Nutritional management and clinical outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19: A retrospective study in a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Severe COVID-19 infection is characterized by an inflammatory response and lung injury that can evolve into an acute respiratory distress syndrome that needs support treatment in intensive care unit. Nutritional treatment is an important component of the management of critically ill patients and should be started in the first 48 h of ICU admission to avoid malnutrition. This study describes the characteristics of the patients treated in a tertiary hospital in Madrid during the months of March-May 2020 (first wave), the medical nutrition treatment employed and its influence in the clinical outcome of these patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study including COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU that needed medical nutrition treatment (MNT). Collected variables included sex, age, BMI, underlying diseases, time from hospitalisation to ICU admission, type of respiratory support (invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or non-invasive ventilation (non-IMV)), caloric and protein requirements (25 kcal/kg adjusted body weight (ABW), 1.3 g/kg ABW/day), MNT type (enteral nutrition (EN), parenteral nutrition (PN), mixed EN + PN), total calories (including propofol) and proteins administered, percentage of caloric and protein goal in ICU day 4th and 7th, metabolic complications, acute kidney failure (AKF), length of stay (LOS) and mortality. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, median (IQR) or frequencies. Statistical analysis was performed with the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0. p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 176 patients were included (72.7% male), 60.1 ± 13.5 years, BMI 29.9 ± 5.4 kg/m2. Underlying diseases included 47.4% overweight, 39.8% obesity, 49.1% hypertension, 41.4% dyslipidaemia. 88.6% of patients needed IMV, 89.1% prone position, 2.9% ECMO. Time to ICU admission: 2 (4.75) days. Estimated caloric and protein requirements were 1775 ± 202 kcal and 92.4 ± 10.3 g. Calories and proteins administered at days 4th and 7th were 1425 ± 577 kcal and 66 ± 26 g and 1574 ± 555 and 74 ± 37, respectively. Most of the patients received PN (alone or complementary to EN) to cover nutritional requirements (82.4% at day 4th and 77.9% at day 7th). IVM patients received more calories and proteins during the first week of ICU admission. Complications included 77.8% hyperglycaemia, 13.2% hypoglycaemia, 83.8% hypertriglyceridemia, and 35.1% AKF. ICU LOS was 20.5 (26) days. The mortality rate was 36.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, the majority of patients reached energy and protein requirements in the first week of ICU admission due to the use of PN (total or complementary to EN). Patients with HFNC or non-IMV may be at risk of malnutrition if total or complementary PN to oral diet/ONS/tube feeding is not used to cover nutritional requirements. Therefore, if EN is not possible or insufficient, PN can be safely used in critically ill patients with COVID-19 with a close monitoring of metabolic complications.

Manifestaciones clínicas Covid-19 / Clinical manifestations of Covid-19

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic originated in China in late 2019, when an outbreak of pneumonia cases of unknown cause raised suspicions of an emerging infectious agent. More than 1 year after the identification of this new coronavirus, it has already caused more than 100 million cases worldwide. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), as defined by the WHO in February 2020, has a diverse clinical presentation from asymptomatic individuals to multi-organ failure and death. In this review, we will describe the main clinical manifestations of Covid-19 in adults. (AU)

Vacunas SARS-CoV-2 / Vaccines SARS-CoV-2

Vaccines are biological products that stimulate the immune system to generate specific responses and immune memory. Faced with the magnitude of the problem caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to find an effective and safe preventive intervention. The race to find the ideal vaccine against this new coronavirus has required optimizing research times on this topic. Currently, more than 200 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates are in development, 177 in preclinical evaluation, 63 in clinical evaluation and 16 of them in phase 3 of clinical trials. In our country, 3 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are already authorized for administration, which have demonstrated safety and efficacy in clinical trials. (AU)

