Resumen ejecutivo del documento de consenso sobre el manejo de la anemia perioperatoria en España / Executive summary of the consensus document on the management of perioperative anemia in Spain

La anemia perioperatoria constituye un factor independiente de riesgo de morbimortalidad posoperatoria. Sin embargo, persisten barreras conceptuales, logísticas y administrativas que dificultan la implementación generalizada de protocolos para su manejo. El coordinador del proyecto convocó a un grupo multidisciplinar de ocho profesionales para elaborar un documento de consenso sobre el manejo de la anemia perioperatoria, con base a en serie puntos claves (PCs) relativos a su prevalencia, consecuencias, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Estos PCs fueron evaluados utilizando una escala Likert de 5 puntos, desde «totalmente en desacuerdo [1]» a «totalmente de acuerdo [5]». Cada PC se consideró consensuado si recibía una puntuación de 4 o 5 por al menos siete participantes (> 75%). A partir de los 36 PCs consensuados, se construyeron algoritmos diagnóstico-terapéuticos que pueden facilitar la implementación de programas de identificación precoz y manejo adecuado de la anemia perioperatoria, adaptados a las características de las instituciones hospitalarias de nuestro país.(AU)

Perioperative anemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, conceptual, logistical and administrative barriers persist that hinder the widespread implementation of protocols for their management. The project coordinator convened a multidisciplinary group of 9 experienced professionals to develop perioperative anemia management algorithms, based on a series of key points (KPs) related to its prevalence, consequences, diagnosis and treatment. These KPs were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, from “strongly disagree [1]” to “strongly agree [5]”. For each KP, consensus was reached when receiving a score of 4 or 5 from at least 7 participants (>75%). Based on the 36 KPs agreed upon, diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms were developed that we believe can facilitate the implementation of programs for early identification and adequate management of perioperative anemia, adapted to the characteristics of the different institutions in our country.(AU)

Impact of pharmaceutical validation on prescribing errors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Randomised and controlled study.

Purpose: To compare the frequency of electronic prescription errors when the prescription was validated by the clinical pharmacist vs. when it was not. Methods: This prospective randomised controlled study was conducted in three phases. A randomised phase, in which patients were divided into control and intervention groups, and a pre- and post-intervention phase were consecutively performed to analyse the impact of pharmaceutical validation of prescriptions in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study was performed at a highly complex NICU at a tertiary hospital. All patients born during the study period who were admitted to the NICU, with a stay lasting ≥24 h, and received active pharmacological treatment were included in the study. Pharmaceutical validation was performed according to the paediatric pharmaceutical care model. A high level of validation was selected for this study. In the intervention group, discrepancies found during the review process were communicated to the medical team responsible for the patients and resolved on the same day. Results: In total, 240 patients were included in this study. Sixty-two patients were allocated to the pre-intervention (n = 38) or post-intervention (n = 24) groups, and 178 patients were randomly sorted into two groups, control (n = 82 newborns) and intervention (n = 96 newborns). During the randomisation phase, the number of prescription errors detected was significantly lower in the intervention group than that in the control group (129 vs. 270; p < 0.001). Similarly, prescription errors reaching the patient were significantly reduced from 40% (n = 108) in the control group to 1.6% (n = 2) in the intervention group. In the pre- and post-intervention periods, the prescription lines containing prescription errors decreased from 3.4% to 1.5% (p = 0.005). Conclusions: This study showed that the pharmaceutical validation process decreased both the number of errors in the electronic prescribing tools and the number of prescription errors reaching the patient.

Executive summary of the consensus document on the management of perioperative anemia in Spain.

Perioperative anemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, conceptual, logistical and administrative barriers persist that hinder the widespread implementation of protocols for their management. The project coordinator convened a multidisciplinary group of 8 experienced professionals to develop perioperative anemia management algorithms, based on a series of key points (KPs) related to its prevalence, consequences, diagnosis and treatment. These KPs were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, from "strongly disagree [1]" to "strongly agree [5]". For each KP, consensus was reached when receiving a score of 4 or 5 from at least 7 participants (>75%). Based on the 36 KPs agreed upon, diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms were developed that we believe can facilitate the implementation of programs for early identification and adequate management of perioperative anemia, adapted to the characteristics of the different institutions in our country.

