Nutritional care is a human right: Translating principles to clinical practice.

We have previously advocated that nutritional care be raised to the level of a human right in a close relationship to two well recognized fundamental rights: the right to food and the right to health. This paper aims to analyze the implication of nutritional care as a human right for healthcare practitioners. We will focus on the impact of the Human Rights Basic Approach (HRBA) on health care professionals (HCPs), namely how they can translate HRBA into routine clinical practice. Ethics and human rights are guiding values for clinical nutrition practitioners. Together they ensure a patient-centered approach, where the needs and rights of the patients are of the most significant importance. Human rights are based on the powerful idea of equal dignity for all people while expressing a set of core values, including fairness, respect, equality, dignity, and autonomy (FREDA). Through the analysis of FREDA principles, we have provided the elements to understand human rights and how a HRBA can support clinicians in the decision-making process. Clinical practice guidelines in clinical nutrition should incorporate disease-specific ethical issues and the HRBA. The HRBA should contribute to build conditions for HCPs to provide optimal and timely nutritional care. Nutritional care must be exercised by HCPs with due respect for several fundamental ethical values: attentiveness, responsibility competence, responsiveness, and solidarity.

Nutritional care is a human right: Translating principles to clinical practice.

We have previously advocated that nutritional care be raised to the level of a human right, in close relationship to two well-recognized fundamental rights: the right to food and the right to health. This article aims to analyze the implication of nutritional care as a human right for healthcare practitioners. We will focus on the impact of the Human Rights Basic Approach (HRBA) on healthcare professionals (HCPs), namely how they can translate HRBA into routine clinical practice. Ethics and human rights are guiding values for clinical nutrition practitioners. Together they ensure a patient-centered approach, in which the needs and rights of the patients are of the most significant importance. Human rights are based on the powerful idea of equal dignity for all people while expressing a set of core values, including fairness, respect, equality, dignity, and autonomy (FREDA). Through the analysis of FREDA principles, we have provided the elements to understand human rights and how an HRBA can support clinicians in the decision-making process. Clinical practice guidelines in clinical nutrition should incorporate disease-specific ethical issues and the HRBA. The HRBA should contribute to building conditions for HCPs to provide optimal and timely nutritional care. Nutritional care must be exercised by HCPs with due respect for several fundamental ethical values: attentiveness, responsibility competence, responsiveness, and solidarity.

Nutrition care as a health policy in the 21st century: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Addressing the high prevalence of disease-related malnutrition (DRM) requires political will. The aim of this study is to define DRM as a health public policy issue from the point of view of the stakeholders. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study consisting of grey data search and individual semi-structured in-depth interviews with stakeholders (policy-makers, academics, and civil society organization representatives) from 17 Latin American countries. The analyzed themes reflected ideas repeatedly found across the interviews. RESULTS: 26 respondents were interviewed (5 policy-makers, 18 academics, 3 civil society organizations representatives). The grey data research and interviews showed that Brazil and Costa Rica were the only countries in the Region that had developed a specific public health policy addressing DRM and nutrition care issues. The rest of the Latin American countries had a nutrition policy which neither addressed DRM specifically nor included nutrition care, with important heterogeneity existing in terms of national regulation of selected nutritional care categories. Stakeholder opinions allowed to identify heterogeneity in the understanding of the nature and causes of DRM, confusing DRM with malnutrition caused by food insecurity and lack of food availability. Policy in the field of clinical nutrition can be addresses from two approaches: interdisciplinarity and a human rights-based approach. CONCLUSION: DRM is an unaddressed problem by health policy. Due to internal and external factor related to the health systems DRM has not been able to become a public policy issue. The study highlights the need for the development of public policy in clinical nutrition aimed at improving access to nutrition care.

Nutrition competencies for undergraduate medical education: Results of an international interdisciplinary consensus.

