Ethical principles and dilemmas in the discourse of healthcare practitioners involved with end-of-life care based on the Advanced Directives Document / Principios y dilemas éticos en los discursos de los profesionales de la salud familiarizados con la atención al final de la vida a partir del documento de voluntades anticipadas

Abstract Introduction: The Advanced Directives Document (ADD) is an efficient tool to plan for future medical care in case of a potential loss of autonomy. Ethical dilemmas arise in end-of-life care, including the principle of respect for autonomy and potential beneficence involved in health care, leading to moral distress of practitioners. Objective: To identify the ethical principles and dilemmas arising from the discourse of healthcare practitioners involved with end-of-life care based on the ADD. Methods: Qualitative study with a hermeneutics approach based on 253 answers to the following exploratory question: Are you willing to respect the ADD of an unconscious patient when you think that the patient may benefit otherwise? Results: Most practitioners acknowledge their respect for the ADD as an ethical obligation, whilst a minority consider it a legal right. For the large majority of practitioners, the ethical principles of respect for the ADD are recognized under the ethical theory of liberal individualism. Respect for autonomy is associated with the principle of non-maleficence and the value of human dignity. The principle of beneficence and the quality of life concept were presented as genuine moral dilemmas. A reversible clinical condition, the request for euthanasia, the family and the legibility of anticipated directives were submitted as apparent moral dilemmas. Conclusions. During the end-of-life decision making process, there are other valid ethical considerations beyond principlism. The dilemmas identified show the ethical complexity healthcare practitioners face based on the ADD.

Resumen Introducción: El Documento de Voluntades Anticipadas (DVA) es una herramienta eficaz para planificar la futura atención médica ante la posible pérdida de autonomía. En la atención al final de la vida surgen dilemas éticos; entre los cuáles se destacan el principio de respeto a la autonomía y la posible beneficencia que implica la atención en salud que conlleva angustia moral en los profesionales. Objetivo: Identificar los principios y dilemas éticos que emergen de los discursos de los profesionales de la salud familiarizados con la atención al final de la vida a partir del DVA. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo con enfoque hermenéutico de 253 respuestas a la pregunta exploratoria: ¿Está usted dispuesto a respetar un DVA en paciente inconsciente cuando usted cree que el paciente se beneficiaría de lo contrario? Resultados: Los profesionales en su mayoría reconocen el respeto al DVA como obligación ética, para una minoría como un derecho legal. Para la mayoría, los principios éticos de respeto al DVA se reconocen bajo la teoría ética del individualismo liberal. El respeto al agente autónomo se correlaciona con el principio de no maleficencia y el valor de la dignidad humana. El principio de beneficencia y el concepto de calidad de vida fueron expuestos como auténticos dilemas morales. La condición clínica reversible, la solicitud de eutanasia, la familia y la legibilidad de las voluntades anticipadas fueron expuestos como aparentes dilemas morales. Conclusiones: En el proceso de toma de decisiones al final de la vida existen otras perspectivas éticas válidas más allá del principialismo. Los dilemas identificados muestran la complejidad ética a la que se enfrentan los profesionales de la salud a partir del DVA.

Huge gastric trichobezoar caused by involuntary nocturnal trichophagia and trichotillomania in a female adolescent.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Gastric trichobezoar consist of the accumulation of chewed hair in the stomach and can extend to other structures of the digestive tract. The relevance of this entity is that it affects the process of nutrition and digestion, and depending on the size and distension of the digestive tract structures, it can cause perforation, infections, cholangitis and obstructive jaundice, intussusception and pancreatitis. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 15-year-old female patient came to the emergency department with a clinical picture of 8 h of evolution, abundant vomiting and lack of appetite for more than 15 days. Physical examination revealed a palpable mass in the epigastrium and left hypochondrium, without pain. Elective laparotomy was performed with findings of a mass of hard consistency and well organized with gastric shape, with hairs intertwined throughout its thickness, weighing 385 g. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Currently, there are gaps in the evidence on the best approach to this condition, although both laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques and open surgery have been used, with satisfactory results. However, for the definitive solution of the primary cause, the surgical team must investigate further to avoid recurrence and greater burden of disease in the future. CONCLUSION: Gastric trichobezoar may be caused by involuntary nocturnal trichotillomania. Trichobezoar can seriously compromise the nutritional and physical condition of the affected person. The surgical team can inquire about causes of psychological or psychiatric origin, which may explain the development of trichobezoar, giving an answer to the primary cause and avoiding recurrence.