Evaluación del músculo ciliar y del grosor escleral anterior en miopes altos mediante tomografía de coherencia óptica / Assessment of the ciliary muscle and scleral anterior thickness in high myopia by optical coherence tomography

Propósito: Evaluar las dimensiones del músculo ciliar (MC) y del grosor escleral anterior (AST) in vivo en miopes altos mediante tomografía de coherencia óptica de fuente de barrido (SS-OCT) y comparar con sujetos emétropes e hipermétropes.MétodosEstudio transversal en el que se incluyeron 34 miopes altos (≥−6dioptrías [D]), 90 emétropes (−1 a +1D) y 38 hipermétropes (≥+3,5D). Se midieron el grosor del MC (CMT) y el AST en los cuadrantes temporal y nasal a 1, 2 y 3mm del espolón escleral utilizando la SS-OCT. Además, se evaluó la longitud del MC (CML).ResultadosLas dimensiones tanto del CML como del CMT en cualquiera de sus puntos de medida fueron mayores en miopes altos y en emétropes que en hipermétropes, tanto en el cuadrante nasal como en el temporal (p<0,001). Sin embargo, no existieron diferencias entre miopes magnos y emétropes para ninguno de los parámetros (p≥0,076), salvo para el CMT a 3mm en temporal (p<0,001). No existieron diferencias en el AST entre miopes altos, emétropes e hipermétropes, en ninguno de los puntos de medida ni cuadrantes estudiados (p>0,05).ConclusionesLa SS-OCT permite medir el MC in vivo, no observándose diferencias en sus dimensiones entre miopes altos y emétropes, pero sí que fueron menores en hipermétropes. En la medida de la esclera anterior no se observaron diferencias entre los tres grupos analizados según la refracción. (AU)

Purpose: To assess ciliary muscle (CM) and anterior scleral thickness (AST) dimensions in vivo in high myopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and to compare with emmetropic and hyperopic subjects.MethodsCross-sectional study that included 34 high myopic patients (≥−6 diopters [D]), 90 emmetropes (−1 to +1D) and 38 hyperopic patients (≥+3.5D). CM thickness (CMT) and AST were measured in the temporal and nasal quadrants at 1, 2, and 3mm from the scleral spur using SS-OCT. In addition, the length of the CM (CML) was evaluated.ResultsThe dimensions of the CML and the CMT at any of their measurement points were greater in high myopes and emmetropes than in hyperopes, both in the nasal and temporal quadrants (P<.001). However, there were no differences between high myopes and emmetropes for any of the parameters (P≥.076) except for the CMT at 3mm in the temporal quadrant (P<.001). There were no differences in the AST between high myopes, emmetropes and hyperopes, in any of the measurement points or quadrants studied (P>.05).ConclusionsThe SS-OCT allows to measure the CM in vivo, not observing differences in its dimensions between high myopes and emmetropes, but they were smaller in hyperopes. In the measurement of the anterior sclera, no differences were observed between the three groups analyzed according to refraction. (AU)

Primary care pharmacist-led medication review in older adult patients in coordination with general practitioners: an observational retrospective cohorts study.

Background: Polypharmacy and risk of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in older adult are being continuously increased. Including a primary care pharmacist (PCP) in the healthcare team is associated with lower rates of medication-related problems (MRPs). Objectives: To determine the impact (in terms of variation of PIP, MRPs and polymedication) of treatment reviews (TR) carried out by the PCP by comparing two cohorts: standard TR vs coordinated TR with prescribing General Practitioners (GP). To assess possible health outcomes in both groups 6 months post-TR. Methods: This is an observational study of two retrospective cohorts (2018 to 2020). All patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were analyzed. Patients ≥65 years, who underwent complete TR by the PCP were included. Patients in a situation of exitus at the time of TR and those who underwent a partial TR were excluded. Control group cohort consisted of patients who underwent standard TR, and intervention group cohort consisted of those who underwent TR coordinated with GP. Sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological variables were analyzed. Results: 181 patients were enrolled. Mean age 84.4 ± 7.2 years, 78.5% women. Variables (GP-coordinated vs standard TRs) pre-post: decrease in drugs/patient 1.9 (95%CI: 1.4-2.4) vs 0.6 (95%CI: 0.2-1.3), p < 0.05; decrease in MRPs/patient 3.1 (95%CI: 2.8-3.4) vs 1.0 (95%CI: 0.6-1.4), p < 0.05; decrease in PIP/patient 2.0 (95% CI: 1.6-2.2) vs 0.6 (95% CI: 0.2-0.9), p < 0.05. Health outcomes: there was significant difference in average primary-care visits/patient 1.3 ± 0.5 vs 2.2 ± 1.8, p < 0.05. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary interventions between PCP and GP, together with a systematic approach to TR can improve the quality of pharmacotherapy in the elderly. Prospective large follow-up studies are needed to demonstrate a positive trend in health outcomes.

