Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Mar 2020
[Variceal and non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Analysis of 249 hospitalized patients].
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is one of the main reasons of hospitalization due to gastrointestinal causes. Reported mortality rates range from 5 to 12%. ⋯ Hospital mortality of UGIB remains high, especially in variceal UGIB. Elevated creatinine levels on admission, the need of transfusion of red blood cells and variceal etiology are risk factors for mortality.
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Revista médica de Chile · Mar 2020
[A proposal of the Chilean Academy of Medicine to improve organ procurement and transplantation in Chile].
The Chilean Academy of Medicine designated a group of specialists to evaluate the practice and to propose reforms for organ donation and transplantation, due to the general insufficiencies at the national level with these procedures. In the last six years the mean number of organ transplants in Chile was 340 cases per year while effective cadaveric donors ranged between 6 and 10 per million inhabitants. These averages remained stable during this period and are among the lowest in the region. ⋯ The committee proposes several measures for improvement. These are a systematic and obligatory report of potential organ donors by all emergency and critical care centers, frequent evaluation of results, empowering of health authorities to correct insufficiencies in organ procurement, education programs for primary, secondary, technical and university students to improve their knowledge about the social significance and solidarity required for transplantation policies and specialized updated training of all health professionals involved. Organ donation and transplantation must be based on clear and fair ethical considerations in order to be accepted by the general public.
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Revista médica de Chile · Mar 2020
Penicillin desensitization in allergic pregnant women with syphilis. Report of two cases.
Syphilis during pregnancy has a high risk of congenital transmission with disastrous fetal consequences. Penicillin (PNC) is the only effective antimicrobial for the treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Chilean guidelines do not consider desensitization to PNC in these women. ⋯ An electronic survey was conducted among approximately 100 Clinical Pharmacists (CP) in the country. Of these, 16 answered and 13 reported having experience in drug desensitization, in at least five cases with PNC and none reported deaths or cardiorespiratory arrest. Desensitization to PNC can be carried out safely and in Chile, this alternative should be incorporated to the management of pregnant women with syphilis and immediate allergy to PNC, instead of using erythromycin.