Cross-cultural adaptation of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire.Validation study of the Spanish version.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years, instruments that measure outcomes and quality of life as perceived by the patient have become tools of great clinical value. The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire is one of the main instruments for the assessment of patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, no valid version has been published for use in the Spanish population. METHODS: The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish and the psychometric characteristics of the new version were then studied. Seventy-six patients were selected who were to undergo epidural steroid injection or were seen in the Hospital Complex of Navarre Spinal Unit. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire shows high Cronbach alpha internal consistency values, high reproducibility, a good correlation with the most important low back condition questionnaires used worldwide and good sensitivity for detecting clinical change in patients who undergo epidural steroid injection. CONCLUSION: This study resulted in a version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire or Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish, with highly reliable, valid and sensitive psychometric characteristics. These proven properties make the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire available for the Spanish population, to evaluate outcomes and health status as perceived by patients with spinal stenosis and claudication syndrome.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire. Validation study of the Spanish versión / Adaptación transcultural de Cuestionario de Claudicación Zurich. Estudio de validación de la versión española

Background: In the last few years, instruments that measure outcomes and quality of life as perceived by the patient have become tools of great clinical value. The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire is one of the main instruments for the assessment of patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis. Nonetheless, no valid version has been published for use in the Spanish population. Methods: The Zurich Claudication Questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish and the psychometric characteristics of the new version were then studied. Seventy-six patients were selected who were to undergo epidural steroid injection or were seen in the Hospital Complex of Navarre Spinal Unit. Results: The Spanish version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire shows high Cronbach alpha internal consistency values, high reproducibility, a good correlation with the most important low back condition questionnaires used worldwide and good sensitivity for detecting clinical change in patients who undergo epidural steroid injection. Conclusion: This study resulted in a version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire or Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire translated and cross-culturally adapted to Spanish, with highly reliable, valid and sensitive psychometric characteristics. These proven properties make the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire available for the Spanish population, to evaluate outcomes and health status as perceived by patients with spinal stenosis and claudication sindrome (AU)

Introducción: En los últimos años, los instrumentos de medida de resultados y calidad de vida percibida por el paciente, se han convertido en herramientas de gran utilidad clínica. El Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich es uno de los principales instrumentos para el estudio de los pacientes afectos de estenosis del canal lumbar. Actualmente, no se ha publicado una versión validada para su uso en la población española. Métodos: El Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich ha sido traducido y adaptado transculturalmente al español, y se han estudiado las características psicométricas de la nueva versión. Se seleccionaron 76 pacientes a los que se les iba a realizar una infiltración epidural de esteroides o que eran vistos en consultas de la Unidad de Raquis Quirúrgico del Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra. Resultados: La versión española del Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich muestra altos valores de consistencia interna alfa de Cronbach, alta reproducibilidad, una buena correlación con los cuestionarios de patología lumbar más importantes a nivel mundial, y una buena sensibilidad para detectar cambios clínicos en pacientes a los que se les realiza una infiltración epidural de corticoides. Conclusión: Se ha obtenido una versión del Cuestionario de Claudicación de Zurich traducida y adaptada transculturalmente al español, con altos valores en las características psicométricas de fiabilidad, validez y sensibilidad. Esto permite, en la población española, evaluar los resultados y el estado de salud percibido por los pacientes con estenosis de canal y síndrome de claudicación (AU)

Diagnóstico de situación de la relación atención primaria-asistencia rehabilitadora en el Sistema Nacional de Salud / Diagnosis of the current relationship between family medicine and rehabilitation in the publicly-funded health system

La relación entre la medicina de familia (MF) y la atención rehabilitadora (AR) está evolucionando de forma constante en las últimas décadas. Existen elementos comunes en el conjunto del Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS). Al mismo tiempo, se observan diferencias entre las diferentes comunidades. El principal objetivo es conocer la situación actual de la relación atención primaria-atención rehabilitadora en el SNS. Como objetivo secundario, explorar el conocimiento de los médicos de familia acerca de la especialidad de medicina física y rehabilitación (MFyR). Mediante la cumplimentación de un cuestionario, se registran variables relacionadas con aspectos organizativos de la relación MF-MFyR; los datos han sido analizados con el paquete de programas estadísticos SPSS. Las variables cualitativas se describen con la distribución de frecuencias de cada una de las categorías y las cuantitativas con la media y la desviación estándar. El 52% de los médicos de atención primaria encuestados dispone de unidad de fisioterapia en su centro de trabajo. El 21% refiere que cuenta con apoyo especializado por MFyR en su centro de trabajo. El 49,4% dispone de ese apoyo a menos de 5 km de distancia. El 64,9% no realiza sesiones conjuntas con facultativos especialistas en MFyR y el 23,3% lo hace con poca frecuencia. El desconocimiento de la especialidad de MFyR por parte de MF condiciona la relación. La ubicación de centros de rehabilitación en el área de la atención primaria puede mejorar el conocimiento y la accesibilidad. La realización de actividades conjuntas se objetiva como un área de mejora imprescindible (AU)