Assessment of the ciliary muscle and scleral anterior thickness in high myopia by optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To assess ciliary muscle (CM) and anterior scleral thickness (AST) dimensions in vivo in high myopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and to compare with emmetropic and hyperopic subjects. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included 34 high myopic patients (≥ -6 diopters [D]), 90 emmetropes (-1 to +1 D) and 38 hyperopic patients (≥ +3.5 D). CM thickness (CMT) and AST were measured in the temporal and nasal quadrants at 1, 2, and 3 mm from the scleral spur using SS-OCT. In addition, the length of the CM (CML) was evaluated. RESULTS: The dimensions of the CML and the CMT at any of their measurement points were greater in high myopes and emmetropes than in hyperopes, both in the nasal and temporal quadrants (P < .001). However, there were no differences between high myopes and emmetropes for any of the parameters (P ≥ .076) except for the CMT at 3 mm in the temporal quadrant (P < .001). There were no differences in the AST between high myopes, emmetropes and hyperopes, in any of the measurement points or quadrants studied (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The SS-OCT allows to measure the CM in vivo, not observing differences in its dimensions between high myopes and emmetropes, but they were smaller in hyperopes. In the measurement of the anterior sclera, no differences were observed between the three groups analyzed according to refraction.

Recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, for patients undergoing lung surgery included in an intensified recovery program.

In recent years, multidisciplinary programs have been implemented that include different actions during the pre, intra and postoperative period, aimed at reducing perioperative stress and therefore improving the results of patients undergoing surgical interventions. Initially, these programs were developed for colorectal surgery and from there they have been extended to other surgeries. Thoracic surgery, considered highly complex, like other surgeries with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, may be one of the specialties that most benefit from the implementation of these programs. This review presents the recommendations made by different specialties involved in the perioperative care of patients who require resection of a lung tumor. Meta-analyzes, systematic reviews, randomized and non-randomized controlled studies, and retrospective studies conducted in patients undergoing this type of intervention have been taken into account in preparing the recommendations presented in this guide. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the recommendations, assessing on the one hand the level of evidence published on each specific aspect and, on the other hand, the strength of the recommendation with which the authors propose its application. The recommendations considered most important for this type of surgery are those that refer to pre-habilitation, minimization of surgical aggression, excellence in the management of perioperative pain and postoperative care aimed at providing rapid postoperative rehabilitation.

Recommendations of the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Spanish Society of Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Therapy, for patients undergoing lung surgery included in an intensified recovery program. / Recomendaciones de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica y de la Sección de Cardiotorácica y Cirugía Vascular de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor, para los pacientes sometidos a cirugía pulmonar incluidos en un programa de recuperación intensificada.

In recent years, multidisciplinary programs have been implemented that include different actions during the pre, intra and postoperative period, aimed at reducing perioperative stress and therefore improving the results of patients undergoing surgical interventions. Initially, these programs were developed for colorectal surgery and from there they have been extended to other surgeries. Thoracic surgery, considered highly complex, like other surgeries with a high postoperative morbidity and mortality rate, may be one of the specialties that most benefit from the implementation of these programs. This review presents the recommendations made by different specialties involved in the perioperative care of patients who require resection of a lung tumor. Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized and non-randomized controlled studies, and retrospective studies conducted in patients undergoing this type of intervention have been taken into account in preparing the recommendations presented in this guide. The GRADE scale has been used to classify the recommendations, assessing on the one hand the level of evidence published on each specific aspect and, on the other hand, the strength of the recommendation with which the authors propose its application. The recommendations considered most important for this type of surgery are those that refer to pre-habilitation, minimization of surgical aggression, excellence in the management of perioperative pain and postoperative care aimed at providing rapid postoperative rehabilitation.

Medication errors in the care transition of trauma patients.

RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVE: Traumatological patients are vulnerable to medication error given multiple handoffs throughout the hospital since they often require rapid diagnosis and management of multiple concurrent complex conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the medication errors (MEs) occurring in the care transition of the traumatological patient. The secondary objectives were to classify the MEs and the level of risk of the pharmacological groups involved. In addition, the causes and contributing factors of those MEs were analyzed. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, and prospective study, spanning 4 months, was performed in a tertiary hospital. All patients admitted to the traumatology service were selected for the study. Data were collected in different locations of the hospital stay: Emergency Service, Resuscitation and Post-Anaesthesia Unit, and Traumatology Hospitalization Unit. In each location, data from the different processes (reconciliation, prescription, validation, dispensing, and administration of medicines) were collected. The medication error (ME) was established as a dependent variable. RESULTS: A total of 31.3% (132) of the patients analyzed showed some ME. The Traumatology Unit was the location where most errors were detected, followed by the Emergency Service. Having analyzed all the locations, it was observed that 64.2% (172) of the MEs were detected in the reconciliation process, 29.5% (79) in the prescription, 3.7% (10) in the dispensing, 1.5% (4) in the administration, and 1.1% (3) in the validation. In terms of risk weighting, the drugs involved in the MEs detected were 53.8% of medium risk, 20.7% of high risk, and 20.3% of low risk. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of MEs in the reconciliation process of medication in traumatological patients (64.2%) from our hospital setting. Interestingly, most MEs occurred in this process regardless of the location in the healthcare chain.

Formación de equimosis y/o hematoma tras la administración profiláctica de enoxaparina subcutánea en abdomen o brazo en pacientes críticos / Ecchymosis and/or haematoma formation after prophylactic administration of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen or arm of the critically ill patient

Introducción: Los eventos adversos más frecuentes de la administración subcutánea de heparina de bajo peso molecular son la equimosis y/o el hematoma. No existe una fuerte recomendación sobre la zona de punción. Objetivo: Evaluar los eventos adversos, equimosis y/o hematoma, tras administración de enoxaparina subcutánea profiláctica en abdomen vs. brazo, en pacientes críticos. Metodología: Ensayo clínico aleatorizado en dos ramas (inyección abdomen vs. brazo), entre julio de 2014 y enero de 2017, en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente de 18 camas. Incluidos pacientes con enoxaparina profiláctica, ingreso >72h, sin hepatopatías o enfermedades hematológicas, con índice de masa corporal (IMC)>18,5, no embarazadas, mayores de edad y sin lesiones cutáneas que impidan la valoración. Excluidos fallecimientos o traslados de hospital antes de finalizar la valoración. Recogidas variables demográficas, clínicas y aparición de equimosis y/o hematoma en lugar de inyección a las 12, 24, 48 y 72h. Análisis descriptivo, comparación de grupos y regresión logística. Aprobado por la comité de ética, con consentimiento firmado de pacientes/familiares. Resultados: Un total de 301 casos (11 excluidos): 149 en abdomen vs. 141 en brazo. Sin diferencias significativas en variables demográficas, clínicas, IMC, dosis de enoxaparina y administración de antiagregantes. Equimosis en el 48% de los pacientes y hematoma en el 8%, sin diferencias estadísticas abdomen vs. brazo [equimosis, abdomen vs. brazo, n(%): 66(44) vs. 72(51), p=0,25] [hematoma abdomen vs. brazo, n(%):9(6) vs. 14(10), p=0,2]. Se halla significación estadística en el tamaño del hematoma a las 72h: [área de hematoma (mm2) abdomen vs. brazo, mediana (RIC): 2(1-5,25) vs. 20(5,25-156), p=0,027]. Conclusiones: En nuestra cohorte de pacientes, la enoxaparina subcutánea profiláctica administrada en el abdomen produce menos hematomas, a las 72h, que administrada en el brazo. La tasa de incidencia de equimosis y hematomas es menor a la publicada en pacientes críticos, advirtiéndose que pacientes con antiagregantes presentan mayor riesgo de presentar lesiones, no observándose relación de su aparición con el IMC (AU)

