Cuidados en los últimos días de vida en los pacientes hospitalizados en medicina interna / End-of-life care for patients hospitalised in internal medicine departments

Objetivos: Describir los cuidados proporcionados al final de la vida en los pacientes fallecidos en servicios de medicina interna. Métodos: Estudio observacional, transversal, retrospectivo y multicéntrico de auditoría clínica. Cada hospital incluyó los 10 primeros pacientes fallecidos en el servicio de medicina interna a partir del 1 de diciembre de 2015. Se recogieron datos demográficos, clínicos y de circunstancias y cuidados en la muerte. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1.447 pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 84 años. Eran pluripatológicos 1.065 (74,3%), estaban en situación terminal 751 (51,9%) y tenían cáncer 248 (17,1%) pacientes. En los pacientes terminales se estableció una orden de no reanimación en 539 (73,3%) y se realizó sedación paliativa en 422 (57,4%). No se registró si se proporcionaron cuidados psicológicos, religiosos o de atención al duelo en el 32, 64,8 y 44,1%, respectivamente, de los pacientes terminales. Los pacientes con cáncer con más frecuencia eran competentes para la toma de decisiones (54,4% vs. 15,5%; p<0,001), conocían su pronóstico (42,6% vs. 8,6%; p<0,001), recibieron cuidados psicológicos (24,9% vs. 8,6%; p<0,001), fallecieron en una habitación individual (64,6% vs. 44,4%; p<0,001) y estuvieron acompañados (81,9% vs. 71,9%; p=0,003). Además, sus familiares recibieron con más frecuencia atención al duelo (15,6% vs. 8,2%; p=0,002). Conclusiones: Hay un registro insuficiente en las historias clínicas de los cuidados al final de la vida. Hay diferencias en los cuidados proporcionados a los pacientes con y sin cáncer

Objectives: To describe the care provided at the end of life for patients who die in internal medicine departments. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective multicentre, clinical audit study was conducted where each hospital included the first 10 patients who died in the internal medicine department starting on December 1, 2015. We collected demographic and clinical data and information regarding the circumstances and care at the time of death. Results: The study included 1,447 patients with a median age of 84 years. Of these, 1,065 (74.3%) were polypathological, 751 (51.9%) were terminal and 248 (17.1%) had cancer. For the terminal patients, do-not-resuscitate orders were established for 539 (73.3%), and palliative sedation was performed for 422 (57.4%). There was no record as to whether psychological, religious or grief care was provided in 32%, 64.8% and 44.1% of the terminal patients, respectively. The patients with cancer were more often competent to make decisions (54.4% vs. 15.5%; P<.001), knew their prognosis (42.6% vs. 8.6%; P<.001), received psychological care (24.9% vs. 8.6%; P<.001), died in an individual room (64.6% vs. 44.4%; P<.001) and were accompanied (81.9% vs. 71.9%; P=.003). Their relatives also more frequently received grief care (15.6% vs. 8.2%; P=.002). Conclusions: There is insufficient recording in the medical history as to the end-of-life care. There are differences in the care provided to patients with cancer and to those without cancer

End-of-life care for patients hospitalised in internal medicine departments. / Cuidados en los últimos días de vida en los pacientes hospitalizados en medicina interna.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the care provided at the end of life for patients who die in internal medicine departments. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective multicentre, clinical audit study was conducted where each hospital included the first 10 patients who died in the internal medicine department starting on December 1, 2015. We collected demographic and clinical data and information regarding the circumstances and care at the time of death. RESULTS: The study included 1,447 patients with a median age of 84 years. Of these, 1,065 (74.3%) were polypathological, 751 (51.9%) were terminal and 248 (17.1%) had cancer. For the terminal patients, do-not-resuscitate orders were established for 539 (73.3%), and palliative sedation was performed for 422 (57.4%). There was no record as to whether psychological, religious or grief care was provided in 32%, 64.8% and 44.1% of the terminal patients, respectively. The patients with cancer were more often competent to make decisions (54.4% vs. 15.5%; P<.001), knew their prognosis (42.6% vs. 8.6%; P<.001), received psychological care (24.9% vs. 8.6%; P<.001), died in an individual room (64.6% vs. 44.4%; P<.001) and were accompanied (81.9% vs. 71.9%; P=.003). Their relatives also more frequently received grief care (15.6% vs. 8.2%; P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient recording in the medical history as to the end-of-life care. There are differences in the care provided to patients with cancer and to those without cancer.

Principios generales de la interconsulta médica en enfermos hospitalizados / General principles of medical interconsultation for hospitalised patients

La interconsulta médica en pacientes hospitalizados constituye una actividad habitual entre los especialistas en medicina interna. Sin embargo, a pesar de su impacto e importancia crecientes, no se ha establecido un modelo que defina sus características, sus objetivos o la información que debe contener. En este trabajo, desde el Grupo de Asistencia Compartida e Interconsultas de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna, se proponen unas recomendaciones generales respecto a la forma de solicitar y de responder una interconsulta médica hospitalaria, así como un formato para la misma (AU)

Medical interconsultation for hospitalised patients is a regular activity among internal medicine specialists. However, despite its growing impact and importance, a model that defines its characteristics, objectives and information has not been established. This study, conducted by the Shared Care and Interconsultations Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine, proposes a number of general recommendations concerning the method for requesting and responding to hospital medical interconsultations, as well as a format for these interconsultations (AU)

General principles of medical interconsultation for hospitalised patients.

Medical interconsultation for hospitalised patients is a regular activity among internal medicine specialists. However, despite its growing impact and importance, a model that defines its characteristics, objectives and information has not been established. This study, conducted by the Shared Care and Interconsultations Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine, proposes a number of general recommendations concerning the method for requesting and responding to hospital medical interconsultations, as well as a format for these interconsultations.