A Spanish Society joint SECO and SEEDO approach to the Post-operative management of the patients undergoing surgery for obesity.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is the method of choice for the management or treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery brings about several physiological changes in the body and is associated with set of complications. The aim of this study is to provide guidelines on post bariatric surgery management based on consensus by the Spanish society for Obesity Surgery (Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad) (SECO) and the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad) (SEEDO). METHOD: The boards proposed seven experts from each society. The experts provided the evidence and a grade of recommendation on the selected topics based on systematic reviews/meta-analysis. A list of clinical practical recommendations levels of evidence and grades of these recommendations was derived from the consensus statements from the members of these societies. RESULTS: Seventeen topics related to post-operative management were reviewed after bariatric surgery. The experts came with 47 recommendations and statements. The mean number of persons voting at each statement was 54 (range 36-76). CONCLUSION: In this consensus, we have designed a set of guidelines to be followed while managing patients after bariatric surgery. Expertise and knowledge of the clinicians are required to convey suitable considerations to the post-bariatric patients. There should also be extensive follow-up plans for the bariatric surgery patients.

Direct costs of a home parenteral nutrition programme.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a lifesaving treatment for people with chronic intestinal failure and its cost has been reported to be very high. The purpose of the present paper was to study the direct healthcare and non-healthcare costs associated with the HPN programme managed by a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Observational, retrospective study of all adult patients on HPN from 11.1.2014 to 10.31.2015 treated at Gregorio Marañón University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). An economic evaluation was undertaken to calculate the direct healthcare (HPN provision, outpatient monitoring and management of complications) and non-healthcare costs (transportation process) of the HPN programme. The variables were collected from medical records, the dispensary and the hospital's financial services. The unit costs were taken from official price lists. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Total direct healthcare and non-healthcare costs amounted to €13,363.53 per patient (€124.02 per patient per day). The direct healthcare costs accounted for 98.32% of overall costs, while the non-healthcare costs accounted for the remaining 1.68%. HPN provision accounted for the majority of the costs (74.25%), followed by management of complications (21.85%) and outpatient monitoring (2.23%). CONCLUSIONS: The direct healthcare costs accounted for the majority of HPN expenditure, specifically HPN provision was the category with the highest percentage.

Effect of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide on the prevention of acute radiation enteritis in patients with gynecological cancer and impact on quality-of-life: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The pathogenesis of enteritis after abdominal radiotherapy (RT) is unknown, although changes in fecal microbiota may be involved. Prebiotics stimulate the proliferation of Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp, and this may have positive effects on the intestinal mucosa during abdominal RT. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with gynecological cancer who received abdominal RT after surgery. Patients were randomized to receive prebiotics or placebo. The prebiotic group received a mixture of fiber (50 inulin and 50% fructo-oligosaccharide), and the placebo group received 6 g of maltodextrin twice daily from 1 week before to 3 weeks after RT. The number of bowel movements and stool consistency was recorded daily. Diarrhea was evaluated according to the Common Toxicity Criteria of the National Cancer Institute. Stool consistency was assessed using the 7-point Bristol scale. Patients' quality-of-life was evaluated at baseline and at completion of RT using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life Questionnaire C30) test. RESULTS: Thirty-eight women with a mean age of 60.3±11.8 years participated in the study. Both groups (prebiotic (n=20) and placebo (n=18)) were comparable in their baseline characteristics. The number of bowel movements per month increased in both groups during RT. The number of bowel movements per day increased in both groups. The number of days with watery stool (Bristol score 7) was lower in the prebiotic group (3.3±4.4 to 2.2±1.6) than in the placebo group (P=0.08). With respect to quality-of-life, the symptoms with the highest score in the placebo group were insomnia at baseline and diarrhea toward the end of the treatment. In the prebiotic group, insomnia was the symptom with the highest score at both assessments, although the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Prebiotics can improve the consistency of stools in gynecologic cancer patients on RT. This finding could have important implications in the quality-of-life of these patients during treatment.

[Adherence and fidelity in patients treated with intragastric balloon]. / Adherencia y fidelidad en el paciente tratado con balon intragastrico.

