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Browsing by Author "Ferreira, M"

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  • Anaphylaxis in an emergency department: a retrospective 10-year study in a tertiary hospital
    Publication . Alen Coutinho, I.; Ferreira, D; Regateiro, FS; Pita, J; Ferreira, M; Martins, JF; Fonseca, IA; Loureiro, C; Todo-Bom, A
    Background. Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal medical emergency. The frequency of hospital admissions for anaphylaxis seems to be increasing in the recent decades. Objective. Characterize the patients admitted for anaphylaxis to the adult emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital over a 10-year period, discriminating aetiologies, clinical features and therapy administered. Methods. Retrospective, descriptive and inferential study, evaluating age, sex, Manchester triage system, suspected allergen, site of allergen exposure, comorbidities, cofactors, clinical findings and symptoms, treatment and management. Patients admitted between January 2007 and December 2016 were included. Results. Forty-three patients were enrolled: 23 males, mean age 54.3 ± 16.2 years, n = 22 had history of allergic disease. Two patients were triaged as non-urgent. The most frequently suspected causes of anaphylaxis were: drugs (33%, n = 14), Hymenoptera venoms (23%, n = 10), foods (21%, n = 9) and iodinated contrast products (12%, n = 5). Adrenaline was used in 88% of the episodes (n = 38), 55% of which (n = 21) intramuscularly. Mortality was registered in one case. At discharge, adrenaline auto-injector was prescribed in 7% (n = 3) of the patients, and Allergy and Clinical Immunology consultation (ACIC) was requested in 65% of the episodes (n = 28). Statistically significant associations (p minor 0.05) were established: a, anaphylaxis to drugs associated with a low intramuscular adrenaline use and with frequent oxygen therapy; b, anaphylaxis to food associated with intramuscular adrenaline administration; c, anaphylaxis to Hymenoptera venom associated with male sex; and d, anaphylaxis to iodinated contrasts associated with referral to ACIC and with shock. All obese patients developed shock. Conclusions. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that requires early recognition. Although most patients received adrenaline, administration was not always performed by the recommended route and only a few patients were prescribed adrenaline auto-injector.
    2020Journal article Open access Show more
  • Caracterização da Hemorragia Digestiva Aguda Severa por Angiodisplasia
    Publication . Sousa-Fernandes, S; Ferreira, M; Romãozinho, JM; Amaro, P; Leitão, M
    INTRODUÇÃO: As angiodisplasias são causas raras de hemorragia digestiva aguda. A natureza intermitente da hemorragia e a extensão de tubo digestivo envolvido colocam desafios particulares. OBJECTIVOS: Caracterizar as hemorragias digestivas agudas severas por angiodisplasia. DOENTES E MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva das hemorragias digestivas agudas por angiodisplasia admitidas na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos de Gastrenterologia (UCIGE) dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, entre 1992 e 2008. RESULTADOS: Incluídos 21 doentes, representando 0,54% das admissões no período considerado. Registou-se predomínio do sexo masculino e idade média de 74 anos (42-92). Todos os doentes apresentavam co-morbilidades e 40% tomavam antiagregantes plaquetares ou anticoagulantes. A hemorragia foi proximal à ampola de Vater em 62% dos casos. Efectuou-se hemostase endoscópica em 18 doentes, que foi eficaz em todos eles. Outras terapêuticas menos utilizadas incluíram a embolização e enterectomia. Não ocorreu recidiva hemorrágica durante os internamentos. A mortalidade cifrou-se em 4,7%, correspondendo a um doente sujeito a laparotomia, falecido no pós-operatório imediato. CONCLUSÕES: A hemorragia digestiva aguda severa por angiodisplasia foi um evento raro na UCIGE. A endoscopia teve um papel fundamental no diagnóstico e na terapêutica. Os resultados corroboram a pertinência da admissão destes casos numa UCIGE, tendo em conta, nomeadamente, a importante comorbilidade que os caracteriza.INTRODUCTION: Angiodysplasias are rare causes of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Brisk bleeding and extension of the bowel involved are associated with specific challenges. AIM: Descrption of the main features of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by angiodysplasia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of gastrointestinal bleeding episodes caused by angiodysplasia in patients admitted to the Gastroenterology Intensive Care Unit of Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, between 1992 and 2008. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included, representing 0,54% of all admissions in the unit during the mentioned period. Most patients were men with an average age of 74 years (42-92). All patients had comorbidities; 40% were taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs. Bleeding was proximal to the ampulla of Vater in 62% of the patients. Endoscopic hemostasis was performed and was successful in 18 patients. Other therapies rarely used were angiographic embolization and segmental enterectomy. There was no recurrent bleeding during hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Severe gastrointestinal bleeding caused by angiodysplasia was a rare event in the unit. Endoscopy had a major role both in diagnosis and therapy. The results underline the importance of criterious admission in the Gastroenterology Intensive Care Unit, attending to the comorbidities that characterize these patients.
