dams in controlling sediment in each specific restoration project.

Given that childhood obesity is an epidemic, the frequency of critically-ill patients who are overweight or obese seen at intensive care units has increased rapidly. Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ that secretes a number of protein hormones, including leptin, which stands out because it regulates adipose tissue mass. The presence of arterial hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease may become apparent and complicate the course of obese pediatric patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Obesity management is complex and should involve patients, their families and the medical community. It should be coordinated with comprehensive government health policies and implemented in conjunction with a change in cultural context., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Background: Isolated cases of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) have been reported., Objective: We aimed to describe the incidence and characteristics of MVT in a cohort of patients with BrS who had received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)., Methods: Data from 834 patients with BrS implanted with an ICD in 15 tertiary hospitals between 1993 and 2014 were included., Results: The mean age of enrolled patients was 45.3 ± 13.9 years; 200 patients (24%) were women. During a mean follow-up of 69.4 ± 54.3 months, 114 patients (13.7%) experienced at least 1 appropriate ICD intervention, with MVT recorded in 35 patients (4.2%) (sensitive to antitachycardia pacing in 15 [42.8%]). Only QRS width was an independent predictor of MVT in the overall population. Specifically, 6 (17.1%) patients presented with right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia (successfully ablated from the endocardium in 4 and epicardial and endocardial ablation in 1), 2 patients with MVT arising from the left ventricle (1 successfully ablated in the supra lateral mitral annulus), and 2 (5.7%) patients with bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia. Significant structural heart disease was ruled out by echocardiography and/or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging., Conclusion: In this retrospective study, 4.2% of patients with BrS implanted with an ICD presented with MVT confirmed as arising from the right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia in 6, patients with MVT arising from the left ventricle in 2, and patients with bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia in 2. Endocardial and/or epicardial ablation was successful in 80% of these cases. These data imply that the occurrence of MVT should not rule out the possibility of BrS. This finding may also be relevant for ICD model selection and programming., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: It is thought that dedicated bipolar are more susceptible to T-wave oversensing when compared with integrated bipolar leads. This could be of extreme importance in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) because T-wave oversensing in this population is more frequent when compared with other implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) recipients without BrS. We aimed to compare the incidence of T-wave oversensing in patients with BrS according to the type of lead (integrated bipolar versus true/dedicated bipolar)., Methods and Results: All patients diagnosed with BrS with an ICD implant in 10 tertiary hospitals between 1993 and 2013 were included in the study. A total of 480 patients were included (mean age, 45.6±14 years). During a mean follow-up of 74.9±51.7 months (median, 69; range, 2-236), 28 patients had T-wave oversensing (5.8%), leading to inappropriate shock in 18 (3.8%). All these events occurred in patients with true bipolar ICD leads (P=0.01) and in 2 patients it was solved instantaneously by changing the configuration from a dedicated to an integrated bipolar sensing configuration. In the stepwise multivariate models, only integrated bipolar ICD leads (hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.171-0.675; P=0.002) was independent predictor of non-T-wave oversensing., Conclusions: T-wave oversensing is a potential reason of inappropriate shocks in patients with BrS receiving ICDs. In the vast majority it can be solved by reprogramming. However, in some patients it still requires invasive intervention. Importantly, incidence is significantly lower using an integrated bipolar lead system when compared with a dedicated bipolar lead system and hence the latter should be routinely used in BrS cases., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)