[Application of WHO 2015 nutritional profile model for the reduction of added sugars in children's dairy]. / Aplicación del modelo de perfiles nutricionales OMS 2015 para la reducción de azúcares añadidos en lácteos infantiles.

Introduction: In the last 20 years we have doubled obesity rates. In Spain, 67 % of the population does not have an adequate weight and 40 % of the child population suffers from obesity or overweight. This leads to serious diseases. To avoid this, a national plan to fight obesity is required, with prevention and therapeutic strategies so as not to continue increasing these data in 2030. Among the factors that cause childhood obesity are poor eating habits as well as a lack of physical activity and excessive use of screens. In addition, there is a significant social gap. Childhood obesity especially affects families with lower purchasing power (54 %) who do not have access to a healthy diet or the necessary tools or knowledge to promote health to their sons and daughters through food. The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe developed a nutrient profile model in 2015, specifically for the purpose of restricting the marketing of foods aimed at children. This model is considered by the scientific community as a reference tool when it comes to establish policies and improvements in favor of public health, in order to provide families with access to food with a better profile and nutritional value.

Introducción: En los últimos 20 años hemos duplicado las tasas de obesidad. Un 67 % de la población no tiene un peso adecuado y el 40 % de la población infantil sufre obesidad o sobrepeso en España. Esto deriva en graves enfermedades. Para evitarlo, es necesario un plan nacional de lucha contra la obesidad, con estrategias de prevención y terapéuticas para no seguir incrementando estos datos en 2030. Entre los factores causantes de la obesidad infantil se encuentran los malos hábitos de alimentación, además de la falta de actividad física y un uso excesivo de pantallas. Además, existe una brecha social importante. La obesidad infantil afecta especialmente a familias con menor poder adquisitivo (el 54 %), que no tienen acceso a una alimentación saludable ni las herramientas necesarias o el conocimiento para promover la salud a sus hijos e hijas a través de la alimentación. La Oficina Regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para Europa desarrolló un modelo de perfil de nutrientes en 2015, específicamente a efectos de restringir la comercialización de alimentos dirigida a los niños, un modelo que se plantea desde la comunidad científica como una herramienta de referencia a la hora de establecer políticas y mejoras en pro de la salud pública, con el fin de facilitar a las familias el acceso a alimentos con un mejor perfil y valor nutricional.

Aplicación del modelo de perfiles nutricionales OMS 2015 para la reducción de azúcares añadidos en lácteos infantiles / ation of WHO 2015 nutritional profile model for the reduction of added sugars in children's dairy

En los últimos 20 años hemos duplicado las tasas de obesidad. Un 67 % de la población no tiene un peso adecuado y el 40 % de la población infantil sufre obesidad o sobrepeso en España. Esto deriva en graves enfermedades. Para evitarlo, es necesario un plan nacional de lucha contra la obesidad, con estrategias de prevención y terapéuticas para no seguir incrementando estos datos en 2030.Entre los factores causantes de la obesidad infantil se encuentran los malos hábitos de alimentación, además de la falta de actividad física y un uso excesivo de pantallas. Además, existe una brecha social importante. La obesidad infantil afecta especialmente a familias con menor poder adquisitivo (el 54 %), que no tienen acceso a una alimentación saludable ni las herramientas necesarias o el conocimiento para promover la salud a sus hijos e hijas a través de la alimentación.La Oficina Regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para Europa desarrolló un modelo de perfil de nutrientes en 2015, específicamente a efectos de restringir la comercialización de alimentos dirigida a los niños, un modelo que se plantea desde la comunidad científica como una herramienta de referencia a la hora de establecer políticas y mejoras en pro de la salud pública, con el fin de facilitar a las familias el acceso a alimentos con un mejor perfil y valor nutricional. (AU)

