Primary and secondary non-traumatic intra-cerebral haemorrhage: MRI findings.

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) accounts for 10-30% of strokes, being the form with the worst prognosis. The causes of cerebral haemorrhage can be both primary, mainly hypertensive and amyloid angiopathy, and secondary, such as tumours or vascular lesions. Identifying the aetiology of bleeding is essential since it determines the treatment to be performed and the patient's prognosis. The main objective of this review is to review the main magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the primary and secondary causes of ICH, focusing on those radiological signs that help guide bleeding due to primary angiopathy or secondary to an underlying lesion. The indications for MRI in the event of non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage will also be reviewed.

[Malignant degeneration in a urethral diverticulum: an uncommon complication in a common condition]. / Divertículo uretral con degeneración maligna: una complicación infrecuente en una dolencia frecuente.

Acquired urethral diverticula are relatively common in women. They are usually asymptomatic but they can lead to complications; infection and stones are the most common complications. Malignant degeneration with the development of a malignant tumor in the diverticulum is a rare complication that must be taken into account. Few cases of malignant tumors in urethral diverticula have been reported. We present the case of a woman diagnosed with a malignant tumor in a urethral diverticulum. We review the imaging findings for urethral diverticula and the complications that can arise in this condition.

[Use and abuse of intravenous catheters in conventional hospital wards]. / Uso y abuso de los catéteres intravenosos en las plantas de hospitalizacion convencional.

BACKGROUND: Information regarding the use intravenous catheters (IVC) in conventional hospital units and its consequence in terms of intravenous catéter-related bacteremia (ICRB) is scarce. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of IVC in patients admitted in conventional wards of a general hospital and to measure IVCRB incidence in such patients. METHODS: We evaluated during one week IVC use in adult patients admitted in 12 de Octubre Hospital and we calculated la incidence density of ICRB. RESULTS: We evaluated the clinical charts of 731 patients (284 from medical wards and 447 from surgical wards), of which 338 (46.2%) had a peripheral VC inserted and 63 (8.6%) a central IVC. Central IVC had been inserted for a mean time 11.5 days globally (CI 95% 5.57-17.42), being 28.3 in medical wards and 8.32 days in surgical wards (p = 0.2). In 27.7 % of the patients with IVC intravenous antimicrobials was the only reason for the use of such catheters in spite of adequate oral tolerance in 30 % of the patients with central IVC an specific note explaining the reason for implanting such catheter was lacking in the clinical chart. IVCRB was detected in 12/401 patients (3%). The incidence density of IVCRB in central IVC was 8.28 per 1000 catheter-days. CONCLUSIONS: There are some aspects that could be clearly improved regarding the prevention of IVCRB, mostly in the indications, the excess of time those catheters are kept implanted and in the lost chances for catheter withdrawal when switch-therapy could be performed.

[Idiopathic spinal cord herniation: a rare condition]. / Herniación medular idiopática: una entidad poco frecuente.

Idiopathic spinal cord hernia, in which the reason that spinal cord protrudes through a defect in the dura mater is unknown, is a rare cause of progressive myelopathy. The most common clinical presentation is Brown-Séquard syndrome. Spinal cord herniation is a reversible cause of myelopathy: surgery to correct the defect in the dura mater has a high rate of functional recovery. Thus, early imaging detection is crucial. Magnetic resonance imaging is the technique of choice for the diagnosis. We present two cases of idiopathic spinal cord herniation and show the imaging findings that make it possible to recognize and diagnose this condition.