Introduction: Ecchymosis and/or haematoma are the most common adverse events after subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin. There is no strong recommendation as to the puncture site. Objective: To evaluate the adverse events, ecchymosis and/or haematoma after the administration of prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen vs the arm in the critically ill patient. Methodology: A randomised, two-arm clinical trial (injection in the abdomen vs the arm), performed between July 2014 and January 2017, in an 18-bed, polyvalent intensive care unit. Patients receiving prophylactic enoxaparin, admitted >72h, with no liver or haematological disorders, a body mass index (BMI) >18.5, not pregnant, of legal age and with no skin lesions which would impede assessment were included. We excluded patients who died or who were transferred to another hospital before completing the evaluation. We gathered demographic and clinical variables, and the onset of ecchymosis and/or haematomas at the injection site after 12, 24, 48 and 72hours. A descriptive analysis was undertaken, with group comparison and logistic regression. The study was approved by the ethics committee with the signed consent of patients/families. Results: 301 cases (11 excluded): 149 were injected in the abdomen vs 141 in the arm. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical variables, BMI, enoxaparin dose or antiplatelet administration [ecchymosis, abdomen vs arm, n(%): 66(44) vs 72(51), P=.25] [haematoma abdomen vs arm, n(%): 9(6) vs 14(10), P=.2]. Statistical significance was found in the size of the haematomas after 72h: [area of haematoma (mm2) abdomen vs arm, median (IQR): 2(1-5.25) vs 20(5.25-156), P=.027]. Conclusions: In our patient cohort, prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin administered in the abdomen causes fewer haematomas after 72hours, than when administered in the arm. The incidence rate of ecchymosis and haematoma was lower than the published incidence in critically ill patients, although patients receiving anti-platelet agents present a higher risk of injury. No relationship was observed in relation to BMI (AU)

Ecchymosis and/or haematoma formation after prophylactic administration of subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen or arm of the critically ill patient. / Formación de equimosis y/o hematoma tras la administración profiláctica de enoxaparina subcutánea en abdomen o brazo en pacientes críticos.

INTRODUCTION: Ecchymosis and/or haematoma are the most common adverse events after subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin. There is no strong recommendation as to the puncture site. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adverse events, ecchymosis and/or haematoma after the administration of prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin in the abdomen vs the arm in the critically ill patient. METHODOLOGY: A randomised, two-arm clinical trial (injection in the abdomen vs the arm), performed between July 2014 and January 2017, in an 18-bed, polyvalent intensive care unit. Patients receiving prophylactic enoxaparin, admitted >72h, with no liver or haematological disorders, a body mass index (BMI) >18.5, not pregnant, of legal age and with no skin lesions which would impede assessment were included. We excluded patients who died or who were transferred to another hospital before completing the evaluation. We gathered demographic and clinical variables, and the onset of ecchymosis and/or haematomas at the injection site after 12, 24, 48 and 72hours. A descriptive analysis was undertaken, with group comparison and logistic regression. The study was approved by the ethics committee with the signed consent of patients/families. RESULTS: 301 cases (11 excluded): 149 were injected in the abdomen vs 141 in the arm. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical variables, BMI, enoxaparin dose or antiplatelet administration [ecchymosis, abdomen vs arm, n(%): 66(44) vs 72(51), P=.25] [haematoma abdomen vs arm, n(%): 9(6) vs 14(10), P=.2]. Statistical significance was found in the size of the haematomas after 72h: [area of haematoma (mm2) abdomen vs arm, median (IQR): 2(1-5.25) vs 20(5.25-156), P=.027]. CONCLUSIONS: In our patient cohort, prophylactic subcutaneous enoxaparin administered in the abdomen causes fewer haematomas after 72hours, than when administered in the arm. The incidence rate of ecchymosis and haematoma was lower than the published incidence in critically ill patients, although patients receiving anti-platelet agents present a higher risk of injury. No relationship was observed in relation to BMI.

Incorporación del estudio de ADN fetal en sangre materna al cribado de cromosomopatías / Incorporation of the study of fetal DNA in maternal blood to the screening of chromosomal diseases

