Revista médica de Chile
-
Revista médica de Chile · Jan 2018
Review[Cardiotoxicity of anticancer therapies. Towards the implementation of cardio-oncology units].
Recently, we have witnessed major improvements in cancer treatment. Early diagnosis and development of new therapies have reduced cancer-related mortality. However, these new therapies, along with greater patient survival, are associated with an increase in untoward effects, particularly in the cardiovascular system. ⋯ The main objective of cardio-oncology is to achieve the maximum benefits of oncologic treatments while minimizing their deleterious cardiovascular effects. It harbors the stratification of patients at risk of cardiotoxicity, the implementation of diagnostic tools (imaging techniques and biomarkers) for early diagnosis, preventive strategies and early treatment options for the complications. Herein, we discuss the basic knowledge for the implementation of cardio-oncology units and their role in the management of cancer patients, the diagnostic tools available to detect cardiotoxicity and the present therapeutic options.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2017
Case Reports[Severe leg edema associated with the use of dopaminergic drugs in Parkinson's disease. Report of one case].
The main adverse effects of dopaminergic drugs used in Parkinson's disease are hypotension, somnolence, hallucinations and impulse control disorder. Less common is leg edema. We report on a 68-year-old male receiving levodopa and pramipexole consulting for severe leg edema lasting two years, whose etiology was not ascertained with multiple lab tests. This edema subsided substantially when pramipexole was discontinued and the dose of levodopa was increased to treat motor symptoms.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Dec 2017
Observational Study[Referral to rehabilitation services of patients discharged from a general hospital with a potentially disabling condition].
Background Patients discharged from general hospitals with a potentially disabling condition can benefit in their recovery with the aid of physical medicine and rehabilitation services. Aim To determine the proportion of patients discharged from a general hospital with a potentially disabling condition, who were derived to physiatry for rehabilitation. Material and Methods Review of the discharge database of a general hospital, identifying all discharges with a potentially disabling condition, and those who were effectively derived for rehabilitation. ⋯ Among these patients, 20% had neurological diseases and 19% had an amputation. Those attended by physiatry had a higher proportion of multidisciplinary care by the rehabilitation team. Conclusions A low proportion of patients discharged with a potentially disabling conditions are referred for an adequate rehabilitation therapy.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Nov 2017
Review[Perioperative care of older patients with hip fractures].
The number of osteoporotic fractures is increasing along with population aging. Most patients with these type of fractures are older than 65 years, with multiple chronic conditions and different degrees of disability. Hip fracture is the most relevant osteoporotic fracture due to its frequency, costs, severity and complications. ⋯ We herein review the management of this fracture. Orthogeriatric joint management should be incorporated in fragility fracture treatment. We contribute with general recommendations for the perioperative management, which can be homologated for the management of older patients with other type of fragility fractures.
-
Revista médica de Chile · Nov 2017
[Clinical guidelines using the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation)].
The Ministry of Health of Chile, aiming to improve the quality of clinical practice guidelines, gradually incorporated the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) to develop evidence based recommendations. This system summarizes and evaluates the certainty of the available evidence. It moves from evidence to decision in a systematic and transparent manner, based on four main dimensions: balance between benefits and harms, certainty of evidence, patient's values and preferences and use of resources. ⋯ Conditional recommendations, however, indicate that there is a close balance between favorable and unfavorable consequences of the intervention, there is uncertainty in the magnitude of benefits or adverse effects, there is uncertainty or variability in values and preferences of individuals or costs are not justified. These recommendations apply to many patients, but not all of them: ideally they should be discussed with each person. To achieve a better implementation of the recommendations made with GRADE methodology, health professionals should know the meaning of strong and conditional recommendations and they should be able to critically assess of them.