[Informal caretakers. Needs and help]. / Cuidadores informales. Necesidades y ayudas.

In order to know the necessities and problems which informal caretakers have, and to identify the formal and informal help they receive, their own perception of themselves and what they would like to receive from the formal system, the authors carried out an observational, descriptive, transversal study using a semi/structured questionnaire in addition to a personal interview in the caretaker's home. This study occurred in the Primary Health Area Service Morera-Pomar and 32 caretakers were interviewed. As conclusions, the authors deduce that these caretakers have problems and necessities which call for assistance. They voice little criticism about the help they receive either from the formal or informal system. Overall, they value these positively, and what they hope for fall into what they already receive or what is presently offered.

[Clinical diagnosis of left auricular myxoma based on its echocardiographic and surgical verification]. / El diagnostico clínico de mixoma auricular izquierdo en base a su comprobación ecocardiográfica y quirúrgica.

We studied six patients with atrial myxoma, 5 occurred in left atrium and one in the right atrium, the diagnosis was verified with echocardiogram and surgery, we determined the clinical, electrocardiographic and radiological differences between the mitral stenosis and myxoma. We found that patients with atrial myxoma have no history of rheumatic fever, the dyspnea was less severe of shorter and duration, patient had paroxysmal dyspnea. In contrast dizziness, faintness, hemiparesis and/or angina were the more frequent symptoms. A diastolic mitral snap was a very frequent finding, less frequent was the diastolic rumble no patient had pre-systolic murmur. The left atrium was generally not dilated and the left atrial appendage as well as the pulmonary artery were not prominent in chest X-Rays. The P wave in lead II was not more than 0.11 sec and the ventricular complex in VI did not show tall R ware. With the previous elements it is possible to suspect the diagnosis of left atrial myxoma. The diagnosis should, of course, be confirmed by echocardiography.