Childhood Cholelithiasis in a high prevalent populationBile duct disease and gallstone (cholelithiasis) have been considered an uncommon cause of acute abdominal pain in children compared to adults. However, there are significant differences with the adult gallstone disease: increased proportion of patients with an underlying condition, higher incidence of acalculous cholecystitis and lower frequency of choledocolithiasis. With ultrasound examination, it is possible to detect early gallstone in the fetal period and in asymptomatic patients, explaining the increase in gallstone incidence. This disease is more common than suggested in western literature and its diagnosis is increasing as well. The high prevalence of gallstone in adult population in Chile creates an ideal setting for cholesterol and gallstone candidate gene testing. Although the clinical diagnosis of gallstone is simple, there is no consensus about the best therapy in children, explained partially by the lack of knowledge of the natural history of the disease. The role of gallstone disease acquired early in life in gallbladder carcinoma deserves special attention. RESUMENLas enfermedades de la vía biliar y los cálculos vesiculares (colelitiasis) han sido consideradas como una causa poco frecuentes de dolor abdominal agudo en niños, a diferencia de lo que ocurre en adultos. Sin embargo, existen diferencias sustanciales con el adulto como son una mayor proporción de casos con causa identificable, mayor incidencia de colecistitis sin cálculos y menor frecuencia de coledocolitiasis. Con la masificación del ultrasonido es posible detectar litiasis biliar en etapa intrauterina, y en pacientes asintomáticos, lo que estaría explicando, en parte, el aumento de su incidencia. La litiasis biliar es más frecuente de lo sugerido clásicamente en la literatura occidental y su diagnóstico está en aumento. La alta prevalencia de colelitiasis en población adulta chilena, posicionan a nuestro país como un escenario ideal para el estudio de genes candidatos asociados a la etiopatogénesis de la litiasis de colesterol. Si bien el diagnóstico de la litiasis es relativamente simple, no hay consenso en la terapia de elección, lo que se explica fundamentalmente por una historia natural desconocida. El rol de la litiasis de colesterol a edades tempranas en la etiopatogénesis de procesos neoplásicos de la vía biliar merece especial atención.

Introduction: Pneumatocele is an uncommon complication of pneumonia, most often asymptomatic with spontaneous resolution. Case-report: Female infant with an history of right upper lobe pneumonia, an air filled structure was noted in the chest X-ray. Asymptomatic until admitted for a wheezing episode, where an increase in the size of the structure was evidenced. She had clinical and radiological follow-up as recommended in a recent study, observing that 5 months later the cystic image was completely resolved. Discussion: According to criteria from published studies, this case is a non complicated pneumatocele because it was asymptomatic, compromised less than 50% of the hemithorax and no atelectasia, bronchopleural fistula or signs of infection were observed. Non complicated pneumatoceles can be followed up, and complicated can be treated by image guided catheter drainage or surgical resection. In this case, we confirmed spontaneous resolution after clinical and radiological follow-up.

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Maintained expiratory airway pressure values as an indicator of tolerance of speaking valve in tracheostomized patients Introduction: Speaking valve (SV) is an unidirectional fl ow device installed over the tracheostomy tube allowing phonation. Tolerance to this device depends on the permeability of the upper airway (UA), which may be indirectly assessed by measuring UA maintained expiratory pressure (PEMant). Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the maintained expiratory pressure as a clinical indicator of tolerance to the SV. Method: Twenty three tracheostomized patients (median age 22 months-old) were evaluated with an aneroid manometer during 15 minutes, recording PEMant, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2), heart rate, respiratory rate, accessory muscle use and wheezing as signs of respiratory distress Results: PEMant values less than 10 cmH 2 O are associated with tolerance of the SV and values over 20 cmH 2 O are associated with intolerance. Conclusion: Values under 10 cmH 2 O of PEMant can be used as an indicator of tolerance to VF.