Complicaciones asociadas al catéter venoso central en pacientes hematológicos / Complications associated to central venous catheters in hematology patients

OBJETIVO: Conocer la incidencia de complicaciones asociadas a los catéteres venosos centrales (tunelizados, reservorios y PICC), en pacientes con patología oncohematológica, ingresados en Unidades de Hematología o Trasplantes de Progenitores Hematopoyéticos, en dos hospitales terciarios. METODOLOGÍA: Se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo transversal donde se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos, complicaciones y seguimiento del protocolo de cuidados. A cada catéter se le asignó un número de identificación correlativo. Se recogió información de 366 catéteres: 185 en el Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (HURYC): 80 tunelizados, 40 reservorios y 65 PICC; 181 en el Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón (HUGM): 101 tunelizados y 80 reservorios. RESULTADOS: Las principales complicaciones en los tunelizados fueron las infecciones (13,7% en el HURYC vs.6,8% en el HUGM; p < 0,001) y las oclusiones (al menos una vez 3,8% vs.21,8%). En los reservorios se confirmaron un 5% de infecciones en el HURYC frente a 1,2% en el HUGM; se ocluyeron al menos una vez un 10% en el HUGM. No se detectaron otras complicaciones significativas. Respecto a los PICC solo se recogió información en el HURYC, donde las complicaciones fueron: flebitis 10,8%; trombosis 7,7%; infección o sospecha 4,6%; oclusión al menos una vez 7,7%. CONCLUSIONES: La diferencia entre hospitales respecto a la infección y oclusión, puede asociarse a las distintas pautas de cuidados. Destaca la alta incidencia de flebitis y trombosis en PICC

OBJECTIVE: To discover the incidence of central venous catheters (tunnelled, subcutaneous and PICC) in patients with onco-hematological conditions, hospitalized in the Hematology or Transplantations of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Units, in two tertiary care hospitals. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive study form was developed in order to gather sociodemographic, clinical data as well as complications and follow-up of the care protocol. Each catheter was assigned a correlative identification number. Information was collected on 366 catheters: 185 in the University Hospital Ramón y Cajal (HURYC), 80 tunnelled, 40 subcutaneous venous access and 65 PICC, and 181 in the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón (HUGM), 101 tunnelled and 80 subcutaneous venous access. Findings: Major complications in the tunnellized were infections (13.7% in HURYC vs.6.8% in HUGM - p < 0 .001) and occlusions (at least once in 3.8% vs.21.8%). In subcutaneous venous access, infections were confirmed in 5% in HURYC vs.1.2% in HUGM. There were occlusions at least once in 10% in HUGM and no other significant complications were detected. Regarding PICC, information was only collected in HURYC, where complications were phlebitis 10.8%, thrombosis 7.7%, confirmed or suspected infection 4.6%, occlusion at least once 7.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between hospitals with regard to major complications, infection and occlusion may be related to different care protocol. We need to stress the high incidence of phlebitis and thrombosis in PICC catheters, compared with data of lower incidence of other papers

[Complications associated to central venous catheters in hematology patients]. / Complicaciones asociadas al catéter venoso central en pacientes hematológicos.

OBJECTIVE: To discover the incidence of central venous catheters (tunnelled, subcutaneous and PICC) in patients with onco-hematological conditions, hospitalized in the Hematology or Transplantations of Hematopoietic Stem Cells Units, in two tertiary care hospitals. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive study form was developed in order to gather sociodemographic, clinical data as well as complications and follow-up of the care protocol. Each catheter was assigned a correlative identification number. Information was collected on 366 catheters: 185 in the University Hospital Ramón y Cajal (HURYC), 80 tunnelled, 40 subcutaneous venous access and 65 PICC, and 181 in the University Hospital Gregorio Marañón (HUGM), 101 tunnelled and 80 subcutaneous venous access. FINDINGS: Major complications in the tunnellized were infections (13.7% in HURYC vs. 6.8% in HUGM - p<0.001) and occlusions (at least once in 3.8% vs. 21.8%). In subcutaneous venous access, infections were confirmed in 5% in HURYC vs. 1.2% in HUGM. There were occlusions at least once in 10% in HUGM and no other significant complications were detected. Regarding PICC, information was only collected in HURYC, where complications were phlebitis 10.8%, thrombosis 7.7%, confirmed or suspected infection 4.6%, occlusion at least once 7.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between hospitals with regard to major complications, infection and occlusion may be related to different care protocol. We need to stress the high incidence of phlebitis and thrombosis in PICC catheters, compared with data of lower incidence of other papers.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la atresia de coanas: caso clínico / Surgical repair of choanal atresia

La atresia de coanas es la alteración congénita más frecuente del desarrollo nasal. Puede ser unilateral o bilateral, y según eso, la clínica puede aparecer desde el momento del nacimiento, o bien permanecerá asintomática hasta la edad adulta. En el neonato, si es bilateral, se manifiesta por una disnea inspiratoria y una cianosis cíclica al lactar, que se alivian con el llanto; y en el adulto, la clínica es de insuficiencia respiratoria nasal unilateral, con rinorrea. El tratamiento es quirúrgico, con varias vías posibles de abordaje, siendo la vía endoscópica la más utilizada hoy en día. La complicación más frecuente tras la cirugía es la reestenosis. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con atresia unilateral, que fue intervenida con éxito en nuestro hospital, y describimos la técnica.