BACKGROUND: The gap between the nutrition education provided to medical students and the nutrition competencies and attitudes needed for physicians to provide adequate nutrition care is a global concern. There is no universally accepted benchmark on nutrition competencies for doctors. The objective of this study was to establish, by expert consensus, the objectives of undergraduate nutrition medial education, the nutrition core competencies, and strategies for curriculum development in medical nutrition education. METHODS: We administered a Delphi survey to systematically gather the opinion of a panel of Latin American experts in nutrition. The survey questionnaire was constructed considering scientific literature by using a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as >70% agreement on the importance of an item (Likert scale 4 and 5). RESULTS: A four-round Delphi survey was conducted for this research. In the second, third, and fourth rounds, we validated a total of 130 competencies by consensus, which were distributed into four different thematic areas: (1) basic nutrition concepts, (2) public nutrition and nutrition prevention throughout the life cycle, (3) nutrition status and disease, and (4) nutrition care process. CONCLUSION: The curricula for general physician education in medical school must include health promotion, prevention, and treatment of diseases related to nutrition. This goal can be reached by integrating ≤130 competencies into four different fundamental areas.

Are traditional screening tools adequate for monitoring the nutrition risk of in-hospital patients? An analysis of the nutritionDay database.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of adequate food intake is not a priority in hospital patients' care. The present study aimed to examine selective data from the nutritionDay survey to determine the impact of food intake during hospitalization on outcomes according to the nutrition risk status. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive analysis of selected data from 7 consecutive, annual, and cross-sectional nutritionDay samples from 2009 to 2015. The impact of food intake on outcomes was assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox models controlling for PANDORA scores. RESULTS: A total of 7994 adult patients from Colombia, 7243 patients from 9 Latin American countries, and 155,524 patients worldwid were included. Less than half of the patients worldwide consumed their entire meal on nutritionDay (41%). The number of reduced eaters is larger in the "no nutrition risk group" than in the "nutrition risk group" (30% vs 25%). Reduced eating is associated with higher mortality and delayed discharge in patients, regardless of the nutrition risk status. Patients without nutrition risk at the screening who ate "nothing, but were allowed to eat" had 6 times more risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 6.48; 95% CI, 3.5311.87). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study evaluating the relationship of food intake on clinical outcomes showing an increase of in-hospital mortality rates and a reduction in the probability of being discharged home regardless of the nutrition risk status. Traditional screening tools may not identify a group of patients who will become at risk because of reduced intake while in the hospital.

Nutrition in medical education in Latin America: Results of a cross-sectional survey.

RATIONALE: The gap between the nutrition education provided to medical students and the nutrition competences and attitudes needed for doctors to provide effective nutrition care is a global concern. The goal of this study was to investigate the curricular content on nutrition education in Latin American medical schools and to evaluate the self-perceived knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to nutrition practice of final-year medical students. METHODS: Eighty-five public and private medical schools from 17 Latin American countries were invited to participate in the study. Two close-ended online questionnaires consisting of 25 and 43 questions were sent to medical school directors. Quantitative variables were expressed as frequencies, percentages, mean ± standard deviation, medians, and ranges. RESULTS: A total of 22 (26%) medical school directors responded, of which 11 schools (50%) offered stand-alone mandatory nutrition courses in preclinical and 8 (36%) in clinical years. The mean hours dedicated to nutrition education was 47 (range: 0-150). A total of 1530 of 1630 (94%) students from 12 countries responded. Students' average age was 25 ± 3 years, and 59% were female. Most students agreed that improving patients' health through nutrition (91%) is important and that nutrition counseling and assessment should be part of routine care provided by all physicians (89%), but they lack the level of education and training required to address nutrition-related issues. CONCLUSIONS: Positive attitude and interest in nutrition among final-year medical students is high, but nutrition education is not perceived as sufficient to adequately prepare doctors in the field of nutrition.

Clinical Nutrition and Human Rights. An International Position Paper.

The International Working Group for Patients' Right to Nutritional Care presents its position paper regarding nutritional care as a human right intrinsically linked to the right to food and the right to health. All people should have access to food and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy including artificial nutrition and hydration. In this regard, the hospitalized malnourished ill should mandatorily have access to screening, diagnosis, nutritional assessment, with optimal and timely nutritional therapy in order to overcome malnutrition associated morbidity and mortality, while reducing the rates of disease-related malnutrition. This right does not imply there is an obligation to feed all patients at any stage of life and at any cost. On the contrary, this right implies, from an ethical point of view, that the best decision for the patient must be taken and this may include, under certain circumstances, the decision not to feed. Application of the human rights-based approach to the field of clinical nutrition will contribute to the construction of a moral, political, and legal focus to the concept of nutritional care. Moreover, it will be the cornerstone to the rationale of political and legal instruments in the field of clinical nutrition.