A correct treatment of obesity needs a program of habits modification regardless of the selected technique, especially if it is minimally invasive as the intragastric balloon (BIG). The adherence of the obese patients with regard to recommended drugs measures to medium- and long-term is less than 50%. Given that the results obtained using the technique of gastric balloon must be seen influenced by adherence to the modification of habits program and its fulfillment, we reviewed series published in attention to the program proposed with the BIG. The series published to date provide few details about the used Therapeutic Programs as well as the adherence of patients to them, and even less concerning the Monitoring Plan and the loyalty of the patient can be seen. We conclude the convenience to agree on a follow-up strategy, at least the 6 months during which the BIG remain in the stomach.

Adherencia y fidelidad en el paciente tratado con balón intragástrico / Adherence and fidelity in patients treated with intragastric balloon

Un tratamiento correcto de la obesidad ha de comporta un programa de modificación de hábitos independientemente de la técnica que se indique, en especial si es mínimamente invasiva como el Balón Intragástrico (BIG).Se cifra la adherencia terapéutica de los pacientes obesos en menos del 50% a medio largo y plazo respecto a las medidas higiénico-dietéticas aconsejadas. Dado que los resultados obtenidos mediante la técnica de Balón Intragástrico han de verse influidos por la adherencia al programa de modificación de hábitos, revisamos las series publicadas en atención al programa propuesto junto al BIG y a su cumplimiento. Se observa que las series publicadas hasta la fecha ofrecen pocos detalles sobre los Programas Terapéuticos utilizados así como la adherencia de los pacientes a los mismos, y menos aún respecto al Plan de Seguimiento y la fidelidad del paciente. Concluimos la conveniencia de consensuar una estrategia de seguimiento, al menos durante los 6 meses que permanece colocado el BIG (AU)

A correct treatment of obesity needs a program of habits modification regardless of the selected technique, especially if it is minimally invasive as the intragastric balloon (BIG).The adherence of the obese patients with regard to recommended drugs measures to medium- and long-term is less than 50%.Given that the results obtained using the technique of gastric balloon must be seen influenced by adherence to the modification of habits program and its fulfillment, were viewed series published in attention to the program proposed with the BIG. The series published to date provide few details about the used Therapeutic Programs as well as the adherence of patients to them, and even less concerning the Monitoring Plan and the loyalty of the patient can be seen. We conclude the convenience to agree on a follow-up strategy, at least the 6 months during which the BIG remain in the stomach (AU)

Nutrición en el paciente con ictus / Nutrition for stroke patients

La desnutrición es frecuente en los pacientes con ictus y se asocia con un aumento de la morbimortalidad y un mayor riesgo de discapacidad. La disminución de la ingesta es uno de los factores etiológicos más importantes de desnutrición en estos pacientes. La disfagia es especialmente frecuente y origina una alteración de la eficacia y la seguridad de la deglución, que da lugar a un mayor riesgo de desnutrición y deshidratación, aspiración, insuficiencia respiratoria y neumonía. La valoración del paciente con ictus requiere una evaluación del riesgo nutricional y de la presencia de disfagia. El soporte nutricional incluye la utilización de dieta oral adaptada, suplementos nutricionales orales o nutrición enteral, modalidad de elección en los pacientes con disfagia grave. En este trabajo se revisan los aspectos más relevantes sobre el riesgo nutricional de los pacientes con ictus, las pautas diagnósticas y las opciones terapéuticas, tanto en la fase aguda como en la rehabilitación (AU)

Malnutrition in common in patients with acute stroke and is associated with higher mortality, poor outcome and disability. Decreased intake is one of the most important factors leading to malnutrition in stroke patients. Dysphagia is especially common and is responsible of a decrease in safety and efficacy of swallowing that gives rise to an increased risk of malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration, pneumonia and respiratory failure. Clinical evaluation of stroke patients includes a nutritional risk and swallowing capacity assessment. Nutritional support may be necessary, with adapted oral diet, oral supplements. Enteral nutrition is needed in patients with severe dyaphagia. This article reviews the most relevant aspects regarding nutritional risk factors in stroke patients, evaluation and diagnosis and nutritional support, both in acute phase and during rehabilitation (AU)

