Delayed Primary Repair of Complex Duodenal Injury Associated to Multiorgan Failure Due to Blunt Abdominal Trauma.

Duodenal injuries are rare and difficult to diagnose, with an incidence between 1 and 5% in cases of abdominal trauma. We present the case of a 30-year-old man who suffered a motorcycle collision presented with a 24-hour history of abdominal pain, peritoneal tenderness, and hemodynamic instability. Imaging studies show evidence of free fluid in the perihepatic, perisplenic, and pelvic space. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding a grade III duodenal, grade V jejunal, and grade II pancreatic injuries. The basis of surgical treatment being a primary anastomosis of duodenal and jejunal injuries, which allowed discharging him home 8 days after surgery and without any complications in his follow-up.

Appropriateness of medication prescribing in nursing homes: A collaboration project between pharmacy and geriatric departments / Adecuación farmacoterapéutica en centros sociosanitarios: proyecto de coordinación entre servicio de farmacia y geriatría

Purpose: To evaluate the appropriateness of medication prescribing and to analyze interventions carried out in polymedicated elderly patients in nursing homes (NHs). Methods: Prospective study of potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in polymedicated older adults living in NHs, implemented via a collaborative project between NHs and the geriatric and pharmacy departments of a university hospital. The pharmacist reviewed patients’ active medical prescriptions and prepared an individualized report with proposals aimed at therapeutic optimization that was sent for evaluation to the geriatrician in charge of the NH. The drug-related problems (DRPs) were classified according to the Third Consensus of Granada and the potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) were identified by explicit criteria (STOPP/START, BEERS, LESS-CHRON), implicit criteria (MAI) and CheckTheMeds® software. It was measured the degree of acceptance of the interventions carried out, and the economic impact was calculated from the direct costs of the discontinued drugs. Results: Of the 210 patients reviewed by the pharmacy department, 105 patients from 10 NHs were analyzed. A total of 510 prescriptions with possible DRPs were identified (38.5% of all prescribed drugs). According to STOPP/START/BEERS or LESS-CHRON criteria, 41.2% were PIPs. The main DRPs identified were: unfavorable risk-benefit ratio, inappropriate dose/regimen, inappropriate treatment duration, probability of adverse events, medication not indicated, and duplicate therapy. Interventions were proposed for 81.5% of the DRPs detected, of which 73.3% were accepted. This resulted in a 23.1% reduction in the number of drugs prescribed per patient and an economic saving of €16,218 per 6-month period. (AU)

Objetivos: Adecuar la farmacoterapia y analizar las intervenciones realizadas en pacientes ancianos institucionalizados en centros sociosanitarios (CSS) con polifarmacia. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de un programa de adecuación farmacoterapéutica en pacientes ancianos polimedicados de CSS mediante la puesta en marcha de un proyecto de coordinación de geriatría, farmacia hospitalaria y CSS desde el área de atención especializada. El farmacéutico realizó una revisión farmacoterapéutica de las prescripciones activas de los pacientes, elaborándose un informe individualizado con propuestas dirigidas a la optimización terapéutica. Los problemas relacionados con la medicación (PRM) encontrados se clasificaron según el Tercer Consenso de Granada, y las prescripciones potencialmente inapropiadas (PPI) se identificaron mediante criterios explícitos (STOPP/START, BEERS, criterios de deprescripción LESS-CHRON), criterios implícitos (MAI) y el programa informático CheckTheMeds®. Se midió el grado de aceptación de las intervenciones realizadas, y la repercusión económica se calculó a partir de los costes directos de los fármacos desprescritos.Resultados: De los 210 pacientes revisados por el servicio de farmacia se analizaron 105 pacientes evaluados por geriatría pertenecientes a 10 CSS. Se detectaron 510 prescripciones con posibles PRM (38,5% del total de fármacos prescritos). El 41,2% se correspondían a PPI según criterios STOPP/START/BEERS o LESS-CHRON. Los principales PRM identificados fueron: fármacos de beneficio/riesgo desfavorable, dosis o pauta no adecuada, duración no adecuada, mayor probabilidad de efectos adversos, medicamento no indicado y duplicidad. Se intervino en el 81,5% de los PRM detectados, con un grado de aceptación del 73,3% y una reducción del 23,1% en el número de medicamentos prescritos por paciente, con un ahorro económico de 16.218€/6 meses. (AU)