    2009Journal article Open access Show more
  • CARD15 Mutations and Colorectal Cancer in a South European Country
    Publication . Freire, P; Portela, F; Donato, MM; Figueiredo, P; Duque, G; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Sá, A; Andrade, P; Gouveia, H; Sofia, C
    2010Conference object Open access Show more
  • CARD15 Mutations and Perianal Fistulating Crohn’s Disease: Correlation and Predictive Value of Antibiotic Response
    Publication . Freire, P; Portela, F; Donato, MM; Ferreira, M; Andrade, P; Sofia, C
    BACKGROUND: CARD15 mutations alter bowel immunity and increase susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD). However, the relation between these mutations and Crohn's perianal fistulas has not been fully clarified. AIMS: To assess whether CARD15 mutations are associated with risk of developing Crohn's perianal fistulas and whether these mutations are predictors of the response of perianal fistulas to antibiotics. METHODS: CARD15 mutations were investigated in 203 consecutive CD patients. Presence/absence of history of perianal fistula was recorded. Patients with history of perianal fistula were divided into two groups (with/without CARD15 mutations), and response to antibiotics was evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: Of the 203 patients, 60 (29.6%) showed at least one CARD15 mutation and 55 (27.1%) had history of perianal fistula. History of perianal fistula was identified in 13 (21.7%) patients with mutations and in 42 (29.4%) patients without mutations (P = 0.260). Mean age at diagnosis of first perianal fistula was similar in patients with/without CARD15 mutations (28.7 +/- 9.8 versus 29.7 +/- 10.1 years, P = 0.758). Average time between disease onset and diagnosis of first perianal fistula was also similar in the two groups (4.6 +/- 5.1 versus 5.0 +/- 5.9 years, P = 0.816). Response of perianal fistulas to antibiotics (metronidazole alone or combined with ciprofloxacin) was significantly higher in patients without CARD15 mutations (7.7% versus 40.5%, P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: In CD, CARD15 mutations are not associated with risk of developing perianal fistulas or with time of their outbreak. Nevertheless, patients with perianal fistulas and CARD15 mutations showed worse response to antibiotics.
    2010Journal article Open access Show more
  • O Doente Cirrótico na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos: Avaliação do Prognóstico
    Publication . Freire, P; Romãozinho, JM; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Leitão, M
    INTRODUÇÃO: Os doentes com cirrose hepática admitidos em Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) têm um prognóstico particularmente reservado. O prognóstico destes doentes pode ser avaliado com scores gerais (SOFA, APACHE, SAPS) ou com scores específicos de cirrose hepática (MELD, Child-Pugh). OBJECTIVOS: Avaliar o valor prognóstico dos scores gerais (SOFA, APACHE e SAPS) e dos scores específicos de cirrose hepática (MELD e Child-Pugh) em doentes com cirrose hepática admitidos em UCI polivalentes ou em Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos de Gastrenterologia (UCIGE). MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Os autores fazem uma revisão da literatura sobre a avaliação do prognóstico de doentes com cirrose hepática admitidos em ICUs e relatam também a sua experiência sobre esta temática no contexto duma UCIGE incluindo a análise de 124 internamentos. RESULTADOS: Nos diversos estudos efectuados em doentes com cirrose hepática admitidos em UCI polivalentes, os diferentes scores gerais e específicos revelaram um bom poder discriminativo, ou seja, com uma área sob a curva ROC (AUC) > 0,7. Considerando os seis estudos mais representativos, o valor médio da AUC dos scores SOFA, APACHE II, APACHE III, MELD e Child-Pugh foi 0,86, 0,74, 0,81, 0,79 e 0,77, respectivamente. O estudo de 124 internamentos consecutivos na UCIGE de doentes com cirrose hepática revelou que os doentes que faleceram pertenciam todos à classe C de Child-Pugh e tinham valores médios dos scores SOFA, APACHE II, SAPS II e MELD significativamente superiores aos dos doentes que não faleceram (10,1, 22,0, 47,5 e 30,7 nos que faleceram e 3,5, 13,6, 25,4 e 18,0 nos que não faleceram, respectivamente; p >< 0,05). Conclusões: Tanto os scores gerais como os específicos de cirrose hepática têm valor prognóstico na avaliação do risco de doentes com cirrose hepática internados em UCI polivalentes ou em UCIGE. Nas UCI polivalentes os scores gerais, e em particular o SOFA, apresentam melhor capacidade prognóstica do que os scores específicos de cirrose hepática
    2011Journal article Open access Show more
  • Double pylorus with bleeding gastric ulcer - a rare event
    Publication . Almeida, N; Romãozinho, JM; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Tomé, L; Gouveia, H; Leitão, M
    2008Journal article Open access Show more
  • "Downhill" varices. A rare cause of esophageal hemorrhage
    Publication . Areia, M; Romãozinho, JM; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Freitas, D
    "Downhill" varices or upper esophageal varices are a rare cause of proximal digestive tract hemorrhage with only 16 cases described in the literature. In our series, hemorrhage due to "downhill" varices represents 0.1% of all acute esophageal variceal bleeding. Their etiology differs from that of the usual "uphill" varices secondary to portal hypertension, and the clinical management should be directed to vascular obstruction if present. We report a case of an 89-year-old male with hemorrhagic "downhill" varices not associated, as usually, with superior vena cava obstruction or compression, but with severe pulmonary hypertension and drug-related hemorrhagic risk factors, whose removal proved sufficient to prevent rebleeding.
