[Clinical and socio-sanitary characteristics in adults older than 65 years attended in the Primary Care setting. The PYCAF study]. / Características clínicas y sociosanitarias en mayores de 65 años asistidos en atención primaria. Estudio PYCAF.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and socio-sanitary characteristics of adults older than 65 years attended in a Primary Care setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The PYCAF study (Prevalence and Characteristics of the Fragile Elderly) is a descriptive, cross-sectional and multicentre study, in which patients older than 65 years attended in clinical practice in Primary Care in Spain were consecutively included. RESULTS: A total of 2,461 patients (mean age 76.0±6.9 years, 57.9% women) were included in the study. The coexistence of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities was frequent, with arterial hypertension (73.7%) being the most prevalent, followed by dyslipidaemia (58.3%), arthrosis (56.4%), obesity (34.0%), and diabetes (28.9%). Some degree of cognitive impairment was observed in 13.4% of patients. Women had higher rates of frailty (61.0% vs. 51.8%; P<.001). Just under half (47.4%) of subjects were taking more than 6 drugs, with the prescription being higher in women (44.2% vs. 49.8%; P=.047). Just under half (49.5%) of patients made more than 10 visits to Primary Care, 25.9% of patients 4 or more visits to the specialist, and 22.3% of patients were admitted to hospital in the last year. CONCLUSIONS: The PYCAF study shows that elderly patients have a higher prevalence of chronic cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular diseases, which leads to high polypharmacy. The latter has consequences both on patient safety and on the direct and indirect costs of the National Health System that emanate from the care of patients over 65 years of age. Half the sample has fragility.

Dolor abdominal urgente: diagnóstico diferencial del estreñimiento / Urgent abdominal pain: Constipation differential diagnosis

El estreñimiento es un cuadro clínico muy frecuente en nuestras consultas, en principio de fácil abordaje y por tanto fácil de obviar en ciertos casos la exploración física y la realización de alguna prueba complementaria, que se puede considerar de poca importancia inicialmente. Pero en ocasiones puede ser causa de dolor continuo e innumerables molestias para la persona que lo presenta, llegando a producir cuadros clínicos graves. Presentamos un caso en el que nuestro paciente presentaba este tipo de enfermedad como antecedente y tras la realización de una breve anamnesis y una correcta y rápida exploración se convirtió en una urgencia quirúrgica (AU)

Constipation is a common health problem in our clinics. At first, we think that a physical examination and additional tests are not necessary. This condition may be considered unimportant initially, but it can give rise to ongoing pain, discomfort, for the many who suffer from it, and sometimes can present with severe clinical symptoms. We present a case of a patient presented with this condition, and after conducting a brief anamnesis and a complete and rapid physical examination, the patient was finally treated as a surgical emergency (AU)

[Urgent abdominal pain: constipation differential diagnosis]. / Dolor abdominal urgente: diagnóstico diferencial del estreñimiento.

Constipation is a common health problem in our clinics. At first, we think that a physical examination and additional tests are not necessary. This condition may be considered unimportant initially, but it can give rise to ongoing pain, discomfort, for the many who suffer from it, and sometimes can present with severe clinical symptoms. We present a case of a patient presented with this condition, and after conducting a brief anamnesis and a complete and rapid physical examination, the patient was finally treated as a surgical emergency.

First Spanish series of intestinal transplantation in adult recipients.

BACKGROUND: short-bowel transplantation has experienced a substantial growth worldwide following improved results from the late 1990's on, and its coverage by Medicare. According to the International Registry (1985-2005), a total of 1,292 intestinal transplants for 1,210 patients in 65 hospitals across 20 countries have been carried out thus far. OBJECTIVE: to know short-term (6 months) results regarding patient and graft survival from the first Spanish series of intestinal transplants in adult recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we present our experience in the assessment of 20 potential candidates to short-bowel transplantation between June 2004 and October 2005. Of these, 10 patients were rejected and 4 were transplanted, which makes up the sample of our study. RESULTS: to this date 5 transplants have been carried out in 4 patients (2 retransplants, 2 desmoid tumors, 1 short bowel syndrome after excision as a result of mesenteric ischemia). Upon study completion and after a mean follow-up of 180 days (range 90-190 days) all recipients are alive, and all grafts but one (75%) are fully operational, with complete digestive autonomy. All patients received induction with alemtuzumab except one, who received thymoglobulin; in all induction was initiated with no steroids. CONCLUSIONS: intestinal transplantation represents a therapeutic option that is applicable in our setting and valid for recipients with an indication who have no other feasible alternative to keep their intestinal failure under control.

