To Do or Not to Do? Neurorrhaphy in Great Toe Pulp Flap Fingertip Reconstruction.

Since its inception, the great toe pulp (GTP) flap has represented a valid therapeutic choice in the reconstruction of defects of the hand. This study illustrates the clinical outcomes of GTP free flaps performed without nerve anastomosis' mainly for fingertip defect reconstruction. Methods: We performed a retrospective, monocentric cohort study. All patients included in this study presented with fingertip traumatic injury, with tendon or bone exposure; reconstruction with GTP flap, without nerve reconstruction, was performed by the first author (L.T.) from May 2019 to October 2021. Results: All 37 flaps survived completely. Due to COVID restrictions' we had to send the tests and PROMs to our patients; 28 of them replied. Cold intolerance was reported by 12 patients (moderate in two cases and mild in ten cases). No pain was complained about either in hand or donor site (Visual Analog Score 0, at rest and at movement). Complete range of motion was achieved in 22 of 28 patients. All flaps recovered protective sensitivity. In every section of the Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire, all patients expressed a high level of satisfaction based on the reconstruction's function and aesthetics. Regarding the donor site morbidity, no patient complained about gait disturbance. Conclusions: This study showed that the GTP flap is the optimal choice for fingertip reconstruction, providing excellent functional and aesthetic results with durable and glabrous skin, satisfactory pulp contour, and sensory restoration. These results could be achieved with no need for nerve suture, especially in defects with no injuries proximal to the loss of substance.

Thinking Out of the Box: Use of the Radial Artery Distally to the Snuffbox as Recipient Vessel.

The use of the radial artery (RA) as a recipient vessel in the hand is mainly described in the snuffbox. However, we believe that employing the RA distally to the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon may provide remarkable advantages. Methods: We conducted a prospective study from June 2019 until December 2021, which included all patients who underwent reconstructive procedures with the RA distally to the snuffbox as the recipient vessel. We reviewed patients' medical records: demographics, type of trauma, defect characteristics, microsurgical procedure, reoperations, and short- and long-term complications. Results: We found 23 patients eligible for this study; 22 patients required a reconstructive procedure due to a trauma and one for a congenital malformation. RA distal to snuffbox was always identified and judged reliable and apt as a recipient vessel. There were no issues with the anastomosis and no total flap failure in all cases. The morbidity in the recipient area was also minimal, with no mobility deficits, loss of sensation, or neuroma development. Conclusions: The RA is the primary vessel in the dorsum of the distal upper limb; performing the anastomosis distally to the EPL tendon may offer various advantages, making the surgery safer and less invasive.

Tailored Skin Flaps for Hand Reconstruction.

Acquired soft-tissue defects of the hand can be a result of different types of trauma, infection, tumor resection, or burns. The evolution of the design and types of flaps have optimized the reconstruction and, nowadays, it is important to achieve not only a functional result but also an aesthetic result. The aim of the present study is to propose a model for treating a wide variety of skin defects in the hands based on our flap experience. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from February 2019 to January 2022, which included all patients who underwent a skin flap for hand reconstruction. Patients' medical records were reviewed and data collected included demographics, smoking status, presence of risk factors, type of trauma, flap reconstruction, dimensions, reoperations, and long-term complications. Results: A total of 99 patients underwent skin flap-based reconstruction for hand trauma between February 2019 until January 2022. The mean age was 43.9 (range 38.3-49.5), 87.9% of patients were male, and follow-up was between 2 and 30 months; 90.9% of the flaps were free flaps, and the rest were pedicle flaps (3% of them being propeller flaps). Conclusions: When planning a hand reconstruction, it is vital to ensure that the outcomes are not only functional but also aesthetic, with minimum donor site morbidity; in this study, we showed a variety of flaps that can be applied to achieve this goal. We believe that the final decision should be made after comprehending the defect and the patient's preferences.

Blunt Abdominopelvic Trauma Complicated by Traumatic Testicular Dislocation in a 19-Year-Old Male Patient: A Case Report.