In the last 20 years we have doubled obesity rates. In Spain, 67 % of the population does not have an adequate weight and 40 % of the child population suffers from obesity or overweight. This leads to serious diseases. To avoid this, a national plan to fight obesity is required, with prevention and therapeutic strategies so as not to continue increasing these data in 2030. Among the factors that cause childhood obesity are poor eating habits as well as a lack of physical activity and excessive use of screens.In addition, there is a significant social gap. Childhood obesity especially affects families with lower purchasing power (54 %) who do not have access to a healthy diet or the necessary tools or knowledge to promote health to their sons and daughters through food.The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe developed a nutrient profile model in 2015, specifically for the purpose of restricting the marketing of foods aimed at children. This model is considered by the scientific community as a reference tool when it comes to establish policies and improvements in favor of public health, in order to provide families with access to food with a better profile and nutritional value. (AU)

A Pandemic within Other Pandemics. When a Multiple Infection of a Host Occurs: SARS-CoV-2, HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

By the middle of 2021, we are still immersed in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The concurrence of this new pandemic in regions where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) infections possess the same epidemiological consideration, has arisen concerns about the prognosis, clinical management, symptomatology, and treatment of patients with triple infection. At the same time, healthcare services previously devoted to diagnosis and treatment of TB and HIV are being jeopardized by the urgent need of resources and attention for COVID-19 patients. The aim of this review was to collect any article considering the three conditions (HIV, TB, and SARS-CoV-2), included in PubMed/Medline and published in the English language since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We focused on detailed descriptions of the unusual cases describing the three co-infections. Eighty-four out of 184 publications retrieved met our inclusion criteria, but only three of them reported cases (five in total) with the three concomitant infections. The clinical evolution, management, and therapy of all of them were not different from mild/severe cases with exclusive COVID-19; the outcome was not worse either, with recovery for the five patients. Cases of patients with COVID-19 besides HIV and TB infections are scarce in literature, but studies deliberately embracing the triple infection as a priori inclusion criterion should be carried out in order to provide a complete understanding of joint influence.

Lipid Changes in Virologically Suppressed HIV-Infected Patients Switching from any Antiretroviral Therapy to the Emtricitabine/Rilpivirine/Tenofovir Single Tablet: GeSida Study 8114.

We carried out a retrospective, multicenter study of a cohort of 298 asymptomatic HIV-infected patients who switched from a regimen based on 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors + protease inhibitor (PI)/nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or ritonavir-boosted PI monotherapy to emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/RPV/TDF) to analyze lipid changes. At 24 weeks, 284 (95.3%) patients were still taking the same regimen, maintaining similar CD4 counts as at baseline (651 versus 672 cells/mm(3), P = .08), and 98.9% of them with an undetectable viral load. Eight of the other 14 patients were lost to follow up and 6 (2.0%) ceased the new regimen: 3 due to adverse effects, 2 due to virologic failure, and 1 due to abandonment. The mean levels of fasting total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides fell at 12 and 24 weeks, with no changes detected in the TC to HDL-C ratio.

Should screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in HIV-men who have sex with men be recommended?

INTRODUCTION: Sexually transmitted infections (STI) like Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) have been associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition (1). It has been also described as a high prevalence of asymptomatic CT and NG infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) (2). The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of CT and/or NG infections in asymptomatic HIV-MSM and the related factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of a cohort of asymptomatic HIV-MSM with follow-up in Malaga (southern Spain) during October 2012-May 2014. Patients with an opportunistic event or who received active antibiotic therapy for CT and/or NG in the previous month were excluded. All of them completed a questionnaire about sexual behaviour, barrier methods and recreational drugs use. Demographical, epidemiological, clinical, analytical and therapeutic data were also collected. Pharyngeal and rectal swabs, and urine samples were collected to be tested for CT and NG by nucleic acid amplification test (c4800 CT/NG. Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) (3). STATISTICS ANALYSIS: SPSS 17.0. RESULTS: 255 patients were asked to participate and 248 of them accepted. Median age was 37.7 (30.6-46.3) years, median time since HIV diagnosis was 47.7 (10.5-104.1) months, and median CD4 cells count was 607 (440-824) cell/µL. There were 195 (78.6%) patients on antiretroviral therapy; 81.5% of them had undetectable viral load. 80.5% of the patients had a past history of STI. Infection by CT and/or NG was diagnosed in 24 (9.7%) patients. Overall four urine samples, two pharyngeal, and 15 rectal ones were positive for CT, and five pharyngeal and five rectal swabs were positive for NG. Two patients were co-infected by CT and NG: one with CT in urine and both in rectum, another with CT in urine and rectum and NG in pharynx. One patient presented CT in pharynx and rectum, and two patients NG in pharynx and rectum. Positive CT and/or NG tests were only related with detectable HIV viral load (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.2-7.4; p=0.01). It was not related with sexual behaviour, nor with alcohol or recreational drugs use. CONCLUSIONS: STI screening had a great acceptance in this population. There was a high prevalence of asymptomatic CT and/or NG infections. Rectum sample was the most effective one. Viral suppression could protect from these STI. Screening should be recommended in HIV-MSM.

