Mutilação Genital Feminina: o que Sabem os Profissionais de Saúde?

Portugal is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) a risk country for the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge that health professionals from Maternity Dr. Alfredo da Costa (MAC) have regarding FGM. Population and Methods: Analysis of surveys delivered to health professionals from MAC (a hospital dedicated to reproductive health), between April and June 2008, addressing issues related to the knowledge about FGM. Results: Authors collected 112 valid surveys involving 38 doctors, 48 nurses and 26 medical auxiliaries/administrative personnel. From the respondents, 106 (95%) had heard about FMG practice before, the media being the most reported source of information; 59 (53%) replied they could be able to recognize FGM cases in their clinical practice; however, only 31 (28%) claimed to know the FGM type classiication and 32 (29%) admitted to be prepared to recognize and manage these situations in their own clinical practice; 9 had been consulted explicitly by a FGM practice complication and 1 doctor had admitted having been asked to perform/execute FGM; 13 (12%) recognized that the Portuguese legislation its this practice. Regarding the practice of FGM, 100 (89%) of respondentes stated that it should not be maintained and 97 (87%) stated that it should not be tolerated. However, 42 (38%) considered that if these practices were a reality, then they should be medical assisted. Discussion: Health professionals can play an important role in eliminating the practice of FGM, not only by the proper clinical management of this situation, but also by preventing those communities at risk to resort to FGM. Most health professionals are not prepared to deal with FGM in their clinical practice. It is important to promote a better knowledge on the subject and to create protocols for proper clinical management.

Short QT Syndrome Presenting As Syncope: How Short Is Too Short?

We report the case of a 52-year-old man who presented to our emergency department (ED) after three episodes of syncope in the seven hours before admission. During his stay in the ED he had recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) requiring external electrical cardioversion. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a short QT (SQT) interval (270 ms, QTc 327 ms), with frequent R-on-T extrasystoles triggering sustained polymorphic VT. After exclusion of other precipitating causes, the patient was diagnosed as having SQT syndrome (SQTS) according to the Gollob criteria. To our knowledge, this is the first known documentation of an SQT-caused arrhythmic episode on a 12-lead ECG, as well as the first reported case of SQTS in Portugal. The patient received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and was discharged. At a follow-up assessment 14 months later he was symptom-free, interrogation of the device showed no arrhythmic events, and the ECG showed a QT interval of 320 ms (QTc 347 ms).

Contraceptive Choices Pre and Post Pregnancy in Adolescence

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of adolescent pregnancy in the future contraceptive choices. A secondary aim is to verify whether these choices differ from those made after an abortion. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING:Adolescent Unit of a tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS:212 pregnant teenagers. INTERVENTIONS: Medical records review. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Intended pregnancy rate and contraceptive methods used before and after pregnancy. For contraceptive choices after pregnancy we considered: Group 1 - teenagers who continued their pregnancy to delivery (n = 106) and Group 2 - the same number of adolescents who chose to terminate their pregnancy. RESULTS: The intended pregnancy rate was 14.2%. Prior to a pregnancy continued to delivery, the most widely used contraceptive method was the male condom (50.9%), followed by oral combined contraceptives (28.3%); 18.9% of adolescents were not using any contraceptive method. After pregnancy, contraceptive implant was chosen by 70.8% of subjects (P < .001) and the oral combined contraceptives remained the second most frequent option (17.9%, P = .058). Comparing these results with Group 2, we found that the outcome of the pregnancy was the main factor in the choices that were made. Thus, after a pregnancy continued to delivery, adolescents prefer the use of LARC [78.4% vs 40.5%, OR: 5,958 - 95% (2.914-12.181), P < .001)], especially contraceptive implants [70.8% vs 38.7%, OR: 4.371 - 95% (2.224-8.591), P < .001], to oral combined contraceptives [17.9% vs 57.5%, OR: 0.118 - 95% CI (0.054-0.258), P < .001]. CONCLUSION:Adolescent pregnancy and its outcome constitute a factor of change in future contraceptive choice.

Intraocular Pressure in Eyes Receiving Intravitreal Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections

PURPOSE: The aim of the this study was to determine the effect of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections on intraocular pressure (IOP) and identify possible risk factors for the development of increased IOP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included a total of 106 eyes receiving intravitreal injection of bevacizumab as treatment for macular edema or active choroidal neovascularization. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry immediately before the intravitreal injection and 5 min, 1 h and 15 days after the procedure. The records of the study patients were reviewed for age, gender, history of glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, phakic status, systemic and topical medication and number of previous injections. Subconjunctival reflux was registered. IOP elevation was defined as IOP ≥21 mm Hg and/or a change from baseline of ≥5 mm Hg recorded at least on two or more measurements on the same visit. RESULTS: Mean preoperative IOP was 15.31 ± 3.90 mm Hg and postoperative IOP values were 27.27 ± 11.87 mm Hg (after 5 min), 17.59 ± 6.24 mm Hg (after 1 h) and 16.86 ± 3.62 mm Hg (after 15 days). The IOP variation was statistically significant between pre- and postoperative measurements (p < 0.05). Subconjunctival reflux was recorded in 11.3%, and in this subgroup the IOP at 5 min and at 1 h was lower than preoperative IOP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: More than one third of the eyes achieved IOPs >30 mm Hg 5 min after injection. Subconjunctival reflux contributed to a lower mean postoperative IOP (p < 0.05). Considerations for the management include prophylactic IOP lowering with medical therapy and/or preinjection ocular decompression for patients with a history of glaucoma or ocular hypertension and switching to an as-needed injection protocol in patients suffering a marked IOP rise in previous injections. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Hipertiroidismo por Secreção Inapropriada Não Tumoral de TSH

