Physicians' experiences and perceptions about withholding and withdrawal life-sustaining treatment in Chiang Mai University Hospital: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life patients is a challenging ethical issue faced by physicians. Understanding physicians' experiences and factors influencing their decisions can lead to improvement in end-of-life care. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the experiences of Thai physicians when making decisions regarding the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments in end-of-life situations. Additionally, the study aims to assess the consensus among physicians regarding the factors that influence these decisions and to explore the influence of families or surrogates on the decision-making process of physicians, utilizing case-based surveys. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted among physicians practicing in Chiang Mai University Hospital (June - October 2022). RESULTS: Among 251 physicians (response rate 38.3%), most of the respondents (60.6%) reported that they experienced withholding or withdrawal treatment in end-of-life patients. Factors that influence their decision-making include patient's preferences (100%), prognosis (93.4%), patients' quality of life (92.8%), treatment burden (89.5%), and families' request (87.5%). For a chronic disease with comatose condition, the majority of the physicians (47%) chose to continue treatments, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In contrast, only 2 physicians (0.8%) would do everything, in cases when families or surrogates insisted on stopping the treatment. This increased to 78.1% if the families insisted on continuing treatment. CONCLUSION: Withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments are common in Thailand. The key factors influencing their decision-making process included patient's preferences and medical conditions and families' requests. Effective communication and early engagement in advanced care planning between physicians, patients, and families empower them to align treatment choices with personal values.

Perioperative Care of the Patient with Directives Limiting Life-Sustaining Treatments.

Like most complex aspects of procedural care, sound perioperative management of limits to life-sustaining medical therapy requires a multidisciplinary team-based approach bolstered by appropriate care management strategies. This article discusses the implications of care for the patient for whom limitations of life-sustaining care are in place and the roles and responsibilities of each provider in supporting quality procedural care compatible with patients' right to self-determination. The authors focus on the roles of the surgeon, preoperative clinic provider, anesthesiologist, and postoperative care consultants and discuss how the health care system and care pathways can support and improve adherence to best practices.

Limitación de soporte vital. Cuidados paliativos y final de vida en UCI / Limitation of life support. Palliative care and end of life in ICU / Limitació de suport vital. Cures pal·liatives i final de vida a l' UCI

La misión de los cuidados intensivos es restaurar la situación basal de salud libre de discapacidad severa atendiendo al principio bioético de beneficencia, respetando la dignidad y voluntad del paciente de ser tratado lo que vendría a ser atender al principio bioético de autonomía, y realizando todo esto de una forma adecuada a la mejor evidencia actual, justa y sostenible atendiendo a los principios de no maleficencia y de justicia. Cuando no es posible es cuando los profesionales tienen la obligación ética de iniciar un diálogo de manera respetuosa y prudente con el  paciente y/o la familia y el resto de profesionales implicados (atención primaria, enfermería, especialistas...etc.) de cara a llegar a un consenso sobre limitar los tratamientos de soporte vital y/o adecuar  los cuidados y continuar el tratamiento con un plan terapéutico de cuidados dirigidos al confort, control de síntomas y a mejorar la calidad de vida (Plan de cuidados paliativos) para preservar la dignidad del paciente, evitar el sufrimiento y proporcionar un tratamiento compasivo de soporte y acompañamiento durante el proceso de muerte si se diera el mismo atendiendo al paciente y a la familia con el máximo cuidado y respeto en un marco de humanización de la salud. Atender de forma excelente el final de la vida significa dignificar a las personas que están pasando por ese proceso, aportar un valor extraordinario de humanidad y debe ser un objetivo prioritario actual en nuestro quehacer diario en las unidades de cuidados intensivos

The mission of intensive care is to restore the baseline health situation free of severe disability by following the bioethical principle of beneficence, respecting the dignity and willingness of the patient to be treated what would be to attend to the bioethical principle of autonomy, and doing all this in a manner appropriate to the best current, fair and sustainable evidence, taking into account the principles of non-maleficence and justice. When it is not possible, it is when professionals have the ethical obligation to initiate a dialogue in a respectful and prudent manner with the patient and / or the family and the rest of the professionals involved (primary care, nursing, specialists ... etc.) Face to reach a consensus on limiting life support treatments and / or adapt care and continue treatment with a therapeutic plan of care aimed at comfort, symptom control and improving the quality of life (Palliative Care Plan) to preserve the dignity of the patient, avoid suffering and provide a compassionate support and support during the death process if the same were given to the patient and the family with the utmost care and respect in a framework of humanization of health. Addressing the end of life in an excellent way means dignifying the people who are going through this process, providing an extraordinary value of humanity and must be a current priority in our daily work in the intensive care units

