Background: Topical treatments and botulinum toxin injections are valid options for the management of patients with chronic anal fissures (CAF) but little is known about the efficacy in a long-term follow-up. The aim of this meta-analysis was evaluate the effectiveness, given to clinical outcomes of medical treatments in adults. Method: this manuscript was developed according to PRISMA [23, 25] and registered in PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42020120386). A systematic literature search was conducted through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized control trials that compared medical treatment were identified; publications had to have a clinical definition of CAF with at least one of the following signs or symptoms: visible sphincter fibers at the base of the fissure, anal papillae, sentinel piles, and indurated margins. The symptoms had to be chronic for at least 4 weeks. Results: 17 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. Diltiazem showed a superior effect compared with glycerin (RR = 1.16 [95% CI = 1.05-1.30]; I2 = 18%), and with fewer adverse effects (RR = 0.13 [95% CI = 0 , 04-0.042]; I2 = 87%). Similar results were evidenced with the use of nifedipine compared with lidocaine (RR = 4.53 [95% CI = 2.99-6.86]; I2 = 28%). Botulinum toxin did not show statistically significant differences compared to glycerin (RR = 0.81 [95% CI = 0.02-29.36]; I2 = 93%) or isosorbide dinitrate (RR = 1.45 [CI 95% = 0.32-6.54]; I2 = 85%). Regarding recurrence, nifedipine was superior to lidocain (RR = 0.18 [95% CI = 0.08-0.44]; I2 = 31%). Conclusions: Calcium channel blockers performed well regarding the healing of CAF when compared to others in long-term follow-up. The superiority of botulinum toxin was not evidenced compared to topical treatments. More studies are needed to better assess recurrence rates.

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important childhood infections. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of palivizumab immunoprophylaxis in preterm infants at a high risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection during the RSV season in Colombia. Methodology: A prospective observational non-comparative multicenter study in six Colombian cities. At the beginning of the RSV infection season, palivizumab prophylaxis, up to five doses, was administered to infants born at ≤32 weeks of gestation, infants younger than six months, infants under one year of age with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), infants one year or less of age with hemodynamically significant acyanotic and non-acyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD), and with follow-up during the immunoprophylaxis until one month after the last dose. Results: The study enrolled 600 patients, 91.8% of which were born at ≤ 32 weeks of gestation. BPD was observed in 54.9% of infants. 49% were born at < 32 weeks gestation and presented BPD. 6.9% had hemodynamically significant acyanotic and non-acyanotic CHD 53.3% received three or more doses of palivizumab. The mean interval between doses was 39.6 days. 1.8% of patients were hospitalized due to a confirmed RSV infection. Overall mortality was 1.2%, whereas the mortality by RSV in infants undergoing prophylaxis was 0.2%. Conclusions: Palivizumab was a clinically effective, well-tolerated treatment in the Colombian population. The safety profile of palivizumab reflects the findings from previous studies in developed countries.

Background: The number of days of preoperative hospital stay (PHS) is a modifiable variable that has shown contradictory surgical site infection (SSI) risk factor results in neurosurgery. We sought to pinpoint the day of PHS length related with a marked increase of risk of SSI. Methods: From a tertiary teaching hospital, January 2015–December 2017, prospectively collected nonpercutaneous neurosurgery procedures with standard antibiotic prophylaxis and 1-year follow-up were evaluated. SSI risk factors were assessed through multiple logistic regression models with different thresholds of PHS. Results: A total of 1012 procedures were included in the study. Incidence of SSI was 4.4%. The median PHS was higher in those with SSI than in those without (1 day, interquartile range [IQR]: 7 vs. 0 days, IQR: 1, respectively, P = 0.002). By the amount of six days of PHS, this exposure risk past the threshold of significance for impact on wound infection (OR 2.8; CI 1.23–6.39, P = 0.014). Operative time past 4 h (OR 2.11; CI 1.12-3.98; P = 0.021), and in some models, previous surgery at same admission were also identified by multivariate analysis as increasing postoperative SSI risk. Conclusion: The gradual increase of the SSI OR associated with longer PHS days was the highest risk factor of SSI in our cohort of patients. Studies directed to reduce this complication should consider the PHS.

Background. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most frequent chronic gastrointestinal disorder. It is defined as a condition developed when the reflux of gastric contents causes troublesome symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation). This requires adequate treatment since it can lead to long-term complications including esophagus adenocarcinoma. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are generally used to treat GERD due to their high-security profile and efficiency on most patients. However, recurrent reflux despite initial treatment is frequent. N-of-1 trial is a study that allows the identification of the best treatment for each patient. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of standard dose with double dosage of esomeprazole, to improve the GERD symptoms in a single patient. Methods. A single-patient trial, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, was carried out from September 25th, 2012, to April 26th, 2013. It included one outpatient at the gastroenterology service in a fourth-level hospital, diagnosed with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). Yet, his symptoms were heartburn and reflux, and his endoscopic results were normal esophageal mucosa, without hiatal hernia, though pathological pH values. A no-obese male without any tobacco or alcohol usage received esomeprazole 40 mg/day and 40 mg/bid for 24 weeks. A standardized gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GerdQ) was used weekly to evaluate symptom frequency and severity. The consumption of 90% of the capsules was considered as an adequate treatment adherence. D’agostino–Pearson and Wilcoxon test were used to determine normal or nonnormal distribution and compare both treatments, respectively, both with a significant statistical difference of p<0.05. Results. The patient completed the study with 96% of adherence. The double dosage of esomeprazole did not improve the control of symptoms compared with the standard dosage. Mean symptomatic score was 9.5±0.5 and 10.2±0.6 for each treatment, respectively (p>0.05). Conclusion. There was no significant improvement in the patient GERD symptoms increasing the dose of oral esomeprazole during the 6 months of study. N-of-1 trials in chronic pathologies including GERD are recommended due to their potential value as systematic methods that evaluate therapies without strong scientific evidence.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used over the past six decades to treat multiple conditions. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate the clinical outcomes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the field of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, found in the literature from the year 2000 to the present. Methods: A systematic review of the literature focused on the conceptual and methodological aspects of the PRISMA Declaration. The search for clinical trials focused on the results of hyperbaric therapy in plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale suggested by the Cochrane manual was applied to each study. The study was carried out with a defined protocol and was registered in PROSPERO, with code CRD42022301261. Results: From the 170 articles identified, 6 were selected. Five of them showed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy favored the reduction of the size of skin ulcers and increased the formation of granulation tissue (two trials; p < 0.05), increased the partial pressure of transcutaneous oxygen in patients with free flaps (one trial; p < 0.001), reduced perfusion in keloid scarring disorder (one trial; p < 0.01), and accelerated both the fading of melanin pigmentation and the decrease in age spot size (one trial; p < 0.05). The methodological quality was moderate in all cases because there was no blinding method reported. One study failed to find differences in flap survival, time to resolution of venous congestion, resolution of edema, and postoperative recovery period (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been increasingly used in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and has shown potential benefits in promoting wound healing, reducing the risk of infection, and improving the survival of tissues used in reconstructive procedures. Further research with more rigorous clinical trials is needed to fully understand the efficacy and optimal use of this therapy in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.