    2006Journal article Open access Show more
  • Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis and Pseudoaneurysms: An Ominous Combination
    Publication . Branquinho, D; Ramos-Andrade, D; Elvas, L; Amaro, P; Ferreira, M; Sofia, C
    Rupture of pseudoaneurysms is rare but can be life-threatening complications of acute or chronic pancreatitis, usually due to enzymatic digestion of vessel walls crossing peripancreatic fluid collections. We report the case of a 40 year-old female, with multisystemic lupus and anticoagulated for prior thrombotic events, admitted for probable cyclosporine-induced acute pancreatitis. Hemodynamic instability occurred due to abdominal hemorrhage from two pseudoaneurysms inside an acute peri-pancreatic collection. Selective angiography successfully embolized the gastroduodenal and pancreatoduodenal arteries. The hemorrhage recurred two weeks later and another successful embolization was performed and the patient remains well to date. The decision to restart anticoagulants and to suspend cyclosporine was challenging and required a multidisciplinary approach. Despite rare, bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm should be considered when facing a patient with pancreatitis and sudden signs of hemodynamic instability.
    2016Journal article Open access Show more
  • Fulminant hepatic failure: a Portuguese experience
    Publication . Areia, M; Romãozinho, JM; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Leitão, M
    BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a rare condition. Several series have been reported either by individual centres or in multicentre studies but, to our knowledge, this is the first report from a Portuguese population and might be a good example of FHF cases in a SouthWestern European population. AIMS: To present the experience in FHF of a Portuguese Hepatogastroenterological Intensive Care Unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 61 cases of FHF consecutively admitted between February 1992 and October 2006. Definition and classification of FHF were those suggested by Trey and Davidson (1970) and O'Grady et al. (1993), respectively. Criteria and contraindications for hepatic transplantation (HT) were those proposed by Bernuau et al. (1991) and Muñoz (1993), respectively. RESULTS: Fifty-seven per cent of patients were women and median age was 37 years (range: 8-73). Most common cause of FHF was indeterminate (26%) followed by viral (23%) and drug-induced (23%), with 51% of cases with a hyperacute evolution. Global HT rate was 54% with criteria for HT present in 87% of the patients resulting in an applicability rate of 62%. Overall survival was 69% and transplant-free survival was 15%; transplanted patients had survival rates of 70 and 68% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-induced and viral agents were responsible for almost half of FHF cases with a clear predominance of hyperacute presentation. The HT rate was 54% and the applicability rate was 62%. The overall 1 year survival of 69% might reflect the adequacy of the HT criteria used.
    2007Journal article Open access Show more
  • Hepatotoxicidade por Nimesulide: a propósito de um caso clínico
    Publication . Nobre, RS; Romãozinho, JM; Ferreira, M; Amaro, P; Pina-Cabral, JE; Leitão, M
    A case of a forty-four years old rural female admitted due to vaginal discharge and inguinal lymphadenopathies is presented. She took nimesulide and, after two days, started with constitutional symptoms. At hospital admission she presented with jaundice, conjunctival suffusion and pharyngeal injection. Blood tests revealed cytopenia, marked hepatic citolysis, cholestasis, renal failure and reactive C protein elevation. Complementary studies showed positive antinuclear autoantibodies, mild elevation of immunoglobulins M and E, and a thickened gallbladder wall. Lymphocyte transformation test was positive for nimesulide. There was a clinical and laboratorial improvement after cessation of the drug. The authors discuss the main diagnostic hypotheses enfatizing definition criteria for hepatotoxicity and also the difficulty in establishing this diagnosis.
    2008Journal article Open access Show more