La finalitat de la vigilància intensiva és restaurar la situació basal de salut lliure de discapacitat severa atenent al principi bioètic de beneficència, respectant la dignitat I voluntat del pacient de ser tractat, cosa que vindria a ser atendre al principi bioètic d'autonomia, I realitzant tot això d'una forma adequada a la millor evidència actual, justa I sostenible, atesos els principis de no maleficència I de justícia. Quan tot això no és possible és quan els professionals tenen l'obligació ètica d'iniciar un diàleg de manera respectuosa I prudent amb el pacient i/o la família I amb la resta de professionals implicats (atenció primària, infermeria, especialistes...etc.) de cara a arribar a un consens sobre limitar els tractaments de suport vital i/o adequar les cures I continuar el tractament amb un pla terapèutic de cures dirigides al confort, el control de símptomes I a millorar la qualitat de vida (Pla de Cures Pal·liatives) per a preservar la dignitat del pacient, evitar el sofriment I proporcionar-li un tractament compassiu de suport I acompanyament durant el procés de mort, atenent el pacient I a la família amb la màxima cura I respecte en un marc d'humanització de la salut. Atendre de forma excel·lent el final de la vida significa dignificar les persones que están passant per aquest procés, aportar un valor extraordinari d'humnaitat I ha de ser un objectiu prioritari actual en el nostre qufer diari en les unitats de vigilancia intensiva

Efecto de 3 métodos de enseñanza en soporte vital básico en futuros maestros de Educación Primaria. Un diseño cuasiexperimental / Effect of 3 basic life support training programs in future primary school teachers. A quasi-experimental design

OBJETIVO: Evaluar el aprendizaje en soporte vital básico (SVB) en personal lego tras 3 experiencias formativas diferentes. Dise˜no: Se trata de un estudio cuasi experimental antes-después de muestreo no probabilístico, sin grupo control. Ámbito: Estudiantes de formación de profesorado de educación primaria de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. PARTICIPANTES: Un total de 124 estudiantes (68,8% mujeres y 31,2% hombres) de entre 20 y 39 años (M = 22,23; DE = 3,79), cuyo criterio de inclusión fue el no tener conocimientos previos sobre SVB. INTERVENCIONES: Se aplicaron 3 programas formativos sobre SVB a estudiantes universitarios: curso tradicional, métodos audiovisuales y dispositivos de retroalimentación. Variables de interés principales: En masaje continuo: profundidad media de la compresión, porcentaje de reexpansión correcta, ratio de compresiones por minuto, porcentaje de compresiones correctas. Con el desfibrilador externo semiautomático: tiempo empleado en aplicar una descarga antes y después de la formación. RESULTADOS: Existen diferencias significativas en los resultados obtenidos tras 2 min de masaje continuo en función de los programas formativos recibidos, favorables al método de retroalimentación: ratio de compresiones por minuto (p < 0,001), profundidad media de la compresión (p < 0,001), porcentaje de compresiones correctas (p < 0,001) y porcentaje de reexpansión correcta (p < 0,001). En cuanto al desfibrilador externo semiautomático, se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el T después (p = 0,025). CONCLUSIONES: El programa de formación con dispositivos de retroalimentación obtuvo los mejores resultados de calidad de compresiones cardíacas, seguido del curso tradicional y del método audiovisual. Sus superiores resultados se manifestaron tanto en hombres como en mujeres. Los 3 métodos formativos lograron el objetivo de reducir los tiempos de desfibrilación

