O cuidador de paciente com neoplasia cerebral maligna primária: os desafios do cuidado

Patients with primary malignant brain tumor endure several motor and cognitive dysfunctions, demanding the presence of a caregiver even more because the time necessary for their assistance increases considerably. Usually this task is performed by a family relative, whose activities include taking care of the patient’s personal hygiene, escorting them to medical appointments, managing their money and performing their housework. All of this overwhelms the caregiver both physical and psychologically. This bibliographic research intends to analyze the role in which a caregiver plays in the quality of life of those kinds of patients, the complications of such task, the caregivers’ needs and the daily life of those terminal patients. It was used CAPES, PubMed and Google Academic databases for researching articles related to family caregivers who assisted adult patients with primary malignant brain tumor. The study concluded that being a caregiver of patients in such conditions harms one’s quality of life, with consequences such as stress, insomnia, financial problems and lack of social support. Theirs needs include: having someone to talk to about the matter, attending programs for reducing stress and increasing their knowledge about the disease. In advanced phases of the condition, the patient shows great mobility problems, aphasia and regular seizures, which end up overwhelming the caregiver. The level of quality of life found was above other types of cancer’s caregivers. Therefore, they represent a group with special needs, which should be especially handled by health professionals.

Selección del tratamiento farmacológico en el estado de mal epiléptico en niños

The status epilepticus (SE) is characterized by a series of crises which occur without recovery of consciousness or a single seizure lasting more than 30 minutes and can damage the central nervous system and systemic. The duration and frequency of attacks are directly related to patient prognosis. Whether seizures occur often and are longer, increase the risk of neurological and systemic complications. Child population has a higher frequency of seizures and it is associated with a lower threshold of immature brain to trigger these episodes. Aim: To determine the safest drugs prescribed for children in SE, their doses and schedules. A bibliographic survey was performed in electronic databases. Methods: The scientific health descriptors used for search was: “status epilecticus” and “anticonvulsivants” and “child”. Results: This strategy identified 396 manuscripts, of whom four were considered eligible for the study, after the assessment by floating reading and criteria. Of these, two were randomized trials and two descriptive. The studies address the use of oral midazolam, rectal diazepam and intravenous lorazepam. Conclusions: All investigated drugs were effective in treat in status epilepticus. Lorazepam is highlight, since it has fewer secondary effects and, as an alternative to the intravenous, oral midazolam. However, there is a need for further studies to demonstrate the efficacy and safety in the use of drugs in children.

Particularities in the technique of calvaria graft

Calvaria grafts provide good bone quantity for the reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla, and have lower morbidity and resorption rates when compared to iliac crest. The aim of this paper is to present the technique for obtaining a graft of the skull. Initially, the depth of the osteotomy is determined by a manually conducted bur, which establishes the limits of the structures of the skull (outer table, diploe and inner table), making the removal of bone blocks easier and safer. Thus, osteotomies of the blocks are made with greater security, avoiding the complications inherent to surgical technique. The case that will be presented it is from a male patient of 65 years who refused to submit to the iliac crest graft, opting for the calvaria, despite being bald, that is a contraindication for this treatment modality. A delicate suture associated with placement of titanium mesh to maintain the conformation of the patient's skull in the region of the bone defect, created after removal of the graft, provided a good cosmetic result at the donor site. The use of titanium mesh for re-anatomization of bone defects created in the grafts is well indicated for bald patients.

Miedo e inseguridad de la gestante durante el trabajo de parto como motivos para la demanda de internación precoz

Objective. To identify reasons why women look for early health care attention at the end of pregnancy. Methodology. Qualitative study based in socio-existential phenomenology proposed by Alfred Schütz. Nine pregnant women who consulted to the maternity service without being in real labor were interviewed. Results. The following analysis categories emerged: Having different symptoms or signals from the ones they had felt or been informed about, not being able to identify real labor, fear to fetal complications for being close to the probable labor date, feeling calmer when being seen by professionals of the institution, lack of problem solving by other services of the health institution, fearing out of hospital delivery, imitating real labor, looking for tranquility in the idealization of labor and modifying behaviors to guarantee attention. Conclusion. Women are insecure and fear because of a fragmented health care, where they do not perceive themselves linked to the prenatal control program anymore, and at the same time they don’t find the health care assistance they want.

Hiperadrenocorticismo em cães: revisão

Hyperadrenocorticism is a relatively common endocrinopathy in dogs, which is associated to an excessive production or administration of cortisol. The most affected breeds are Poodles, Teckels, Boxers, Boston Terriers and Beagles. The clinical signs most commonly observed are polyuria, polydipsia, polyfagia, panting, distended abdomen, endocrine alopecia, muscular weakness and lethargy. Laboratorial abnormalities include stress leukogram, increase in alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase activities, hypercholesterolemia, lipemia, hyperglycemia and hyposthenuria. The preferred essay to evaluate adrenal gland function is the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, whereas the most used treatments include mitotane and trilostane. The objective of this paper is to review hyperadrenocorticism in dogs, because this disease is relatively common in small animal clinics and has many long-term complications.

Síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono: diagnóstico e tratamento

The Syndrome Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is defined by recurrent episodes of a total or partial obstruction of the airway during sleep, considered apnea and hypopnea respectively. Considered to be increasing by increasing the number of individuals with a disorder breathing, Being continually increasing the number of individuals with a respiratory disorder, OSA can be considered a public health problem that deserves greater attention in relation to diagnoses and treatments that are being conducted. The objective of this study is through a literature review which should be evaluated during the diagnosis and etiology, consequences and treatment of respiratory disorders not adequately treated. The etiology is multifactorial and may be associated with exogenous factors or pathological and anatomical factors. In addition to the own symptoms interfere with the quality of life of the individual, depending on the intensity, OSA can trigger more serious complications. This is a complex syndrome which may have varying degrees and irreversible consequences to the body. The choice of treatment should be based on clinical conditions, the severity of the apnea, the degree of urgency of treatment and the patient's preferences, but the treatments available will not be fully effective if there are no changes in lifestyle of it. The respiratory disorders can range from a simple nasal obstruction and intermittent obstruction more severe, emphasizing the importance of a complete diagnosis, which must be multidisciplinary, through a team relationship between doctor and dentist.