Prognostic relations between inflammatory markers and mortality in diabetic patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in the inflammatory status between diabetic and non-diabetic patients and to evaluate the usefulness of C reactive protein, fibrinogen, and leucocyte count as predictors of death in diabetic patients with unstable coronary disease. DESIGN: Nested case-control comparisons of the inflammatory status between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Prospective cohort analysis of C reactive protein concentration, fibrinogen concentration, and leucocyte count as predictors of cardiovascular death in diabetic patients. SETTING: Coronary care unit in Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 83 diabetic patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome and 83 sex and aged matched patients selected from 361 non-diabetic patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma concentrations of C reactive protein and fibrinogen, and leucocyte count. Investigators contacted patients to assess clinical events. RESULTS: Concentrations of C reactive protein and fibrinogen, and leucocyte count on admission were higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (7 mg/l v 5 mg/l, p = 0.020; 3.34 g/l v 2.90 g/l, p = 0.013; and 8.8 x 10(9)/l v 7.8 x 10(9)/l, p = 0.040). Among diabetic patients, these values were also higher in those who died during the 22 month follow up (13 mg/l v 6 mg/l, p = 0.001; 3.95 g/l v 3.05 g/l, p < 0.001; and 11.4 x 10(9)/l v 8.4 x 10(9)/l, p = 0.005). After adjustment for confounding factors, diabetic patients in the highest tertile of C reactive protein had a hazard ratio for cardiovascular death of 4.51 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62 to 12.55). Similar hazard ratios were for fibrinogen 3.74 (95% CI 1.32 to 10.62) and for leucocyte count 3.64 (95% CI 1.37 to 9.68). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation appears more evident in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome. C reactive protein concentration, fibrinogen concentration, and leucocyte count constitute independent predictors of cardiovascular death in diabetics with unstable coronary disease.

[Management of myocardial infarction in Spain (1995-99). Data from the registry of the Ischaemic Heart Disease Working Group (RISCI) of the Spanish Society of Cardiology]. / Manejo del infarto de miiocardio en España (1995-99). Datos del registro de infartos de la sección de cardiopatía Isquémica y unidades coronarias (RISCI) de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available on how patients with myocardial infarction are treated in Spain. In order to make up for this deficiency, in October 1994, the Ischaemic Heart Disease Working Group of the Spanish Society of Cardiology initiated a myocardial infarction registry, which is currently active. METHODS: Patients are recruited from hospitals with intensive coronary care facilities. Demographic characteristics coronary risk factors and previous conditions are collected, as well as clinical events, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed during the stay in the coronary care unit. RESULTS: From 1995 to 1999, 28,357 patients were registered. During this period the mean age increased slightly (from 64.4 +/- 12.2 to 65.2 +/- 12.7; p < 0.001), although the male proportion remained stable (from 76.7% to 77.1%). The median "onset of symptoms-hospital arrival for 1st emergency" time fell from 135 min to 120 min, and the median "onset of symptoms-needle" time from 180 to 175 (NS). The use of thrombolytic therapy did not change (from 42.4 to 43.9%), but the use of aspirin (from 87.4 to 91.7%), beta-blockers (from 32.7 to 39.6%) and angiotensin-converting inhibitors (from 27.9 to 34.8%) increased significantly (p < 0.001). The Swan-Ganz catheter and the intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation were rarely placed during the five years (4.2% and 1.2% respectively in 1999). Both early mortality (11.4 to 9.3%) and the median duration of intensive coronary care stay declined, in these 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, during the 1995-1999 period, the use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting inhibitors increased significantly during the acute phase of infarction in the coronary care unit. However, both the usage of thrombolytic therapy and the delay between the onset of symptoms and therapy initiation remained unchanged. At the same time, the length of stay in the coronary care unit and early mortality declined, although the clinical profile of the patients did not improve.

[The clinical management guidelines of the Sociedad Española de Cardiología in acute myocardial infarct]. / Guías de actuación clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología en el infarto agudo de miocardio.