AIM: To evaluate the learning of basic life support (BLS) measures on the part of laypersons after 3 different teaching programs. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental before-after study involving a non-probabilistic sample without a control group was carried out. Scope: Primary school teacher students from the University of Santiago (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 124 students (68.8% women and 31.2% men) aged 20-39 years (M = 22.23; SD = 3.79), with no previous knowledge of BLS, were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Three teaching programs were used: a traditional course, an audio-visual approach and feedback devices. Main variables of interest: Chest compressions as sole cardiopulmonary resuscitation skill evaluation: average compression depth, compression rate, chest recoil percentage and percentage of correct compressions. Automated external defibrillator: time needed to apply a shock before and after the course. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the results obtained after 2 minutes of chest compressions, depending on the training program received, with feedback devices having a clear advantage referred to average compression depth (p < 0.001), compression rate (p < 0.001), chest recoil percentage (p < 0.001) and percentage of correct compressions (p < 0.001). Regarding automated external defibrillator, statistically significant differences were found in Tafter (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The teaching course using feedback devices obtained the best results in terms of the quality of chest compressions, followed by the traditional course and audio-visual approach. These favorable results were present in both men and women. All 3 teaching methods reached the goal of reducing defibrillation time

Construction and validation of a distance Basic Life Support Course / Construcción y validación de Curso de Soporte Básico a la Vida a distancia / Construção e validação de Curso de Suporte Básico de Vida a distância

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe the content construction and validation process of the Distance Education Basic Life Support Course. Method: methodological study, developed through literature review, outlined in the light of the Bloom's Taxonomy and Ausubel's Meaningful Learning Theory. For validation, the analysis was performed with judges, using a structured tool. Results: the construction of the distance course was complex and challenging, since it was tried to develop it with logical-methodological coherence, considering the constructivist perspective, representing an advance in the process of dissemination of the Urgency and Emergency teaching culture. As for the content validation process, it was verified that of the 16 suggestions made by the judges, 14 were accepted and two rejected. Conclusion: the course had its contents validated by experts.

RESUMEN Objetivo: describir el proceso de construcción y validación de contenido de un curso de Soporte Básico a la Vida en la modalidad de educación a distancia. Método: estudio metodológico, desarrollado mediante revisión de la literatura, delineado a la luz de la Taxonomía de Bloom y la Teoría del Aprendizaje Significativo de Ausubel. Para validación, fue realizado un análisis con jueces mediante la utilización de instrumento estructurado. Resultados: la construcción de un curso a distancia se mostró compleja y desafiante una vez que se intentó desarrollarlo con coherencia lógico-metodológica, considerando la perspectiva constructivista, representando un avance en el proceso de diseminación de la cultura de la enseñanza de urgencia y emergencia. En cuanto al proceso de validación de contenido, se verificó que de las 16 sugerencias realizadas por los jueces, 14 fueron acatadas y 2, rechazadas. Conclusión: el curso obtuvo su contenido validado por expertos.

RESUMO Objetivo: descrever o processo de construção e validação de conteúdo do curso de Suporte Básico de Vida na modalidade Educação a Distância. Método: estudo metodológico, desenvolvido mediante revisão da literatura, delineado à luz da Taxonomia de Bloom e Teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa de Ausubel. Para validação, foi realizada a análise com juízes, mediante utilização de instrumento estruturado. Resultados: a construção do curso a distância se mostrou complexa e desafiadora, uma vez que se procurou desenvolvê-lo com coerência lógico-metodológica, considerando a perspectiva construtivista, representando um avanço no processo de disseminação da cultura do ensino de Urgência e Emergência. Quanto ao processo de validação de conteúdo, verificou-se que das 16 sugestões realizadas pelos juízes, 14 foram acatadas e duas rejeitadas. Conclusão: o curso obteve o seu conteúdo validado por especialistas.

Limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida em pacientes admitidos em unidade de terapia intensiva com cuidados paliativos integrados / Limitation to Advanced Life Support in patients admitted to intensive care unit with integrated palliative care

RESUMO Objetivo: Estimar a incidência de limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida em pacientes graves internados em unidade de terapia intensiva com cuidados paliativos integrados. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo, no qual foram incluídos os pacientes inseridos no programa de cuidados paliativos da unidade de terapia intensiva do Hospital Paulistano, maiores de 18 anos de idade, no período de 1º de maio de 2011 a 31 de janeiro de 2014. As limitações de Suporte Avançado de Vida analisadas foram: ordem para não ressuscitar, ventilação mecânica, hemodiálise e droga vasoativa. Para as variáveis quantitativas, foram calculadas medidas de tendência central. O teste qui quadrado foi utilizado para comparar características dos pacientes com ou sem limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida e teste de Wilcoxon, para comparar o tempo de internação após Suporte Avançado de Vida. Para significância estatística, consideraram-se o intervalo de confiança e p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Foram internados na unidade de terapia intensiva 3.487 pacientes, sendo 342 inseridos no programa de cuidados paliativos. Observou-se que, após entrada no programa de cuidados paliativos, demorou uma mediana de 2 (1 - 4) dias para o óbito na unidade de terapia intensiva e 4 (2 - 11) dias para óbito hospitalar. Boa parte das limitações de Suporte Avançado de Vida (42,7%) aconteceu no primeiro dia de internação. A ressuscitação cardiopulmonar (96,8%) e o suporte ventilatório (73,6%) foram as limitações mais adotadas. Conclusão: Foi relevante a contribuição dos cuidados paliativos integrados à unidade de terapia intensiva para a prática da ortotanásia, ou seja, o não prolongamento da vida de um paciente terminal por meios artificiais.

