Short-term outcome of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for the treatment of faecal incontinence.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to establish the efficacy of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in treating flatal, urge and passive faecal incontinence (FI). METHODS: A prospective study with 55 patients with FI was carried out. Clinical anamnesis, physical examination, a reverse visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Wexner score and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons quality of life score were recorded at baseline and 6 months, along with an incontinence diary. Subjects underwent one weekly session for 12 consecutive weeks and then continued with six additional fortnightly sessions. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (44 females; mean age 58.62 ± 10.74 years) with FI were treated with PTNS. The origins of the incontinence were obstetric (52.7 %) and perineal surgery (34.5 %). Eight patients did not continue with the second stage of treatment. The median Wexner baseline value was 9.98. After 6 months, it had decreased to 4.55 (p < 0.001). The visual analogue scale (VAS) increased from 4.94 to 6.80 (p < 0.001). There was a significant improvement in lifestyle, coping/behaviour, depression/self-perception and embarrassment scores. With respect to different types of FI, there was an improvement in the Wexner score both in patients with true passive FI and in those with urge or mixed FI. CONCLUSIONS: PTNS is an effective treatment for FI. Patients with passive or urge FI can benefit from this therapy, with improvement of the Wexner score and quality of life variables.

Unilateral blindness after orthognathic surgery: hypotensive anaesthesia is not the primary cause.

Perioperative vision loss in non-ocular surgery represents a rare but devastating complication and multiple causes have been proposed. Any portion of the visual system may be involved and several authors have tried to relate that complication with deliberate hypotension anaesthetic technique, used to control intraoperative bleeding. We report a patient operated for orthognathism who suffered unilateral blindness. After review of similar cases, we can state that the transmission of forces generated during Le fort I osteotomy is related to the complication. This osteotomy technique is regularly performed in our hospital using a curved osteotome to achieve the pterygomaxillary disjunction and the adverse transmission of forces via the sphenoid bone is the main reason for indirect damage to the optic nerve and its vascular structures causing the neuropathy and blindness. Hypotensive anaesthesia may certainly lead to transient ischaemia but only in specific cases because of decreased ocular perfusion pressured.

Small intestinal strangulation due to a primary internal paracecal hernia.

The discovery of a paracolic hernia is an unusual event, even for an experienced specialist in colorectal surgery. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman with no previous history of abdominal surgery, who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of episodic abdominal pain and distension accompanied by a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant. At laparotomy, a paracecal hernia with small bowel volvulation was found. The prime objective of this report is to draw the clinician's attention to the necessity of making a rapid diagnosis of internal hernias.

Pericardial tamponade as initial presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

We herein describe a 19-year-old woman who presented with pericardial effusion that resulted in heart tamponade. The clinicopathological study revealed papillary carcinoma of the thyroid metastasized to the heart. Although malignant pericardial effusion is a known complication of thyroid cancer, it is rarely the first manifestation and shows a relatively favourable prognosis despite widespread metastases if adequate treatment is given.

[Nutritional status of an hospitalised aged population]. / Estudio del estado nutricional en la población anciana hospitalizada.

AIMS: The aims of the study were to evaluate the nutritional status of the hospitalised elderly patients, to estimate the prevalence and distribution of malnutrition among them and to value the correlation of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) with nutritional biochemical and anthropometric parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional survey was done among a sample of 200 elderly patients admitted to the USP San Carlos Hospital (Murcia) during a period of 3 months. The study employed the MNA and a blood test including hemogram and albumin and transferrin serum levels. Chang's protocol was used to classify the nourishing pattern. For statistical analyses of the MNA tool, the Spearman's coefficient was employed. RESULT: Mean age of the 200 patients was 80.72 SD 7.43 years. Mean weight was 63.41 SD 19.57 kg and mean height was 160.93 SD 8.36 cm, with a mean Body Mass Index of 24.27 SD 7.31. The serum values of albumin and transferrin and total lymphocytes in blood were 3.09 SD 0.5 g/l, 1.69 SD 0.37 mg/dl and 1412 mm3 respectively. Average score of the MNA was 15.9 SD 6.21 with a maximum value of 27 and a minimum of 5.5 points. According to this scale, 50% (n=100) of the patients were malnourished, and 32% (n=32) of them presented mixed undernutrition of moderate degree. Values of malnutrition in the MNA test correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with values under normality of the biochemical and immunological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Patients over 80 years of age are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. These results are obtained both by means of the nutritional classic valuation and the MNA and presents a statistically significantly correlation. Therefore the MNA represents a useful, reliable and easily administered clinical tool to identify elderly people at risk of malnutrition and guide nutritional intervention in order to improve nutritional status.

