Results of a survey about specific inflammatory bowel disease units in Andalusia.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become one of the most prevalent pathologies in Gastroenterology Units, which added to its clinical outcome, treatment, the complexity of affected patients and the need to be continuously updated for the correct management of the disease, have made essential the presence of specific IBD units in each hospital. OBJECTIVES: The primary aims of this study were: a) to reveal the existence of these units in our area and how they work; and b) to draw conclusions regarding the necessary resources in these units and their aims. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to analyse the presence of these specialized units and the available resources in Andalusian hospitals, a 24-question survey was designed, being answered by 11 hospitals. The evaluated questions included the number of days patients are attended and the number of physicians attending the unit, the number of available healthcare assistants, if emergencies are attended or not, if there is an activated telephone number for patient consultation, if a day care unit is available and if new treatments are easily accessible. RESULTS: A specific IBD unit is present in all studied hospitals attending more than 11 patients each, although in the 63.4% of the cases patients are not attended more than 3 days per week. On the other hand, the 81.8% of the included hospitals attend emergencies although only the 54.5% of them had a specific telephone number for patient attendance. CONCLUSIONS: A specific IBD unit is present in many Andalusian hospitals, although some deficiencies can be observed. The general opinion of this Group is that these units are necessary in order to properly attend, monitorize and treat patients affected by IBD.

[Ischemic colitis as manifestation of Takayasu arteritis]. / Colitis isquémica como manifestación de arteritis de Takayasu.

The case of a 44-years old patient who developed two episodes of ischemic colitis over a three year interval and completely recovering from the same with conservative treatment is presented. The patient was symptomatic only during the acute episodes. Arteriographic study performed during the second episode showed stenosis of the infrarenal aorta reducing the blood flow by more than 50% facilitating to the development of arterial thrombosis at the origin of the inferior mesenteric artery. These arteriographic findings, together with other stenoses in the descending, superior mesenteric, and left subclavian thoracic aorta arteries led to the diagnosis of Takayasu arteritis. Despite the lack of general symptomatology of the disease, the patient was posteriorly administered steroid treatment with the aim of reducing the local inflammatory process and the risk of new thrombotic episodes.

[Somatostatin in the treatment of pancreatic ascites]. / La somatostatina en el tratamiento de la ascitis pancreática.

We present the case of a patient with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis who developed pancreatic ascites. The analysis of ascitic fluid was diagnostic; and ERCP showed one fistula in the pancreatic head to the peritoneal cavity. The patient was treated by continuous somatostatin infusion (250 micrograms/h) for 15 days resulting in the disappearance of the ascites and avoiding the risky surgical therapy.