Impacto económico del tratamiento a largo plazo de la incontinencia fecal grave / Economic burden of long-term treatment of severe fecal incontinence

Objetivo Conocer el coste económico a largo plazo asociado al tratamiento de la incontinencia fecal grave mediante SNS frente al tratamiento conservador sintomático y la colostomía definitiva. Métodos Estudio descriptivo pormenorizado de los costes del proceso asistencial (intervenciones, consultas, dispositivos, pruebas complementarias, hospitalización, etc.) de 3 alternativas de tratamiento de la incontinencia fecal empleando herramientas de gestión y contabilidad analítica del propio Servicio de Salud con base en datos de actividad clínica. Se estimó, en cada caso, la frecuencia de uso de recursos sanitarios o la cantidad de productos dispensados en farmacias (medicación, pañales, material de ostomía, etc.). Se incluyeron costes derivados de situaciones adversas. Se incluyeron pacientes con incontinencia fecal grave, definida por una puntación superior a 9 en la escala de severidad de Wexner, en los que han fracasado los tratamientos de primera línea. Se emplearon datos de una cohorte consecutiva de 93 pacientes a los que se realizó una SNS entre los años 2002 y 2016; de pacientes intervenidos de colostomía definitiva (n=2); hernia paraestomal (n=3) y estenosis de colostomía (n=1). Resultados El coste medio acumulado en 10 años por paciente en cada alternativa fue: 10.972,9€ para el tratamiento sintomático (62% pañales); 17.351,57€ para la SNS (95,83% intervenciones; 81,6% dispositivos), y 25.858,54€ para la colostomía definitiva (70,4% material de ostomía) Conclusiones El manejo de la incontinencia fecal grave implica un gran impacto en términos económicos. La colostomía es la alternativa que más costes directos genera, seguida de la SNS y el tratamiento sintomático (AU)

Introduction Find out the long-term economic cost associated with the treatment of severe fecal incontinence by SNS versus symptomatic conservative treatment and definitive colostomy. Methods Detailed descriptive study of the costs of the healthcare process (interventions, consultations, devices, complementary tests, hospitalization, etc.) of 3 treatment alternatives for fecal incontinence using analytical accounting tools of the Health Service based on clinical activity data. The frequency of use of health resources or the quantity of products dispensed in pharmacies (medication, diapers, ostomy material, etc.) was estimated in each case. Costs derived from adverse situations were included. Patients with severe fecal incontinence, defined by a score greater than 9 on the Wexner severity scale, in whom first-line treatments had failed, were included. Data from a consecutive cohort of 93 patients who underwent an SNS between 2002 and 2016 were used; patients who underwent definitive colostomy (n=2); parastomal hernia (n=3), and colostomy stenosis (n=1). Results The mean cumulative cost in 10 years per patient in each alternative was: € 10,972.9 symptomatic treatment (62% diapers); € 17,351.57 SNS (95.83% interventions; 81.6% devices); € 25,858.54 definitive colostomy (70.4% ostomy material and accessories). Conclusions Management of severe fecal incontinence implies a great burden in economic terms. The colostomy is the alternative that generates the most direct cost, followed by SNS and symptomatic treatment (AU)

[Sacral nerve stimulation for the treatment of severe fecal incontinence: long-term quality of life and functional outcomes].

BACKGROUND: The aim is to determine whether good functional and quality of life results of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in patients with severe fecal incontinence are maintained in the long-term. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Consecutive cohort of patients with severe fecal incontinence not responding to conservative (drugs and/or biofeedback) or surgical (sphincteroplasty) treatment, undergoing SNS between 2002 and 2013. Patients with a definitive implant were individually assessed in consultation throughout the follow-up, until January 2016. Defeca-tory function was assessed by Wexner score and stool diary, and perceived quality of life by FIQL and EQ-5D question-naires. RESULTS: Acute percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) was performed on 93 patients; a temporary electrode was implanted in 91 (79.1% women, mean age 62.5 years), obtaining a good functional response in 64. A permanent implant was per-formed in 61 patients, with a mean follow-up of 78.1 months (SD: 35.4; range 1-161); at the end of the study 42 patients remained in follow-up. A significant decrease was observed in the number of days per week with an incontinent episode, from 4.98 (SD 2.1) to 1.25 (SD 1.7), and in Wexner score from 16.88 (SD 2.74) to 6.95 (SD 3.54). Specific FIQL and generic EQ-5D questionnaires showed a significant improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSION: Long-term functional and quality of life outcomes of SNS for the treatment of severe faecal incontinence is maintained, with individual follow-ups that reach 10 years.

[Intestinal intussusception as the first manifestation of lung cancer]. / Invaginación intestinal como primera manifestación del cáncer de pulmón.

