[Evaluation of the utility and efficacy of a day hospital in a gastroenterology department]. / Valoración de la utilidad y eficacia de un hospital de día en un servicio de patología digestiva.

Because public health funds are limited, full advantage should be taken of the resources available. Consequently, hospital stay should be reduced with no loss of health care quality. In our Gastroenterology Department, investigations or treatment requiring a short hospital stay are carried out in a day hospital. Between March 1998 and March 2000, 2,169 patients were treated: 1,862 outpatients and 307 patients referred from another hospital. A total of 95.2% of the outpatients were discharged. Hospital stay was prolonged in 4.8% (91/1,862): 13 due to incomplete investigations, 29 because of worsening of their underlying disease before the procedure and 49 due to complications. The overall complication rate was 2.8% (62/2,169). Six complications developed after discharge; of these two appeared within 24 hours. After the opening of the day hospital, the mean hospital stay in the Gastroenterology Department was reduced from 9.05 days to 6.07 days (p = 0.001). In conclusion, the use of a day hospital in a gastroenterology department is useful, effective, safe and profitable.

[A consensus on Helicobacter pylori and gastroduodenal pathology]. / Consenso sobre Helicobacter pylori y patología gastroduodenal.

The current debate involving Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) and its potential role as an etiological factor for some digestive diseases, as well as the recent discussion through different mass media of this bacterium, including the American N.I.H. Consensus, have lead to the discussion of the H.p. problem, in order to clarify its real importance in acid-related diseases. Thus we want, as gastroenterologists, to give an overview of the current status, so as to facilitate the general practitioner work when confronted with gastrointestinal diseases, particularly related to H.p. Our purpose is to provide a critical and objective view regarding the implications of H.p. infection, and explain when treatment is needed and how this treatment should be accomplished.