Antiagregation and anticoagulation, relationship with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the modern society brings a high prescription of platelet antiaggregation and anticoagulant medications. These treatments have been related to an increased incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleedings (UGB). Our aim was to estimate the fraction of UGB´s presented to our hospital that was related to this kind of treatments and describe their clinical features in our environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: a retrospective search was performed in the archives of our hospital of all the patients with diagnosis of UGB admitted during the period 2004-2007 both years inclusive. Patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant treatment were included. We analyzed the information regarding the use of medication, the bleeding lesion, the severity of the bleeding, recurrences, mortality and their clinical features. RESULTS: we found 523 episodes of UGB. Of these 137 (26.1%) were patients receiving platelet antiaggregation or anticoagulant drugs. The patients were male 60.2%, and had a mean age of 75.6 (± 10.8) years. The 65.5% (74) had HBP, 43.4% (49) diabetes mellitus and 37.2% (42) dislypemia and 13.3% (22) dementia.The drug most frequently implicated was ASA in 36.3% (41), followed by acenocumarol in 27.4% (31), clopidogrel 18.6% (21), double therapy (ASA + clopidogrel) in 6.2% (7), triple therapy (ASA + clopidogrel + acenocumarol) in 0.9% (1), triflusal 4.4% (5), low molecular weight heparin 5.3% (5), and ticlopidine in one patient (0.9%). Only 36.3% (41) were on treatment with proton pump inhibitors. There were 24 recurrences and 4 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: the 26.1% of the UGB attended in our environment were of iatrogenic origin. We also found a low use of proton pump inhibitors.

Antiagregación y anticoagulación, relación con la hemorragia digestiva alta / Antiagregation and anticoagulation, relationship with upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Introducción: la alta prevalencia de la patología cardiovascular en las sociedades modernas conlleva una elevada prescripción y uso de medicamentos antiagregantes y anticoagulantes. Estos tratamientos se han relacionado con un aumento de la incidencia de hemorragias digestivas altas (HDA). Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la proporción de HDA relacionadas con tratamientos antiagregantes o anticoagulantes y describir las características clínicas de estos pacientes en nuestro medio. Material y métodos: se realizó una búsqueda retrospectiva en los archivos de nuestro hospital de todos aquellos pacientes con diagnóstico de hemorragia digestiva alta, ingresados en el periodo 01/01/2004-31/12/2007. Incluimos los pacientes en tratamiento con antiagregantes y/o anticoagulantes. Analizamos la información referente a los fármacos que tomaban, la lesión sangrante subyacente, la gravedad de la hemorragia, las recidivas, la mortalidad y las características clínicas. Resultados: se recogieron 523 episodios de HDA, de los cuales 137 (26,1%) eran pacientes en tratamiento antiagregante y/o anticoagulante. Los pacientes incluidos eran hombres en el 60,2% de los casos y tenían una media de edad de 75,6 (±10,8) años. El 65,5% (74) de ellos presentaba HTA, el 43,4% (49) diabetes mellitus (DM) tipo 2, el 37,2% (42) dislipemia y el 13,3% (15) demencia. El fármaco más frecuentemente implicado fue el ácido acetilsalicílico en el 36,3% (41), seguido del acenocumarol en el 27,4% (31), el clopidogrel en el 18,6% (21), doble antiagregación (AAS + clopidogrel) en 6,2% (7), triple terapia (AAS + clopidogrel + acenocumarol) en 1 (0,9%), triflusal en el 4,4% (5), heparinas de bajo peso molecular en el 5,3% (6) y ticlopidina en un paciente (0,9%). Únicamente el 36,3% (41) recibían tratamiento con inhibidores de la bomba de protones. Hubo un total de 24 recidivas y 4 muertes. Conclusiones: el 26,1% de las hemorragias digestivas altas atendidas en nuestro medio son de origen iatrogénico. Llama la atención el bajo grado de gastroprotección(AU)

Introduction: the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the modern society brings a high prescription of platelet antiaggregation and anticoagulant medications. These treatments have been related to an increased incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleedings (UGB). Our aim was to estimate the fraction of UGB s presented to our hospital that was related to this kind of treatments and describe their clinical features in our environment. Material and methods: a retrospective search was performed in the archives of our hospital of all the patients with diagnosis of UGB admitted during the period 2004-2007 both years inclusive. Patients on antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant treatment were included. We analyzed the information regarding the use of medication, the bleeding lesion, the severity of the bleeding, recurrences, mortality and their clinical features. Results: we found 523 episodes of UGB. Of these 137 (26.1%) were patients receiving platelet antiaggregation or anticoagulant drugs. The patients were male 60.2%, and had a mean age of 75.6 (± 10.8) years. The 65.5% (74) had HBP, 43.4% (49) diabetes mellitus and 37.2% (42) dislypemia and 13.3% (22) dementia. The drug most frequently implicated was ASA in 36.3% (41), followed by acenocumarol in 27.4% (31), clopidogrel 18.6% (21), ouble therapy (ASA + clopidogrel) in 6.2% (7), triple therapy (ASA + clopidogrel + acenocumarol) in 0.9% (1), triflusal 4.4% (5), low molecular weight heparin 5.3% (5), and ticlopidine in one patient (0.9%). Only 36.3% (41) were on treatment with proton pump inhibitors. There were 24 recurrences and 4 deaths. Conclusions: the 26.1% of the UGB attended in our environment were of iatrogenic origin. We also found a low use of proton pump inhibitors(AU)