Advance Directives Document: knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals in Colombia / Documento Voluntades Anticipadas: conocimientos y experiencias de los profesionales de la salud en Colombia

Abstract Introduction: The Advanced Directives Document (ADD) is a bioethical quality benchmark for healthcare and assurance of compliance with the rights of autonomy, self-determination and dignity of the patient. This document was established over the past decade and currently there is no evidence about the attitudes and knowledge of the healthcare professionals with regards to the use of this tool in clinical practice in Colombia. Objective: To describe the knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals members of six Colombian Scientific Societies regarding the right to sign an ADD and explore the barriers to its applicability in clinical daily practice. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted using an anonymous and voluntary e-survey with the participation of six Colombian Medical Societies. A questionnaire was designed comprising five groups of variables: general, ADD knowledge, medical experiences and personal experiences regarding advanced directives and potential obstacles to its implementation. Results: 533 professionals participated in the survey. 54 % (n = 286) expressed their lack of awareness about the fact that there is law governing the ADD in Colombia; 34.33 % (n = 183) said they were familiar with the requirements of the document. Over the last year, 24 % of the professionals received one or more ADDs from their patients. Only 11.7 % of healthcare practitioners had themselves completed an ADD. 77.1 % of the professionals surveyed believe that the number of individuals with an ADD has not changed after the approval and regulation of the right to an advanced directives document. 86.6 % of the practitioners said they respected the ADD, notwithstanding the fact that the patient could benefit otherwise. Conclusions: The overall perception of healthcare professionals with regards to the number of ADDs signed by patients is that the number has not changed after the approval of the Law in Colombia. This study evidenced that medical practitioners have a poor knowledge about the ADD and that there is a need to educate healthcare professionals about the ADD and to promptly implement institutional programs about Planning of Advanced Directives (PAD). Both strategies are challenging for the applicability of AD in Colombia.

Resumen Introducción: El Documento Voluntades Anticipadas (DVA) es un referente bioético de calidad de atención en salud y garantía de cumplimiento de los derechos de autonomía, autodeterminación y dignidad de los pacientes. Este documento fue reglamentado en la última década, y actualmente, no existe evidencia sobre las actitudes y conocimientos de los profesionales de la salud sobre el uso de esta herramienta en la práctica clínica en Colombia. Objetivo: Describir los conocimientos y experiencias de los profesionales de la salud pertenecientes a seis sociedades científicas colombianas frente al derecho de suscribir el DVA e investigar sobre las barreras para la aplicabilidad del DVA en la práctica clínica diaria. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, realizado mediante encuesta electrónica anónima y voluntaria en seis sociedades médicas colombianas. Se diseñó un cuestionario compuesto por cinco grupos de variables: generales, conocimiento de DVA, experiencias médicas y experiencias personales sobre voluntad anticipada y posibles limitaciones para su aplicación. Resultados: Participaron 533 profesionales. El 54 % (n = 286) afirmó no saber que existe la ley que regula el DVA en Colombia; un 34,33 % (n = 183) manifestó conocer los requisitos que debe cumplir dicho documento. En el último año, el 24 % de los profesionales recibió de sus pacientes uno o más DVA. Solo el 11,7 % de los profesionales de salud tenía un DVA elaborado. El 77,1 % de los encuestados perciben que el número de personas con DVA sigue igual después de aprobado y reglamentado el derecho de DVA. El 86,6 % de los profesionales de salud aseguraron respetar el DVA, aunque el paciente pueda beneficiarse de lo contrario. Conclusiones: La percepción general de los profesionales de la salud sobre el número de DVA suscrito por los pacientes sigue igual después de reglamentada la Ley en Colombia. Este estudio permitió evidenciar que los profesionales de la salud poseen poco conocimiento sobre el DVA. Es indispensable capacitar a todos los profesionales de salud sobre el DVA y la pronta implementación institucional de programas sobre Planificación de Decisiones Anticipadas (PDA). Ambas estrategias constituyen un desafío para la aplicabilidad de las VA en Colombia.