Clinical nutrition and human rights. An international position paper.

The International Working Group for Patients' Right to Nutritional Care presents its position paper regarding nutritional care as a human right intrinsically linked to the right to food and the right to health. All people should have access to food and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy including artificial nutrition and hydration. In this regard, the hospitalized malnourished ill should mandatorily have access to screening, diagnosis, nutritional assessment, with optimal and timely nutritional therapy in order to overcome malnutrition associated morbidity and mortality, while reducing the rates of disease-related malnutrition. This right does not imply there is an obligation to feed all patients at any stage of life and at any cost. On the contrary, this right implies, from an ethical point of view, that the best decision for the patient must be taken and this may include, under certain circumstances, the decision not to feed. Application of the human rights-based approach to the field of clinical nutrition will contribute to the construction of a moral, political and legal focus to the concept of nutritional care. Moreover, it will be the cornerstone to the rationale of political and legal instruments in the field of clinical nutrition.

Lessons Learned in Nutrition Therapy in Patients With Severe COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has reached worldwide, and until a vaccine is found, it will continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 ranges from that of being asymptomatic to developing a fatal illness characterized by multiple organ involvement. Approximately 20% of the patients will require hospitalization; one-quarter of hospitalized patients will develop severe COVID-19 requiring admission to the intensive care unit, most frequently, with acute respiratory failure. An ongoing effort is being made to identify the patients that will develop severe COVID-19. Overall, patients present with 3 different phenotypes of nutrition risk: (1) the frail older patient, (2) the patient with severe ongoing chronic illness, and (3) the patient with severe and morbid obesity. These 3 phenotypes represent different nutrition risks and diverse nutrition interventions. This article explores the different potential approaches to nutrition intervention in patients with COVID-19, evaluating, in this process, the challenges faced in the implementation of guidelines written by different societies.

Nutritional risk is associated with an increase of in-hospital mortality and a reduction of being discharged home: Results of the 2009-2015 nutritionDay survey.

BACKGROUND: Disease-related malnutrition is a known factor for poor outcomes. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the prevalence and the impact of nutritional risk on outcomes in Colombia. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of nutritional risk, to know how nutrition screening is routinely performed and to determine the impact of nutritional risk on the outcomes of in-hospital mortality and being discharged home outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive analysis of selected data from 7 consecutive, annual, and cross-sectional nutritionDay samples (2009-2015) including a total of 7,994 adult patients in 248 units in Colombia. Data is contrasted with the Latin American and worldwide results. The prevalence of nutritional risk was determined according to the malnutrition screening tool (MST). The impact of nutritional risk in Colombian patients regarding outcomes was assessed by a Fine and Gray competing risk regression model controlling for PANDORA score (age, BMI, length of stay before nutritionDay, cancer diagnosis, and mobility). RESULTS: The prevalence of nutritional risk (MST score ≥ 2) in Colombia was 38%, 41% in Latin America, and 32% worldwide. Half of the Colombian units screened patients for malnutrition or nutritional risk on admission to hospital, compared to 80% in Latin America and 62% worldwide. Only 23% of the Colombian patients identified as being at nutritional risk in the nutritionDay survey received any nutritional therapy. The hospital mortality hazard ratio of Colombian patients at nutritional risk defined by MST was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.53,2.46; p < 0.001) and 0.82 of being discharged home (95% CI, 0.76,0.88, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study in Colombia evaluating the impact of nutritional risk on clinical outcomes showing an increase of in-hospital mortality and a reduction of being discharged home. Moreover, the study shows that nutritional risk is still highly prevalent worldwide implying the need to promote an optimal nutritional care. The participation of Latin American countries in the nutritionDay survey is an opportunity to increase knowledge and awareness of these issues.