Appropriateness of medication prescribing in nursing homes: A collaboration project between pharmacy and geriatric departments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the appropriateness of medication prescribing and to analyze interventions carried out in polymedicated elderly patients in nursing homes (NHs). METHODS: Prospective study of potentially inappropriate medication prescribing in polymedicated older adults living in NHs, implemented via a collaborative project between NHs and the geriatric and pharmacy departments of a university hospital. The pharmacist reviewed patients' active medical prescriptions and prepared an individualized report with proposals aimed at therapeutic optimization that was sent for evaluation to the geriatrician in charge of the NH. The drug-related problems (DRPs) were classified according to the Third Consensus of Granada and the potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) were identified by explicit criteria (STOPP/START, BEERS, LESS-CHRON), implicit criteria (MAI) and CheckTheMeds® software. It was measured the degree of acceptance of the interventions carried out, and the economic impact was calculated from the direct costs of the discontinued drugs. RESULTS: Of the 210 patients reviewed by the pharmacy department, 105 patients from 10 NHs were analyzed. A total of 510 prescriptions with possible DRPs were identified (38.5% of all prescribed drugs). According to STOPP/START/BEERS or LESS-CHRON criteria, 41.2% were PIPs. The main DRPs identified were: unfavorable risk-benefit ratio, inappropriate dose/regimen, inappropriate treatment duration, probability of adverse events, medication not indicated, and duplicate therapy. Interventions were proposed for 81.5% of the DRPs detected, of which 73.3% were accepted. This resulted in a 23.1% reduction in the number of drugs prescribed per patient and an economic saving of €16,218 per 6-month period. CONCLUSION: The appropriateness of medication prescribing in polymedicated older adults living in NHs by the pharmacist has made it possible to reduce DRPs and PIPs and to save costs thanks to the high degree of acceptance by geriatricians.

Value of Electrocardiography to Distinguish Fabry Disease from Sarcomeric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Fabry disease (FD) is a rare genetic disorder that leads to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), frequently misdiagnosed as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We sought to assess the value of electrocardiography for distinguishing FD from HCM. We retrospectively reviewed and compared standard electrocardiograms and echocardiograms from 26 patients with FD and LVH and 33 sarcomeric patients with HCM, matched for gender, age, and degree of LVH. The mean age of patients with FD was 46 years (interquartile range) (28 to 53) and of HCM 50 (30 to 61) years (p = 0.27). Of them, 16 (61%) and 25 (76%) were male, respectively (p = 0.26). Indexed left ventricular mass was 166 g/m2 in FD versus 181 g/m2 in HCM (p = 0.88). All patients with FD and 30 (91%) with HCM were in sinus rhythm (p = 0.25). A higher prevalence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) was observed in FD (27%) versus HCM (6%) (p = 0.03). The PR interval was shorter in FD, 140 ms (120-160) versus 160 ms (140 to 180) (p = 0.004). P-wave duration was longer in patients with FD, 100 ms (80 to 120) versus 80 ms (80 to 100) (p = 0.01). The PQ interval (PR interval minus P-wave duration) was shorter in patients with FD, 40 ms (20 to 45) versus 80 ms (40 to 80) (p = 0.001). There were no differences regarding P-wave amplitude, QRS complex duration, corrected QT length, conduction or repolarization abnormalities, Sokolow-Lyon index, and Cornell index. After multivariate adjustments for RBBB, PR interval, P-wave duration, and PQ interval, a PQ interval ≤40 ms and RBBB were significantly associated with FD. In conclusion, there are electrocardiogram characteristics, such as the presence of RBBB or a PQ interval ≤40 ms, that may be helpful for screening and reducing the delay in FD diagnosis.

Karewsky syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Gallstone ileus can be a lethal disease, rarely suspected in the clinical scenario. It represents about 25% of all bowel obstruction cases in patients older than 65. There is a classification of gallstone ileus based on the onset time: acute, subacute and chronic (Karewsky syndrome). We describe the first reported case of chronic gallstone ileus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old female was admitted to the ER with a 15-day case of consistent bowel obstruction. The subject reported a five-year history of recurrent hospital admissions that resolved spontaneously after non-surgical management. Karewsky syndrome was diagnosed and managed with enterolithotomy. After five days of postoperative evolution the patient was discharged, and at six months follow up, no other hospital admission or relapse has been registered. DISCUSSION: The gallstone ileus diagnosis demands a higher clinical suspicion, there is no biochemical marker, and an abdominal CT is ideal for imaging-based diagnosis. There is no consensus on the optimal surgical approach. CONCLUSION: We describe the first case of Karewsky syndrome and a gastro-jejune and gastric-choledochus double fistula. We emphasize the importance of higher clinical suspicion for patients with bowel obstruction older than 65 years old and make evident that although there are not evidence-based guidelines for this treatment, enterolithotomy is a recommended approach.