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the incidence of limitations to Advanced Life Support in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit with integrated palliative care. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients in the palliative care program of the intensive care unit of Hospital Paulistano over 18 years of age from May 1, 2011, to January 31, 2014. The limitations to Advanced Life Support that were analyzed included do-not-resuscitate orders, mechanical ventilation, dialysis and vasoactive drugs. Central tendency measures were calculated for quantitative variables. The chi-squared test was used to compare the characteristics of patients with or without limits to Advanced Life Support, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare length of stay after Advanced Life Support. Confidence intervals reflecting p ≤ 0.05 were considered for statistical significance. Results: A total of 3,487 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, of whom 342 were included in the palliative care program. It was observed that after entering the palliative care program, it took a median of 2 (1 - 4) days for death to occur in the intensive care unit and 4 (2 - 11) days for hospital death to occur. Many of the limitations to Advanced Life Support (42.7%) took place on the first day of hospitalization. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (96.8%) and ventilatory support (73.6%) were the most adopted limitations. Conclusion: The contribution of palliative care integrated into the intensive care unit was important for the practice of orthothanasia, i.e., the non-extension of the life of a critically ill patient by artificial means.

Ébola en primera persona / Ebola in the first person

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Distocia de ombro: proposta de um novo algorítmo para conduta em partos em posições não supinas / Shoulder dystocia: proposal for a new algorithm of management in births in non-supine positions

Distocia de ombro é um evento imprevisível e profissionais habilitados para assistir ao parto devem estar capacitados para diagnosticar e instituir manobras efetivas para sua resolução. Tais manobras têm por objetivo aumentar a pelve funcional, reduzir o diâmetro biacromial e melhorar a relação feto-pélvica, facilitando o desprendimento do concepto dentro de sete minutos do diagnóstico, para prevenir complicações. Vários algoritmos têm sido propostos, com o desenvolvimento de mnemônicos para treinamento profissional, sendo o mais famoso o do Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO), conhecido como HELPERR(em inglês) ou ALEERTA (em português). No entanto, estes são úteis quando a parturiente se encontra em decúbito dorsal. Propõe-se um novo protocolo, considerando os benefícios associados aos partos em posição não supina e a necessidade de iniciar a conduta das manobras menos para as mais invasivas. O mnemônico proposto é A SAIDA e consiste em: A = chamar ajuda, avisar parturiente, aumentar agachamento; S = pressãosuprapúbica; A = alterar posição para quatro apoios (manobra de Gaskin); I = manobras internas (Rubin II, Wood,parafuso invertido); D = desprender ombro posterior; A = avaliar manobras de resgate...

Shoulder dystocia is an unpredictable event and skilled birth attendants should be trained to diagnose and implement effective maneuvers to solve it. These maneuvers aim to increase the functional pelvis, to reduce biacromial diameter and to improve the relationship between the pelvis and the fetus, favoring the conceptus release within seven minutes of the diagnosis, in order to prevent complications.Several algorithms have been proposed including mnemonics for professional training, being the most famous the one developed by Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO), known as HELPERR (in English) or ALEERTA(in Portuguese). However, these sequences of maneuvers are useful when the mother is in a supine position.A new protocol is proposed, considering the benefits of deliveries in non-supine positions, as well as the need for implementing less invasive maneuvers first. The proposed mnemonic is A SAÍDA and consists of A = ask for help, acquaint the mother, augment the squat; S = suprapubic pressure; A = alter the position to all fours (Gaskinmaneuver); I = internal maneuvers (Rubin II, Wood, inverted spin); D = deliver the posterior arm; A = assess theneed for rescue maneuvers...

