Association of laboratory and radiologic parameters in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. / Asociación de parámetros analíticos y radiológicos en el diagnóstico de la colecistitis aguda.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There is currently more evidence suggesting that early surgery should be the treatment of choice for acute calculous cholecystitis, although initial conservative treatment is also reported to be safe. Treatment decision depends on the conditions of the patient, surgical experience, and hospital infrastructure, given that early surgery cannot always be carried out. The aim of the present study was to correlate C-reactive protein values with other variables to determine those situations in which surgery cannot be delayed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients admitted to the hospital from the emergency service with the diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis. The patients were divided into 2groups: 1) patients that required urgent cholecystectomy and 2) patients that responded well to conservative medical treatment and later underwent deferred cholecystectomy. RESULTS: A total of 238 patients (♂ 54.6%, ♀ 45.4%) were analyzed. Urgent surgery was performed on 158 patients, whereas the remaining 80 patients were released from the hospital following conservative treatment. The odds ratio of gangrenous cholecystitis presenting in acute cholecystitis for C-reactive protein was calculated in the logistic regression analysis, obtaining an OR of 1.088 and a 95% CI of 1.031-1.121. CONCLUSION: In patients diagnosed with acute calculous cholecystitis, the combination of elevated values of C-reactive protein levels, gallbladder wall thickness, and number of leukocytes was correlated with less favorable clinical and gallbladder histologic states, resulting in a greater need for urgent surgical treatment.

Enfermedad urológica y el tabaco. Una revisión para la concienciación del urólogo / Urological disease and tobacco. A review for raising the awareness of urologists

Contexto: El tabaquismo es la primera causa de muerte prevenible en nuestro entorno. Su relación con la enfermedad urológica está bien documentada. Objetivo: Mostrar una revisión actualizada sobre la relación entre enfermedad urológica y consumo del tabaco, y sobre la importancia de la implicación de los urólogos en la prevención del tabaquismo. Adquisición y síntesis de la evidencia: Se ha realizado una revisión de la bibliografía actual utilizando fundamentalmente la búsqueda en PubMed, y tomando como base principal el informe sobre las consecuencias de fumar en la salud realizado por The Surgeon General. Conclusión: Los urólogos desempeñan un papel fundamental para informar de la relación entre el tabaquismo y la enfermedad urológica. Es un deber de cada urólogo asumir un papel más activo en la educación de los pacientes para promover la abstinencia tabáquica

Context: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in our community. Its relationship with urological disease is well documented. Objective: To present an updated review on the relationship between urological disease and tobacco consumption and the importance of involving urologists in smoking prevention. Acquisition and synthesis of evidence: We conducted a review of current literature, primarily by searching PubMed and using as the main base the report on the consequences of smoking on health performed by the Surgeon General. Conclusion: Urologists play an essential role in informing patients of the relationship between smoking and urological disease. It is the duty of every urologist to play a more active role in educating patients and promoting smoking cessation

Urological disease and tobacco. A review for raising the awareness of urologists. / Enfermedad urológica y el tabaco. Una revisión para la concienciación del urólogo.

CONTEXT: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in our community. Its relationship with urological disease is well documented. OBJECTIVE: To present an updated review on the relationship between urological disease and tobacco consumption and the importance of involving urologists in smoking prevention. ACQUISITION AND SYNTHESIS OF EVIDENCE: We conducted a review of current literature, primarily by searching PubMed and using as the main base the report on the consequences of smoking on health performed by the Surgeon General. CONCLUSION: Urologists play an essential role in informing patients of the relationship between smoking and urological disease. It is the duty of every urologist to play a more active role in educating patients and promoting smoking cessation.