CASE: A 19 year-old male patient presented with testicular dislocation after abdominopelvic trauma. During open reduction and internal fixation, consult to urology was placed after discovering the presence of the intra-abdominal testicle. The testicle was repositioned into the scrotum with orchiopexy, and pelvic fixation was completed with 1 sacroiliac percutaneous screw and pubic symphysis fixation. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged home on postoperative day 3. CONCLUSION: Testicular dislocation is an uncommon finding after blunt abdominopelvic trauma; hence, it may be overlooked. Prompt diagnosis of testicular dislocation given the need for operative management to preserve testicle viability is crucial.

Monthly Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator Versus Weekly Epoetin-Beta, Similar Hemoglobinization but Different Anisocytosis Degree in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The monthly continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) utilization maintains stable hemoglobin (Hb) after conversion from weekly epoetin-ß (EB); however, how the different pharmacologic properties affect the red blood cell (RBC) size determined by RBC distribution width (RDW) has not been evaluated yet. We assess the potential differences in iron metabolism, plasma erythropoietin (EPO), hepcidin, and soluble α-Klotho (α-Klotho) levels as an emergent hematopoiesis factor. METHODS: Thirty-seven chronic hemodialysis patients were included from January 2010 to November 2011 and randomized (1:1) to continue with EB or to convert to monthly CERA. Primary outcome was the mean change in Hb between groups at months 0, 3 and 6, and the percentage of patients who maintained stable Hb (Hb ± 1 g/dL from baseline level to month 6). Secondary outcomes were the influence on the erythropoietic process and iron metabolism markers. Thirty-one patients completed the study (CERA: n = 15, EB: n = 16). RESULTS: The mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) Hb difference between groups was 0.28 g/dL (-0.36 to 0.93). There was no difference between the percentages of patients with stable Hb levels. In the CERA group RDW values increased progressively (interaction erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) type and time on RDW values, F (1.57, 45.60) = 17.17, P < 0.01, partial η2 = 0.37) and the mean corpuscular volume changed at the different time points, (F (2, 28) = 29.12, P = 0.03, partial η2 = 0.23). During the evaluation period, in the CERA group, EPO was higher, and hepcidin and ferritin decreased significantly. α-Klotho decreased in both groups and correlated negatively with the changes on the RDW and positively with transferrin and serum iron. The number of serious adverse events was higher at the CERA group. CONCLUSIONS: Monthly CERA maintained Hb concentrations; however, it showed a significant effect on RDW, probably due to its impact on the EPO and hepcidin levels. α-Klotho decreased significantly in both groups, and its changes correlated with the changes in iron metabolism. Whether the RDW evolution was associated with the serious adverse events (SAEs) is a feasible hypothesis that needs to be confirmed in large studies.

[Nitrogenous content in parenteral nutrition: a four-year experience in a general hospital. Critically-ill patient specificity].

INTRODUCTION: There have been several studies focusing on caloric intake during the last years, while protein content relevance has been underestimated. Some recent evidence has shown that protein deficiency has also an impact on patient outcomes. We have studied the nitrogen (N) content in parenteral nutrition (PN) bags administered to adult patients in a Spanish tertiary level hospital for four years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who received parenteral nutrition in the general ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were recorded. Caloric and protein content were registered and adjusted to weight and length of stay. Data were compared among three group of patients: those in the general ward, those in the ICU and those requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). The one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used after checking data normality and homoscedasticity. RESULTS: There was an increase in the mean g N/stay year after year (p < 0.01) from 14 to 15.5 g, with a decrease in non-protein caloric content (p < 0.001) from 111.6 to 101.8 kcal/g N. The range was established from 4.1 to 32.6 g. PN diets with ≥ 18 g N% ranged from 12.8% (2010) to 19.6% (2013). There were significant differences among the groups when comparing the variable g N/stay (p < 0.0001): 13.5 general ward vs15.9 ICU patients vs17.6 ICU with RRT, also when referring to adjusted weight. CONCLUSIONS: According to most recent recommendations nitrogen has been provided in higher amounts than previously, especially in critical care patients with RRT.

