Revista clínica española
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Revista clínica española · Jun 2020
ReviewThromboembolism prophylaxis in orthopaedic surgery and trauma.
Thromboembolism prophylaxis is well-established in major orthopaedic surgery (hip and knee arthroplasty and hip fracture surgery), with low-molecular-weight heparins the most often chosen agent. In recent years, however, direct-acting anticoagulants have been gaining ground and can be used in this scenario (except for hip fracture surgery). ⋯ For other orthopaedic procedures (leg surgery below the knee, ankle and foot; knee arthroscopy; arm surgery; and spine surgery), thromboembolism prophylaxis requires individualisation based on the patient's risk factors and the surgery's characteristics, given that the risk of venous thromboembolic disease is minor. In this patient group, the agent of choice is low-molecular-weight heparin, given that direct-acting anticoagulants are not approved for these types of surgery.
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Surgery increases the risk (by 20-fold) of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but there are prophylaxis methods (mechanical, pharmaceutical or combined) that safely reduce the incidence rate of VTE. The administration of prophylaxis requires a prior assessment of the risks associated with the patient and with the type of surgery. ⋯ At this time, the recommendation is to administer prophylaxis to all patients: mechanical prophylaxis for low, moderate or high risk with contraindications for the administration of heparin; combined with heparin for very high risk; and with drugs such as low-molecular-weight heparin, unfractionated heparin and fondaparinux for moderate to high risk. These measurements should be kept until full ambulation, discharge, or at least seven days (for major oncologic and bariatric surgery, maintain for four weeks).
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Revista clínica española · Jun 2020
ReviewWhen does diabetes start? Early detection and intervention in type2 diabetes mellitus.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is a progressive disease whose pathophysiological changes occur several years before its detection. An approach based on the pathophysiological development of DM2 and its complications emphasises the importance of early and intensive intervention, not only to prevent beta-cell dysfunction but also to act on the potential associated cardiovascular risk factors before reaching the blood glucose thresholds currently set for diagnosing DM2. In the field of recently diagnosed DM2, the VERIFY study has shown that early treatment combined with metformin-vildagliptin provides relevant improvements in long-term glycaemic control and can positively affect the disease's progression.
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Revista clínica española · May 2020
ReviewTreatment of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities.
Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities is a common condition that should be treated appropriately given the possibility that it could lead to an ultimately fatal complication, as well as to a post-thrombotic syndrome that is in some cases disabling. The current treatment for this condition is differentiated into an acute phase, a long-term therapy and occasionally an extended therapy, which not only has defined objectives but also uses various drugs and even varying dosages for each drug. We describe the therapeutic anticoagulation options in each of these treatment phases and some of the treatments (thrombolysis, insertion of an inferior vena cava filter, surgery) that can play a role in certain conditions.
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For patients to be able to make decisions autonomously (and to grant informed consent), they must have information, understanding, freedom and willingness, with competence a prerequisite for autonomy. Clinicians are often faced with patients lacking competence to make decisions but detect less than half of such cases and often inadequately assess the patients' competence. This article offers guidelines for assessing the competence of patients for whom there are doubts about their ability to make decisions concerning their health. The procedure is based on 5 steps: 1) recognising the conditions that require a competence assessment; 2) fully evaluating the competence; 3) correlating the degree of competence with the complexity of the decision; 4) improving the patient's competence when possible; and 5) establishing who will make the decision.