Intraoperative finding of papyraceous twin fetus in pregnant woman without specialized follow-up: A summary of difficulties in accessing prenatal services in low- and middle-income countries.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The papyraceous fetus is the product of the intrauterine fetal death of a twin in early pregnancy, with retention of the fetus for a minimum of 10 weeks, resulting in mechanical compression of the small fetus. It is a finding that can be found early by ultrasound to avoid increased obstetric risk, but in low- to middle-income countries it is not always available. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 22-year-old multipara patient was remitted to the emergency department due to a one-hour history of premature rupture of the membranes. Only one control ultrasound was performed at 25 weeks of pregnancy. Cesarean section was performed and two products were found, one of them a papyraceous fetus. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Almost 50% of women in low- and middle-income countries don't receive adequate antenatal care. It has been estimated that up to half of twins and almost all triplets are born premature and have a higher risk of dying compared to those born at term; specifically, this risk is much higher if the pregnancy is accompanied by rare pathological conditions. CONCLUSION: The papyraceous fetus is a rare condition that represents a risk to the health of the mother and other babies, in case of multiple pregnancy; but it can be diagnosed early through imaging studies. Socio-cultural, socio-economic and direct difficulties of the health system may be the cause of the delay in the diagnosis of this pathological entity, making it an unexpected finding during delivery or intraoperatively.

Corrección de hernia de Amyand con malla y apendicetomía: reporte de caso / Amyand's hernia repair with surgical mesh and appendectomy: a case report

RESUMEN La hernia de Amyand se define como la presencia de un apéndice vermiforme dentro de un saco herniario inguinal. Menos del 1 % de las publicaciones médicas sobre hernias en el mundo corresponde a este padecimiento, y los reportes en Latinoamérica y el Caribe son escasos. Este artículo describe el caso de un varón de 78 años con un cuadro clínico de cinco meses de evolución aproximadamente. El paciente refiere que sentía una masa en la región inguinal derecha de crecimiento progresivo. Luego se asoció un dolor (de escala 8/10) durante los dos días previos al ingreso en el departamento de urgencias. Durante la operación en la región inguinal derecha, se abre el saco herniario que muestra partes del colon derecho, el ciego y el apéndice (edematosos), por lo que se decide realizar una apendicectomía y la reconstrucción con una malla de polipropileno.

ABSTRACT Amyand's hernia is defined as the presence of the vermiform appendix within an inguinal hernial sac. Less than 1 % of the world medical publications on hernias address this disease, out of which very few come from Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the case of a 78-year-old male patient who experienced signs and symptoms for approximately five months. He felt a lump in the right inguinal region which progressively increased in size. Two days prior to admission to the intensive care unit, he said his pain level was 8/10. During the right inguinal approach, the hernial sac was opened, revealing parts of the right colon, cecum and appendix with edematous changes. Therefore, the patient underwent an appendectomy and repair with polypropylene mesh.

Broken beer bottle as a cause of sigmoid perforation: A summary of causes and predictors in the management of traumatic and non-traumatic colorectal perforation.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The presence of foreign bodies at the colorectal level and associated complications is a problem that has become increasingly common in emergency departments. This condition carries high health costs, in addition to having high morbidity and mortality rates, due to the large number of complications such as perforation. CASE PRESENTATION: 46-year-old male patient, who came to the emergency department of a low-level hospital with a clinical picture of approximately one day of evolution consisting of the violent introduction of a foreign body (bottle) at the anorectal level secondary to aggression in a fight, with subsequent endoluminal rupture. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The most recent evidence indicates that the incidence of perforation as a complication of colorectal foreign body introduction is low. However, the presence of profuse bleeding, advanced age, presence of comorbidities and sepsis are predictors of poor prognosis in these cases. In general, perforation secondary to non-traumatic causes is more frequent, being predominantly due to colorectal cancer, ischemia, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, inadequate use of enema, iatrogenic endoscopy or anorectal manometry or fecal impaction. The presence of unfavorable factors prolongs hospital stay, the risk of reoperation, perianal infection, peritonitis, sepsis and wound infection, generating mortality rates of up to 38%. CONCLUSION: Colorectal perforation is more frequent in non-traumatic situations and carries health costs and risk of mortality. Its management depends on hospital aspects, clinical context of the patient and training of health personnel. However, most of the outcomes are favorable.