Infestaciones por garrapatas: a propósito de un caso / Tick infestation: report of a case

Las garrapatas son parásitos hematófagos que afectan la piel de muchos animales vertebrados, transmitiéndose al ser humano por contacto directo con animales infestados. La infestación por garrapata se manifiesta como una mácula, pápula o placa eritematosa y pruriginosa, que aparece 1 a 3 días después de la exposición con el parásito. Además, puede estar asociada con infección local secundaria en el sitio de la mordedura, granuloma a cuerpo extraño, parálisis ascendente e incluso anafilaxia. Estos parásitos también pueden transmitir agentes patógenos capaces de producir enfermedades en el ser humano como bacterias, virus y protozoos. La garrapata debe ser extirpada, teniendo especial precaución de no comprimir demasiado el cuerpo del parásito durante el procedimiento. Reportamos el caso de un hombre de 63 años que presentó una placa eritematosa y pruriginosa en la espalda, cuya imagen dermatoscópica reveló la presencia de una garrapata.

Ticks are blood-sucking, opportunistic parasites that can attach to the skin of a variety of vertebrate hosts. Humans become infested by coming into close contact with infested animals. Tick infestation may present as erythematous pruritic macule, papule, or finely elevated plaque within 1­3 days following tick exposure. Also tick bites may be associated with local, secondary infection at the bite site, foreign body granuloma, ascending paralysis, and even anaphylaxis. In addition, these parasites may transmit a number of different pathogens that cause human diseases including bacteria, viruses, and protozoan. Ticks may be removed, although the body of the tick should not be squeezed during the removal process. We report a 63-year old man who presented with an itchy erythematous plaque on the back, which, upon closer inspection, revealed a partially embedded tick.

Effect of a mixture of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide on lactobacillus and bifidobacterium intestinal microbiota of patients receiving radiotherapy; a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial / Efecto de una mezcla de inulina y fructo-oligosacárido sobre la microflora intestinal de lactobacillus y bifidobacterium de pacientes que reciben radioterapia; un ensayo aleatorio, a doble ciego y controlado con placebo

Background & aims: The pathogenesis of enteritis after abdominal radiotherapy is unknown, although changes in faecal microbiota may be involved. In several studies, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have proven beneficial for the host. Prebiotics stimulate the proliferation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and this may have positive effects on the intestinal mucosa during abdominal radiotherapy. Methods: We performed a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 31 patients with gynaecological cancer who received radiotherapy (29 sessions, 52.2 Gy) after surgery. Patients were randomised to two groups: prebiotic and placebo. The first group received a mixture of fibre (50% inulin and 50% fructo-oligosaccharide) and the second received 6 g of maltodextrin twice daily from one week before to three weeks after radiotherapy. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts were determined in faeces samples (day -7 before radiotherapy, day 15 of radiotherapy, at the end of treatment, and three weeks after radiotherapy) by culture in selective media and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using genus-specific probes. Bacterial counts by FISH were significantly higher than by culture method. Results: There were no differences in baseline microbiota between groups. At the end of radiotherapy, we observed a statistically significant decrease in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts in both groups. By cultural analysis, we observed higher numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium three weeks after radiotherapy in the prebiotic group (5.6 vs. 6.3, p = 0.04 and 5.5 vs. 6 log cfu/g, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Abdominal radiotherapy negatively affects Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts. The prebiotic mixture of inulin and fructoligosaccharide can improve the recovery of both genera after radiotherapy (AU)