Nitrogenous content in parenteral nutrition: a four-year experience in a general hospital. Critically-ill patient specificity / Contenido nitrogenado de la nutrición parenteral: un estudio de cuatro años en un hospital general. Especificidad en paciente crítico

Introduction: There have been several studies focusing on caloric intake during the last years, while protein content relevance has been underestimated. Some recent evidence has shown that protein deficiency has also an impact on patient outcomes. We have studied the nitrogen (N) content in parenteral nutrition (PN) bags administered to adult patients in a Spanish tertiary level hospital for four years. Material and methods: Patients who received parenteral nutrition in the general ward and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were recorded. Caloric and protein content were registered and adjusted to weight and length of stay. Data were compared among three group of patients: those in the general ward, those in the ICU and those requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). The one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used after checking data normality and homoscedasticity Results: There was an increase in the mean g N/stay year after year (p < 0.01) from 14 to 15.5 g, with a decrease in non-protein caloric content (p < 0.001) from 111.6 to 101.8 kcal/g N. The range was established from 4.1 to 32.6 g. PN diets with ≥ 18 g N% ranged from 12.8% (2010) to 19.6% (2013). There were significant differences among the groups when comparing the variable g N/stay (p < 0.0001): 13.5 general ward vs 15.9 ICU patients vs 17.6 ICU with RRT, also when referring to adjusted weight. Conclusions: According to most recent recommendations nitrogen has been provided in higher amounts than previously, especially in critical care patients with RRT (AU)

Introducción: algunos estudios recientes sugieren que se ha dado gran importancia al aporte calórico en la nutrición parenteral (NP) del paciente adulto, infraestimando su contenido proteico. Sin embargo, se ha demostrado su relación con los resultados clínicos. Con este objetivo se ha estudiado el contenido en nitrógeno (N) de las NP administradas en un hospital terciario a lo largo de cuatro años. Material y métodos: se recogieron datos de la NP de pacientes hospitalizados en planta, así como en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). El peso del paciente, su índice de masa corporal (IMC), el contenido en nitrógeno (total y por peso), el aporte calórico no proteico y la duración de la NP fueron algunas de las variables estudiadas. Se compararon en 2013 los aportes en la planta general, en UCI y en aquellos que recibieron algún tipo de terapia renal sustitutiva (TRS). Se utilizó el análisis de varianza (ANOVA) de un factor, previa comprobación de la normalidad y homocedasticidad. Resultados: se ha observado un aumento progresivo en aporte nitrogenado medio diario cada año (p < 0,01) de 14 a 15,05 g, con descenso del contenido calórico no proteico (p < 0,001) de 111,6 a 101,8 kcal /g N. El rango de N en bolsa fue de 4,1 a 32,6 g. Aumentó el porcentaje de bolsas con ≥ 18 g N (12,8 en 2010 vs. 19,6 en 2013). También hubo diferencias entre grupos de pacientes en g N/estancia (p < 0,0001): 13,5 plantas de hospitalización vs. 15,9 UCI vs. 17,6 UCI con TRS, igualmente si referidos a peso ajustado. Conclusiones: En consonancia con las recomendaciones más recientes, el contenido en nitrógenos ha aumentado con los años, en especial en la NP del paciente crítico, siendo aún mayor en los sometidos a TRS (AU)

