Revista médica de Chile
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Revista médica de Chile · Sep 2005
Case Reports[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): consolidation of a neonatal-pediatric program in Chile and report of three cases].
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) improves survival in neonatal and pediatric patients with reversible severe respiratory or cardiac failure, in whom intensive treatment fails. Since 1999, a multidisciplinary team is trained to form the first neonatal-pediatric ECMO center in Chile, according to the norms of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). During 2003 the first three patients were admitted to the program: a male newborn with pulmonary hypertension, a 38 days old female operated for a total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and a 3 months old male with a severe pneumonia caused by respiratory syncytial virus. ⋯ No neurological complications were observed after one and a half year of follow up. This consolidates the first national neonatal-pediatric ECMO program, associated to ELSO. Up to date, twelve patients have been admitted to the program.
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Revista médica de Chile · Aug 2005
Practice Guideline[Summary of the Consensus for management of community acquired pneumonia in adults].
This is an update of the Consensus for treatment of community acquired pneumonia in adults, prepared by the Chilean Society of Respiratory Diseases and the Chilean Society of Infectious Diseases. These norms were prepared by thirty specialists in respiratory diseases, internal medicine, infectious diseases, microbiology, intensive medicine and radiology. ⋯ The complete document will be published in June, in the respective journals of the Societies of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases. This is a summary to obtain a better diffusion of these norms among internists and general practitioners.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2005
Review[Globalization of higher education in Europe. The precursor of changes in Chilean medical education].
At the present time, higher education is a central process shaping the society of knowledge. The mutual strength of society and education influence worldwide changes. Globalization, that mainly embraces politics and commerce, is also promoting changes in professional training, modifying programs, structures and the organization of superior education. ⋯ Universities in Latin America, in an attempt to achieve the same objectives than their European counterparts, are experiencing premonitory changes, that will have the same effects as in Europe. In the medical area, several changes will occur and we will have to provide initiatives to facilitate these changes in a timely manner. The revision of the model in its inception, is convenient to assimilate changes in our culture.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2005
Comparative Study[Comparison of cardiac output measurement in critical patients using transesophageal Doppler or thermodilution: a preliminary report].
Cardiac output can be measured non invasively by transesophageal Doppler. This is an alternative to measure it by thermodilution with a catheter in the pulmonary artery. ⋯ Transesophageal Doppler is a promising non invasive technique to measure cardiac output in critical care patients. It becomes a valid alternative to the thermodilution technique. This preliminary experience must be confirmed in a larger series.
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Revista médica de Chile · Jul 2005
[Training and research in forensic medicine: present situation and future challenges for medical schools in Chile].
Lawyers need some medical knowledge and physicians must know about forensics. ⋯ Forensic medicine is taught in medical schools mostly as thanatology. The knowledge of forensics among medical students is limited and must be improved.