Antecedentes y objetivos: Se desconoce la patogenia de la enteritis tras la radioterapia abdominal, si bien podrían estar implicados cambios en la microflora fecal. Diversos estudios han demostrado que los Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium confieren beneficios al huésped. Los prebióticos estimulan la proliferación de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium y esto podría tener efectos positivos sobre la mucosa intestinal durante la radioterapia abdominal. Métodos: Realizamos un estudio de distribución aleatoria, a doble ciego y controlado con placebo que incluyó a 31 pacientes con cáncer ginecológico que recibieron radioterapia (29 sesiones, 52,2 Gy) tras la cirugía. Se distribuyó al azar a las pacientes en dos grupos: prebiótico y placebo. El primer grupo recibió una mezcla de fibra (50% de inulina y 50% de fructo-oligosacárido) y el segundo 6 g de maltodextrina dos veces al día desde una semana antes hasta 3 semanas después de la radioterapia. Se determinaron los recuentos de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium en muestras fecales (día 7 antes de la radioterapia, día 15 de radioterapia, al final del tratamiento y tres semanas después de la radioterapia) mediante un cultivo en medios seleccionados y con hibridación in situ fluorescente (FISH) con sondas específicas de la especie. Los recuentos bacterianos con FISH fueron significativamente superiores que por el método de cultivo. Resultados: No hubo diferencias en la microflora basal entre los grupos. Al final de la radioterapia, observamos un descenso estadísticamente significativo en los recuentos de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium en ambos grupos. Mediante el análisis de los cultivos, observamos un mayor recuento de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium a las tres semanas de finalizar la radioterapia en el grupo con prebiótico (5,6 frente a 6,3, p = 0,04 and 5,5 frente a 6 log ufc/g, p = 0,03). Conclusiones: La radioterapia abdominal afecta de forma negativa los recuentos de Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium. La mezcla de prebióticos de inulina y fructo-oligo-sacárido puede mejorar la recuperación de ambas especies tras la radioterapia (AU)

[Minimally invasive emergent techniques in obesity treatment]. / Técnicas mínimamente invasivas emergentes en el tratamiento de la obesidad.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease for which several modalities of treatment are investigated today. One of them is the set of minimally aggressive techniques that have been added to the intragastric balloon. OBJECTIVE: To review the minimally invasive techniques described in the last years for the treatment of obesity. MATERIAL AND METHOD: It consisted in reviewing the bibliography through the habitual finders, in addition to the obtained data of the companies. They are classified in restrictive and malabsortive, and the restrictive are divides in mechanical or functional restriction. RESULT: Between mechanical restrictive the classified as we included in the restrictive emergent techniques the adjustable intragastric balloon, the intragastric prosthesis, the vertical endoluminal gastroplasty and the transoral gastroplasty. In order to obtain a functional restriction, we have the gastric pacemaker and the botulinic toxin. And finally, the endoluminal duodenojejunal bypass is described as a malabsortive technique. DISCUSSION: With less than 10 years of existence, it seems that the described techniques compensate their smaller effectiveness compared to the surgical techniques, with the absence of substantial modifications in the anatomy of the alimentary tract. None of these techniques is free of risks and complications.

[Persistent chylothorax in patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis]. / Quilotórax persistente en paciente con linfangioleiomiomatosis.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that affects women in fertile age and presents a systemic progressive evolution, being the lung and the mediastinic lymph nodes the most affected organs. The pulmonary disease is characterized by dyspnea, pleural effusion, hemoptysis and spontaneous pneumothorax, being the chylothorax a frequent complication in the course of this disease, appearing in up to 30% of cases. The treatment of chylothorax is not standardized and it is necessary a multidisciplinary approach: nutritional, pharmacological, respiratory and even surgery. These patients present high risk of malnutrition due to the constant loss of chyle, therefore a suitable nutritional management is essential to avoid more complications.

Técnicas mínimamente invasivas emergentes en el tratamiento de la obesidad / Minimally invasive emergent techniques in obesity treatment