Sipple's syndrome presenting acutely as severe heart failure.

We describe the case of a 56-year-old man who developed acute hypertension leading to cardiac insufficiency, arrhythmia, severe heart failure and death. The autopsy revealed Sipple's syndrome (multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type IIa) and catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. This man had received a false diagnosis of primary hypertension 1 year before. The prime objective of this report is to call attention to the necessity of an in depth diagnosis of labile and paroxysmal hypertension. The clinical diagnostic features of phaeochromocytoma as well as the main therapeutic approaches suggested in the literature are commented on.

[Evaluation of perioperative nutritional therapy in patients with gastrointestinal tract neoplasms]. / Evaluación de la terapia nutricional perioperatoria en pacientes con neoplasia del tracto gastrointestinal superior.

OBJECTIVES: Cancer is usually associated to an important level of desnutrition together with a postoperative morbidity and mortality increase. The purpose of this study was evaluating its efficacy perioperative nutritional support to reduce surgical complications, stances and mortality significantly in patients undergoing higher digestive tract procedures. METHOD: A prospective, randomized trial was done among a sample of neoplasic patients undergoing higher intestinal tract resective surgery during a period of 4 years. After a nutritional assessment, a perioperative immune-enhancing formula was randomly assigned to a group of patients who presented malnourished preoperatively (DS) while well-nourished and the rest of malnourished patients (DNS) received pre-surgical dietetic guidance and intravenous fluids after surgery until the reintroduction of normal diet. The variables studied were: age, sex, tumor stage and length of hospital stay. Nutritional status at admission and discharge, mortality, outcome from surgery and gastrointestinal side effects (tolerability, diarrhoea, vomits or distension) were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed with the with the chi2 for qualitative variables, ANOVA and the Turkey post-hoc tests for the quantitative ones, with a significance of 95%. RESULTS: Sample conformed by 50 patients in 3 groups that were compared for all baseline and surgical characteristics. Significant differences were observed in the incidence of gastrointestinal and infectius complications with better progress in DS group. It was obtained a reduction in the length of hospital stay in 12.29 days in DS group in contrast to DNS group (P=0.224). CONCLUSIONS: Significant benefit from perioperative nutritional support has been demonstrated in severely malnourished patients undergoing major surgery. A statistically significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms, a reduction in the length of hospital stay and less morbidity occurred on the group that received perioperative nutrition.

[Comparative study of two enteral feeding formulas in hospitalized elders: casein versus soybean protein]. / Estudio comparativo de dos dietas enterales en ancianos hospitalizados: proteína de soja frente a proteína caseína.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects of two enteral feeding formulas with changes in the origin of protein (casein and isolated soy protein) in hospitalised elderly patients. METHOD: A cross sectional survey was done among a sample of elderly patients carrying nasogastric tube admitted to the Reina Sofia General Hospital (Murcia) during a period of 6 months. A formula based on casein or soybean protein was randomly assigned. The variables studied were: age, sex, cause for indication of EN, duration of the EN and maximum amount of EN administered per day. Nutritional status at admission and discharge, mortality and gastrointestinal side effects (diarrhoea, constipation, vomits or regurgitation) were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed with the Student's T and chi 2 tests, with a significance of 95%. RESULTS: Sample conformed by 50 patients over 65 years (48% casein, 52% soybean) without statistically significant differences in age nor cause of indication of the EN. Either there were no differences in the nutritional status at the admission and discharge in both groups. Significant differences were observed in the incidence of diarrhoea (C: 45.83%, S: 7.69%, p = 0.009) and vomits (C: 41.66%, S: 15.38%, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A significant reduction in the incidence of gastrointestinal complications, a reduction in the incidence of ulcers by pressure and less mortality occurred on the group that took formula based on the soybean protein. The individualized nutritional evaluation must be performed routinely when the patient is admitted to the hospital for detection and treatment of early signs of malnutrition.

[Perioperative nutritional support in patients with colorectal neoplasms]. / Apoyo nutricional perioperatorio en pacientes con neoplasia colorrectal.

OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is clearly associated with increased morbidity and mortality after elective abdominal surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare perioperative nutritional support with traditional postoperative dietary management, evaluating its efficacy to reduce surgical complications, stances and mortality significantly in patients undergoing major colorectal procedures. METHOD: A prospective, randomized trial was done among a sample of neoplasic patients undergoing intestinal resective surgery during a period of near 3 years. A perioperative immune-enhancing formula was randomly assigned to a group of patients who presented malnourished preoperatively (DS) while well-nourished and the rest of malnourished patients (DNS) received conventional postoperative intravenous fluids until the reintroduction of normal diet. The variables studied were: age, sex, tumor stage and length of hospital stay. Nutritional status at admission and discharge, mortality, outcome from surgery and gastrointestinal side effects (tolerability, diarrhoea, vomits or distension) were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed with the with the chi2, ANOVA and the Turkey post-hoc tests, with a significance of 95%. RESULTS: Sample conformed by 82 patients. The 3 groups were comparable for all baseline and surgical characteristics. Significant differences were observed in the incidence of gastrointestinal complications, length of hospital stay (DS: 13.15±5.26; DNS: 19.34±9.6; p=0.001) and mortality (DS: 13.8%, DNS:30%, p=0,004). CONCLUSIONS: Significant benefit from perioperative nutritional support has been demonstrated in severely malnourished patients undergoing major surgery. A statistically significant decrease in the incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms, a reduction in the length of hospital stay and less morbidity and mortality occurred on the group that received perioperative nutrition.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage from adrenal artery aneurysm.

Spontaneous adrenal hemorrhage is a very rare but serious disorder of the adrenal gland that can require emergent treatment. We report on a 42-year-old man who underwent selective angiography for diagnosis and treatment of retroperitoneal hemorrhage from small adrenal artery aneurysm. This case gives further details about the value of transluminal artery embolization in the management of visceral aneurysm rupture.

Cumplimentación del consentimiento informado para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los Servicios de Urología y Cirugía / Enforcement of informed consent request for blood transfusion in urology and surgery departments

Objetivo: Aplicar un círculo de mejora a la petición de consentimiento informado (CI) para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los servicios de Cirugía General y Urología. Métodos: Durante 8 meses se incluyeron 120 pa­cientes intervenidos en el Hospital General Reina Sofía de Murcia. Tras realizar un análisis de causa-efecto de Ishikawa, se establecieron 4 criterios: C1: identifica­ción del médico; C2: identificación del paciente; C3: firma del paciente; C4: fecha del documento. En el pri­mer periodo se incluyeron 60 pacientes. Se analizaron Ias causas de incumplimiento y se aplicaron las medidas correctoras, reevaluando los criterios en otros 60 pacientes. Resultados: Todos los criterios estaban por debajo del estándar: C1: 3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% y C4: 65%. En la segunda evaluación el cumplimiento de C1 (70%), C3 (98%) y C4 (88%) mejoró significativamente pero aún así los resultados continúan, también significativamente, por debajo de los estándares establecidos. Los resultados se expresan en porcentaje de cumplimiento con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Conclusiones: La realización de un ciclo de mejora ha permitido detectar y corregir incumplimientos en el C1 de transfusiones sanguíneas. El nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios mejoró en la segunda evaluación aunque continuamos por debajo del estándar establecido. Hemos conseguido una mayor concienciación por parte de los profesionales a la hora de cumplimentar el consentimiento.

Objective: To analyze the degree of compliance with a variety of standards defined for the quality control of the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion in our departments of Surgery and Urology. Material and method: Retrospective study of patients treated during 8 consecutive months in a university teaching hospital (n=120). Assessment of quality was performed through measurements of compliance using 4 criteria: C1, Physician Identification; C2, patient identification; C3, patient signature; C4, document date. In the first period 60 patients were included. Corrective measures aimed at resolving the quality problem were applied to the deficient criteria during one month, paying particular attention to those criteria with the highest percentage of errors in the study. During a third period of six months (60 patients) the information of all criteria was gathered again and the improvement with regard to the standard values and to the compliance of the first period was evaluated. Results: Compliance of all criteria was significantly below standard values in the first evaluation: C1 :3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% and C4: 65%. In the second period all the criteria below its standard improved with regard to the first period; nonetheless the results are, also significantly, below the established standards. Conclusions: This improvement cycle enabled us to detect and correct breaches on the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion. Corrective measures introduced were effective since it was improved in all the criteria below standard. We have achieved a good awareness of health professionals to complete the authorization.