In the recent years, new possibilities have emerged in the diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation and its complications. Moreover, a deep transformation has taken place in the health care system organization, particularly in aspects related to care of patients presenting non-traumatic chest pain, both in pre-hospital and hospital areas. All these issues warrant a consensus document in Spain dealing with the role that these important changes should play in the whole management of myocardial infarction patients. This document revises and updates all the main clinical issues of acute myocardial infarction patients from the moment they contact with the health care system outside the hospital until they return home, after staying at the coronary care unit and the general hospitalization ward. All those aspects are considered not only in the uncomplicated myocardial infarction but also in the complicated one. This review also includes a set of recommendations on structural and organisational aspects, mainly referred to the prehospital and emergency levels.

[Variability in the management and prognosis at short- and medium-term of myocardial infarct in Spain: the PRIAMHO study. Registration Project of Hospital Acute Myocardial Infarct]. / Variabilidad en el manejo y pronóstico a corto y medio plazo del infarto de miocardio en España: el estudio PRIAMHO. Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The paucity of data on myocardial infarction management and results in Spain lead to the design of the PRIAMHO study (Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio Hospitalario [Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospital Registration Project]) which developed standard methods to collect information on the management of patients with such a condition and their characteristics. The variability results among hospitals in myocardial infarction management and in one-year mortality are presented. METHODS: A cohort study with a one-year follow-up was designed to register all patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction discharged from 24 Spanish hospitals that completed all the requisites to participate. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, their management during the coronary care unit stage, and the outcome and complications were prospectively registered. Standard definitions for diagnosis were used. Confidentiality regarding patient identity and participating centers was guaranteed. RESULTS: 5,242 (77.6%) of the 6,756 patients with myocardial infarction admitted in the 24 participating hospitals were registered in the coronary care units. Half of the centers had an on-site hemodynamic laboratory and in seven coronary surgery. The delay between symptom-onset and emergency room admission was 2 hours. Acute pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock was developed by 16.6% of patients and 41.8% received thrombolysis. Mean time delay between symptom-onset and thrombolysis was 3 hours. A large variability in the use of beta-blockers, thrombolysis, echocardiography, coronary catheterization angiography and invasive revascularization was observed among hospitals. Mortality in the coronary care unit was 10.9% and increased to 14.0% at 28 days and to 18.5% at one year with considerable variation among hospitals. Four hospitals showed higher mortality among their patients, independently from the proportion of diabetes, hypertension, women, anterior location of myocardial infarction, non-Q-wave infarction, age and severity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that early and mid-term mortality from myocardial infarction is still high in Spain in the reperfusion era, and that a considerable variability in management and outcome exists among Spanish hospitals, which is not explained by the different case-mix among them.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la colitis ulcerativa. Experiencia en el Hospital Militar Central

Se revisa la experiencia del Servicio de Cirugía y Endoscopia Colorrectal del Hospital Militar Central en el manejo quirúrgico de la Colitis Ulcerativa, haciendo énfasis en los pacientes en que se realizó reservorio ileoanal tipo J. Se evaluaron 15 pacientes, de éstos se hicieron reservorios ileales en 9. Se encontró como principal indicación quirúrgica la intratabilidad médica. El estado post-operatorio de estos pacientes es satisfactorio y en nungún paciente hubo pérdida de la bolsa. Se muestra que el reservorio ileoanal es la cirugía de elección en la mayoría de pacientes en que hay que recurrir al manejo quirúrgico de la colitis ulcerativa

Fisura anal: Una propuesta terapéutica

La fisura anal es una patología que genera síntomas muy molestos para la mayoría de los pacientes. Se discuten en el presente artículo los mecanismos fisiopatológicos que generan cronicidad de la enfermedad y se presenta la experiencia de los autores en el manejo ambulatorio y con anestesia local de éste problema, comparando la evolución clínica de un grupo sometido a la esfinterotomía interna lateral sola y aquellos en quienes se adiciona otros procedimientos. Se enfatiza en los beneficios de la aplicación de esta modalidad terapéutica