Introducción: La obesidad es una enfermedad crónica para la que se investigan hoy múltiples caminos terapéuticos. Uno de ellos es el conjunto de técnicas poco agresivas que se han sumado al balón intragástrico. Objetivo: Revisar las técnicas mínimamente invasivas descritas en los últimos años para el tratamiento de la obesidad. Material y método: Se procede a revisar toda la bibliografía asequible a través de los buscadores habituales, además de la información obtenida de las casas comerciales. Se clasifican en restrictivas y malabsortivas, y las primeras en restricción mecánica o funcional. Resultado: Entre las técnicas emergentes clasificadas como restrictivas mecánicas incluimos el balón intragástrico ajustable, la prótesis intragástrica, la gastroplastia vertical endoluminal y la gastroplastia transoral. Para obtener una restricción funcional, tenemos el marcapaso gástrico y la toxina botulínica. Y por último, se describe el by-pass duodenoyeyunal endoluminal que sería una técnica malabsortiva. Discusión: Con menos de 10 años de existencia, parece que las técnicas descritas compensan su menor eficacia frente a las técnicas quirúrgicas, con la ausencia de modificaciones sustanciales en la anatomía del tubo digestivo. Ninguna de estas técnicas está exenta de riesgos y complicaciones. Conclusión: Tal como ya manifestó la SAGES en 2009, estas técnicas parecen tener un futuro prometedor, pero la escasez de datos actuales no nos permiten aún confirmar su utilidad en el tratamiento de la obesidad (AU)

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease for which several modalities of treatment are investigated today. One of them is the set of minimally aggressive techniques that have been added to the intragastric balloon. Objective: To review the minimally invasive techniques described in the last years for the treatment of obesity. Material and method: It consisted in reviewing the bibliography through the habitual finders, in addition to the obtained data of the companies. They are classified in restrictive and malabsortive, and the restrictive are divides in mechanical or functional restriction. Result: Between mechanical restrictive the classified as we included in the restrictive emergent techniques the adjustable intragastric balloon, the intragastric prosthesis, the vertical endoluminal gastroplasty and the transoral gastroplasty. In order to obtain a functional restriction, we have the gastric pacemaker and the botulinic toxin. And finally, the endoluminal duodenojejunal bypass is described as a malabsortive technique. Discussion: With less than 10 years of existence, it seems that the described techniques compensate their smaller effectiveness compared to the surgical techniques, with the absence of substantial modifications in the anatomy of the alimentary tract. None of these techniques is free of risks and complications (AU)

[Informed consent in the intragastric balloon supported by SENPE, SEEDO, SEN and SECO: legal aspects]. / Consentimiento informado en el balón intragástrico avalado por SENPE, SEEDO, SEN y SECO: aspectos médico-legales.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is an invasive, temporary, non-surgical technique for the treatment of obesity. Its outcomes mainly depend on the patient's collaboration. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to adapt the informed consent used for bariatric surgery to a method that has especial characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the informed consent proposed by ASAC for bariatric surgery and 8 statements related to IGB included in the WESTLAW ES database. RESULTS: The review of the statements defines the IGB treatment as a curative-intended and non-satisfactive therapy with an obligation of the means used, but not the outcomes, by the treating physician. Moreover, the obligations of providing a correct and complete information -which includes the dietary regime- should be observed, as well as the possible therapeutic alternatives and finally, the proceeding used should be in written. CONCLUSIONS: The informed consent is a medico-legal document which content should consider the latest jurisprudence on the minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of obesity.

Quilotórax persistente en paciente con linfangioleiomiomatosis / Persistent chylothorax in patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis

La linfangioleiomiomatosis (LAM) es una enfermedad poco frecuente que afecta a mujeres en edad fértil y presenta una evolución sistémica progresiva, siendo el pulmón y los ganglios mediastínicos los órganos más afectados. La afectación pulmonar se caracteriza por disnea, derrame pleural, hemoptisis y neumotórax espontáneo, siendo el quilotórax una complicación frecuente en el curso evolutivo de esta enfermedad, produciéndose hasta en el 30% de casos. El tratamiento del quilotórax no está estandarizado y precisa de un manejo multidisciplinar nutricional, farmacológico, respiratorio y en ocasiones quirúrgico. Estos pacientes presentan un alto riesgo de malnutrición debido a la pérdida continua de quilo, por lo que es fundamental un adecuado tratamiento (AU)