Lipid changes in HIV-patients switching to the coformulated single tablet FTC/RPV/TDF (Eviplera®). Efficacy and safety analysis. GeSida Study 8114.

INTRODUCTION: Rilpivirine (RPV) has a better lipid profile than efavirenz (EFV) in naïve patients (1). Switching to RPV may be convenient for many patients, while maintaining a good immunovirological control (2). The aim of this study was to analyze lipid changes in HIV-patients at 24 weeks after switching to Eviplera® (emtricitabine/RPV/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate [FTC/RPV/TDF]). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre study of a cohort of asymptomatic HIV-patients who switched from a regimen based on 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI)+protease inhibitor (PI)/non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or ritonavir boosted PI monotherapy to Eviplera® during February-December, 2013; all had undetectable HIV viral load for ≥3 months prior to switching. Patients with previous failures on antiretroviral therapy (ART) including TDF and/or FTC/3TC, with genotype tests showing resistance to components of Eviplera®, or who had changed the third drug of the ART during the study period were excluded. Changes in lipid profile and cardiovascular risk (CVR), and efficacy and safety at 24 weeks were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 305 patients included in the study, 298 were analyzed (7 cases were excluded due to lack of data). Men 81.2%, mean age 44.5 years, 75.8% of HIV sexually transmitted. 233 (78.2%) patients switched from a regimen based on 2 NRTI+NNRTI (90.5% EFV/FTC/TDF). The most frequent reasons for switching were central nervous system (CNS) adverse events (31.0%), convenience (27.6%) and metabolic disorders (23.2%). At this time, 293 patients have reached 24 weeks: 281 (95.9%) have continued Eviplera®, 6 stopped it (3 adverse events, 2 virologic failures, 1 discontinuation) and 6 have been lost to follow up. Lipid profiles of 283 cases were available at 24 weeks and mean (mg/dL) baseline vs 24 weeks are: total cholesterol (193 vs 169; p=0.0001), HDL-c (49 vs 45; p=0.0001), LDL-c (114 vs 103; p=0.001), tryglycerides (158 vs 115; p=0.0001), total cholesterol to HDL-c ratio (4.2 vs 4.1; p=0.3). CVR decreased (8.7 vs 7.5%; p= 0.0001). CD4 counts were similar to baseline (653 vs 674 cells/µL; p=0.08), and 274 (96.8%) patients maintained viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS: At 24 weeks after switching to Eviplera®, lipid profile and CVR improved while maintaining a good immunovirological control. Most subjects switched to Eviplera® from a regimen based on NNRTI, mainly EFV/FTC/TDF. CNS adverse events, convenience and metabolic disorders were the most frequent reasons for switching.

Nuke-sparing regimens as a main simplification strategy and high level of toxicity resolution after antiretroviral switch: the SWITCHART Study.