Infornut® Process; improves accessibility to diagnosis and nutritional support for the malnourished hospitalized patient; impact on management indicators; two-year assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The high prevalence of disease-related hospital malnutrition justifies the need for screening tools and early detection in patients at risk for malnutrition, followed by an assessment targeted towards diagnosis and treatment. At the same time there is clear undercoding of malnutrition diagnoses and the procedures to correct it Objectives: To describe the INFORNUT program/ process and its development as an information system. To quantify performance in its different phases. To cite other tools used as a coding source. To calculate the coding rates for malnutrition diagnoses and related procedures. To show the relationship to Mean Stay, Mortality Rate and Urgent Readmission; as well as to quantify its impact on the hospital Complexity Index and its effect on the justification of Hospitalization Costs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The INFORNUT® process is based on an automated screening program of systematic detection and early identification of malnourished patients on hospital admission, as well as their assessment, diagnoses, documentation and reporting. Of total readmissions with stays longer than three days incurred in 2008 and 2010, we recorded patients who underwent analytical screening with an alert for a medium or high risk of malnutrition, as well as the subgroup of patients in whom we were able to administer the complete INFORNUT® process, generating a report for each. Other documentary coding sources are cited. From the Minimum Basic Data Set, codes defined in the SEDOMSENPE consensus were analyzed. The data were processed with the Alcor-DRG program. Rates in ‰ of discharges for 2009 and 2010 of diagnoses of malnutrition, procedure and procedures-related diagnoses were calculated. These rates were compared with the mean rates in Andalusia. The contribution of these codes to the Complexity Index was estimated and, from the cost accounting data, the fraction of the hospitalization cost seen as justified by this activity was estimated. RESULTS: RESULTS are summarized for both study years. With respect to process performance, more than 3,600 patients per year (30% of admissions with a stay > 3 days) underwent analytical screening. Half of these patients were at medium or high risk and a nutritional assessment using INFORNUT® was completed for 55% of them, generating approximately 1,000 reports/year. Our coding rates exceeded the mean rates in Andalusia, being 3.5 times higher for diagnoses (35‰); 2.5 times higher for procedures (50‰) and five times the rate of procedurerelated diagnoses in the same patient (25‰). The Mean Stay of patients coded with malnutrition at discharge was 31.7 days, compared to 9.5 for the overall hospital stay. The Mortality Rate for the same patients (21.8%) was almost five times higher than the mean and Urgent Readmissions (5.5%) were 1.9 times higher. The impact of this coding on the hospital Complexity Index was four hundredths (from 2.08 to 2.12 in 2009 and 2.15 to 2.19 in 2010). This translates into a hospitalization cost justification of 2,000,000; five to six times the cost of artificial nutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The process facilitated access to the diagnosis of malnutrition and to understanding the risk of developing it, as well as to the prescription of procedures and/or supplements to correct it. The interdisciplinary team coordination, the participatory process and the tools used improved coding rates to give results far above the Andalusian mean. These results help to upwardly adjust the hospital Complexity Index or Case Mix-, as well as to explain hospitalization costs.