The relationship between family medicine (FM) and physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) has steadily evolved in the last few decades. Although there are common elements in the publicly-funded health system in Spain, there are differences among the distinct autonomous regions. The main objective of this study was to determine the current status of the relationship between FM and PM&R in the publicly-funded health system. A secondary goal was to assess family doctors’ knowledge of the specialty of PM&R. A questionnaire was used to gather information on variables related to organizational aspects of the relationship between FM and PM&R. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package. Qualitative variables were described by using frequency distributions of each of the categories and quantitative variables were analyzed using means and standard deviation. Among the family doctors surveyed, 52% had a physiotherapy unit in the workplace; 21% reported there was a specialist in PM&R in the workplace; 49% reported that this support was less than 5 km away; 64.9% did not perform joint sessions with PM&R specialists and 23.3% did so infrequently. Family doctors were largely unaware of PM&R, which has tended to restrict the use of this specialty. Locating rehabilitation centers in the primary care catchment area could improve familiarity with and access to this specialty. Joint activities are a crucial area for improvement (AU)

Análisis de la demanda de interconsultas psiquiátricas en los hospitales generales de Pamplona / Analysis of the psychiatric consultation-liason in general

En este trabajo realizamos un estudio prospectivo de cuatro meses de duración sobre la psiquiatría de enlace en los dos Hospitales Públicos de Pamplona, Hospital Virgen del Camino y Hospital de Navarra, en el cual describimos y reflexionamos sobre la situación actual de la psiquiatría de interconsulta en Navarra. Asimismo, comparamos nuestros resultados con los obtenidos en un estudio realizado a mediados de los años 90 en el Hospital Provincial de Navarra, reseñando las semejanzas y las diferencias que se desprenden de ambos estudios e intentando analizar las posibles causas que pudieran conducir a las mismas

In this work we make a four months prospective study about the consultation-liaison service in the General Hospitals of Pamplona, Hospital Virgen del Camino and Hospital de Navarra, where we describe and reflect on the present situation of the Liaison Psychiatry of Navarra. Also, we compare our results with a study made in the middle of the nineties in the Provincial Hospital of Navarra, describing the similarities and the differences that exist between both studies and trying to analyze its possible causes

Estudio nacional de vigilancia de infección nosocomial en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Informe del año 2002 / National surveillance study of hospital- acquired infections in intensive care units. Report on the year 2002

Objetivo. Identificar las tasas nacionales de las infecciones hospitalarias adquiridas en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) relacionadas con instrumentalización, correspondientes al año 2002, así como conocer sus etiologías y la evolución de las resistencias de aquellos microorganismos más prevalentes. Diseño. Estudio de serie de casos, observacional y prospectivo. Ambito. 85 UCI, servicios o unidades de Cuidados Intensivos u otras unidades en donde se ingresan pacientes críticos, pertenecientes a 80 hospitales distintos. Pacientes y métodos. Se han incluido de forma continuada los pacientes ingresados durante más de 24 horas en las UCI participantes, que fueron seguidos hasta su alta de UCI o hasta un máximo de 30 días. Las infecciones objeto de vigilancia han sido: neumonías relacionadas con ventilación mecánica (N-VM), infecciones urinarias relacionadas con sonda uretral (IU-SU), bacteriemias primarias (BP) y relacionadas con catéteres vasculares (B-CVC) y bacteriemias secundarias. Resultados. Se han incluido 6.868 pacientes. En 684 (10%) pacientes se han detectado 1.019 infecciones, 445 N-VM (43,7%), 229 IU-SU (22,5%), 100 BP (9,8%), 135 B-CVC (13,2%) y 110 bacteriemias secundarias (10,8%). Las densidades de incidencia en relación con los días de exposición al factor de riesgo han sido 18,0 N-VM por 1.000 días de ventilación mecánica, 6,0 IU-SU por 1.000 días de sonda uretral y 4,5 BP-CVC por 1.000 días de catéter venoso central. La etiología predominante en las N-VM precoces ha sido Staphylococcus aureus sensible a meticilina y Haemophilus influenzae y en las N-VM tardías Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Acinetobacter baumannii. Las IU-SU han estado originadas predominantemente por Escherichia coli y Enterococcus faecalis y las BP-CVC por Staphylococcus epidermidis y Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo. Entre los marcadores de resistencia destacan por su frecuencia: P. aeruginosa resistente a imipenem-cilastatina (34,7%) y a ceftazidima (29,5%), S. aureus resistente a meticilina (35,3%), A. baumannii resistente a imipenem (33,9%) y E. coli resistente a ciprofloxacino (20,0%). No se ha detectado ninguna cepa de Enterococcus spp. o de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a vancomicina. Conclusiones. Se han identificado, para el año 2002, las tasas nacionales de las infecciones nosocomiales relacionadas con ventilación mecánica, sonda uretral y catéter venoso central, así como los agentes patógenos que predominan en cada una de ellas y el estado de los marcadores de multirresistencia

