[Analysis of pediatric «short stays¼ in a second-level hospital throughout 25 years]. / Análisis de las «estancias cero¼ pediátricas en un hospital de nivel 2 a lo largo de 25 años.

INTRODUCTION: It is essential to admit patients to hospital in an efficient way in order to use resources rationally. Short hospitalary stays are hospitalizations which does not include 00:00h and are considered avoidable. This study describes trends and characteristics of short stays throughout 25 years in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed hospital pediatric discharges in a second-level hospital through the registration system «conjunto mínimo básico de datos¼. We categorized pediatric patients and newborn patients in two groups according to length of hospital stay: «short stays¼ and «prolonged stays¼. We analyzed and compared the following variables: gender, age, type of admission, month, diagnosis-related groups (DRG) and admission service. Binary logistic regression analysis and assessment of trends through joinpoint regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2017, 45710 children were admitted to our hospital, of which 7.3% were short stays. The trend analysis showed a point of change upwards-downwards at the beginning of the millennium. Pediatric short stays: the most important variables were emergency admissions (89%), urgent transfers (9%), month December (11%) and main diagnosis category: nervous system (18%). Mean diagnosis-related groups cost was 2432±1115€ in short stays group and 2549±1065€ in prolonged stays. CONCLUSIONS: Short stays and prolonged stays show a falling trend in our hospital. Short stays percentage in our environment is similar to other neighbor countries. Some of our short stays are urgent transfers and admissions for clinical observation. We did not find clinical significance in weight or cost of pediatric patients' DRG comparing to prolonged stays.

¿Diagnosticamos correctamente el síndrome de salida torácica? / Are we diagnosing thoracic outlet syndrome correctly?

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Consenso sobre la profilaxis y tratamiento de la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en la lesión medular y en el daño cerebral adquirido / Prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism in spinal cord injury and acquired brain injury

La enfermedad tromboembólica venosa es un proceso patológico que abarca tanto la trombosis venosa profunda como el tromboembolismo pulmonar. Son muchos los estudios que recogen la alta incidencia de esta enfermedad en pacientes afectos de lesiones neurológicas como la lesión medular, el traumatismo craneoencefálico o el ictus, todos ellos pacientes susceptibles de ingreso en centros de rehabilitación. En la literatura publicada existe controversia acerca de la necesidad de screening de enfermedad tromboembólica venosa en estos pacientes, el tiempo de mantenimiento de la profilaxis o los fármacos a utilizar tanto en la profilaxis como una vez se establece la sospecha o el diagnóstico definitivo de dicha enfermedad. Con esta revisión de la literatura pretendemos hacer un consenso para intentar aclarar dudas y establecer unas directrices de sospecha, diagnóstico y tratamiento que nos ayuden en la práctica clínica diaria

Venous thromboembolism is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Many studies reflect the high incidence of this disease in patients with neurological injuries such as, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, or stroke, and all these patients are candidates for admission to rehabilitation centres. There is controversy in the published literature on the need for screening of deep vein thrombosis in these patients, time on prophylaxis drug maintenance or the drugs to use for prophylaxis once suspected or when the definite diagnosis of this disease is established. A review of the literature is presented in order to attempt to clarify these doubts and establish guidelines for suspicion, diagnosis and treatment to help us in daily clinical practice

¿A traumatología o a rehabilitación? / Referral to orthopaedics or rehabilitation?

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Diagnóstico: pautas diagnósticas y la adecuada gestión del dolor basal y del dolor irruptivo / Diagnosis: diagnostic criteria and adequate management of background and breakthrough pain

Hasta hace unos años, el dolor oncológico se consideraba una condición clínica única, pero estudios recientes nos han permitido diferenciar entre dolor basal y dolor irruptivo. Estos tipos de dolor difieren claramente en su forma de inicio, intensidad y duración, lo que condiciona un manejo específico para cada uno de ellos. Una correcta evaluación de las características del dolor, así como de sus causas, nos permitirá un adecuado diagnóstico y un óptimo tratamiento. La ausencia de consenso unánime respecto a la definición de dolor irruptivo ha llevado a dificultades a la hora de estimar su prevalencia real. Se ha descrito en el 33-95% de los pacientes con dolor crónico oncológico. El dolor irruptivo tiene un impacto negativo en la calidad de vida de los pacientes, por lo que es imprescindible que los profesionales sanitarios sepan identificarlo y tratarlo adecuadamente

Until a few years ago, cancer pain was considered a unique clinical entity. However, recent studies have allowed a distinction to be made between background and breakthrough pain. These types of pain clearly differ in their form of onset, intensity and duration, leading to specific management for each. Adequate assessment of the characteristics of the pain and its causes allows correct diagnosis and optimal treatment. Because of the lack of consensus on the definition of breakthrough pain, it is difficult to estimate its true prevalence. Breakthrough pain has been described in 33%-95% of patients with chronic cancer pain. This type of pain impairs quality of life and it is therefore essential that health professionals are well versed in its correct identification and treatment

[Paediatric emergency triage in Spanish primary care using mobile phones. Analysis of a model in a health area]. / Triaje de las urgencias pediátricas en Atención Primaria en España mediante telefonía móvil. Análisis de un modelo en una zona de salud.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a pilot study of telephone consultation in the paediatric population of an urban health centre. To evaluate the telephone consultation as an effective tool when it comes to exercising prior triage of patients requiring urgent attention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. In the first, data were collected from all calls received for six months. In a second phase, we conducted a telephone intervention study to analyse what a random sample of users remembered of the care provided. All those who requested a telephone consultation were included in the study. Demographic, social-welfare, epidemiological, and clinical features, of each patient were recorded. Data were processed using a statistical package SPSS version 17.0 for Windows. RESULTS: There were 439 telephone inquiries in our pilot project, of which 35.1% were attended by residents, 36% by paediatricians, and 28.9% by paediatric nurses. There were more telephone calls in the afternoons and on weekends. Patients less than or equal to 2 years accounted for 57.9% of cases handled, and there were no differences between sexes. The most frequent reasons for consultation were gastrointestinal symptoms, fever and respiratory problems. The health problem was resolved in 85.8% of cases, requiring only home care instructions, and only 13.3% of children were referred to emergency services. We obtained a mean score of satisfaction of 9.2. CONCLUSIONS: The pilot project had a high level of satisfaction and resolution, demonstrating cost savings by reducing 55% of face to face visits, with a saving of 35.2 euros per telephone consultation. A teleconsultation model for dealing with emergencies in primary care by telephone would be comparable to a practice staffed by trained paediatric nurses.