Introducción: La alta prevalencia de desnutrición hospitalaria relacionada con la enfermedad justifica la necesidad de herramientas de cribado y detección precoz de los pacientes en riesgo de desnutrición, seguido de una valoración encaminada a su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Existe asimismo una manifiesta infracodificación de los diagnósticos de desnutrición y los procedimientos para revertirla. Objetivos: Describir el programa/proceso INFORNUT ® y su desarrollo como sistema de información. Cuantificar el rendimiento en sus diferentes fases. Citar otras herramientas utilizadas como fuente de codificación. Calcular las tasas de codificación de diagnósticos de desnutrición y procedimientos relacionados. Mostrar su relación con Estancia Media, Tasas de Mortalidad y Reingreso urgente; así como cuantificar su impacto en el Índice de Complejidad hospitalario y su efecto en justificación de Costes de Hospitalización. Material y métodos: El proceso INFORNUT® se basa en un programa de cribado automatizado de detección sistemática e identificación precoz de pacientes desnutridos al ingreso hospitalario, así como de su valoración, diagnóstico, documentación e informe. Sobre el total de ingresos con estancias mayores de tres días habidos en los años 2008 y 2010, se contabilizaron pacientes objeto de cribado analítico con alerta de riesgo medio o alto de desnutrición, así como el subgrupo de pacientes a los que se les pudo completar en su totalidad el proceso INFORNUT® llegando al informe por paciente. Se citan otras fuentes documentales de codificación. Del Conjunto Mínimo de la Ba se de Datos se analizaron los códigos definidos en consenso SENPE-SEDOM. Los datos se procesaron con el programa Alcor-GRD. Se calcularon las tasas en ‰ altas dadas para los años 2009 y 2010 de diagnósticos de desnutrición, procedimientos y diagnósticos asociados a procedimientos. Se compararon dichas tasas con las tasas medias de la comunidad andaluza. Se estimó la contribución de dichos códigos en el Índice de Complejidad y, a partir de los datos de contabilidad analítica, se estimó la fracción del coste de hospitalización que se ve justificada por esta actividad. Resultados: Resumimos aquí un resultado para ambos años estudiados. En cuanto al rendimiento del proceso, más de 3.600 pacientes por año (30% de los ingresos con estancia > 3 días) fueron objeto de cribado analítico. La mitad de ellos resultaron de riesgo medio o alto, de los cuales al 55 % se les completó una valoración nutricional mediante INFORNUT®, obteniéndose unos 1.000 informes/ año. Nuestras tasas de codificación superaron a las tasas medias de Andalucía, siendo 3,5 veces superior en diagnósticos (35 ‰); 2,5 veces en procedimientos (50 ‰) y quintuplicando la tasa de diagnósticos asociados a procedimientos en el mismo paciente (25 ‰). La Estancia Media de los pacientes codificados al alta de desnutrición fue de 31,7 días, frente a los 9,5 de global hospitalaria. La Tasa de Mortalidad para los mismos (21,8 %) fue casi cinco veces superior a la media y la de Reingresos "urgentes" (5,5 %) resultó 1,9 veces superior. El impacto de dicha codificación en el Índice de Complejidad hospitalario fue de cuatro centésimas (de 2,08 a 2,12 en 2009 y de 2,15 a 2,19 en 2010). Esto se traduce en una justificación de costes de hospitalización por 2.000.000 ; cinco a seis veces el coste de la nutrición artificial. Conclusiones: El proceso ha facilitado el acceso al diagnóstico de la desnutrición o al conocimiento del riesgo de padecerla, así como a la prescripción de los procedimientos y/o suplementos para remediarla. La coordinación interdisciplinar del equipo, lo participativo del proceso y las herramientas utilizadas mejoran las tasas de codificación hasta resultados muy por encima de la media andaluza. Estos resultados contribuyen a ajustar al alza el IC hospitalario, así como a la justificación de costes de hospitalización.

Proceso INFORNUT®; mejora de la accesibilidad del paciente hospitalizado desnutrido a su diagnóstico y soporte nutricional; repercusión en indicadores de gestión; dos años de evaluación / Infornut® process; improves accessibility to diagnosis and nutritional support for the malnourished hospitalized patient; impact on management indicators; two-year assessment