Apresenta-se um caso clínico de hipertiroidismo por secreção inapropriada não tumoral de TSH, numa mulher de 31 anos, investigado na sequência do achado de T3 e TSH elevados após tiroidecto mia. A resposta exagerada de TSH à TRH e a supressão parcial após triiodotironina aliadas à normal expressão morfológica tomodensitométrica da região selar confirmaram o diagnóstico. As terapêuticas com bromocriptina e ocjreotido revelaram-se ineficazes na supressa da TSH. O ensaio com 3-5-3’ ácido triiodotiroacético ficou deferido pela ocorrência de gravidez e aleitamento.

Identificação das Formas Farmacêuticas Orais Sólidas no Circuito do Medicamento. Qual o Valor da Segurança?

Introdução É missão do farmacêutico hospitalar aumentar a segurança e qualidade de todos os processos associados à utilização do medicamento1,2. Os erros de medicação são a principal causa de eventos adversos preveníveis, comprometem a confiança dos doentes nas instituições prestadoras de cuidados de saúde e aumentam os custos3. O presente trabalho centra-se na problemática da identificação unitária das formas farmacêuticas orais sólidas (FFOS) a propósito de duas histórias actuais de segurança com medicamentos no HSJ: paracetamol 500mg comprimidos e de acetilcisteína 600mg comprimidos efervescentes. Objetivos Evidenciar a intervenção dos Serviços Farmacêuticos (SF) na garantia da segurança das FFOS no contexto das exigências das Boas Práticas de Farmácia Hospitalar e dos constrangimentos na selecção e aquisição de medicamentos. Desenvolvimento Os SF são responsáveis pela selecção e aquisição de medicamentos com a máxima qualidade, para o suprimento das necessidades terapêuticas dos doentes do Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central (CHLC)4. A indústria farmacêutica não disponibiliza a totalidade dos medicamentos em embalagem unitária devidamente identificada. Os hospitais públicos têm a obrigatoriedade de adquirir os medicamentos que constam no catálogo dos Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde (SPMS), sendo critério de adjudicação único o preço mais baixo5. Muitos destes medicamentos não cumprem os requisitos de identificação adequados para a prevenção de erros de medicação e garantia da segurança do doente. Para colmatar esta lacuna e promover a segurança do circuito do medicamento, os SF reembalam os medicamentos disponibilizando-os de forma individualizada adequadamente identificados. Metodologia Pesquisa e análise bibliográfica. Recolha, através do Sistema de Gestão Integrada do Circuito do Medicamento (SGICM), dos dados de consumo de paracetamol 500mg comprimidos e de acetilcisteína 600mg comprimidos efervescentes dos anos 2014/2015. Recolha dos dados de produção da unidade de reembalagem dos SF do Hospital de São José de FFOS desde Janeiro 2011 a Agosto de 2015. Conclusões Verifica-se um aumento continuado do número de FFOS reembaladas ao longo do período analisado. A capacidade instalada da unidade de reembalagem de FFOS é limitada. Idealmente a indústria farmacêutica deve responder efectivamente às necessidades de qualidade e segurança na utilização dos medicamentos que coloca no mercado. A inclusão no catálogo dos SPMS deve exigir a completa identificação unitária das FFOS; senão, deverá ser ponderada a ampliação da capacidade da unidade de reembalagem das FFOS dos SF para garantir a segurança no circuito do medicamento. Referências bibliográficas 1. FIP Global Conference on the Future of Hospital Pharmacy, Final Basel Statements, 2008; 2. Decreto-Lei 414/91; 3. Bates,D., Preventing medication errors: a summary in American Journal of Health System Pharmacy, EUA, vol.64, supl.9, 2007; 4. Procedimento Multissetorial, Med.106, Responsabilidades no circuito do medicamento. CHLC 2014; 5. Despacho 13025-B/2013.

Percutaneous Treatment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation: Initial Experience with the MitraClip Device

INTRODUCTION: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular disease and has recently become the target of a number of percutaneous approaches. The MitraClip is virtually the only device for which there is considerable experience, with more than 20,000 procedures performed worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To describe our initial experience of the percutaneous treatment of MR with the MitraClip device. METHODS: We describe the first six MitraClip cases performed in this institution (mean age 58.5 ± 13.1 years), with functional MR grade 4+ and New York Heart Association (NYHA) heart failure class III or IV (n=3), with a mean follow-up of 290 ± 145 days. RESULTS: Procedural success (MR ≤ 2+) was 100%. Total procedure time was 115.8 ± 23.7 min, with no in-hospital adverse events and discharge between the fourth and eighth day, and consistent improvement in the six-minute walk test (329.8 ± 98.42 vs. 385.33 ± 106.95 m) and in NYHA class (three patients improved by two NYHA classes). During follow-up there were two deaths, in two of the four patients who had been initially considered for heart transplantation. CONCLUSION: In patients with functional MR the MitraClip procedure is safe, with both a high implantation and immediate in-hospital success rate. A longer follow-up suggests that the clinical benefit decreases or disappears completely in patients with more advanced heart disease, namely those denied transplantation or on the heart transplant waiting list.