Declaración de Cartagena. Declaración Internacional sobre el Derecho al Cuidado Nutricional y la Lucha contra la Malnutrición / Cartagena Declaration. The International Declaration on the Right to Nutritional Care and the Fight against Malnutrition

Frente a la necesidad de promover el derecho al cuidado nutricional, de luchar contra la malnutrición y de avanzar en temas de educación e investigación en nutrición clínica, las sociedades que constituyen la FELANPE firmaron la Declaración Internacional sobre el Derecho al Cuidado Nutricional y la Lucha contra la Malnutrición, "Declaración de Cartagena", el 3 de mayo del presente año en la ciudad de Cartagena, en el marco del 33º Congreso de la Asociación Colombiana de Nutrición Clínica. La Declaración proporciona un marco coherente de 13 principios, los cuales podrán servir de guía a las sociedades afiliadas a la FELANPE en el desarrollo de los planes de acción. Además, servirá como un instrumento para que promuevan, a través de los gobiernos, la formulación de políticas y legislaciones en el campo de la nutrición clínica. Consideramos que el marco general de principios propuesto por la Declaración puede contribuir a crear conciencia acerca de la magnitud de este problema y a forjar redes de cooperación entre los países de la región. Aunque esta Declaración no tiene un efecto jurídico vinculante (obligatorio), tiene una fuerza moral innegable y puede proporcionar orientación práctica a los estados. Un plan de implementación permitirá desarrollar la caja de herramientas necesaria para transformar los principios en acciones

The need to promote the right to nutritional care, to fight against malnutrition and to advance in education and research in clinical nutrition has led all the FELANPE's societies to sign on May 3rd, during the 33rd Congress of the Colombian Clinical Nutrition Association (ACNC) in the city of Cartagena, the International Declaration on the Right to Nutritional Care and the Fight against Malnutrition, "Declaration of Cartagena". The Declaration provides a coherent framework of 13 principles which can serve as a guide for societies, schools and associations affiliated to FELANPE in the development of action plans. In addition, it will serve as an instrument to promote, through governments, the formulation of policies and legislation in the field of clinical nutrition. We believe that the general framework of principles proposed by the Declaration can contribute to raise awareness about the magnitude of this problem and to promote cooperation networks among Latin-American countries. Although this Declaration does not have a binding legal effect, it has an undeniable moral strength and it can provide practical guidance to States. An implementation program will allow developing a toolkit to transform principles into actions

[Cartagena Declaration. The International Declaration on the Right to Nutritional Care and the Fight against Malnutrition]. / Declaración de Cartagena. Declaración Internacional sobre el Derecho al Cuidado Nutricional y la Lucha contra la Malnutrición.

INTRODUCTION: The need to promote the right to nutritional care, to fight against malnutrition and to advance in education and research in clinical nutrition has led all the FELANPE's societies to sign on May 3rd, during the 33rd Congress of the Colombian Clinical Nutrition Association (ACNC) in the city of Cartagena, the International Declaration on the Right to Nutritional Care and the Fight against Malnutrition, "Declaration of Cartagena". The Declaration provides a coherent framework of 13 principles which can serve as a guide for societies, schools and associations affiliated to FELANPE in the development of action plans. In addition, it will serve as an instrument to promote, through governments, the formulation of policies and legislation in the field of clinical nutrition. We believe that the general framework of principles proposed by the Declaration can contribute to raise awareness about the magnitude of this problem and to promote cooperation networks among Latin-American countries. Although this Declaration does not have a binding legal effect, it has an undeniable moral strength and it can provide practical guidance to States. An implementation program will allow developing a toolkit to transform principles into actions.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Frente a la necesidad de promover el derecho al cuidado nutricional, de luchar contra la malnutrición y de avanzar en temas de educación e investigación en nutrición clínica, las sociedades que constituyen la FELANPE firmaron la Declaración Internacional sobre el Derecho al Cuidado Nutricional y la Lucha contra la Malnutrición, "Declaración de Cartagena", el 3 de mayo del presente año en la ciudad de Cartagena, en el marco del 33º Congreso de la Asociación Colombiana de Nutrición Clínica. La Declaración proporciona un marco coherente de 13 principios, los cuales podrán servir de guía a las sociedades afiliadas a la FELANPE en el desarrollo de los planes de acción. Además, servirá como un instrumento para que promuevan, a través de los gobiernos, la formulación de políticas y legislaciones en el campo de la nutrición clínica. Consideramos que el marco general de principios propuesto por la Declaración puede contribuir a crear conciencia acerca de la magnitud de este problema y a forjar redes de cooperación entre los países de la región. Aunque esta Declaración no tiene un efecto jurídico vinculante (obligatorio), tiene una fuerza moral innegable y puede proporcionar orientación práctica a los estados. Un plan de implementación permitirá desarrollar la caja de herramientas necesaria para transformar los principios en acciones.