Introducción: La alta prevalencia de desnutrición hospitalaria relacionada con la enfermedad justifica la necesidad de herramientas de cribado y detección precoz de los pacientes en riesgo de desnutrición, seguido de una valoración encaminada a su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Existe asimismo una manifiesta infracodificación de los diagnósticos de desnutrición y los procedimientos para revertirla. Objetivos: Describir el programa/proceso INFORNUT® y su desarrollo como sistema de información. Cuantificar el rendimiento en sus diferentes fases. Citar otras herramientas utilizadas como fuente de codificación. Calcular las tasas de codificación de diagnósticos de desnutrición y procedimientos relacionados. Mostrar su relación con Estancia Media, Tasas de Mortalidad y Reingreso urgente; así como cuantificar su impacto en el Índice de Complejidad hospitalario y su efecto en justificación de Costes de Hospitalización. Material y métodos: El proceso INFORNUT® se basa en un programa de cribado automatizado de detección sistemática e identificación precoz de pacientes desnutridos al ingreso hospitalario, así como de su valoración, diagnóstico, documentación e informe. Sobre el total de ingresos con estancias mayores de tres días habidos en los años 2008 y 2010, se contabilizaron pacientes objeto de cribado analítico con alerta de riesgo medio o alto de desnutrición, así como el subgrupo de pacientes a los que se les pudo completar en su totalidad el proceso INFORNUT® llegando al informe por paciente. Se citan otras fuentes documentales de codificación. Del Conjunto Mínimo de la Base de Datos se analizaron los códigos definidos en consenso SENPE-SEDOM. Los datos se procesaron con el programa Alcor-GRD. Se calcularon las tasas en % altas dadas para los años 2009 y 2010 de diagnósticos de desnutrición, procedimientos y diagnósticos asociados a procedimientos. Se compararon dichas tasas con las tasas medias de la comunidad andaluza. Se estimó la contribución de dichos códigos en el Índice de Complejidad y, a partir de los datos de contabilidad analítica, se estimó la fracción del coste de hospitalización que se ve justificada por esta actividad. Resultados: Resumimos aquí un resultado para ambos años estudiados. En cuanto al rendimiento del proceso, más de 3.600 pacientes por año (30% de los ingresos con estancia > 3 días) fueron objeto de cribado analítico. La mitad de ellos resultaron de riesgo medio o alto, de los cuales al 55 % se les completó una valoración nutricional mediante INFORNUT®, obteniéndose unos 1.000 informes/año. Nuestras tasas de codificación superaron a las tasas medias de Andalucía, siendo 3,5 veces superior en diagnósticos (35 %); 2,5 veces en procedimientos (50 %) y quintuplicando la tasa de diagnósticos asociados a procedimientos en el mismo paciente (25 %). La Estancia Media de los pacientes codificados al alta de desnutrición fue de 31,7 días, frente a los 9,5 de global hospitalaria. La Tasa de Mortalidad para los mismos (21,8 %) fue casi cinco veces superior a la media y la de Reingresos «urgentes» (5,5 %) resultó 1,9 veces superior. El impacto de dicha codificación en el Índice de Complejidad hospitalario fue de cuatro centésimas (de 2,08 a 2,12 en 2009 y de 2,15 a 2,19 en 2010). Esto se traduce en una justificación de costes de hospitalización por 2.000.000 euros; cinco a seis veces el coste de la nutrición artificial. Conclusiones: El proceso ha facilitado el acceso al diagnóstico de la desnutrición o al conocimiento del riesgo de padecerla, así como a la prescripción de los procedimientos y/o suplementos para remediarla. La coordinación interdisciplinar del equipo, lo participativo del proceso y las herramientas utilizadas mejoran las tasas de codificación hasta resultados muy por encima de la media andaluza. Estos resultados contribuyen a ajustar al alza el IC hospitalario, así como a la justificación de costes de hospitalización (AU)