Primera serie nacional de trasplante de intestino en receptores adultos / First Spanish series of intestinal transplantation in adult recipients

Introducción: el trasplante de intestino, con la mejoría en los resultadosdesde finales de los años 90 y desde su cobertura por el Medicare,ha experimentado un crecimiento sustancial a nivel internacional.En la actualidad, según el Registro Internacional (1985-2005),se han realizado un total de 1.292 trasplantes de intestino en 1.210pacientes en 65 hospitales distribuidos por 20 países.Objetivo: conocer los resultados a corto plazo (6 meses) entérminos de supervivencia del paciente y del injerto de la primeraserie nacional de trasplante de intestino en receptores adultos.Material y métodos: presentamos nuestra experiencia en laevaluación de 20 potenciales candidatos a trasplante intestinal entrejunio de 2004 y octubre de 2005. De ellos, fueron desestimadosun total 10 pacientes y fueron trasplantados 4, lo que constituyela muestra de nuestro estudio.Resultados: hasta la fecha se han realizado 5 trasplantes en 4pacientes (2 retrasplantes, 2 tumores desmoides, y 1 síndrome deintestino corto tras exéresis por isquemia mesentérica). Al final delestudio y tras un seguimiento medio de 180 días (rango, 90-190días), todos los receptores están vivos, y todos los injertos, a excepciónde uno (75%), están funcionando plenamente, con autonomíadigestiva completa. Todos los pacientes recibieron induccióncon alemtuzumab excepto uno que recibió timoglobulina y entodos se inició la inducción sin esteroides.Conclusiones: el trasplante intestinal constituye una opciónterapéutica aplicable en nuestro medio y válida en receptores enquienes está indicado y que no tienen otra alternativa válida paracontrolar su insuficiencia intestinal

Background: short-bowel transplantation has experienced asubstantial growth worldwide following improved results from thelate 1990s on, and its coverage by Medicare. According to the InternationalRegistry (1985-2005), a total of 1,292 intestinal trasplantsfor 1,210 patients in 65 hospitals across 20 countries have been carriedout thus far.Objective: to know short-term (6 months) results regardingpatient and graft survival from the first Spanish series of intestinaltransplants in adult recipients.Material and methods: we present our experience in the assessmentof 20 potential candidates to short-bowel transplantationbetween June 2004 and October 2005. Of these, 10 patientswere rejected and 4 were transplanted, which makes up thesample of our study.Results: to this date 5 transplants have been carried out in4 patients (2 retransplants, 2 desmoid tumors, 1 short bowelsyndrome after excision as a result of mesenteric ischemia).Upon study completion and after a mean follow-up of 180days (range 90-190 days) all recipients are alive, and all graftsbut one (75%) are fully operational, with complete digestiveautonomy. All patients received induction with alemtuzumabexcept one, who received thymoglobulin; in all induction wasinitiated with no steroids.Conclusions: intestinal transplantation represents a therapeuticoption that is applicable in our setting and valid for recipientswith an indication who have no other feasible alternative tokeep their intestinal failure under control

Results of fundic patch operation for severe stricture of the esophagus.

Eighteen patients ranging in age from 32-82 years with benign distal esophageal stricture underwent and survived fundic patch operation. Twelve of these patients had undergone esophageal dilatation but without success. Five had had surgery for hiatal hernia using Hill, Belsey or Lortat-Jacob techniques. Middle laparotomy was done in five and left thoracotomy in thirteen. A fundic patch with a 270 degrees fundoplication was performed in seven and a fundic patch with 360 degrees fundoplication in the remaining eleven. The average hospital stay was 12.3 days. Dysphagia disappeared in seventeen and persisted for eight months in one patient. Three patients required instrumental dilatation for a few months. Endoscopic examination, pH study and X-ray fluoroscopy were done. Gastroesophageal reflux was nil in patients treated with Nissen's 360 degrees fundoplication and three of these 7 patients without Nissen's fundoplication had gastroesophageal reflux. Epithelialization of the patched esophageal wound was evident 6 months after the operation.

Pancreato-biliary-duodenal interposition of isolated jejunal loop in the surgical treatment of selected cases of chronic pancreatitis.

Eight patients suffering from symptoms of chronic pancreatitis with dilation of Wirsung's and common bile ducts were selected for a double biliary and pancreatic diversion by interposition of two jejunal loops between these ducts and the duodenum. In three patients a single loop was used, performing an anastomosis on the proximal end to the Wirsung duct about 45 centimeters below the anastomosis between the common duct and the jejunum. The distal end of this loop was anastomosed end-to-side to the duodenum. In five patients two different jejunal loop were used. While the proximal end of one loop was anastomosed to the Wirsung duct, the proximal end of the second loop was anastomosed to the common bile duct. End-to-side anastomosis was then performed between the distal end of both loops and the duodenum. There were no deaths or serious complications. The minimum follow-up was twelve months and the maximum three and half years, all the patients being without symptoms and with normalization of the laboratory tests three months after operation.