Benefica chirurgia. A global surgery project focusing on hernia surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of international health cooperation projects is to alleviate the deficiencies in the area of health in low resource settings. Hernia surgery is a procedure that is well suited to these missions, due to its low morbidity, the fact that it can be performed on an outpatient basis, and the improvement in quality of life that it provides. OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of Benefica Chirurgia (BC), a Spanish non-profit humanitarian association in hernia pathology. METHODS: Five one-week surgical campaigns were carried out in Ecuador between 2015 and 2019, involving anesthetists, general and pediatric surgeons. Surgical and medical equipment was provided and transported by BC. ASA I/II patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: Surgery was performed on 240 patients with hernia pathology on 27 days. Sixty-three per cent of patients were male and the mean age was 48.2 years (range: 1-83). Hernia location was inguinal in 113 patients, umbilical in 101, and other in 26. The anesthetic technique used was spinal in 185 patients (77.1%), local plus intravenous sedation in 31 (12.9%), and general in 24 (10%). The surgical technique used was hernioplasty in 191 patients, herniorrhaphy in 31, incisional hernia repair in 15 and herniotomy in three. Surgery was performed on an outpatient basis in 98.4% of cases. Morbidity was 2%. Long-term postoperative evaluation is very complex. CONCLUSION: These campaigns make a significant contribution to health in low resource settings and provide great personal satisfaction for those involved. Standards achieved in the immediate postoperative period were similar to those obtained at the surgeons' centers in Europe. However, it is difficult to establish the rates of recurrence and chronic pain.

Optimization of the management of platelet concentrate stocks in the Basque Country using mathematical simulation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The management of platelet concentrate (PC) stocks is not simple given their short shelf life and variable demand. In general, managers decide on PC production based on personal experience. The objective of this study was to provide a tool to help decide how many PC units to produce each day in a more rational and objective way. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the historical data on PCs produced, transfused and discarded in the Basque Country in 2012, a mathematical model was built, based on the normality of the time series of the transfusions performed on each day of the week throughout the year. This model was implemented in an easy-to-use Excel spreadsheet and validated using real production data from 2013. RESULTS: Comparing with real 2013 data, in the best scenario, the number of PC units that expired was 87·7% lower, PC production, 14·3% lower and the age of the PCs transfused nearly 1-day younger in the simulation. If we want to ensure a minimum stock at the end of each day, the outdating rate and average age of the transfused PCs progressively increase. CONCLUSION: The practical application of the designed tool can facilitate decision-making about how many PC units to produce each day, resulting in very significant reductions in PC production and wastage and corresponding cost savings, together with an almost 1 day decrease in the mean age of PCs transfused.

Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine (SEMES) and Spanish Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) Guideline for difficult airway management. Part I.

The Airway Management section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), and the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) present the Guide for the comprehensive management of difficult airway in adult patients. Its principles are focused on the human factors, cognitive processes for decision-making in critical situations, and optimization in the progression of strategies application to preserve adequate alveolar oxygenation in order to enhance safety and the quality of care. The document provides evidence-based recommendations, theoretical-educational tools, and implementation tools, mainly cognitive aids, applicable to airway management in the fields of anesthesiology, critical care, emergencies, and prehospital medicine. For this purpose, an extensive literature search was conducted following PRISMA-R guidelines and was analyzed using the GRADE methodology. Recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology. Recommendations for sections with low-quality evidence were based on expert opinion through consensus reached via a Delphi questionnaire.

Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Reanimation and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), Spanish Society of Emergency and Emergency Medicine (SEMES) and Spanish Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) Guideline for difficult airway management. Part II.

The Airway Management section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), and the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) present the Guide for the comprehensive management of difficult airway in adult patients. Its principles are focused on the human factors, cognitive processes for decision-making in critical situations, and optimization in the progression of strategies application to preserve adequate alveolar oxygenation in order to enhance safety and the quality of care. The document provides evidence-based recommendations, theoretical-educational tools, and implementation tools, mainly cognitive aids, applicable to airway management in the fields of anesthesiology, critical care, emergencies, and prehospital medicine. For this purpose, an extensive literature search was conducted following PRISMA-R guidelines and was analyzed using the GRADE methodology. Recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology. Recommendations for sections with low-quality evidence were based on expert opinion through consensus reached via a Delphi questionnaire.

Guía de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor (SEDAR), Sociedad Española de Medicina de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES) y Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello (SEORL-CCC) para el manejo de la vía aérea difícil. Parte I

The Airway Management section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain Therapy (SEDAR), the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), and the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) present the Guide for the comprehensive management of difficult airway in adult patients. Its principles are focused on the human factors, cognitive processes for decision-making in critical situations, and optimization in the progression of strategies application to preserve adequate alveolar oxygenation in order to enhance safety and the quality of care. The document provides evidence-based recommendations, theoretical-educational tools, and implementation tools, mainly cognitive aids, applicable to airway management in the fields of anesthesiology, critical care, emergencies, and prehospital medicine. For this purpose, an extensive literature search was conducted following PRISMA-R guidelines and was analyzed using the GRADE methodology. Recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE methodology. Recommendations for sections with low-quality evidence were based on expert opinion through consensus reached via a Delphi questionnaire.

