Revista médica de Chile
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2023
Observational Study[Muscle ultrasound: reliability across experience levels in critical care physiotherapists].
Muscle ultrasound is a valid tool to monitor muscle mass loss in critically ill patients. The level of experience is essential to the accuracy of the measurements. ⋯ Interobserver reliability was excellent for experienced raters and moderate to good for novice raters. The level of experience could determine the reliability of the results.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2023
[Severity of community-acquired pneumonia due to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompetent hospitalized adult patients].
The acute respiratory illness caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has spread throughout the world, causing significant morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Age, male sex, comorbidities, altered mental status and vital signs, renal dysfunction, and elevation of inflammatory parameters were associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19. These may serve as useful baseline parameters in developing prediction tools for COVID-19 prognosis.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2023
Review Case Reports[Hepatic Inflammatory Pseudotumor Mimicking Cholangiocarcinoma: A Rare Case and Literature Review].
We report the case of a 49-year-old man who attended the emergency department for a two-month history of compromised general condition, weight loss, abdominal pain, fever, and elevated inflammatory parameters. An imaging study demonstrates a bulky liver tumor associated with dilation of the bile duct and retroperitoneal adenopathies (hepatic hilum, intermediate, and right lumbar groups). ⋯ After the resection, expectant management was decided, with the patient evolving favorably, asymptomatic, and without signs of recurrence. We present a case and a brief literature review of an hepatic inflammatory pseudotumor, a rare entity with a benign behavior.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2023
Multicenter Study[Antibiotic treatment of choice for urinary sepsis associated with ureteral lithiasis in Chile. Multicenter study].
Inadequate antibiotic coverage in septic patients is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. This multicentric study reports antibiotic susceptibility in patients with ureterolithiasis-associated urosepsis, aiming to propose an optimal empirical therapy for this disease in the Chilean population. ⋯ The microorganisms found in our cohort were similar to those in international reports. Since the highest level of susceptibility was for amikacin, we propose its use as empirical therapy for urosepsis associated with ureterolithiasis in Chile. It is always necessary to consider the potential nephrotoxic effects of amikacin. An association of beta-lactams and glycopeptides should be considered in patients with risk factors for enterococcal infections.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2023
Medical empathy in the physician-patient relationship: A review from a cultural perspective.
Medical empathy is a fundamental pillar in the social construction of the physician-patient relationship. In this light, patients' beliefs and perceptions of medical empathy, and physicians' empathic attitudes towards their patients are guided by their socio-cultural understandings and expectations, which naturally vary from culture to culture. Such considerations are particularly relevant to the field of social psychology and to public healthcare systems where a growing number of foreign physicians characterise their highly diverse socio-demographic makeup. However, there is no clear research agenda concerning the way in which medical empathy should be investigated from a cultural point of view in years to come. ⋯ We suggest that future studies adopt an intercultural perspective of medical empathy as a psychocultural construct rather than as merely a sociocultural one.