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare disease that affects women in fertile age and presents a systemic progressive evolution, being the lung and the mediastinic lymph nodes the most affected organs. The pulmonary disease is characterized by dyspnea, pleural effusion, hemoptysis and spontaneous pneumothorax, being the chylothorax a frequent complication in the course of this disease, appearing in up to 30% of cases. The treatment of chylothorax is not standardized and it is necessary a multidisciplinary approach: nutritional, pharmacological, respiratory and even surgery. These patients present high risk of malnutrition due to the constant loss of chyle, therefore a suitable nutritional management is essential to avoid more complications (AU)

Consentimiento informado en el balón intragástrico avalado por SENPE, SEEDO, SEN y SECO; aspectos médico-legales / Informed consent in the intragastric balloon supported by SENPE, SEEDO, SEN and SECO; legal aspects

Introducción: El Balón Intragástrico (BIG) es una técnica invasiva, no quirúrgica, de carácter temporal, para el tratamiento de la obesidad, cuyos resultados dependen en gran medida de la colaboración del paciente. Objetivo: El objetivo es adaptar el Consentimiento Informado propio de la cirugía bariátrica, a un método que reviste las características especiales descritas. Material y método: Se utiliza el Consentimiento Informado propuesto por la ASAC para cirugía bariátrica, así como 8 sentencias relacionadas con el BIG tal como se hallan en la base de datos WESTLAW ES. Resultado: La revisión de las sentencias define el tratamiento mediante BIB como tratamiento con intención curativa y no satisfactiva, con obligación de medios aunque no de resultados, por parte del médico tratante. Se han de respetar además las obligaciones de una información correcta y completa -incluyendo las pautas dietéticas a seguir-, así como de las alternativas terapéuticas posibles, y por fin, de una constancia del proceso por escrito. Conclusiones: El Consentimiento Informado es un importante documento médico-legal cuyo contenido debe tener en cuenta la jurisprudencia recientemente aparecida en el campo de las técnicas mínimamente invasivas para el tratamiento de la obesidad (AU)

Introduction: Intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is an invasive, temporary, non-surgical technique for the treatment of obesity. Its outcomes mainly depend on the patient's collaboration. Objective: The aim was to adapt the informed consent used for bariatric surgery to a method that has especial characteristics. Materials and methods: We used the informed consent proposed by ASAC for bariatric surgery and 8 statements related to IGB included in the WESTLAW ES database. Results: The review of the statements defines the IGB treatment as a curative-intended and non-satisfactive therapy with an obligation of the means used, but not the outcomes, by the treating physician. Moreover, the obligations of providing a correct and complete information -which includes the dietary regime- should be observed, as well as the possible therapeutic alternatives and finally, the proceeding used should be in written. Conclusions: The informed consent is a medico-legal document which content should consider the latest jurisprudence on the minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of obesity (AU)

Effect of a mixture of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide on Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium intestinal microbiota of patients receiving radiotherapy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The pathogenesis of enteritis after abdominal radiotherapy is unknown, although changes in faecal microbiota may be involved. In several studies, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have proven beneficial for the host. Prebiotics stimulate the proliferation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and this may have positive effects on the intestinal mucosa during abdominal radiotherapy. METHODS: We performed a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 31 patients with gynaecological cancer who received radiotherapy (29 sessions, 52.2 Gy) after surgery. Patients were randomised to two groups: prebiotic and placebo. The first group received a mixture of fibre (50% inulin and 50% fructo-oligosaccharide) and the second received 6 g of maltodextrin twice daily from one week before to three weeks after radiotherapy. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts were determined in faeces samples (day -7 before radiotherapy, day 15 of radiotherapy, at the end of treatment, and three weeks after radiotherapy) by culture in selective media and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using genus-specific probes. Bacterial counts by FISH were significantly higher than by culture method. RESULTS: There were no differences in baseline microbiota between groups. At the end of radiotherapy, we observed a statistically significant decrease in Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts in both groups. By cultural analysis, we observed higher numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium three weeks after radiotherapy in the prebiotic group (5.6 vs. 6.3, p = 0.04 and 5.5 vs. 6 log cfu/g, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal radiotherapy negatively affects Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts. The prebiotic mixture of inulin and fructoligosaccharide can improve the recovery of both genera after radiotherapy. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT01549782.