Objective. To identify national rates of hospital-acquired infections acquired in ICUs and related to instrumentalization, corresponding to the year 2002, as well as to define their etiologies and the evolution of the resistances of more prevalent microorganisms. Design. A study of cases series, observational and prospective.Context. Eighty five ICUs, Intensive Care Units departments, or other units where critical patients are admitted, from 80 different hospitals.Patients and methods. Patients included were consecutively admitted during more than 24 hours in the participating ICUs, with follow-up to their discharge of ICU or until 30 days post-admission. Infections evaluated were: respirator-associated pneumonias (RAM), urinary tract infections secondary to urethral catheter (UTI), primary bacteremias (PB) and bacteremias related to vascular catheters (BCVC), and secondary bacteremias. Results. 6,868 admitted patients were included. In 684 (10%) patients 1,019 infections were detected, 445 RAM (43.7%), 229 UTI (22.5%), 100 PB (9.8%), 135 BCVC (13.2%) and 110 secondary bacteremias (10.8%). The incidence-density with regard to the days of exposure to the risk factor were 18.0 RAM for 1,000 days of respirator, 6.0 UTI for 1,000 days of urethral catheter, and 4.5 BCVC for 1,000 days of central venous catheter. Predominant etiologies in early RAM were methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, and in late RAM were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis were the predominant etiology in UTI, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in BCVC. Among the resistance markers pointed out because of their frequency: P. aeruginosa resistant to imipenem-cilastatin (34.7%) and to ceftazidime (29.5%); S. aureus resistant to methicillin (35.3%); A. baumannii resistant to imipenem (33.9%), and E. coli resistant to ciprofloxacin (20.0%). No Enterococcus spp. or Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to vancomycin were detected. Conclusions. In this study we have been identified for the year 2002 the national rates of hospital-acquired infections related to respirator, urethral catheter, and central venous catheter, as well as the pathogens that predominate in each one and the state of the markers of multiple resistance

Influencia de la neumonía asociada a ventilación mecánica sobre la mortalidad de los pacientes críticos.¿Una historia interminable? / Influence of ventilator-associated pneumonia on mortality in critically-ill patients. A never-ending story?

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Dipyridamole administration at the end of an insufficient exercise Tc-99m MIBI SPECT improves detection of multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

To demonstrate that the administration of dipyridamole at the end of an insufficient maximal subjective exercise test can improve the diagnostic accuracy of single-photon emission computed tomography in patients with previous myocardial infarction, 209 consecutive patients were studied with technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile single-photon emission computed tomography and coronary angiography. Patients were divided in 3 groups: group 1, 107 patients with sufficient exercise testing; group 2, 55 patients with insufficient exercise testing; group 3, 47 patients with insufficient exercise testing in whom intravenous dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg over 4 minutes) was administered at the end of exercise. In groups 1 and 3 the sensitivity values for the diagnosis of multivessel disease were significantly higher (80% and 76%, respectively) than those in group 2 (59% [p = 0.009 and p = 0.02, respectively]). Specificity and predictive values were not different among the 3 groups. Thus, in patients with previous infarction in whom adequate levels of exercise could not be achieved, dipyridamole administration at the end of exercise significantly increased the sensitivity for diagnosing multivessel disease.

Utility of tumor marker CA 72.4 in patients with chronic renal failure.

The tumor marker CA 72.4 is composed of two monoclonal antibodies, B 72.3 and cc49, which detect the glycoprotein TAG 72 present in tumor cells. The levels of CA 72.4 may be modified depending on the route of excretion of the antigen TAG 72. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of CA 72.4 in healthy subjects and to assess the influence of chronic renal failure (CRF) on the levels of this tumor marker. Random serum samples were collected in 181 individuals (148 healthy volunteers and 33 patients with CRF) and 214 determinations of CA 72.4 were performed. We also performed 66 determinations of plasma creatinine. In healthy subjects the cutoff value of CA 72.4 was established at 3 U/mL, with a sensitivity of 53% and a specificity of 85.8%. In the CRF patients we found no statistically significant differences when we compared the values of CA 72.4 predialysis and postdialysis (p = 0.197). However, a statistically significant difference was found in the plasma creatinine levels (p < 0.001). Chronic renal failure does not affect the result of CA 72.4 determinations; this tumor marker may therefore be useful in the monitoring of patients with cancer, independent of their renal function.