BACKGROUND: The advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the past decade has led to HIV suppression in most cases. Virological failure was the main reason for ART switch a few years ago; however, toxicity and treatment simplification have now gained importance due to the availability of more effective and convenient drugs. This study assessed the reasons for ART switch in daily practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study that included patients whose ART was switched between January 2011 and July 2012. Patients with any other switch during the follow-up period (until September 2013) were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 246 patients were included. Main reasons for ART switch were simplification (33%) and toxicity (31%), followed by clinical trial inclusion (13%), virological failure (6%), drug interaction (4%), patient decision (3%), lack of adherence (2%), pregnancy (1%) and other (8%). Eighty patients switched to a simpler regimen (median age 48 [40-53], mean CD4 count 608±265 cells/cl, 89% <50 copies/ml, mean number of previous regimens 6±5, mean time on previous ART 3±2 years). In this case, previous ART mostly included 2NRTI+1PI/r (54%) (Figure 1). The simplification strategy mainly contained nuke-sparing regimens (60%) based on PI (DRV/r 48%): monotherapy 46%, dual therapy 13% (PI/r+maraviroc 9%, PI/r+NNRTI 4%) and triple therapy 1% (PI/r+maraviroc+raltegravir). The second preferred simplification option was 2NRTI+1NNRTI (24%). Seventy-seven patients switched due to toxicities (median age 47 [43-53], mean CD4 count 606±350 cells/µl, <50 copies/ml 82%, mean number of previous regimens 4±3, mean time on previous ART 3±3 years). Renal (25%) and CNS (18%) toxicities were the main reasons for ART switch, followed by diarrhoea (16%), liver enzyme elevation (ALT 10%; AST 9%; bilirubin 7%), lipid elevation (cholesterol 5%; triglycerides 8%), nausea (7%) and other (=5%) (Figure 2). All patients with renal toxicity were under TDF and in most cases this drug was removed from the new regimen (with 3TC/ABC or nuke-sparing). Among patients with CNS toxicity, 79% were taking EFV; the main new treatment was a second-generation NNRTI (ETR)+2NRTI. Toxicities were completely resolved in 66% of patients, partially resolved in 22% and not resolved in only 12%; the median time from ART switch to toxicity resolution was 4 (2-8) months. CONCLUSIONS: The main reasons for ART switch in daily practice are simplification and toxicities, renal and CNS toxicities being the most prevalent. The preferred simplification strategies are nuke-sparing regimens, mainly DRV/r-based monotherapy and dual therapy. ART switch leads to a complete resolution of toxicities in most cases in the short term.

Evaluación de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Assessment of health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus

La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud recoge las percepciones del paciente sobre su bienestar en todos los aspectos de su vida cotidiana, y su estudio y evaluación permiten valorar el impacto de la enfermedad y los tratamientos sobre el enfermo. Los instrumentos que suelen emplearse para medirla son los cuestionarios, que son herramientas dinámicas, pues están en continuo proceso de desarrollo, mejora y validación. En este trabajo se realiza una revisión actualizada de los instrumentos de medida de diferentes aspectos de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, que hayan sido empleados o que pueden emplearse en pacientes de habla hispana. También se orienta sobre los tipos de instrumentos validados, genéricos y específicos, más idóneos a emplear, en función de los objetivos de los clínicos e investigadores interesados en los sentimientos, autovaloraciones o conductas de los pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Además, se detallan las características principales de los cuestionarios recomendados, sus indicaciones de uso, así como referencias de entidades que facilitan su consulta y acceso en línea; de entre los disponibles, los que se encuentran más avalados por la literatura científica para evaluar los aspectos más generales del estado de salud en personas diabéticas son el SF-36 y el EQ-5D; para valorar el impacto específico de la diabetes sería recomendable el uso del ADDQoL y el DQoL. Se ofrecen, además, pautas generales para familiarizarse con este tipo de medidas y orientarse en la metodología de su uso e interpretación de los resultados.

Evaluación de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 / Assessment of health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus

La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud recoge las percepciones del paciente sobre su bienestar en todos los aspectos de su vida cotidiana, y su estudio y evaluación permiten valorar el impacto de la enfermedad y los tratamientos sobre el enfermo. Los instrumentos que suelen emplearse para medirla son los cuestionarios, que son herramientas dinámicas, pues están en continuo proceso de desarrollo, mejora y validación. En este trabajo se realiza una revisión actualizada de los instrumentos de medida de diferentes aspectos de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2, que hayan sido empleados o que pueden emplearse en pacientes de habla hispana. También se orienta sobre los tipos de instrumentos validados, genéricos y específicos, más idóneos a emplear, en función de los objetivos de los clínicos e investigadores interesados en los sentimientos, autovaloraciones o conductas de los pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Además, se detallan las características principales de los cuestionarios recomendados, sus indicaciones de uso, así como referencias de entidades que facilitan su consulta y acceso en línea; de entre los disponibles, los que se encuentran más avalados por la literatura científica para evaluar los aspectos más generales del estado de salud en personas diabéticas son el SF-36 y el EQ-5D; para valorar el impacto específico de la diabetes sería recomendable el uso del ADDQoL y el DQoL. Se ofrecen, además, pautas generales para familiarizarse con este tipo de medidas y orientarse en la metodología de su uso e interpretación de los resultados.(AU)