“Consultas de pasillo” (curbside consultation): otra actividad asistencial del infectólogo / Curbside consultation: Another healthcare activity of the infectious disease specialist

Introducción Se define “consulta de pasillo” (CP) como el proceso informal en el que un médico obtiene información de otro médico en el tratamiento de un paciente que nunca ha valorado el médico consultado. Material y métodos Estudio prospectivo observacional que tiene como objetivo conocer la frecuencia, los contenidos, los servicios demandantes y el resultado final de las CP realizadas a la Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas (UEI) en el período del 25-03-2008 al 5-12-2008. Las variables recogidas eran relativas al medio de contacto, tipo de pregunta, persona solicitante, complejidad del tema, tema relativo, recomendaciones y grado de seguimiento y evolución de la consulta. El grado de dificultad se evaluó mediante el sistema de la ACP (American Collage of Physicians). Se emplearon métodos estadísticos paramétricos y no paramétricos. ResultadosSe recabaron 208 CP (1,13/día), con una mediana de 2min. Los motivos de consulta más frecuentes fueron seleccionar un antimicrobiano (54,4%), evaluar el diagnóstico (10,5%), interpretación de datos microbiológicos (9,6%) y la combinación de varios motivos (27,4%). En el 5,8% se precisó ingreso para estudio y tratamiento de la enfermedad infecciosa. Se requirió una interconsulta formal en el 27% de los casos. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre médicos adjuntos y residentes y las realizadas por servicios médicos y quirúrgicos. Conclusiones Queremos destacar que las CP suponen una parte importante de la actividad asistencial de la UEI, aunque en su mayoría son sencillas y no suponen una carga de trabajo excesiva. Sin embargo, cuando se trata de consultas de caso clínico, realizadas por staff, con un grado de dificultad alto y que implican servicios quirúrgicos generan una actividad formal significativa (AU)

Introduction “Curbside consultation” is the term used to describe an informal process in which a physician requests information from another physician about the management of a patient who has not been assessed by the person consulted. Material and Methods Prospective, observational study designed to determine the frequency, services requested, and final result of curbside consultations made over the period of 3 March to 12 May 2008. The variables recorded included the means by which contact was made, the type of question, person requesting information, complexity of the subject, related subject, recommendations, and degree of follow-up and evolution of the consultation. The degree of difficulty was evaluated using the system of the American Collage of Physicians. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used in the analysis. Results A total of 208 consultations (1.13/day) were reported, lasting a median of 2 minutes. The most common reasons for consulting were selection of an antimicrobial agent (54.4%), evaluation of a diagnosis (10.5%), interpretation of microbiological data (9.6%), and a combination of reasons (27.4%). In 5.8% of cases, hospitalization was required to study and treat the infectious disease. A formal consultation was required in 27% of cases. Significant differences were found between staff physicians and medical residents and between medical and surgical departments. Conclusions Curbside consultations comprise an important part of healthcare activity in the Infectious Disease Department, although most requests are easily resolved and do not imply an excessive work burden. Nonetheless, when the consultation involves a difficult clinical case, the request is by a staff physician, and the surgery department is implicated, a significant amount of formal activity is generated (AU)

[Curbside consultation: another healthcare activity of the infectious disease specialist]. / "Consultas de pasillo" (curbside consultation): otra actividad asistencial del infectólogo.

INTRODUCTION: "Curbside consultation" is the term used to describe an informal process in which a physician requests information from another physician about the management of a patient who has not been assessed by the person consulted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, observational study designed to determine the frequency, services requested, and final result of curbside consultations made over the period of 3 March to 12 May 2008. The variables recorded included the means by which contact was made, the type of question, person requesting information, complexity of the subject, related subject, recommendations, and degree of follow-up and evolution of the consultation. The degree of difficulty was evaluated using the system of the American Collage of Physicians. Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used in the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 208 consultations (1.13/day) were reported, lasting a median of 2 minutes. The most common reasons for consulting were selection of an antimicrobial agent (54.4%), evaluation of a diagnosis (10.5%), interpretation of microbiological data (9.6%), and a combination of reasons (27.4%). In 5.8% of cases, hospitalization was required to study and treat the infectious disease. A formal consultation was required in 27% of cases. Significant differences were found between staff physicians and medical residents and between medical and surgical departments. CONCLUSIONS: Curbside consultations comprise an important part of healthcare activity in the Infectious Disease Department, although most requests are easily resolved and do not imply an excessive work burden. Nonetheless, when the consultation involves a difficult clinical case, the request is by a staff physician, and the surgery department is implicated, a significant amount of formal activity is generated.