Caracterización socio-económica y ambiental en pequeños y medianos predios ganaderos en la región del sumapaz, colombia

Las comunidades ganaderas, a pequeña y mediana escala, en la provincia del Sumapaz, se encuentran en un periodo de transición hacia la tecnificación en la producción. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue describir algunos aspectos que actúan como barreras en la tecnificación y limitan la implementación de buenas prácticas ganaderas. Se realizó un diagnóstico participativo en pequeños y medianos ganaderos del Sumapaz, mediante encuesta aleatoria, en nueve municipios de la provincia. Los resultados evidencian que existen diferentes barreras socio-económicas, que obstaculizan el acceso a tecnologías para el mejoramiento de la producción, como el bajo nivel de ingresos económicos, acceso a la educación superior y falta de registros contables y de sanidad en la producción; sin embargo, se observaron indicadores positivos, asociados al manejo ambiental de los recursos naturales, como parte de su legado cultural.

Livestock community from the Sumapaz region are in a transition period towards to technical production. Thus, our aim was to assess the mean requirements which delay implementation of good farming practices. This study, involved small and medium livestock farmers from the Sumapaz region through a random test applied in nine municipalities from the province. Results showed socioeconomic barriers which limited the technology transfer for improvement in production such as low income, restricted access to university education and lack of productive and sanitary records. However, we observed positive outcomes with regard to environmental management which is characteristic as their cultural heritage.

Soporte nutricional del paciente adulto. Resultados de la reunión de consenso de la Asociación Colombiana de Nutrición Clínica / Nutritional support in the adult. Consensus meeting of the Colombian Association of Clinical Nutrition

Introducción. El soporte nutricional es la única alternativa terapéutica para los pacientes que presentan dificultades en la ingestión de alimentos. Se pretende unificar los conceptos y desarrollar un documento de fácil acceso y consulta rápida en relación con la administración de nutrición para los pacientes adultos. Materiales y métodos. Se escogió la metodología de consenso. La Asociación Colombiana de Nutrición Clínica seleccionó los expertos teniendo en cuenta su participación en grupos de soporte nutricional, la profesión y la ciudad donde trabajaban. Veinticinco personas respondieron los cuestionarios y se conformaron tres grupos: uno para decidir sobre la estructura de los grupos de soporte nutricional, otro sobre la manera de calcular las necesidades nutricionales, y otro sobre los accesos entéricos y parenterales. Se diseñaron preguntas específicas para cada tema. Se tabularon las respuestas enviadas por cada uno de los expertos. Se dio por finalizado el proceso de consenso después de la tercera ronda de evaluación. Resultados. Entre los aspectos que obtuvieron consenso, se encuentran los siguientes: deben existir grupos de soporte nutricional para el manejo de pacientes adultos que requieren terapia nutricional entérica o parenteral; el grupo debe estar conformado por médico, nutricionista, enfermero y químico farmacéutico; la valoración de los pacientes debe hacerse diariamente; las funciones de cada integrante; la fórmula de Harris-Benedict debe utilizarse en todos los casos para el cálculo de las necesidades energéticas; los rangos de aporte proteico, graso y calórico; el material de la sonda de nutrición entérica debe ser poliuretano o silicona; indicación de uso oral de la sonda entérica; indicación de la sonda de tungsteno; indicación de una vía definitiva de nutrición entérica, la cual debe establecerse mediante gastrostomía endoscópica percutánea con sonda específicamente diseñada; tiempo de inicio de la nutrición entérica; manejo de la sonda entérica para administración de fórmulas y medicamentos; las indicaciones de nutrición parenteral; uso de catéteres centrales con vía exclusiva para la nutrición; uso de apósitos para el catéter central; vía de inserción, su localización y el tiempo de recambio. Conclusión. Existen recomendaciones en el manejo del soporte nutricional que son ampliamente aceptadas y permiten estandarizar los procesos de nutrición clínica.