Intussusception is a rare form of intestinal obstruction in adults. Most cases are caused by malignant lesions in the intestinal wall, which in exceptional cases are caused by metastases. The initial manifestation of lung cancer as metastasis to the gastrointestinal tract is an extremely rare event. In most cases metastases are diagnosed after the primary lung tumour, when potentially life-threatening complications such as perforation, obstruction or haemorrhage develop, often requiring emergency surgery. Regardless of treatment, these patients have very poor prognosis due to the advanced stage of their disease. The study describes the case of a 48-year-old man presenting at the emergency department with a bowel obstruction of a week's duration, who was diagnosed via CT scan with small-bowel intussusception, and via chest x-ray with a suspicious lung nodule. Emergency surgery was performed, with intestinal resection of the invaginated area and anastomosis. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The histopathological diagnosis was intestinal metastasis from lung carcinoma. Stage IV primary malignant lung tumour was confirmed, with spread through the lungs, bones, brain and metastases in both adrenal glands. Received palliative treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, and died five months after diagnosis.

[Cystic tumors in the retrorectal space. Do these two cases have something in common?]. / Tumoraciones quísticas del espacio retrorrectal. ¿Tienen algo en común estos dos casos?

Cystic lesions in the retrorectal or presacral space present a broad differential diagnosis. Rare but typical lesions at this site are those related to embryonic development, which are the most frequent presacral congenital lesions in adults. Amongst these tumors, epidermoid cysts and cystic hamartomas are the most common lesions. Cystic masses, which are asymptomatic in approximately 50% of the cases at diagnosis, may show complications such as infection or malignant degeneration. Initial diagnosis is based on imaging techniques although definite lesion characterization, essential due to their malignancy risk, is given by the pathological analysis of the surgical piece.

[Cutaneous metastases of rectal cancer]. / Metástasis cutáneas de cáncer de recto.

Colorectal carcinoma is a tumour that very infrequently gives rise to cutaneous metastases and when it does so, it is rarely via the haematogenous route. We present the case of a 55-year old male diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the rectum (lower third), clinical stage T3N2M0. Initially treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy, he was operated on eight weeks later, with an extended abdominoperineal amputation. The anatomopathological result was mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum, clinical stage ypT3bN1. Following a postoperative period without complications, the patient received chemotherapeutic treatment with capecitabine. Eighteen months later the patient reported the progressive appearance of subcutaneous nodules in different localizations. In the computerized tomography test multiple images were objectivized suggesting metastasis at the hepatic and pulmonary levels, as well as subcutaneous lesions. The biopsy-excision of one of the subcutaneous nodules corroborated the suspicion of metastasis of the adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Chemotherapy treatment was considered for the patient, which was not administered due to the rapid deterioration of the patient leading to his death.

[Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by jejunal leiomyoblastoma]. / Hemorragia digestiva baja por leiomioblastoma de yeyuno.

A patient with a jejunal leiomyoblastoma presented with lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage, a most unusual occurrence according to the literature. The provisional diagnosis was made by arteriography and confirmed pathologically. The characteristics of these tumours are analyzed and the management discussed.

[Gastric lipoma: an infrequent cause of upper digestive hemorrhage]. / Lipoma gástrico: una causa poco frecuente de hemorragia digestiva alta.

The authors report a case of gastric lipoma which was discovered because of severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The entity is seldom reported in the literature; only 17 cases have been reported in our country. The diagnostic possibilities are analyzed. In most cases they only confirm the diagnosis of a benign tumour and pathological verification is necessary. Surgical treatment is recommended in the light of the frequent complications of this tumor.

[Hemangiopericytoma of the rectal mesentery]. / Hemangiopericitoma de mesorrecto.

The authors present a case of hemangiopericytoma of the rectal mesentery, this is an uncommon type of vascular tumor, exceptional in this localization. We analyze the difficulty of a preoperative diagnosis, the lack of specificity of the clinical signs and the importance of the radical resection linked to the biological aggressiveness and the frequency of local recurrences and distant metastases.

[The limits of normality tables for anthropometric parameters]. / Límites de las tablas de normalidad para parámetros antropométricos.

Study of a sample of surgical patients, evaluating their preoperative nutritional state using anthropometric parameters and normality reference tables used by most authors and those used in Spain. Results obtained with both were compared. A significant difference was found (p < F0.001) in the results using one or the other table, and this leads us to question the universal use of these tables.

[The value of anthropometric parameters in the prediction of surgical risk]. / Valor de los parámetros antropométricos en la predicción del riesgo quirúrgico.

The preoperative nutritional state of a sample of surgical patients was studied, relating this to postoperative complications and mortality. No significant relation was found to exist between the anthropometric parameters used and the complications and/or mortality, which was seen to have little prognostic value.

[Intestinal invagination in adults]. / Invaginación intestinal en el adulto.

Four cases of intestinal intussusception in adults are presented. Etiology was not common in all of them. Frequency, clinic presentation and diagnostic approach are discussed. A emergency right colectomy was performed in all of them.