[Quantification of myocardial ischemia in regions dependent on occluded coronary arteries in patients without previous infarction]. / Cuantificación de la isquemia miocárdica en regiones dependientes de arterias coronarias ocluidas de pacientes sin infarto previo.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess myocardial ischemia in regions with no infarction dependent occluded coronary arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 149 patients with proved coronary artery disease and without previous myocardial infarction were studied by 99mTc-MIBI SPECT (long protocol) and coronary angiography. The extent of the uptake reversibility was quantified in 3 regions (antero-septal, inferior and lateral) of the polar maps, assessing the percentage of each region that had a > 10% difference resulting from the rest uptake minus the stress uptake. The regions dependent on one occluded artery were compared to those dependent on non-occluded arteries. In the regions dependent on one occluded artery a comparison was also made between those which had a good collateral circulation and those which did not. RESULTS: Fifty-four out of 149 patients (36%) had at least one occluded coronary artery (20 anterior descending, 22 right and 27 circumflex coronary arteries). In the visual analysis, reversible defects were observed in all patients with occlusion of the anterior descending and the right coronary artery, but only in half of the occlusions of the circumflex coronary artery. The extent of this reversibility was significantly higher in the regions dependent on occluded arteries and was highly variable, though lower when good collateral circulation was present. CONCLUSIONS: Reversible defects were always observed in the occlusions of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries, but only in half of those of the circumflex artery. The extent of the ischemia was higher in the regions dependent on one occluded coronary artery, mainly when there was an absence of good collateral circulation.

[Adequacy of hospital admissions and stays of patients with uncomplicated inguinal hernia]. / Adecuación de ingresos y estancias hospitalarias en pacientes con hernia inguinal sin complicaciones.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia uncomplicated in patients aged over 17 years, diagnosis-related group (DRG) 162, generates a substantial number of hospital stays due its high frequency in our country. These stays may not be necessary, and present an important temporal and geographical variability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have analyzed a total of 612 days of stay belonging to the 124 admissions codified as DRG 162 during the first quarter of 1993 and 1994, using the "Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol". RESULTS: The overall mean stay of the DRG 162 was 5.0 days (2.3 days of inadequate stay and 2.7 days of clinically necessary stay). The mean stay in 1993, 5.6 days, was higher than the mean stay in 1994, 4.1 days (p = 0.006). The percentage of inappropriate admission was higher in 1993 than in 1994 (33.8% versus 18.9%; p = 0.06). Similarly, the percentage of inappropriate stay was higher in 1993 than in 1994 (46.9% versus 41.9%; p = 0.06). The more frequent reasons of inappropriate admission was premature admission (88.2%) and for the stay was delay in the discharge medical order (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The mean stay of DRG 162, as well as the percentage of inadequate stay and admission, has decreased from 1993 to 1994 in our hospital. According to the observed trend, the mean stay is approaching the adequate mean stay for this DRG.

[The long-term efficacy of fibrinolytic treatment in the acute phase of a myocardial infarct. A comparison with a control group]. / Eficacia a largo plazo del tratamiento fibrinolítico en la fase aguda del infarto de miocardio. Comparación con un grupo control.

BACKGROUND: The follow-up of patients with an acute myocardial infarction treated with fibrinolysis and that of patients treated with conventional therapy was analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort included: 1) 214 patients with a first acute infarction of < or = 4 hours and with < or = 70 years of age who participated in a randomized study comparing the effects of streptokinase (SK, n: 110) vs conventional treatment (control, n: 104), and 2) a total of 361 patients with a myocardial infarction of < or = 6 hours and < or = 75 years old treated with fibrinolytic agents. RESULTS: In-hospital mortality in the randomized study was 11% for the control group and 7% for the SK group, and 8.8% for the rest of patients treated with fibrinolysis. Mortality during follow-up in the randomized study (7.0 +/- 1.5 years) was 10.7% for the SK group and 19.3% for the control group. Ejection fraction was significantly lower in non survivors than in survivors (36.7% vs 50.8%, (p < 0.0001) and among patients with an ejection fraction < 50%, follow-up mortality was significantly lower in those with a complete recanalization (TIMI 3) than in those with an absent or incomplete recanalization (TIMI 0-2) (98% vs 22%). Follow-up mortality for the rest of patients treated with fibrinolysis (2.6 +/- 1.6 years) was 9%. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The reduction of in-hospital mortality by fibrinolysis appears to increase in the long-term follow-up, and 2) the long-term survival seems to be related not only to the left ventricular function but also to the extent of angiographic recanalization.