Introduction: Nutritional support is the only therapeutic strategy for patients with difficulties in food ingestion. This document tries to unify concepts about nutrition in adults and to develop a simple and easy to consult tool. Material and methods: A consensus development method was chosen. The Colombian Association for Clinical Nutrition selected experts based on their leadership in nutritional support groups, their profession and place of work. Twenty five people answered the surveys and three groups were assembled: one to define the structure of nutritional support groups, to calculate caloric requirements; and to discuss enteral and parenteral access methods. Question about each subject were previously defined and the answers were categorized. After three rounds, the consensus method was closed. Results: It was possible to attain a consensus on the necessity to have nutritional support group to manage adults patients with enteral or parenteral nutrition-; the group should include a physician, a nutritionist, a nurse and pharmaceutical chemist with specific functions; patients should be assessed daily; the Harris-Benedict formula should be used to calculate energy requirements; protein, fat and caloric contribution doses; enteral tube should be made of silicone or polyurethane; indications of enteral tubes; indication of duodenal tubes; indication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as the definitive way of enteral nutrition; time to begin enteral nutrition; management of enteral tubes for medicine administration; indications of parenteral nutrition; use of central vein catheter and dressings; way and place of catheter insertion and time of change. Conclusion: There are recommendations in nutritional support that are widely accepted and allow a standardization of processes.

Tiempo de evolución de la apendicitis y riesgo de perforación / Time and risk of rupture in acute appendicitis

Introducción. La apendicitis es la condición quirúrgica más común a la que se enfrenta el cirujano. La relación entre el tiempo de evolución y la complicación (perforación o peritonitis) se ha asumido como lineal, sin que exista evidencia contundente de esta afirmación. El propósito fue evaluar la relación entre el tiempo de los síntomas y la complicación de la apendicitis. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó un estudio de cohortes sobre una base de datos prospectiva previamente ensamblada y publicada por los autores, en el que se evaluaron pacientes con dolor abdominal sugestivo de apendicitis. El método de referencia fue el reporte histopatológico. Se midió el tiempo de evolución de los síntomas en horas, en función del diagnóstico de apendicitis. Resultados. Se incluyeron 206 pacientes (59,7% hombres). El tiempo de evolución del grupo de apendicitis no complicada fue de 28,1±22,9 frente a 26,5±33,4 horas en apendicitis complicada (p=0,7), mientras que el tiempo de evolución del grupo de apendicitis no perforada fue de 22,5±17,5 frente a 33,4±24,8 horas en el de perforada (p<0,001). No se demostró una relación lineal entre el tiempo de síntomas y la perforación. Discusión. Generalmente se ha afirmado que existe una relación lineal entre el tiempo de evolución de los síntomas y la progresión de la apendicitis, y asimismo, de la perforación. Nuestros resultados demuestran que independientemente del tiempo de evolución de los síntomas, la frecuencia de apendicitis no complicada es estable y que existen otros factores no relacionados con el tiempo que pueden determinar la presentación de la enfermedad.

Introduction. Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition faced by surgeons. Relationship between time of symptomatology and the development of complications (rupture or peritonitis) has been assumed to be lineal, but there is no evidence supporting this belief. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between time of symptoms of appendicitis and the development of complications. Materials and methods. A cohort study was designed based on data from a previously published study by the authors that evaluated patients with lower abdominal pain suggesting appendicitis. Gold standard for diagnosis was the histopathology report. Time of symptoms in hours was determined and compared with complication rates of acute appendicitis. Results. 206 patients were included (59,7% male). Time of symptoms in the group of uncomplicated acute appendicitis was 28,1 ±22,9 versus 26,5 ±33,4 hours in ruptured appendicitis (p <0,001). There was no lineal correlation between time and symptomatology and perforation. Discussion. It has been generally stated that there is a lineal relationship time of symptomatology and the rate of rupture in patients with acute appendicitis. Our results show that independent of the time of symptomatology, the frequency of uncomplicated appendicitis is stable and that there exist others factors not related with timing that can determine rupture in acute appendicitis.

