Introduction: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the main accepted method for long-term tube feeding. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with early mortality after PEG. Methods: It is a retrospective survival analysis in a tertiary-level hospital. We reviewed the medical records of 277 patients with PEG placement. The data were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were also built to test the effects of PEG on mortality. Results: A total of 277 patients who submitted to PEG were studied. One-hundred and sixty (58%) were female, mean age of 73.3 ± 15.7 years. Ninety-three patients (33.6%) had diabetes mellitus and 165 (59.6%) had blood hypertension. The indications for PEG placement were chronic neurologic dysphagia in 247 (89.5%) patients and tumors and other diseases in 29 (10.5%). The 30 days proportional mortality probability rate was 13%. In a multivariate Cox proportional regression model, preoperative ICU hospitalization (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.36–2.36, P = 0.000) and hemoglobin (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98, P = 0.015) were predictors of early mortality. Conclusion: In patients who had underwent PEG tube insertion for long-term nutrition, anemia and previous ICU admission were predictors of mortality at four weeks. These factors may guide physicians to discourage the indication for PEG.

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Background Medical students’ skills in radiographic image interpretation is neither known nor assessed in the case of most medical schools in Brazil. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess intern students’ performance in the interpretation of radiographic images of the chest and abdomen. Methods A 10-item test was developed using non-contrasted radiological images from the chest and abdomen. Internship students from two public medical schools (Classroom Group, n=50) and doctors (Control Group, n=20) answered the test. A third group (Online Group, n=38) composed of students from different medical schools answered a web-based form with the same 10-item test. Results Doctors and students were able to accurately interpret only 30% of the radiographic images; 50% of the students and 30% of the doctors performed poorly. The rest produced average levels of performance. There were minimal differences between the Classroom and Online Groups. A point-by-point analysis of their answers has been presented and discussed. Conclusion Efforts must be made, including the framing of medical curricula interventions, to improve student interns’ skills in radiological image interpretation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the main accepted method for long-term tube feeding. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors associated with early mortality after PEG. METHODS: Retrospective survival analysis in a tertiary-level center in Recife, Brazil. We reviewed the medical records of 150 patients with PEG placement. The data were analysed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional regression models were also built to test the effects of PEG on mortality. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients who submitted to PEG were studied (70 male). Of the participants, 87 (58%) had blood hypertension; 51 (34%) patients had diabetes; 6 (4%) patients had chronic renal disease; and 6 (4%) had malignancy. Chronic neurodegenerative diseases were the more common clinical indication for PEG. The 30-day and 60-day proportional mortality probability rates were 11.05% and 15.34% respectively. A multivariate Cox proportional regression model, haemoglobin (HR 4.39, 95%CI 1.30-14.81, P=0.017) and pre-procedure UCI staying (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50-0.87, P=0.004) were significant predictors of early mortality.A haemoglobin cut-off value of 10.05 g/dL was shown to have a sensibility of 82.6% (61.2% to 95% CI) and an acceptable sensitivity of 59.0 (50.6% to68.6% CI), and a likelihood ratio of 2.06 for eight weeks mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients who had been subjected to the PEG procedure for long-term nutrition, low haemoglobin, pre-procedure intensive care unit internment or both are associated with the risk of early mortality.

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Fig. 1 Esophagogram showing the esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum. a Before submucosal tunneling endoscopic septum division (STESD). b 90 days after STESD.

Case Report: A 34-year-old female obese patient, married, who lived in Abreu e Lima (PE), with a history of moderate abdominal pain in the right flank and weight loss (10 kg in 7 months): She visited Para State two years ago and denied having used any oral hormonal contraceptive. Imaging exams showed big cystic and multiloculated formations in the liver, with the largest being of 16 x 13 x 14cm. Due to the aspects of the image, epidemiology and the symptoms of the patient, a diagnosis of hydatid cyst was considered, and the patient was treated with praziquantel and albendazole. The surgical procedure was proposed based on the recommendations of the WHO for the treatment of hydatic disease, even without the result of the serology test. Operatory findings showed cystic lesions with a pasty and amorphous content, of yellowgreen aspect. The surgical specimen evaluation showed a hepatic adenoma with necrotic tissue and central cavitation. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The serology test for echinococcosis was negative. The patient had no further complications and was discharged in good clinical condition. Conclusion:We presented rich iconographic information of all aspects of this case and reviewed all the differential diagnoses for cystic lesions of the liver.

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