Résumé
Resumo A legalidade da morte assistida é controversa em todo o mundo devido a aspectos bioéticos. Em países como Luxemburgo e Canadá, a eutanásia foi aprovada, gerando impactos positivos na qualidade de vida de pacientes; entretanto, há aspectos negativos, como o abandono de opções paliativas. Esta revisão bibliográfica descritiva considerou publicações dos últimos cinco anos com enfoques bioéticos a favor da morte assistida, com base na importância de aliviar definitivamente a sintomatologia do paciente, além de proporcionar qualidade de vida, mas referiu também que a longo prazo a legalidade desse procedimento pode acarretar desumanização médica. O Código Orgânico Integral Penal Integral do Equador apresenta artigos ambíguos a favor e contra a morte assistida, com brechas legais que não permitem sua aplicação no sistema de saúde. Embora haja argumentos sólidos a favor e contra a eutanásia, a decisão deve ser adaptada ao contexto do paciente e do sistema de saúde.
Abstract The legality of assisted dying is a controversial matter worldwide due to bioethical aspects. In countries such as Luxembourg and Canada, euthanasia was approved, with positive impacts on the quality of life of patients; however, there are negative aspects, such as not taking palliative options into consideration. This descriptive literature review considered publications from the last five years with bioethical approaches in favor of assisted dying, based on the importance of definitively alleviating patient symptomatology, in addition to providing quality of life, but also noting that in the long term the legality of this procedure may lead to medical dehumanization. Ecuador's Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code presents ambiguous articles for and against assisted dying, with legal loopholes that preclude its application in the health care system. Despite solid arguments for and against euthanasia, the decision must be adapted to the context of the patient and health care system.
Resumen La legalidad de la muerte asistida es controvertida en todo el mundo debido a aspectos bioéticos. En países como Luxemburgo y Canadá, la eutanasia ha sido aprobada, generando impactos positivos en la calidad de vida de pacientes; sin embargo, hay aspectos negativos, como el abandono de opciones paliativas. Esta revisión bibliográfica descriptiva consideró publicaciones de los últimos cinco años con enfoques bioéticos a favor de la muerte asistida, con base en la importancia de aliviar definitivamente la sintomatología del paciente, además de proporcionar calidad de vida, pero refirió también que, a largo plazo, la legalidad de este procedimiento puede acarrear la deshumanización médica. El Código Orgánico Integral Penal del Ecuador presenta artículos ambiguos a favor y en contra de la muerte asistida, con brechas legales que no permiten su aplicación en el sistema de salud. Aunque existan argumentos sólidos a favor y en contra de la eutanasia, la decisión debe ser adaptada al contexto del paciente y del sistema de salud.
Résumé
Sulfhemoglobin (SulfHb) is formed by hemoglobin (Hb) oxidation by sulfur compounds. Sulfhemoglobinemia is mainly associated with drugs or intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Patients present with central cyanosis, an abnormal pulse oximetry and normal arterial oxygen partial pressure. These features are shared with methemoglobinemia (MetHb) whose diagnosis requires an arterial co-oximetry. Depending on the device used, SulfHb may produce interference with this technique. We report two females aged 31 and 43 years, consulting at the emergency room with cyanosis. Both had a history of acute and chronic, high dose zopiclone ingestion. Pulse oximetry showed desaturation but with normal arterial oxygen partial pressure. Cardiac and pulmonary diseases were ruled out. Co-oximetry in two different analyzers showed interference or normal MetHb percentages. No other complications ensued, and cyanosis decreased over days. Since MetHb was discarded among other causes of cyanosis in a compatible clinical context, the diagnosis of sulfhemoglobinemia was made. The confirmatory method is not available in Chile. The presence of SulfHb is difficult to diagnose, confirmatory tests are not readily available, and it frequently interferes with arterial co-oximetry. This is attributed to a similar absorbance peak of both pigments in arterial blood. Venous co-oximetry can be useful in this context. SulfHb is a self-limited condition in most cases, however it must be differentiated from methemoglobinemia to avoid inappropriate treatments like methylene blue.