La limitación terapéutica en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Therapeutic limitation of intenseve care unit

La limitación terapéutica es una práctica relativamente frecuente dentro de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos. Existen distintos tipos de limitación terapéutica, y se puede clasificar al paciente en función de las medidas susceptibles de retirarse o no iniciarse. Entre dichas medidas, cabe destacar la retirada de la ventilación mecánica junto con la analgesia y la sedación aplicadas al final de la vida del paciente (AU)

The therapeutic limitation is a relatively common in Intensive Care Units practice. There are different types of therapeutic limitation, and the patient can be classified according to measures likely to withdraw or not start. Among such measures include removal of stand mechanical ventilation with the analgesia and sedation applied to the end of life of the patient (AU)

End of life in the neonatal intensive care unit

PURPOSE: Death at the beginning of life is tragic but not uncommon in neonatal intensive care units. In Portugal, few studies have examined the circumstances surrounding the final moments of neonates. We evaluated the care given to neonates and their families in terminal situations and the changes that had occurred one decade later. DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 256 charts in a retrospective chart review of neonatal deaths between two periods (1992-1995 and 2002-2005) in a level III neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS: Our results show differences in the care of dying infants between the two periods. The analysis of the 2002-2005 cohort four years revealed more withholding and withdrawing of therapeutic activities and more effective pain and distress relief; however, on the final day of life, 95.7 percent of the infants received invasive ventilatory support, 76.3 percent received antibiotics, 58.1 percent received inotropics, and 25.8 percent received no opioid or sedative administration. The 2002-2005 cohort had more spiritual advisor solicitation, a higher number of relatives with permission to freely visit and more clinical meetings with neonatologists. Interventions by parents, healthcare providers and ethics committees during decision-making were not documented in any of the charts. Only eight written orders regarding therapeutic limitations and the adoption of palliative care were documented; seven (87.5 percent) were from the 2002-2005 cohort. Parental presence during death was more frequent in the latter four years (2002-2005 cohort), but only 21.5 percent of the parents wanted to be present at that moment. CONCLUSION: Despite an increase in the withholding and withdrawing of therapeutic activities and improvements in pain management and family support, many neonates still receive curative and aggressive practices at the end of life.

Novedades Científicas: “utilidad de animales transgénicos en la investigación” / Scientific novelties: utility of transgenic animals in reserch

La patología comparada resurge como el punto de encuentro entre el patrón de estudio morfológico humano y el animal. Su aplicación desde sus inicios se apoyó en los biomodelos animales, muchos de los cuales se lograron por manipulación genética. Estos métodos de estudio fueron generados a partir del comportamiento de la enfermedad en el humano. La ingeniería genética se refiere a tecnología desarrollada por el manejo del ADN recombinante, definida por ser una secuencia “nueva” de ADN creada en los laboratorios por la unión de porciones de ADN con orígenes diferentes. A un organismo cuyo material genético ha sido modificado artificialmente mediante la supresión de expresiones génicas o la incorporación de fracciones o secuencias de ADN ajeno a su especie, se le llama organismo genéticamente modificado (OGM); organismo modificado genéticamente (OMG) o simplemente “transgénico” (antes, “transgenético”). La ingeniería genética se define como el conjunto de técnicas y métodos que se utilizan para “construir” moléculas de ADN recombinante y luego introducirlas en moléculas receptoras. En Venezuela existe una prohibición para la manipulación en animales. Se aplican la Ley de Biodiversidad, el Convenio de Diversidad biológica y el Protocolo Internacional de Biodiversidad. Con la investigación animal, los científicos han descubierto las maneras de salvar y prolongar la vida humana. Vacunaciones tales como la poliomielitis trasplantes de órganos perfeccionados así como el desarrollo de técnicas quirúrgicas y de traumatología reconstructivas. De manera activa se ha generado un debate por el uso de animales en la investigación y en los ensayos biotecnológica. Se plantea la bioética en la aplicación de los biomodelos animales. Es importante el conocimiento de estos métodos de investigación genética en animales de investigación, más aún en instituciones generadoras de productos biológicos. En poco tiempo se ha generado un fenómeno transgénico de la...