Choanal atresia is the most frecuent congenital anomaly of nasal development. It can be unilateral or bilateral, and according to it, it will give symptoms from the moment of the birth, or will remain asymptomatic up to the adult age. In the newborn it demonstrates for an acute respiratory distress and a cyclic cyanosis by feeding, that relieve with crying; and in the adult, the clinic is of unilateral nasal obstruction, with rhinorhea. The treatment is surgical, with several possible surgical approaches. Transnasal endoscopic repair is the most used nowadays, because it's a safe and successful technique, and reestenosis is the most frequent complication. We present the case of a patient with unilateral atresia, that was operated in our hospital, and we describe the technique used.

Oscillations in serum ferritin associated with antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Hyperferritinemia is often found in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and is predictive of poorer response to antiviral therapy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in ferritinemia during and after antiviral therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: serum ferritin levels were measured in 262 CHC patients (163 males, mean age 48.5 years +/- 10.1) before and during antiviral therapy, and six months post-treatment in all 154 patients with undetectable serum HCV-RNA after therapy completion. RESULTS: Baseline serum ferritin was higher in patients with primary therapeutic failure than in those reaching sustained viral response (330 +/- 291 ng/mL vs. 211 +/- 192 ng/mL, p = 0.002). Serum ferritin transiently increased during therapy from baseline (257 +/- 242 ng/mL vs. 875 +/- 630 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Six months after finishing therapy, serum ferritin decreased under baseline values both in sustained responders (117 +/- 102 ng/mL vs. 211+/- 192 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, in relapsers (217 +/- 174 ng/mL vs. 257 +/- 221 ng/mL, p = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline serum ferritin may predict response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C. Combined antiviral therapy induces a marked increase in serum ferritin that falls below baseline values after sustained viral response, suggesting that the cause of hyperferritinemia in many patients is HCV infection itself rather than iron overload.

Oscilaciones de la ferritina sérica asociadas al tratamiento antiviral en la hepatitis crónica por virus C / Oscillations in serum ferritin associated with antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C

Antecedentes: la hiperferritinemia es frecuente en los enfermoscon hepatitis crónica C (HCC) y reduce las probabilidades derespuesta al tratamiento antiviral.Objetivo: investigar las variaciones de la ferritina sérica durantey después del tratamiento y su relación con la respuesta al mismo.Pacientes y métodos: la ferritina sérica se ha medido en262 enfermos con HCC (163 hombres, edad media 48,5 años ±10,1) antes y durante el tratamiento antiviral, y a los 6 meses definalizado en los 154 enfermos con viremia indetectable al finaldel tratamiento.Resultados: la ferritina sérica basal era más alta en enfermoscon fracaso terapéutico primario que en los que consiguieron respuestaviral sostenida (RVS) (330 ± 291 ng/ml vs. 211 ± 192ng/ml, p = 0,002). La ferritina sérica aumentó transitoriamentedurante el tratamiento (257 ± 242 ng/ml vs. 875 ± 630 ng/ml, p< 0,001). La ferritina sérica descendió a valores inferiores a losbasales seis meses después de finalizado el tratamiento en los pacientescon RVS (117 ± 102 ng/ml vs. 211± 192 ng/ml, p <0,001) y, en menor grado, en los que sufrieron recidiva viral (217± 174 ng/ml vs. 257 ± 221 ng/m, p = 0,047).Conclusiones: una ferritina sérica basal elevada se asocia conmayor riesgo de fracaso terapéutico en la HCC. El tratamientoantiviral induce un marcado incremento de la ferritina sérica quevuelve a valores por debajo de los basales en los enfermos que obtienenRVS. Esto sugiere que la causa de hiperferritinemia en lamayoría de los enfermos es la propia infección por VHC y no lasobrecarga de hierro(AU)

Background: hyperferritinemia is often found in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and is predictive of poorer response to antiviral therapy. Objective: to investigate changes in ferritinemia during and after antiviral therapy. Patients and methods: serum ferritin levels were measured in 262 CHC patients (163 males, mean age 48.5 years ± 10.1) before and during antiviral therapy, and six months post-treatment in all 154 patients whit undetectable serum HCV-RNA after therapy completion. Results: baseline serum ferritin was higher in patients with primary therapeutic failure than in those reaching sustained viral response (330 ± 291 ng/mL vs. 211 ± 192 ng/mL, p = 0.002). Serum ferritin transiently increased during therapy from baseline (257 ± 242 ng/mL vs. 875 ± 630 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Six months after finishing therapy, serum ferritin decreased under baseline values both in sustained responders (117 ± 102 ng/mL vs. 211± 192 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, in relapsers (217 ± 174 ng/mL vs. 257 ± 221 ng/mL, p = 0.047). Conclusions: baseline serum ferritin may predict response to antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C. Combined antiviral therapy induces a marked increase in serum ferritin that falls below baseline values after sustained viral response, suggesting that the cause of hyperferritinemia in many patients is HCV infection itself rather than iron overload(AU)

[Results of the treatment of chronic hepatitis C genotype 4--a comparative analysis with genotype 1]. / Resultados del tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica por VHC genotipo 4. Un análisis comparativo con el genotipo 1.