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad del cribado combinado de primer trimestre para la detección prenatal de aneuploidías tras 6 años de implantación en nuestro servicio y su repercusión en la disminución de pruebas diagnósticas invasivas. Se propone establecer un protocolo para incorporar el estudio de ADN fetal en sangre materna a partir de las revisiones bibliográficas publicadas. MÉTODO: Se evaluó el riesgo de anomalía cromosómica fetal en 3177 gestaciones mediante cribado combinado de primer trimestre entre enero de 2011 y diciembre de 2014. Se revisaron las amniocentesis realizadas desde que se instauró el cribado combinado en 2008 comparándolas con las de los 5 años anteriores. RESULTADOS: La tasa de detección del cribado para trisomía 21 fue del 94,4% y la tasa de falsos positivos de 6,4%. En el año 2005 estábamos realizando 194 amniocentesis, tras 6 años de implantación del cribado, en el año 2013 se realizaron 35 amniocentesis lo que implica una disminución del 70%. CONCLUSIONES: El cribado combinado de primer trimestre ha demostrado una mayor tasa de detección para trisomía 21 que el cribado de segundo trimestre y/o la edad materna, además de que ha llevado a una importante reducción en el número de pruebas invasivas. En los próximos años la incorporación del estudio de ADN fetal mejorará la detección de aneuploidías, con una drástica disminución de las pruebas invasivas por lo que se hace necesario la implantación de nuevos protocolos.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of first trimester combined screening in the prenatal detection of aneuploidy after 6 years of implantation in our service and its impact in reducing invasive diagnostic tests. It is proposed to establish a protocol to incorporate the study of fetal DNA in maternal blood from published literature reviews. METHODS: The risk of fetal chromosomal anomalies was assessed in 3177 pregnancies with first trimester combined screening between January 2009 and December 2014. The amniocenteses performed were checked against those of the previous 5 years. RESULTS: The detection rate of screening for trisomy 21 was 94.4% and the false-positive rate was 6.4%. In 2005 there were 194 amniocenteses. In 2013, 5 years after the introduction of screening, 68 amniocenteses were performed, representing a 70% reduction in invasive procedures. CONCLUSIONS: First trimester combined screening has shown a higher detection rate for trisomy 21 that the second trimester screening and/or maternal age, and has substantially reduced the use of invasive prenatal diagnostics procedures. In the coming years, the incorporation of the study of fetal DNA improve the detection of aneuploidys with a drastic reduction of invasive tests so that, the implementation of new protocols is necessary.

Evisceración vaginal tras tratamiento con radioterapia e histerectomía abdominal / Vaginal evisceration after treatment with radiotherapy and abdominal hysterectomy

La evisceración vaginal es una complicación muy rara. Es más frecuente en mujeres posmenopáusicas y con antecedente de cirugía vaginal, fundamentalmente histerectomía. También puede darse en mujeres premenopáusicas, vinculándose en estos casos a traumatismos, iatrogenia o introducción de cuerpos extraños. El íleon distal es el órgano más frecuentemente eviscerado, aunque el prolapso de epiplón, trompas de Falopio y apéndice también se han descrito. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 43 años con evisceración transvaginal de epiplón a los seis meses de realizarse una histerectomía abdominal por recidiva de un cáncer escamoso de cérvix.

Vaginal evisceration is a very rare complication. It is more often in postmenopausal women with a history of vaginal surgery, mainly hysterectomy. It can also occur in premenopausal women, linking these cases to trauma, iatrogenic or foreign bodies. The distal ileum is most often gutted organ prolapse, although omentum, fallopian tubes and appendix are also described. We report a 43-year old transvaginal omental evisceration after six months of an abdominal hysterectomy for recurrent squamous cervical cancer.

Maraviroc in treatment-experienced patients with HIV-1 infection - experience from routine clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: Few data are available about the efficacy of maraviroc (MVC) during routine use. We characterized indications for MVC use and the efficacy of MVC in clinical practice. METHODS: Thirty-two patients treated with MVC at our institution between 2006 and 2009 were included. Genotypic (n +/- 31) and phenotypic (n +/- 13) tropism analysis was performed. We determined indications for MVC use, characteristics of antiretroviral combination partners and treatment outcome. RESULTS: Complete suppression of viral replication was achieved in 78% after 6 months. A median increase of 124 CD4+ cells/microl after 6 months was observed. Concordance between phenotypic and genotypic tropism was found in 75%. Indications for MVC treatment included treatment failure (n +/- 15), intolerance to previous antiretrovirals (n +/- 6) and add-on MVC for intensification without changing the current regimen (n +/- 11). The add-on strategy was used in patients with a relatively low viremia in order to achieve complete viral load suppression or in situations with suppressed viral load but judged as unstable due to an extensive resistance pattern. Salvage drugs most frequently combined with MVC were darunavir (n +/- 14) and raltegravir (n +/- 14). - The genotypic assay had predicted CXCR4 tropism in 5 patients, using a false positive rate (FPR) of 20%. Lowering the FPR to 5% predicted CCR5 tropism in 4 cases, still resulting in sustained complete viral response under MVC use. CONCLUSIONS: MVC containing salvage regimens achieve relevant CD4 cell increases and high viral response rates. In patients with few remaining treatment options it may be justified to lower the FPR-cutoff to 5% when predicting the coreceptor usage. Hereby, MVC could still be applied in selected patients with otherwise limited treatment options.