Amyand hernia: Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Amyand Hernia is a rare disease seen in approximately 1% of all hernias, complications of it, like acute appendicitis, or perforated appendicitis are even more rare, about 0.1%. Its diagnosis is very difficult in the pre-operative period; it is usually an incidental finding. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This paper describes the case of a forty-year-old male patient, which was presented to the outpatient clinic of surgery with an incarcerated right side inguinal hernia without any signs of ischemic complications. He was admitted, and an hernioplasty was performed, as an incidental finding we encountered an Amyand hernia treated without appendectomy and placement of a prosthetic mesh without any complications. DISCUSSION: This disease represents a very challenging diagnosis, seven years ago the standardization of management had already been established; in this case we encountered a type 1 Amyand's Hernia so we performed a standard tension free hernioplasty without complications. CONCLUSION: Amyand hernia is a rare condition, which represents two of the most common diseases a general surgeon has to face. Standardization of treatment is still ongoing and more prospective studies need to be done. This case demonstrates that this pathology must remain in the mind of the surgeons especially in the event of a strangulated hernia and offer a comprehensive review.

[Novel treatments for hepatitis C viral infection and the hepatic fibrosis]. / Nuevos tratamientos para la infección por virus de hepatitis C y el proceso de fibrosis hepática.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a global health problem due to its evolution to hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The viral pathogenesis and infectious processes are not yet fully understood. The development of natural viral resistance towards the host immune system represents a mayor challenge for the design of alternative therapeutic interventions and development of viral vaccines. The molecular mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis are well described. New alternatives for the treatment of patients with HCV infection and hepatic cirrhosis are under intensive research. New drugs such as viral protease inhibitors and assembly inhibitors, as well as immune modulators have been studied in clinical trials. Additional alternatives include antifibrotic drugs, which reverse the hepatic cellular damage caused by HCV infection. This review makes reference to viral infective mechanisms, molecular pathways of liver fibrosis and overviews conventional and new treatments for HCV infection and liver fibrosis.

Nuevos tratamientos para la infección por virus de hepatitis C y el proceso de fibrosis hepática: [revisión] / Novel treatments for hepatitis C viral infection and the hepatic fibrosis: [revision]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a global health problem due to its evolution to hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The viral pathogenesis and infectious processes are not yet fully understood. The development of natural viral resistance towards the host immune system represents a mayor challenge for the design of alternative therapeutic interventions and development of viral vaccines. The molecular mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis are well described. New alternatives for the treatment of patients with HCV infection and hepatic cirrhosis are under intensive research. New drugs such as viral protease inhibitors and assembly inhibitors, as well as immune modulators have been studied in clinical trials. Additional alternatives include antifibrotic drugs, which reverse the hepatic cellular damage caused by HCV infection. This review makes reference to viral infective mechanisms, molecular pathways of liver fibrosis and overviews conventional and new treatments for HCV infection and liver fibrosis.

Éxitos y fracasos de los tratamientos posteriores al tratamiento de canales radiculares en piezas dentarias realizados en la clínica de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de El Salvador, durante el período de junio-diciembre de 1996 / Successes and failures of the treatments after the treatment of root canals in teeth performed at the clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of El Salvador, during the period June-December 1996

La presente investigación trata de un estudio que se realizó a 30 pacientes, quienes presentaron pieza trazada con T.C.R. y con restauración protésica y que asistieron en las clínicas de endodoncia y restaurativa de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de El Salvador, durante el período de junio a diciembre de 1996. Dicho estudio comprende cuatro fases: La primera denominada "Determinación de los elementos del diagnóstico", la segunda fase es el "Marco de referencia", el cual se divide en dos partes: Antecedentes y discusión bibliográfica. La tercera fase del estudio es la metodología, que es básicamente el tipo de investigación y en este caso se decidió utilizar la investigación diagnostica. La cuarta fase de dicha investigación es el resultado del diagnóstico, en el cual se plantean cuadros estadísticos para luego describir los resultados. Para finalizar se incluyen las conclusiones generales y especificas, así como las recomendaciones que el grupo estableció.

The present investigation is about a study that was carried out in 30 patients, who presented a piece drawn with T.C.R. and with prosthetic restoration and who attended the endodontic and restorative clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of El Salvador, during the period from June to December 1996. Said study comprises four phases: The first one called "Determination of the elements of the diagnosis ", the second phase is the" Frame of reference ", which is divided into two parts: Background and bibliographic discussion. The third phase of the study is the methodology, which is basically the type of research and in this case it was decided to use diagnostic research. The fourth phase of this investigation is the result of the diagnosis, in which statistical tables are presented to later describe the results. Finally, the general and specific conclusions are included, as well as the recommendations that the group established.