Síndrome de Kartagener de diagnóstico tardío / Late diagnosis of Kartagener syndrome

No disponible

[Usefulness of MBDS in detection of adverse drug events]. / Utilidad del CMBD para la detección de acontecimientos adversos por medicamentos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of adverse drug events (ADE) as noted in hospital discharge reports, as well as their potential avoidability, drugs involved, clinical symptoms and the type of medication errors that led to the preventable ADE. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study for the January- December 2005 period of time, at a district hospital. ADE were detected in which patients with discharge reports including event codes as defined by the IDC-9-CM system, using the minimum basic data set (MBDS). RESULTS: ADEs were detected in 4.01% of all discharge reports in the study period (n = 160). 45% of ADEs were were detected at the Emergency Department (n = 72) and 55% (n = 88) were detected during hospitalization.62.3% of ADEs were considered potentially avoidable (n = 109). 38.1% of ADEs were serious, 40.0% moderate and 21.9% mild. Drugs most commonly involved in the ADEs sample studied included: antimicrobials (24.0%), systemic corticoids (15.4%), NSAIDs (11.4%), diuretics (10.3%), digoxin (9.1%), insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (5.7%), anticoagulants and heparin (5.7%). Inadequate therapy monitoring (47.7%), excessive dosage (28.5%), drug-drug interactions (10.1%) were the most common identified type of errors leading to preventable ADE. CONCLUSIONS: 3.2% of admissions was caused by ADEs. 2.2% of hospitalized patients experienced ADEs. 62% of ADEs were potentially preventable. A high proportion of preventable ADEs were around a small number of drugs. Effective safety practices directed to reduce the incidence of medication errors are needed.

Utilidad del CMBD para la detección de acontecimientos adversos por medicamentos / Usefulness of MBDS in detection of adverse drug events

Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia de los acontecimientos adversos a medicamentos (AAM) notificados en el informe de alta hospitalaria, valorar su evitabilidad y describir los fármacos implicados, las manifestaciones clínicas y los tipos de errores asociados a los AAM prevenibles. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo del Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD) del periodo enero-diciembre de 2005 en todos los servicios asistenciales de un hospital de ámbito comarcal, centrado en los pacientes en cuyo informe de alta se incluían los códigos asociados a efectos adversos por medicamentos según la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-9-MC) Resultados: Se detectan AAM en un 4,01% de las altas codificadas en el período de estudio (n = 160). 45% de los AAM (n = 72) causados por el uso extrahospitalario de fármacos y 55% (n = 88) durante la hospitalización. El 62,3% de los AAM eran prevenibles (n = 109). El 38,1% de los AAM fueron graves, 40,0% moderados y 21,9% leves. Los fármacos más frecuentemente implicados en AAM fueron: antiinfecciosos 24,0%, glucocorticoides sistémicos 15,4%, AINEs y otros analgésicos 11,4%, diuréticos 10,3%, digoxina 9,1%, insulina y antidiabéticos orales 5,7%, anticoagulante orales y heparina 5,7%. Las causas que motivaban su aparición fueron la falta de seguimiento (47,7%), dosis elevada (28,5%), e interacción medicamentosa (10,1%) Conclusiones: Un 3,2% de los ingresos urgentes estaba motivado por AAM. Un 2,2% de los pacientes hospitalizados presentó AAM. Un 62% de AAM era prevenible. Un alto grado de AAM prevenibles se centran en un número reducido de fármacos. Es necesario implantar prácticas efectivas de seguridad para reducir los errores de medicación

Objective: To analyze the incidence of adverse drug events (ADE) as noted in hospital discharge reports, as well as their potential avoidability, drugs involved, clinical symptoms and the type of medication errors that led to the preventable ADE. Material and methods: A retrospective study for the January- December 2005 period of time, at a district hospital. ADE were detected in which patients with discharge reports including event codes as defined by the IDC-9-CM system, using the minimum basic data set (MBDS). Results: ADEs were detected in 4.01% of all discharge reports in the study period (n = 160). 45% of ADEs were were detected at the Emergency Department (n = 72) and 55% (n = 88) were detected during hospitalization. 62.3% of ADEs were considered potentially avoidable (n = 109). 38.1% of ADEs were serious, 40.0% moderate and 21.9% mild. Drugs most commonly involved in the ADEs sample studied included: antimicrobials (24.0%), systemic corticoids (15.4%), NSAIDs (11.4%), diuretics (10.3%), digoxin (9.1%), insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (5.7%), anticoagulants and heparin (5.7%). Inadequate therapy monitoring (47.7%), excessive dosage (28.5%), drug-drug interactions (10.1%) were the most common identified type of errors leading to preventable ADE. Conclusions: 3.2% of admissions was caused by ADEs. 2.2% of hospitalized patients experienced ADEs. 62% of ADEs were potentially preventable. A high proportion of preventable ADEs were around a small number of drugs. Effective safety practices directed to reduce the incidence of medication errors are needed

Levofloxacino y rotura bilateral del tendón de Aquiles con evolución fatal / Levofloxacin-induced tendon rupture with fatal outcome

No disponible

Nódulos hepáticos evanescentes / Evanescent liver nodules

No disponible

[Diuretics in the treatment of arterial hypertension in the aged]. / Los diuréticos en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial del anciano.

Diuretics have been used in the treatment of arterial hypertension (AHT) for more than 30 years. However, its use as first-step drugs has been recently questioned, due to their "negative" effects on other cardiovascular risk factors and the lower than expected remission of the coronary artery disease. Based on the last interventionist studies on the AHT among the elderly, it seems that this statement can be put in doubt. The application of some general rules in the treatment of AHT and a rational and careful use of diuretics, allow them to play a relevant role, even nowadays, in the treatment of AHT among the elderly.