Surgical management for snoring and sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious medical problem producing both physical and behavioral derangement. It is essential to provide a thorough workup and evaluation of all patients seeking care for snoring or OSA. Polysomnography is the standard for evaluation and assessment of the severity of OSA in every patient. The evaluation and workup for surgical intervention should include a thorough history, complete head and neck evaluation, nasopharyngeal laryngoscopy with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope, and appropriate imaging (e.g., cephalometrics). This workup allows pathologic entities of the upper airway (e.g., neoplasia, cysts) to be ruled out and regions of disproportionate anatomy (e.g., large soft palate, uvula, base of tongue, and a hypoplastic mandible) to be documented. Treatment of site-specific based on the finding of the evaluation. Treatment of snoring is often addressed by more conservative palatal procedures such as LAUP, RVTR, or electrocautery of the soft palate. The more aggressive palatal procedures such as UPPP are generally reserved for OSA. Nasal airway reconstruction may aid in the treatment of OSA, because increased nasal resistance and obstruction may significantly increase the negative pressure of the upper airway, leading to collapse of the velopharyngeal, base-of-tongue, and hypopharyngeal regions. Children with OSA usually respond well to adenotonsillectomy. Occasionally, uvulopalatopharyngeal procedures may be necessary. Craniofacial anomalies and significant skeletal anomalies such as severe mandibular hypoplasia have historically been problematic. Tracheostomies were at one time the only way to secure the airway in these patients. New developments in distraction osteogenesis have enabled mandibular lengthening and airway improvement, leading to earlier decannulation of these patients. The combined phase I and phase II treatment has a success rate of greater than 90%. Phase I treatment may include nasal reconstruction, uvulopalatopharyngeal, base-of-tongue, and hypopharyngeal surgery. Phase I surgery has a documented success rate of about 70% to 80%. Phase II surgery (MMA) has a success rate approaching 100%. In certain cases, MMA may be used as the primary treatment of OSA.

Reversal of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) resistance by the synergistic combination of 6-thioguanine plus ara-C plus PEG-asparaginase (TGAP) in human leukemia lines lacking or expressing p53 protein.

BACKGROUND: Sequence-specific combinations of purine analogs, such as fludarabine or 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), administered prior to cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) have been shown to abrogate ara-C resistance in human leukemia cells in vitro and in patients with relapsed acute myeloid or lymphoblastic leukemias. The two-drug combination of 6-MP plus ara-C results in greater cytotoxicity than that achieved with either ara-C or 6-MP alone. Further preclinical investigations have shown that the addition of PEG-asparaginase (PEG-ASNase) to the combination of 6-MP plus ara-C (6-MP + ara-C + PEG-ASNase) results in 15.6-fold synergism over that achieved with the two-drug regimen. This is due to increased DNA damage leading to apoptotic cell death. PURPOSE: Since the intravenous preparation of 6-MP is no longer available and since oral 6-thioguanine (6-TG) provides higher levels of intracellular thioguanine nucleotides than an isotoxic dose of oral 6-MP, we investigated the potential drug synergism of 6-TG plus ara-C plus PEG-ASNase (TGAP) in myeloid (HL60/S, HL60/SN3, U937) and lymphoblastic (CEM/0, CEM/ ara-C/B, CEM/ara-C/I, MOLT-4) leukemia cell lines. The CEM clones, MOLT-4 and HL60/SN3 cell lines expressed functional or measurable p53 protein, while the other cell lines did not. METHODS: The MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion assays were used to determine drug cytotoxicity. In addition, cellular apoptosis and cellular p53, p21/waf-1 and bcl-2 protein concentrations were determined by FACS analysis and ELISA assays. RESULTS: Sequential exposure to 6-TG (24 h) plus ara-C (24 h) plus PEG-ASNase (24 h) produced 1.3- to 18.3-fold drug synergism over the two-drug combination of 6-TG plus ara-C. The molecular mechanism of synergism was due to the fact that the three-drug combination was capable of downregulating bcl-2 oncoprotein levels in these cell lines even when p53 was absent. CONCLUSION: These studies strongly demonstrate that the TGAP regimen is highly synergistic in p53-null and p53-expressing leukemia cell lines. We conclude that this combination regimen is collaterally sensitive with ara-C and further evaluation in an investigational phase I trial in relapsed leukemia patients is warranted.