Colecistectomía de urgencia por laparoscopia por colecistitis aguda en adultos mayores / Emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly

Introducción y objetivos. La colecistectomía de urgencia por laparoscopia en el adulto mayor con colecistitis aguda, ha aumentado en el mundo. En Colombia no existe información al respecto. En este estudio se evalúan los resultados del procedimiento, efectuando un análisis discriminado por subgrupos de edad. Métodos. Análisis descriptivo de los factores demográficos, clínicos, bioquímicos y de imágenes diagnósticas, en una población de adultos mayores sometidos a colecistectomía por laparoscopia de urgencia en comparación con la población general. Se evaluó la tasa de morbilidad, de mortalidad, conversión y estancia hospitalaria para cada grupo y en dos poblaciones de adultos mayores (mayores de 65 a 74 años y mayores de 75 años). Un valor p menor de 0,05 se consideró estadísticamente significativo. Resultados. Se incluyeron 703 pacientes (18,3% adultos mayores). La hipertensión, la diabetes, la colangitis, la coledocolitiasis y la clasificación ASA III-IV fueron factores significativamente estadísticos en los adultos mayores. Las tasas de reintervención, de conversión y de hemorragia fueron estadísticamente significativas en los adultos mayores. La diabetes y la tasa de conversión fueron superiores en los adultos mayores de 75 años, comparados con los de 65 a 74 años. Las tasas de lesión de la vía biliar, infección y mortalidad, no mostraron diferencia en ninguno de los grupos. La estancia hospitalaria fue de 4,5 días en promedio en los adultos mayores, contra 1,8 días en promedio en la población general (p<0,001). Conclusiones. La colecistectomía de urgencia por laparoscopia continúa siendo un procedimiento relevante en adultos mayores con colecistitis aguda. Se debe tener precaución pues las tasas de hemorragia, reintervención y conversión, son ligeramente superiores en este grupo.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in the elderly is increasing worldwide. Most trials report different results; however, their performance in Colombia is unknown. This study evaluates their results conducting a discriminative analysis in different aging populations. Methods: Prospective analysis of patients >65 years old with acute cholecystitis submitted to urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a fourth level, teaching and referral center in Bogotá, Colombia. We performed a univariate analysis of demographic, clinical, biochemical and imaging characteristics to identify significant variables in the elderly, in comparison with general population. Then we compared two different elderly populations (65-74years and >75years). We identified morbidity, mortality, conversions and LOS for every group. A p<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: 703 patients were included. 18.3% were elderly. Hypertension (p<0.001), diabetes (p<0.001), cholangitis (p<0.001), choledocholithiasis (p<0.007), ASA III-IV (p<0.001) were significant factors for elderly. Reoperations [elderly:4.3%; general population:1.2% (p<0.001)], conversions [elderly:32.6%; general population:9.2% (p<0.001)] and bleeding [elderly:2.1%; general population:0.3%](p<0.01) were significant factors for elderly. Diabetes and conversions were identified as significant factors for patients >75 years compared with patients between 65-74 years. Biliary tract injury, surgical site infection and mortality did not show statistical significance. LOS was 4.5 days for elderly against 1.8 days in the general population (p<0.001). Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a valuable procedure for elderly patients with acute cholecystitis and could be recommended despite their epidemiologic profile. Precautions should be taken into account because bleeding, reoperation and conversion are slightly higher in these patients.

Intususcepción intestinal en adultos por lesiones benignas / Intestinal intussusception due to benign lesions in adults

La intususcepción intestinal en una patología infrecuente en el adulto. En este documento describimos dos casos de presentación quirúrgica aguda caracterizada por dolor abdominal, masa y síntomas obstructivos; uno de ellos en una mujer de 18 años con una intususcepción yeyuno-yeyunal secundaria a un pólipo hamartomatoso, y otro, en una mujer de 40 años con un lipoma submucoso del colon descendente que producía intususcepción colocolónica.

Intestinal intussusception in adults occurs infrequently. In this study we describe two cases of acute surgical events characterized by abdominal pain, masses and obstructive symptoms. One of these cases occurred in an 18 year old woman with jejuno-jejunal intussusceptions due to a hamartomatous polyp. The other case was a 40 year woman with a colo-colonic intussusception due to a submucosal lipoma in the descending colon.