Peritonitis tuberculosa

Se presenta un caso de Peritonitis tuberculosa, haciendo una revisión de la literatura respecto a mecanismos etiológicos, diagnóstico y tratamiento

[The "arrhythmic pattern": a new method with prognostic significance in myocardial infarct]. / "Patrón arrítmico": un nuevo método con significación pronóstica en el infarto de miocardio.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a score or arrhythmic pattern for the prediction of long-term cardiac deaths on patients who have survived to the first acute myocardial infarction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied prospectively 200 patients that survived at a first myocardial infarction and in whom ambulatory ECG monitoring during 24 hours between days 7th and 18th (mean 12th) from the infarction was performed. The mean follow-up time was 51 +/- 18 months. The number and type of ventricular arrhythmias were analyzed and a score was measured, accordingly with Castellanos and Lown's classifications. An "arrhythmic pattern" or "total punctuation" was defined and compared among two groups: group 1 > 65 points and group 2 < 65 points. RESULTS: The differential characteristics of both groups were: age (60 +/- 9 versus 56 +/- 10 years old; p = 0.004); hypertension (63% versus 29%; p < 0.001); clinic stage II-III (23% versus 11%; p = 0.02); echocardiographic ejection fraction (45 +/- 11% versus 50 +/- 10%; p = 0.04); positive exercise testing (73% versus 56%; p = 0.01); arrhythmias on the exercise test (15% versus 25%; p = 0.006). The long-term cardiac mortality was 25% versus 6% (p = 0.01), with an incidence of sudden death of 11% versus 3% (p < 0.05). Specificity, sensibility, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (reference cut point of 100) were 94, 65, 71 and 91%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a score of arrhythmic pattern may identify 2 groups of patients with different clinic profiles that probably justify a different long-term prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction.

Anorrectoplastia sagital posterior: técnica en adultos / Posterior sagital anorectoplasty: technique in adults

Se efectuo el procedimiento de anorrectoplastia sagital posterior (ARSP) en dos pacientes adultos. El primer paciente nació con ano imperforado alto por lo que se le practicó un "pull-through" durante su infancia, permaneciendo totalmente incontinente para las heces. El segundo paciente tuvo un trauma perineal severo 8 años antes de la consulta y habia permanecido con colostomia, sin orificio anal. Ambos pacientes tienen una excelente continencia despues de efectuada la anorrectoplastia sagital posterior. Esta fue descrita inicialmente para la correccion de las diferentes modalidades de ano imperforado, pero puede ser usada en adultos seleccionados para preservar, con buenos resultados, la continencia fecal.

Constipacion funcional: tratamientos medico y quirurgico / Functional constipation: medical and surgical treatment

Se revisaron 882 pacientes de ambos sexos, con diagnostico de constipacion funcional, en el servicio de coloproctologia del Hospital Militar Central, durante un periodo de 2 anos (de febrero de 1984-febrero de 1986). Fueron clasificados en 2 grupos; en el primero se incluyeron 170 con constipacion funcional sin patologia colorectal asociada, de los cuales 159 (94%) recibieron tratamiento medico, y solamente 11 (6%) fueron sometidos a tratamiento quirurgico. En 169 pacientes se obtuvieron resultados entre buenos y execelentes, y solo en 1 de los operados el resultado final fue malo. El segundo grupo lo integraron 712 enfermos con diferentes entidades patologicas colorrectales benignas o malignas, a las cuales se asociaba la constipacion cronica; estos casos no fueron incluidos en el presente trabajo. Antes de instaurar ningun tratamiento a pacientes con constipacion o estrenimiento, debe practicarse un estudio colorrectal completo. Se propone la hemicolectomia izquierda como tratamiento quirurgico de la constipacion funcional pertinaz o incapacitante, conocida con el nombre de obstipacion, que no responde al tratamiento medico intenso.