Programa de atividade física em unidades básicas de saúde: relato de experiência no município de Rio Claro-SP / Program of physical education in basic health units: experiment report in Rio Claro County SP

Há evidências de que o estilo de vida sedentário afeta 40 a 80% da população brasileira. Gênero, idade, condição de saúde, nível sócio-econômico e escolaridade estão associados aos maiores índices de inatividade física. Parte desse resultado pode ser creditada a barreiras individuais e ambientais que dificultam a prática de atividade física (AF). Devido às características, as Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) são locais privilegiados para promoção da saúde mediante AF, uma vez que minimizam parte das barreiras presentes em grupos populacionais sujeitos à inatividade física. O objetivo deste estudo é compartilhar evidências acumuladas ao longo de 6 anos de existência de um programa de AF desenvolvido em UBS no município de Rio Claro-SP. Os resultados do programa se mostraram efetivos em melhorar o desempenho de alguns componentes da aptidão funcional, metabolismo de lipídios e glicose, estados de ânimo e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde dos participantes. Tendo em vista os resultados apresentados e a presença de UBS na grande maioria dos municípios brasileiros, acreditamos que a implantação de um programa desta natureza seja uma iniciativa viável tanto do ponto de vista social quanto de promoção da saúde.

There are evidences that sedentary life style affects 40-80% of the Brazilian population. Gender, age, health condition, social-economic level and schooling are linked to the highest physical inactivity contents. Part of this result may be due to individual and environmental barriers which make the practice of physical activities (PA) difficult. Due to their characteristics, the Basic Health Units (BHU) are privileged places for health promotion through PA, once they minimize part of the existent barriers in groups of population subject to physical inactivity. The objective of this study is to share evidence accumulated along 6 years of existence of a PA program accomplished in a BHU in Rio Claro County - SP. The results of this program have shown effective in improving the performance of some components of functional aptitude, the metabolism of lipids and glucose, states of mood and life quality related to the health of the participants. Considering such results and the presence of BHU in most of te Brazilian Counties, we believe that the setting up of a program like this can be a viable initiative from both the social point of view and of health promotion.

Educación en soporte vital básico / Education on basic life support

Los constantes cambios socioculturales que pueden observarse actualmente en países de América Latina como Chile, catalogados cómo en vías de desarrollo, traen consigo un incremento de trastornos como la diabetes, hipertensión arterial, dislipidemias, stress, obesidad, etc., y por ende mayor prevalencia de enfermedades cardiovasculares, lo que las coloca hoy en día en el primer lugar como causa general de morbilidad y mortalidad en la población. Constituido así en un problema de salud pública es imprescindible tomar medidas enérgicas para su enfrentamiento. Se ha demostrado en países desarrollados que una mayor cantidad de gente capacitada en maniobras de resucitación básica, trae consigo una disminución importante de la morbimortalidad producto de paro cardiorrespiratorio (PCR). En este sentido, es preciso e imprescindible fomentar y difundir los diversos programas educativos que pueden ser aplicados en diversos grupos “blanco” de nuestra población, de manera de preparar a las personas que pudieran verse enfrentadas a una situación de este tipo en distintos escenarios.

The constant social and cultural changes currently observed in Latin American countries like Chile, are associated with increases in pathological conditions like diabetes, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, stress, obesity, etc. As a consequence, a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is observed, positioning them as the first general cause of morbidity and mortality. As a major public health issue, it is essential to implement measures to confront them. It has been demonstrated in developed countries that the more people is trained in basic resuscitation maneuvers, the bigger is the decrease in morbidity and mortality due to cardiogenic cardiorespiratory failure. Then, it appears of great importance to stimulate and diffuse diverse educative programs that may be applied to many “target” groups of our population, in order to prepare people to confront this kind of situations in different scenarios.

Cuidados continuos. Situación actual en España. Presente y futuro / No disponible

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Aproximación a los Cuidados Paliativos en las enfermedades avanzadas no malignas / Approximation to palliative care in the advanced nonmalignant diseases