Análisis de los factores de conversión durante colecistectomía laparoscópica a abierta en una cohorte prospectiva de 703 pacientes con colecistitis aguda / Analysis of factors for conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a prospective study of 703 patients with acute cholecystitis

La conversión a cirugía abierta durante colecistectomía laparoscópica se presenta en el 20%. Este desenlace se relaciona con mayor morbilidad y costos. En este estudio se describen los factores predictivos de conversión, la estancia hospitalaria, morbimortalidad asociada. Materiales y métodos Cohorte prospectiva de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía laparoscópica de urgencia con colecistitis aguda. Análisis uni- y multivariado de los factores predictivos de conversión a partir de variables socio-demográficas, clínicas, bioquímicas y de imágenes diagnósticas, identificación de la tasa de morbilidad, mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria en los dos grupos. Resultados 703 pacientes fueron incluidos en el análisis. La tasa de conversión fue 13,8%. Los factores identificados en el análisis univariado fueron: género masculino, edad >70 años, hipertensión arterial, colangitis, CPRE previa, coledocolitiasis, bilirrubina total >2mg/dl, ictericia, recuento de leucocitos >12.000mm3, ASA III-IV y engrosamiento de la pared de la vesícula por ecografía. Los factores independientes fueron: género masculino (p<0,02), edad>70 años (p<0,02), CPRE previa (p<0,05) y recuento de leucocitos>12.000mm3 (p<0,04). Los pacientes convertidos presentaron mayor tasa de morbilidad, reoperación y estancia hospitalaria (p<0,001). La mortalidad no mostró diferencias. Conclusiones Es importante reconocer al paciente con mayor riesgo de conversión para optimizar la planeación y ejecución del procedimiento quirúrgico y disminuir la morbilidad asociada a la laparotomía, dado que los factores independientes identificados no son modificables (AU)

Aims: Conversions to open surgery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy are performed in20% of patients with acute cholecystitis, and are associated with increased morbidity and costs. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for conversion and to evaluate morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. Methods: A prospective cohort of patients admitted to the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. We evaluated the statistical significance of the demographic, clinical, biochemical, imaging and surgical factors at admission, associated with conversion to open surgery using a univariate model. The associated factors evaluated during initial analysis were then included in a multivariate analysis. Finally a comparative analysis was made of the morbidity and mortality in both models. Results: A total of 703 patients were included. Conversion rate was 13.8%. Univariate analysis identified as factors: male gender, previous ERCP, leucocytes > 12,000 mm3,age > 70 years, hypertension, jaundice, cholangitis, total bilirubin > 2 mg/dl, ASA III-IV,gallbladder wall enlargement and choledocholithiasis. Logistic regression identified as predictive factors: previous ERCP, leucocytes, age > 70 years and male gender. Converted patients had a higher morbidity rate, further operations and longer hospital stays (P < .001).No difference was seen in mortality. Discussion: It is important to recognise patients with a higher risk of conversion in order to optimise planning and performing of the surgical procedure, and to decrease the morbidity associated with laparotomy, given that the independent factors identified are not modifiable (AU)

[Analysis of factors for conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a prospective study of 703 patients with acute cholecystitis]. / Análisis de los factores de conversión durante colecistectomía laparoscópica a abierta en una cohorte prospectiva de 703 pacientes con colecistitis aguda.

AIMS: Conversions to open surgery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy are performed in 20% of patients with acute cholecystitis, and are associated with increased morbidity and costs. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for conversion and to evaluate morbidity, mortality and hospital stay. METHODS: A prospective cohort of patients admitted to the emergency department with acute cholecystitis. We evaluated the statistical significance of the demographic, clinical, biochemical, imaging and surgical factors at admission, associated with conversion to open surgery using a univariate model. The associated factors evaluated during initial analysis were then included in a multivariate analysis. Finally a comparative analysis was made of the morbidity and mortality in both models. RESULTS: A total of 703 patients were included. Conversion rate was 13.8%. Univariate analysis identified as factors: male gender, previous ERCP, leucocytes>12,000 mm(3), age>70 years, hypertension, jaundice, cholangitis, total bilirubin>2mg/dl, ASA III-IV, gallbladder wall enlargement and choledocholithiasis. Logistic regression identified as predictive factors: previous ERCP, leucocytes, age>70 years and male gender. Converted patients had a higher morbidity rate, further operations and longer hospital stays (P<.001). No difference was seen in mortality. DISCUSSION: It is important to recognise patients with a higher risk of conversion in order to optimise planning and performing of the surgical procedure, and to decrease the morbidity associated with laparotomy, given that the independent factors identified are not modifiable.