Introduction: The high prevalence of disease-related hospital malnutrition justifies the need for screening tools and early detection in patients at risk for malnutrition, followed by an assessment targeted towards diagnosis and treatment. At the same time there is clear undercoding of malnutrition diagnoses and the procedures to correct it. Objectives: To describe the INFORNUT program/ process and its development as an information system. To quantify performance in its different phases. To cite other tools used as a coding source. To calculate the coding rates for malnutrition diagnoses and related procedures. To show the relationship to Mean Stay, Mortality Rate and Urgent Readmission; as well as to quantify its impact on the hospital Complexity Index and its effect on the justification of Hospitalization Costs. Material and methods: The INFORNUT® process is based on an automated screening program of systematic detection and early identification of malnourished patients on hospital admission, as well as their assessment, diagnoses, documentation and reporting. Of total readmissions with stays longer than three days incurred in 2008 and 2010, we recorded patients who underwent analytical screening with an alert for a medium or high risk of malnutrition, as well as the subgroup of patients in whom we were able to administer the complete INFORNUT® process, generating a report for each. Other documentary coding sources are cited. From the Minimum Basic Data Set, codes defined in the SEDOM-SENPE consensus were analyzed. The data were processed with the Alcor-DRG program. Rates in % of discharges for 2009 and 2010 of diagnoses of malnutrition, procedure and procedures-related diagnoses were calculated. These rates were compared with the mean rates in Andalusia. The contribution of these codes to the Complexity Index was estimated and, from the cost accounting data, the fraction of the hospitalization cost seen as justified by this activity was estimated. Results: Results are summarized for both study years. With respect to process performance, more than 3,600 patients per year (30% of admissions with a stay > 3 days) underwent analytical screening. Half of these patients were at medium or high risk and a nutritional assessment using INFORNUT® was completed for 55% of them, generating approximately 1,000 reports/year. Our coding rates exceeded the mean rates in Andalusia, being 3.5 times higher for diagnoses (35%); 2.5 times higher for procedures (50%) and five times the rate of procedure-related diagnoses in the same patient (25%). The Mean Stay of patients coded with malnutrition at discharge was 31.7 days, compared to 9.5 for the overall hospital stay. The Mortality Rate for the same patients (21.8%) was almost five times higher than the mean and Urgent Readmissions (5.5%) were 1.9 times higher. The impact of this coding on the hospital Complexity Index was four hundredths (from 2.08 to 2.12 in 2009 and 2.15 to 2.19 in 2010). This translates into a hospitalization cost justification of 2,000,000 euros; five to six times the cost of artificial nutrition. Conclusions: The process facilitated access to the diagnosis of malnutrition and to understanding the risk of developing it, as well as to the prescription of procedures and/or supplements to correct it. The interdisciplinary team coordination, the participatory process and the tools used improved coding rates to give results far above the Andalusian mean. These results help to upwardly adjust the hospital Complexity Index or Case Mix-, as well as to explain hospitalization costs (AU)

Penile Cancer Disparities in Puerto Rican Men as compared to the United States Population

This study compares incidence and mortality of penile cancer in Puerto Rico (PR) with other racial/ethnic groups in the United States (US) and evaluates the extent in which socioeconomic position index (SEP) or its components influence incidence and mortality in PR.

Age-standardized rates were calculated for incidence and mortality based on data from the PR Cancer Registry and the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, using the direct method.

PR men had approximately 3-fold higher incidence of penile cancer as compared to non-Hispanic white (Standardized rate ratio [SRR]: 3.33; 95%CI=2.80-3.95). A higher incidence of penile cancer was also reported in PR men as compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics men. Mortality from penile cancer was also higher for PR men as compared to all other ethnic/racial groups. PR men in the lowest SEP index had 70% higher incidence of penile cancer as compared with those PR men in the highest SEP index. However, the association was marginally significant (SRR: 1.70; 95%CI=0.97, 2.87). Only low educational attainment was statistically associated with higher penile cancer incidence (SRR: 2.18; 95%CI=1.42-3.29).

Although penile cancer is relatively uncommon, our results support significant disparities in the incidence and mortality rates among men in PR. Low educational attainment might influence the high incidence of penile cancer among PR men. Further studies are strongly recommended to explore these disparities. .

Penile cancer disparities in Puerto Rican men as compared to the United States population.

PURPOSE: This study compares incidence and mortality of penile cancer in Puerto Rico (PR) with other racial/ethnic groups in the United States (US) and evaluates the extent in which socioeconomic position index (SEP) or its components influence incidence and mortality in PR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age-standardized rates were calculated for incidence and mortality based on data from the PR Cancer Registry and the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, using the direct method. RESULTS: PR men had approximately 3-fold higher incidence of penile cancer as compared to non-Hispanic white (Standardized rate ratio [SRR]: 3.33; 95%CI=2.80-3.95). A higher incidence of penile cancer was also reported in PR men as compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics men. Mortality from penile cancer was also higher for PR men as compared to all other ethnic/racial groups. PR men in the lowest SEP index had 70% higher incidence of penile cancer as compared with those PR men in the highest SEP index. However, the association was marginally significant (SRR: 1.70; 95%CI=0.97, 2.87). Only low educational attainment was statistically associated with higher penile cancer incidence (SRR: 2.18; 95%CI=1.42-3.29). CONCLUSIONS: Although penile cancer is relatively uncommon, our results support significant disparities in the incidence and mortality rates among men in PR. Low educational attainment might influence the high incidence of penile cancer among PR men. Further studies are strongly recommended to explore these disparities.