En la actualidad la Medicina Paliativa (MP) está cambiando desde una visión específica dirigida a los pacientes con cáncer avanzado hacia otra más genérica que abarca también a los pacientes con enfermedades avanzadas no malignas. También está cada vez más arraigado que los cuidados al final de la vida constituyen un derecho fundamental de la sociedad. Pero en realidad estos pacientes no oncológicos excepcionalmente entran en programas de Cuidados Paliativos (CP). Se sabe que es por la dificultad en diagnosticar la situación clínica de enfermedad terminal (SCET). En el presente artículo comentaremos la justificación y limitación de los CP en los pacientes no oncológicos así como la situación paradójica que tiene lugar a pesar del incremento paulatino de los programas de cuidados paliativos. Pero sobre todo proponemos una manera práctica de poder determinar cuando un paciente con enfermedad avanzada de órgano no maligna puede ser subsidiario de unos adecuados CP. Para ello tenemos que conocer el diagnóstico y los factores pronósticos relacionados con la SCET de las patologías crónicas avanzadas de órgano más frecuentes (enfermedad pulmonar crónica avanzada, insuficiencia cardiaca crónica avanzada, cirrosis hepática avanzada, insuficiencia renal crónica avanzada y demencias muy evolucionadas), establecer una adecuada toma de decisiones teniendo en cuenta las preferencias o deseos del paciente y familia, documentar y registrar en la historia clínica todos estos parámetros y ofrecer al paciente el tratamiento más adecuado con el fin de conseguir una muerte digna y considerando unos estándares clínicos, culturales y éticos. Se destaca la necesidad de llevar a cabo estudios prospectivos que ayuden a establecer unos criterios de inclusión en programas de CP a pacientes con enfermedades avanzadas de órgano no malignas (AU)

Nowadays Palliative Medicine (PM) is changing from a specific point of view towards patients with advanced cancer, to another more generic that also keep in mind patients with advanced non malignant disease. Like wise it is more and more deeply rooted customs that the end-of lifecare has become a fundamental right of our Society. But as a matter of fact, these patients with non-cancer diseases unusually go into a Palliative Care (PC) programme. It is known the difficulty to diagnosis the end of life clinical condition (EOLCC) in them. In this article we comment the justification and restriction of PC in patients with non-malignant cancer diseases, as well as the paradoxical situation to come out, inspite of the increasing programes of PC gradually. But above all we propose in a practical way resolve when a patient with non malignant organ advanced disease (NMOAD) could be subsidiary of PC. For that purpose we have to know the diagnosis and the prognostic factors in connection with the EOLCC of the NMOAD more common (advanced chronical pulmonary disease, advanced chronical heart failure, advanced cirrhosis hepatic, advanced chronical renal failure and very evolved dementia), to set up an appropriate make decisions keeping in mind the preferences and wishes of the patient and family, to document and record in the clinical history all those parameters and offerer to the patient the treatment more suitable with the intention to get a worthy death bearing in mind clinical, cultural and ethical standards. It is pointed out the necessity to carry out prospective studies to help setting up some inclusion criterions in PC programmes for patients with NMOAD

Implantación de Sistemas de Información para pacientes críticos / Introduction of information systems for critical patients

Se describen las consideraciones prácticas para el diseño e implantación de un sistema informático para la adquisición de las constantes vitales y la consignación de órdenes médicas en las unidades de cuidados intensivos

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Una alternativa a la vía venosa difícil / An alternative to the difficult venous path

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El mecanismo de prolongación de la vida por restricción calórica y la intensificación farmacológica de sus efectos / The life-prolonging mechanism of calorie restriction and the pharmacological intensification of these effects

El valor demostrativo de la estimulación de la autofagia como contribuyente al efecto de la prolongación de la vida por restricción calórica (posiblemente también la reducción insulínica, así como de la hormona de crecimiento/factor de crecimiento similar a la insulina tipo 1 y la hormesis) se revisa aquí. La autofagia es el mecanismo de reparación celular causante del mantenimiento de las membranas celulares y organelas, incluyendo peroxisomas, generadores de radicales libres y mitocondrias. Se evidencia que la administración semanal continuada de un fármaco antilipolítico puede reducir los valores de glucosa e insulina, estimular la autofagia e intensificar los efectos de la restricción calórica submáxima que conducen a la prolongación de la vida

Evidence is reviewed showing that CR (and perhaps reduced insulin of GH-IGF-1 axis and hormesis) may exhibit anti-aging effects at least partly by a stimulatory action on autophagy, the cell repair mechanism responsible for the house-keeping of cell membranes and organelles including the free radical generators peroxisomes and mitochondria. It is shown that the life-long weekly administration of an anti-lipolytic drug may decrease glucose and insulin levels and stimulate autophagy and intensify the anti-ageing effects of submaximal CR