[Frequency of selective IgA deficiency in Basque Country]. / Frecuencia del déficit selectivo de IgA en el País Vasco.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the frequency of IgA deficiency in the Basque Country, Spain, and establish a file of IgA-deficient blood donors, using a self laboratory test and checking medical records. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A screening radial immunodiffusion system was used on 2.607 blood donors samples. A search on the patients laboratory results was realized. RESULTS: Five blood donors were detected, and 2 of 30 patients fulfilled criteria for donation. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency obtained of IgA deficiency in the Basque Country was 1/521. The used method is economical and optimum to create a file of IgA-deficient blood donors.

[The impact of the implementation of staying in the United Kingdom for six months or more as donor exclusion criteria on the donor base of the Basque Country]. / Repercusión de la implantación de la estancia en el Reino Unido durante seis o más meses como motivo de exclusión sobre la base de donantes de sangre en el País Vasco.

BACKGROUND: To reduce the risk of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by blood products some countries exclude persons who have spent six months or more cumulatively in the United Kingdom as blood donors. METHOD: We asked our donors about this selection criteria to evaluate the loss of blood donors and donations in case of implementation of this measure. RESULTS: 11,681 donors and 1,648 refused persons were analyzed. 123 (1.05%) and 11 (0.66%) respectively fulfilled this criteria. CONCLUSIONS: In case of implementation of this selection criteria 1% of blood donors and 1.77% blood donations would be lost.

[Pure red-cell aplasia associated with chronic myeloproliferative syndromes]. / Aplasia pura de serie roja asociada a síndromes mieloproliferativos crónicos.

Pure red cell aplasia is manifested by unregenerative anemia with intense erythroid hypoplasia in the bone marrow and absolute reticulocytopenia. Its association with chronic myeloproliferative syndrome (CMS) is infrequent. The appearance of both processes may or may not be simultaneous and accidental association cannot be ruled out. Two cases of pure red cell aplasia were studied; one associated to Philadelphia positive chronic chromosome myeloid leukemia and the other associated to atypical CMS. In the first case no response was obtained with prednisone alone or associated to cyclophosphamide. In the second patient treatment with danazol was not efficient, however, corticotherapy produced a positive and maintained response. Treatment of pure red cell aplasia associated to CMS must be the same as that employed when this disease is presented as isolated or associated to other processes.

[Review of the post-intubation tracheal stenosis: a case report]. / Revisión de las estenosis traqueales tras intubación: a propósito de un caso.

Postintubation tracheal stenosis is a very important clinical situation. It is estimated to occur in approximately 5% to 20% of intubated or tracheostomized patients. However, 1% also suffers severe respiratory dysfunction. We report the case of a 45-year old patient who required surgery under general anesthesia (first intubation experience) after suffering severe coronary disease. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit, connected to maintained mechanical ventilation for 9 days when he was weaned and extubated. He then suffered a picture of respiratory failure requiring reintubation (for a second time) and reconnection to the mechanical ventilator. He evolved favorably, and it was possible to wean him again with final extubation on the 12th day. At 28 days, he presented a picture of dyspnea, stridor, tachypnea and a bronchoscope examination show tracheal stenosis in the subglotic region. He was treated with laser and silicone tracheal stent, with good evolution.

Non-secretory multiple myeloma presenting as primary plasma cell leukaemia.

A case of non-secretory multiple myeloma presenting as primary plasma cell leukaemia in a 65 year old woman is presented. Bone pain was the initial clinical manifestation. Laboratory analysis showed 20% of circulating immature plasma cells. Despite the presence of osteolytic lesions, no M-component could be demonstrated in serum protein electrophoresis, and serum and urine immunoelectrophoresis. Bone marrow aspirate demonstrated an 83% infiltration of plasma cells showing various degrees of immaturity. Immunofluorescence with monoclonal antisera demonstrated intracytoplasmic kappa light chains in a high percentage of plasma cells. Immature plasma cells without cellular capacity to synthesize and excrete complete immunoglobulins could be more aggressive, leading to an initial leukaemic process. Previous work regarding possible pathogenetic mechanisms, clinical and laboratory features, and response to treatment of this extremely rare association are reviewed.

Quinidine-induced agranulocytosis of abrupt onset.

Drug-induced agranulocytosis is a clinical entity characterized by a selective reduction of circulating neutrophils, usually to a level less than 0.2 x 10(9)/l in relation to the administration of the drug. Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic agent widely used on an outpatient basis with some well-known hematological side effects. Its midterm administration has been related to a few cases of agranulocytosis. Herein, we describe the case of a 60-year-old man with atrial fibrillation who presented quinidine-induced agranulocytosis of abrupt onset only 3 days after the exposure to the drug, recovering normal levels of neutrophils during the 3rd hospitalization day. Pathogenic mechanisms are discussed.