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C Vidal

Publications and source records attributed to C Vidal.

152 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Digital computerized absorptiometry in the diagnosis of osteoporosis in a group of the severely mentally retarded].

BACKGROUND: The loss of bone mass after a certain age is a physiological fact that, in certain circumstances, is capable of inducing osteoporosis. In the diagnostic strategies for this condition, densitometry is a well-accepted technique now widely used. On patients with severe mental retardation, a number of circumstances come into play and may foster a greater frequency of osteoporosis. GOAL AND SCOPE OF STUDY: The goal of the study is to identify the bone mineral density values in a group of severe mentally retarded individuals using a digital densitometry technique in order to compare these with the general population and investigate the possible influence on these values of certain clinical variables and therapeutic regimens. VOLUNTEERS: One hundred and ninety-two patients of both sexes and treated at an institution devoted to the study and care of severely mentally retarded individuals. ACTIONS TAKEN: In all cases, the bone mineral density value has been obtained by means of digital densitometry using a compact desktop system using dual X-ray absorption measurement technology The data obtained have been contrasted with sex, age, degree of mobility and anti-epilepsy or sedative medication. RESULTS: In the population under study, the bone mineral density is significantly lower than that of the general population: 25% present osteopenia and 22% osteoporosis. These results are associated with the fact that they move little and are regularly taking phenobarbital medication. The population with Down's syndrome is also seen to be a group at risk. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis is frequent among severe mentally retarded patients. The greatest risk is associated with insufficient mobility, Down's syndrome and regular medication with phenobarbital. Digital densitometry is a simple procedure that may be useful to identify the true dimension of this problem and the efficacy of the various preventive or curative procedures put forward.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mean hospital stay and treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The objective is to analyze if the mean hospital stay is less than the episodes or not in which electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is applied. METHODS: With a retrospective design, we studied a sample of 30 patients in whom ECT was applied between 1996 and 2001. These patients were suffering a disorder for which ECT has been shown to be effective (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression). Each one of the episodes (n = 185) of these patients was studied, comparing the length of stay in the hospital in these patients in which ECT was applied (n = 135) with those where it was not (n = 50). Statistical analysis was carried out by non-parametric Mann-Whitney-U tests. The descriptive level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: This work shows statistically significant differences between the treatment groups (p = 0.000), the length of stay being longer when ECT is applied.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis: occurrence in chronic liver disease patients in Recife].

A prospective research was made on spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in chronic liver disease patients presenting with ascites. Forty clinical cases, of 37 patients, were analysed. All subjects were submitted to clinical and laboratory evaluation and diagnostic paracentesis, and the material was obtained for biochemical dosages, pH determination, cytology and bacterial cultures. Thirty cases of sterile ascites and 10 of SBP (25%) were detected. In 5 (50%) with SBP, the clinical findings were characteristic, with fever, abdominal pain and rebound tenderness. In 2 patients (20%) the presentation was atypical, without the complete triad described above. Finally in 3 (30%) SBP was silent, without any suggestive clinical manifestations of infection. In 7 cases (70%) cultures were positives; Streptococcus pneumoniae (3 cases), Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus negative coagulase, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae (one case each). In 7 (70%) SBP cases, the patients were admitted already infected in the hospital. Lethality in the SBP group was 30% and in the sterile ascites was 13.3%. We concluded that SBP is a frequent cause of morbid-lethality in patients with ascites and chronic hepatopathy, presenting itself often in a typical clinical manifestations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[CAMDEX: a new psychogeriatric interview].

"The Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly" (CAMDEX) is a new structured interview developed for diagnostic of dementia and other psychogeriatric disorders frequent in the old age. The CAMDEX is composed of three main sections: 1) A clinical interview structured to obtain from the patient a systematized information about his present condition, his antecedents and his familiar history. 2) A short neuropsychological battery formed by several cognitive tests. 3) A structured interview to obtain independent information about relative or another informing person about the present state of the patient, his antecedents and his familiar history. The good results obtained by the original version of CAMDEX, as in clinical works as in epidemiological ones, have determined their translation and fitting in our environment. The present work shows the changes that have been necessary to insert in the original version in order that this interview may be used in our geriatric population.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Functional health patterns and nursing diagnosis in intensive care units].

The evaluation of the critically ill patient to develop a suitable care plan is one of the main objectives of the practices of Medico-Surgery for students of third year of the nursing degree. So as to be able to detect all the needs in the patients and settle priorities in their care we have carried out a physical evaluation and the 11 health functional patterns of Gordon (1982), which has allowed us to formulate the most frequent diagnosis of nursing in the patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Units of the Hospital Son Dureta of Palma de Mallorca. The collection of data for the evaluation of the patterns of autoperception, adaptation to stress and to the family, has been scarce due to the critical situation of the patient and the tendency of nursing professionals to register the evaluation data which indicate alterations of the physical condition of the patient. The incapacity for self-care and the risk for infection have been the nursing diagnosis which all the patients of this study have shown.

Critical Care↗