Mifepristona (600 mg) + misoprostol (400 µg) en el aborto del primer trimestre / Mifepristone (600 mg) + misoprostol (400 µg) in first trimester abortion

Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de 600 mg de mifepristona más 400 µg de misoprostol vaginal/oral en el aborto temprano.Sujetos: Se incluyeron en este trabajo 450 mujeres que libremente solicitaron una interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (IVE) de hasta 9 semanas de gestación, del sector privado, en la Clínica Mediterrània Mèdica de Valencia y Castellón.Resultados: La tasa de aborto completo fue del 96,7 por ciento (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95 por ciento, 9598 por ciento); no hubo diferencias estadísticas significativas entre las tasas de aborto entre los grupos de edad gestacional (p = 0,24). El sangrado vaginal duró 6,0 ñ 3,7 días; el spotting 5,0 ñ 5,1 días; y el sangrado total duró 11,7 ñ 5,4 días. El tiempo promedio de expulsión fue de 4,1 ñ 2,1 h. El tiempo promedio de retorno de la menstruación fue de 37 ñ 5 días.Conclusiones: La asociación de 600 mg de mifepristona con misoprostol vaginal en dosis de 400 µg es un método válido para interrumpir gestaciones de hasta 9 semanas. (AU)

Pharmacological modification of endogenous antioxidant enzymes by ursolic acid on tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats and primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible protective effects of ursolic acid against CCl4-induced alterations of antioxidant defence enzymes in vivo as well as its effects against CCl4-intoxication in vitro. Pre-treatment of rats with ursolic acid significantly reduced serum levels of glutamate-oxalate-transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase previously increased by administration of CCl4. Treatment with ursolic acid also significantly reversed the decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase activities and glutathione levels in the liver, as the concentration of reduced glutathione was increased and the content of oxidized glutathione decreased in ursolic acid treated groups. Levels of lipid peroxidation were higher in the CCl4 group but the increase was also reduced after drug treatment (p < 0.01 for 1, 2.5 and 5 mmol/kg). In vitro results indicated that addition to the culture medium of ursolic acid (p < 0.01 for 500 microM) resulted in a reduction of glutamate-oxalate-transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase activities and in a good survival rate for the CCl4-intoxicated hepatocytes. Ursolic acid also ameliorated lipid peroxidation in primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to CCl4, as demonstrated by a reduction in malondialdehyde production. Moreover, ursolic acid (50-500 microM) showed radical scavenging properties in terms of hydroxyl formation. The results obtained suggest that ursolic acid treatment can normalize the disturbed antioxidant status of rats intoxicated with CCl4 by maintaining the levels of glutathione and by inhibiting the production of malondialdehyde due to its radical scavenging properties.

Vaginal misoprostol 1000 microg for early abortion.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 1000 microg misoprostol vaginally (Cytotec) self-administered into the vagina for medical abortion. Three-hundred women with gestations between 42 and 63 days, with previous written consent, received vaginal misoprostol every 24 h up to a maximum of three doses for abortion. Outcome measures assessed included: successful abortion (complete abortion without surgery), side effects, decrease in hemoglobin, mean time of vaginal bleeding, mean expulsion time and mean time of returning of menses. Complete abortion occurred in 279/300 (93.0%, 95% CI 90, 96) patients. Medication to relieve symptoms was administered to all subjects after every misoprostol dose. Vaginal bleeding lasted 14.7 +/- 5.4 days. Mean expulsion time was 8.1 +/- 3.0 h for those who aborted after the first misoprostol dose. The mean drop in hemoglobin was statistically significant (p = 0.0001) but without clinical relevance. The frequencies of nausea and diarrhea were high. According to the observed outcomes, 1000-microg misoprostol vaginally could be a valid method to terminate pregnancies up to nine weeks gestation.