Metástasis cutáneas en carcinoma de hipofaringe / Cutaneous metastasis in hypopharyngeal carcinoma

No disponible

[Clinical significance of unilateral tonsillar enlargement]. / Significación clínica de la asimetría amigdalina.

INTRODUCTION: Asymptomatic unilateral tonsillar enlargement is usually treated with systematic tonsillectomy under suspicion of malignancy. Due to the fact that most of the cases are benign pathologies, we set out to study the clinical signs that would help us in the diagnosis in order to avoid unnecessary tonsillectomies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 267 tonsillectomies performed from 1996 to 2006 and 30 of these were indicated because of asymmetry. We evaluated risk factors for malignancy: cervical lymphatic node enlargement, sex, age, tonsillar enlargement noticed by the patient, suspicious appearance, systemic symptoms, history of malignancy and immunocompromise. RESULTS: Histopathologic study revealed 80 % to be benign and 20 % malignant. The risk factors with the strongest association were enlargement of cervical lymphatic nodes and suspicious appearance of the tonsil. CONCLUSIONS: Strict control of a unilateral tonsillar enlargement is possible, but it is mandatory to perform a tonsillectomy when the appearance of the tonsil raises suspicions or there are enlarged lymphatic nodes.

Significación clínica de la asimetría amigdalina / Clinical significance of unilateral tonsillar enlargement

Introducción: El aumento unilateral asintomático de una amígdala palatina suele tratarse con amigdalectomía sistemática por sospecha de malignidad. Ante la mayor frecuencia de procesos benignos, se estudian datos clínicos que puedan servir como factores de riesgo para evitar amigdalectomías innecesarias. Material y métodos: Se revisan 267 amigdalectomías realizadas entre 1996 y 2006, de las cuales 30 se indicaron por asimetría. Se valoran factores de riesgo, como adenopatías, ser varón, mayor de 45 años, detección por el mismo paciente, aspecto sospechoso, clínica sistémica, historia de malignidad e inmunodeficiencia. Resultados: El resultado anatomopatológico fue de proceso benigno en el 80 % de los casos y maligno, en el 20 %. Los factores de riesgo que muestran mayor relación con malignidad son las adenopatías y el aspecto sospechoso.C onclusiones: Se puede realizar control estricto ante una asimetría amigdalina, aunque cuando hay factores de riesgo debemos indicar amigdalectomía (AU)

Introduction: Asymptomatic unilateral tonsillar enlargement is usually treated with systematic tonsillectomy under suspicion of malignancy. Due to the fact that most of the cases are benign pathologies, we set out to study the clinical signs that would help us in the diagnosis in order to avoid unnecessary tonsillectomies. Material and methods: We reviewed 267 tonsillectomies performed from 1996 to 2006 and 30 of these were indicated because of asymmetry. We evaluated risk factors for malignancy: cervical lymphatic node enlargement, sex, age, tonsillar enlargement noticed by the patient, suspicious appearance, systemic symptoms, history of malignancy and immune compromise. Results: Histopathologic study revealed 80 % to be benign and 20 % malignant. The risk factors with the strongest association were enlargement of cervical lymphatic nodes and suspicious appearance of the tonsil. Conclusions: Strict control of a unilateral tonsillar enlargement is possible, but it is mandatory to perform a tonsillectomy when the appearance of the tonsil raises suspicions or there are enlarged lymphatic nodes (AU)

[Pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy. A case-control study of risk factors implicated in its onset]. / Fístula faringocutánea tras laringectomía total. Estudio de casos y controles de los factores de riesgo implicados en su aparición.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most frequent complication after total laryngectomy. Risk factors involved in its appearance have been studied by many authors without conclusive results. Our main objective is to identify the risk factors involved in the onset of fistulae at our institution. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was designed. Thirty-three patients subjected to total laryngectomy with the same protocol were included in both groups. Patients who required a complex surgical reconstruction were excluded in order to avoid biases. RESULTS: The only risk factor with statistical significance (P=.04) for the onset of fistulae in our setting is the extension of the surgery to the pharynx (OR=2.83). The association of prior radiotherapy and concurrent neck dissection displayed a notable trend (OR=0.32) but without significance (P=.099). Patient age, prior radiotherapy, concurrent neck dissection, prior tracheotomy and post-operative haemoglobin level did not predispose to this complication in our study. Non-surgical closure of the pharyngocutaneous fistula was achieved in most cases (72.7 %) but patients who had pre-operative radiotherapy required surgical closure more frequently (P< .01) than those not irradiated. CONCLUSIONS: At our centre the main risk factor associated with post-laryngectomy fistulae is the extension of surgery to the pharynx. In previously-irradiated patients, fistulae have a lower incidence of non-surgical closure and require more aggressive surgery to resolve them.

Fístula faringocutánea tras laringectomía total. Estudio de casos y controles de los factores de riesgo implicados en su aparición / Pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy. A case-control study of risk factors implicated in its onset

Introducción y objetivos: La fístula faringocutánea es la complicación postoperatoria más frecuente de la laringectomía total. Los factores implicados en su aparición han sido estudiados por numerosos autores sin obtener resultados concluyentes. El principal objetivo de este estudio es conocer los factores de riesgo implicados en la aparición de fístulas en nuestro medio. Métodos: Diseñamos un estudio retrospectivo de casos y controles. Incluimos en ambos grupos a 33 pacientes a los que se practicó laringectomía total con el mismo protocolo en todos los casos. Excluimos a los pacientes en que se realizó una reconstrucción compleja para evitar sesgos. Resultados: Observamos que la extensión de la cirugía a la faringe es el único factor asociado significativamente (p = 0,04) a la aparición de fístulas en nuestro medio (odds ratio [OR] = 2,83). La asociación de radioterapia previa y vaciamientos cervicales muestra una tendencia importante (OR = 3,2), no significativa (p = 0,099). Otros factores como la edad del paciente, la radioterapia previa, los vaciamientos cervicales, la traqueotomía previa o la hemoglobina postoperatoria no se asocian estadísticamente a la aparición de esta complicación. La mayoría de las fístulas se cierran con medidas conservadoras (72,7 %), pero en pacientes irradiados previamente requieren reparación quirúrgica con mayor frecuencia que en los no irradiados (p < 0,01). Conclusiones: En nuestro medio el factor más asociado a la aparición de fístulas tras laringectomía es la extensión de la cirugía a la faringe. Las fístulas en pacientes irradiados tienen menor tendencia a la reparación conservadora y requieren cirugías más agresivas para solucionarlas (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most frequent complication after total laryngectomy. Risk factors involved in its appearance have been studied by many authors without conclusive results. Our main objective is to identify the risk factors involved in the onset of fistulae at our institution. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was designed. Thirty-three patients subjected to total laryngectomy with the same protocol were included in both groups. Patients who required a complex surgical reconstruction were excluded in order to avoid biases. Results: The only risk factor with statistical significance (P=0.04) for the onset of fistulae in our setting is the extension of the surgery to the pharynx (OR=2.83). The association of prior radiotherapy and concurrent neck dissection displayed a notable trend (OR=0.32) but without significance (P=0.099). Patient age, prior radiotherapy, concurrent neck dissection, prior tracheotomy and post-operative haemoglobin level did not predispose to this complication in our study. Non-surgical closure of the pharyngocutaneous fistula was achieved in most cases (72.7 %) but patients who had pre-operative radiotherapy required surgical closure more frequently (P<0.01) than those not irradiated. Conclusions: At our centre the main risk factor associated with post-laryngectomy fistulae is the extension of surgery to the pharynx. In previously-irradiated patients, fistulae have a lower incidence of non-surgical closure and require more aggressive surgery to resolve them (AU)