New developments in the treatment of localized penile cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the current trends in local therapy approaches in patients with penile carcinoma. METHODS: The relevant published data since 2000 were reviewed; important series published before 2000 were also included. The reports were classified according to the level of evidence. Review studies and others indirectly related to the topic were also included but not classified. RESULTS: New information has suggested that surgical margins of only a few millimeters might be adequate for most localized tumors. A trend toward the use of more conservative therapies instead of amputative surgery has been observed, especially in developed countries. Although the local recurrence rate has been greater after conservative therapies than after amputative surgery, this increased rate does not seemed to have had a negative effect on cancer-specific survival. The quality of life has been superior after conservative procedures with preservation of the penis that seems to give the best results with regard to sexual function. Reconstructive surgery can be performed in selected patients after amputative surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the level of evidence is low, conservative therapies can be recommended for selected patients with penile carcinoma. Despite the trend for conservative approaches, these patients need psychological support.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma invading the bladder: case report and review of the literature.

Multiple myeloma is characterized by neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells engaged in the production of a monoclonal protein. This condition affects mainly the bone marrow, but extramedullary manifestations can be seen in any organ. Urinary bladder involvement is extremely rare, with only 14 cases reported in the literature to our knowledge. Herein, we report a large extramedullary bladder plasmacytoma arising in a patient with history of multiple myeloma. A 78-year-old woman with history of multiple myeloma, currently in remission, presented with a large intravesical tumor. Because the tumor was considered to have characteristics of anaplastic neoplasm from transitional cell origin with evidence of deep muscular invasion, a radical cystectomy was performed. A subsequent microscopic evaluation of the cystectomy specimen revealed round cells with an eccentric cartwheel-like nucleus suggestive of plasmacytoma. The diagnosis was further confirmed with immunohistochemical studies. It is difficult, according to the literature, to distinguish bladder plasmacytoma from anaplastic transitional cell tumors. It is important to provide the pathologist with an appropriate history and to have a high index of suspicion for bladder plasmacytoma in patients with previous diagnosis of multiple myeloma and bladder mass.

Neoadjuvant androgen ablation before radical prostatectomy in cT2bNxMo prostate cancer: 5-year results.

PURPOSE: In the initial report of the Lupron Depot Neoadjuvant Prostate Cancer Study Group patients who received 3 months of androgen deprivation had a significant decrease in the positive margin rate. We monitored these patients for 5 years and to our knowledge present the longest followup of any neoadjuvant trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional prospective randomized trial was performed between February 1992 and April 1994 involving patients with stage cT2b prostate cancer, including 138 who received 3 months of leuprolide plus flutamide before radical prostatectomy and 144 who underwent radical prostatectomy only. Patients were followed every 6 months with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing for 5 years. Biochemical recurrence was defined as PSA greater than 0.4 ng./ml. RESULTS: At 5 years there was no difference in the biochemical recurrence rate. PSA was less than 0.4 ng./ml. in 64.8% of the patients in the neoadjuvant androgen ablation plus prostatectomy and 67.6% in the prostatectomy only group (p = 0.663). CONCLUSIONS: Although 3 months of androgen deprivation before radical prostatectomy resulted in an apparently significant decrease in positive surgical margins, a 5-year followup does not indicate any difference in the recurrence rate. Until studies document improvement in biochemical or clinical recurrence with longer periods of treatment, induction androgen deprivation before radical prostatectomy is not indicated.