INTRODUCTION: nearly all the data on the efficacy of combined antiviral therapy on chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 have been obtained in countries of Middle East. Genotype 4 is quite unusual in Spain. We report our experience in a group of Spanish patients treated with homogeneous criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: between 2001 and 2007 we have treated 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 (20 males) with pegylated Interferon alpha-2b (26 cases) or alpha-2a (4 cases) combined with ribavirin at a weight-adjusted dose. Results of therapy are known in all patients and liver biopsy is available in 24 cases. RESULTS: ten patients (33.3%) obtained sustained viral response (SVR: HCV-RNA undetectable in blood 6 months after the end of therapy), 12 were primary non-responders, 4 relapsed after reaching undetectable HCV-RNA at the end of therapy and 4 interrupted the treatment due to severe adverse events. These results are very close to those obtained in 355 patients infected with HCV genotype 1. CONCLUSION: HCV genotype 4 should be considered as "difficult to treat". The better results of therapy in other geographical areas (Middle East) may be due to a different distribution of the subtypes of HCV genotype 4.

Resultados del tratamiento de la hepatitis crónica por VHC genotipo 4. Un análisis comparativo con el genotipo 1 / No disponible

Antecedentes y objetivos: casi todos los datos sobre la eficacia del tratamiento antiviral combinado en la infección por el virusde la hepatitis C (VHC) genotipo 4, que es poco frecuente enEspaña, se han obtenido en países del Oriente Próximo. Aportamosnuestra experiencia en pacientes tratados en España con criterioshomogéneos. Pacientes y métodos: en el periodo 2001-2007 hemos tratadoa 30 enfermos con hepatitis crónica por VHC genotipo 4(20 varones) con interferón pegilado α-2b (26 casos) o α-2a (4 casos)y ribavirina en dosis ajustada al peso. En todos los casos se conoce el resultado del tratamiento y se dispone de bioquímica y datos virológicos basales, y en 24 de biopsia hepática. Hemoscomparado estos resultados con los obtenidos en 355 pacientes infectados por VHC genotipo 1. Resultados: diez pacientes (33,3%) obtuvieron respuesta viralsostenida (RVS: ARN del VHC negativo en sangre a los 6 meses de finalizado el tratamiento), 12 no respondieron (fracaso viralprimario), 4 recidivaron y 4 abandonaron por intolerancia. Estos resultados son muy similares a los obtenidos en el grupo de genotipo1 (RVS: 35,1%).Conclusión: el genotipo 4 del VHC debe considerarse como tan “difícil de tratar” como el genotipo 1. La mayor eficacia del tratamiento en otras zonas geográficas (Oriente Próximo) pueden deberse a la diferente distribución de los subtipos virales existentes (AU)

Introduction: nearly all the data on the efficacy of combined antiviral therapy on chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 have been obtainedin countries of Middle East. Genotype 4 is quite unusual inSpain. We report our experience in a group of Spanish patientstreated with homogeneous criteria.Patients and methods: between 2001 and 2007 we havetreated 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 (20 males)with pegylated Interferon α-2b (26 cases) or α-2a (4 cases) combinedwith ribavirin at a weight-adjusted dose. Results of therapyare known in all patients and liver biopsy is available in 24 cases.Results: ten patients (33.3%) obtained sustained viral response(SVR: HCV-RNA undetectable in blood 6 months afterthe end of therapy), 12 were primary non-responders, 4 relapsedafter reaching undetectable HCV-RNA at the end of therapy and4 interrupted the treatment due to severe adverse events. Theseresults are very close to those obtained in 355 patients infectedwith HCV genotype 1.Conclusion: HCV genotype 4 should be considered as “difficultto treat”. The better results of therapy in other geographicalareas (Middle East) may be due to a different distribution of the subtypes of HCV genotype 4 (AU)

Erythromycin and clindamycin resistance and telithromycin susceptibility in Streptococcus agalactiae.

The rates of resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin among Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated in our hospital increased from 4.2 and 0.8% in 1993 to 17.4 and 12.1%, respectively, in 2001. Erythromycin resistance was mainly due to the presence of an Erm(B) methylase, while the M phenotype was detected in 3.8% of the strains. Telithromycin was very active against erythromycin-resistant strains, irrespective of their mechanisms of macrolide resistance.