Sobrecarga del cuidador y distrofia miotónica de Steinert tipo 1 / Caregiver overload and Steinert myotonic dystrophy type 1

Introducción: La distrofia miotónica tipo 1 es la distrofia muscular más frecuente a nivel mundial. Progresa lentamente llevando al paciente a la pérdida de autonomía lo que implica la necesidad del cuidador, quien con frecuencia, también padece la enfermedad. El síndrome de sobrecarga, desgaste o burnout, término en inglés muy utilizado en la bibliografía médica, se ha descrito en los últimos años para los cuidadores y es el desgaste emocional una de sus particularidades. Objetivo: Evaluar la autonomía para la realización de actividades diarias de los pacientes con distrofia miotónica tipo 1 en referencia al tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad y determinar la magnitud de desgaste en los cuidadores. Metodología: Se aplicó la escala de autonomía de Barthel a 29 pacientes y el cuestionario de Maslach a sus cuidadores. Resultados: Se demostró que las mujeres cuidadoras resultaron más afectadas en el intercambio con el enfermo para el cuidado, en la subescala despersonalización del instrumento Maslach (U de Mann-Whitney p = 0,05). Conclusiones: Se sugiere que los cuidadores femeninos son el grupo de mayor riesgo de padecer el síndrome de sobrecarga(AU)

Introduction: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is the most common muscular dystrophy worldwide. It progresses slowly, depriving patients of their autonomy, which implies the need for a caregiver, who would often suffer from the disease as well. The overload or burnout syndrome, an English term very often found in medical bibliography, has been described for caregivers in recent years, and emotional wear is one of its features. Objective: Evaluate the autonomy to perform activities of daily living of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 with reference to the time of evolution of the disease, and determine the extent of wear in caregivers. Methods: A study of a clinical case series was conducted for two years at the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Havana. Patients were evaluated with the Barthel autonomy scale and caregivers with the Maslach burnout syndrome inventory. Inclusion criteria admitted patients of both sexes clinically and neurophysiologically characterized for this diagnosis. It was also required to obtain the informed consent of patients and caregivers responding to the overload measuring tool. Exclusion criteria left out patients with a dystrophic condition other than Steinert type 1, inconclusive clinical and electromyographic evaluations, or not willing to participate in the study. Results: According to the depersonalization subscale in the Maslach tool (Mann-Whitney U p = 0.05), female caregivers are more often affected by the interaction with the person cared for. Conclusions: Results suggest that female caregivers are under a greater risk of overload syndrome(AU)

Laparoscopic Rectopexy – A New Management for Rectal Prolapse at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Introduction:Rectal prolapse is a debilitating and unpleasant condition adversely affecting the quality of life. It is a distal displacement of the rectum through the pelvic diaphragm that produces pressure symptoms on other pelvic organs causing fecal incontinence, obstructive defecation, or even strangulation. Different perineal and abdominal approaches have been described for surgical correction of rectal prolapse. Laparoscopic Rectopexy has been proven to be an effective treatment for rectal prolapse. Objective:LPR has recently been practiced as a method of treatment for rectal prolapse at GPHC. This study aims to assess the clinical and functional outcomes of the patients who underwent Laparoscopic Rectopexy in the effort to highlight this practice in Guyana and the Caribbean. Design /Method:The study design includes a retrospective review and prospective follow-up of a series of 4 patients who underwent LPR at GPHC for rectal prolapse. Pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative factors surrounding the procedure were recorded and analyzed.Results:All patients were males of 29-52 years of age. One (1) Patient was a smoker and One (1) used alcohol. Two (2) patients had a previous perineal approach for rectal prolapse that recurred. No comorbidities were recorded. All patients had complete rectal procidentia. Laparoscopic Ventral Mesh Rectopexy was done for each patient. None of the cases were converted. All patients were fully ambulant by postoperative day one and all were discharged by postoperative day three. No short-term recurrence was recorded for three patients; the fourth patient did not complete the six months postoperative period. Conclusion: Laparoscopic Rectopexy was successfully pioneered at GPHC as a method of management for rectal prolapse with good outcomes