We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Patients are the centre and the core of our system. We are professionals committed to quality care and our organizational structure breaks down the traditional boundaries between departments and professional groups, with an exclusive model of knowledge areas.
Would you like to know what your stay at Vall d'Hebron will be like? Here you will find all the information.
The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
Gynaecology, Children's Hospital and Woman's Hospital
Colposcopy allows an in-depth examination of the uterus, or cervix, for early identification of possible lesions that could be precursors to cancer or cancerous lesions. This is done using a special microscope called a colposcope, which is used to find out the cause of an "abnormal" cytology. During the exploration, gynaecologists study the cervix and decide whether a biopsy should be taken and from what area. They can also remove certain tissues, if necessary. For the biopsy, a small sample is taken and sent to the laboratory to examine the cells. From this examination, the doctors can diagnose and decide on treatment, if necessary.
This technique is used for early detection of lesions that could trigger cancer of the cervix and also to take samples to diagnose and even remove tissues.
This exploration also lets us diagnose other sexually transmitted infections in addition to HPV.
To perform the test, the patient should be placed on the gynaecological stretcher with legs in stirrups.
The doctor then inserts a device inside the vagina, the speculum, which separates the walls, and then brings the colposcope, which lets them see the area to be examined. If they detect anomalous areas during examination, they can decide whether to take a biopsy of the tissue that must be analysed later with a microscope in the laboratory.
Anomalies detected in a cervical biopsy are called cervical intraepithelial neoplasms (CIN) and are classified as:
Possible discomfort while taking the sample and, sometimes, light bleeding that can last up to 3 or 4 days.
Cervicovaginal cytology, also called a Pap smear test, is used to take a sample of cells from the wall of the uterus, or cervix, to be analysed to detect abnormal changes in the cells there due to the human papillomavirus (HPV), before cancer or infections develop. If the test shows the presence of HPV, the doctor may request other tests, such as a colposcopy (link to colposcopy).
Cervical-vaginal cytology is used to detect cervix cancer early on, as well as other precancerous abnormalities of the cervix to help us provide early treatment, which increases the chances of recovering from the disease.
The patient lies on a stretcher with their legs in stirrups for gynaecological examination, as the doctor performing the test inserts a speculum into the vagina. This device allows us to separate the walls of the vagina to see the cervix.
The doctor performing the test can then extract a sample of the walls of the vagina or vaginal exudate at the back of this area. A second sample is taken from the external part of the cervix, the ectocervix, and another sample from the cervix canal that connects the interior of the uterine cavity with the vagina, also called the endocervix.
Finally, these samples are sent to the laboratory, where they will be analysed with a microscope.
To do this test, no preparation is necessary beforehand, though it is recommended that the patient not be on her period, to avoid possible errors.
There are no risks, though sometimes bleeding may occur when the sample is taken, but this will not usually last more than one day.
The patient should try to remain relaxed during the test, since if the vagina contracts, the test can cause some discomfort.
Gynaecological ultrasound is a technique that uses ultrasound to visualise the inside of women’s genitalia.
The ultrasound plays a fundamental role in detecting benign and malignant pathologies in gynaecology: such as endometrial pathology, myomas, adnexal lumps, urinary incontinence and oncological pathology. At Vall d'Hebron, this Unit is part of the Gynaecology Department. Early diagnosis is essential, as in ovarian cancer.
It is performed preferably via the vagina or abdomen, the transperineal or transrectal method being less frequent.
The Ultrasound should not be performed every year, the frequency will be determined by the gynaecologist and can be of use to all units in the Gynaecology Department: Oncology, General Gynaecology, Pelvic Floor, Laparoscopy and Endoscopy. The Doppler allows us to analyse vascularisation of suspected malignant tissue, in cases of abundant vascularisation and low resistance rates.
It is essential for patients to actively participate in the monitoring and treatment of their disease to increase their personal satisfaction and autonomy. Having reliable, verifiable information is also of great help in managing the disease.
Hereditary angioedema is such a rare disease that it is little-known even among healthcare workers. This means that in this case the patients themselves particularly need to know how to act in the event of an emergency, especially when they are not in their usual environment or are far away from their medical team.
It is advisable, as far as possible, to avoid possible triggers or aggravators of attacks:
The following symptoms indicate a suspected case:
The doctor must make a correct differential diagnosis in order to rule out other causes, such as appendicitis.
In this case it is important to remain calm and follow the doctor’s instructions. Here is some general advice:
1. Ask someone to help you explain what is happening to you.
2. Have the clinical report issued to you by your doctor at the ready.
3. If you have rescue or emergency medication (intravenous Berinert® or Cinryze®, or subcutaneous Firazyr®):
a) If you have been taught how, self-administer it in accordance with the instructions.
b) If you cannot administer it yourself, take it with you to the health centre.
4. Go to your nearest health centre for emergency treatment.
5. Make an appointment with your specialist once the immediate crisis has been dealt with.
In the case of a significant symptom burden in type I and II angioedemas, C1-INH may be administered as a prophylaxis.
TRANSFUSIONS – CAN I GIVE BLOOD?
It is not advisable for patients with hereditary angioedema of any type or acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency to donate blood.
LONG OR FOREIGN TRIPS
We recommend you take an up-to-date copy of the clinical report issued by your doctor with you. It is a good idea to have the report translated into the language of your destination or English.
Find out where the nearest healthcare centre is.
Always carry rescue or emergency medication with you and make sure it has not expired. Have your medical report to hand at security controls at airports or railway stations to avoid problems.
DIET
You do not have a follow a special diet because it is not an allergic oedema and it is not caused or triggered by a food allergy.
Diet does not have any impact on the evolution of the disease. You should, of course, follow the healthy diet recommendations issued to everyone.
Les pràctiques saludables per evitar les infeccions de transmissió sexual (ITS) es basen, per un costat, en un comportament sexual de menys risc amb l’ús del preservatiu i, per l’altre, en l’educació, el diagnòstic, el tractament precoç, la detecció de les infeccions asimptomàtiques, l’estudi de les parelles sexuals i la immunització amb vacunes. És essencial la recerca activa de contactes per tallar la transmissió i prevenir la reinfecció.
La societat demana cada vegada més informació sobre les infeccions de transmissió sexual: l’única manera d’evitar-les és amb la prevenció, però també és important proporcionar informació sobre pràctiques de sexe segur.
Les infeccions de transmissió sexual figuren entre les cinc categories principals per les quals els adults cerquen atenció mèdica. Comprenen una sèrie de patologies, d’etiologia diversa, en les quals la transmissió sexual és rellevant des del punt de vista epidemiològic. Tot i això, de vegades pot haver-hi altres mecanismes de contagi, com ara la transmissió perinatal o parenteral.
Les intervencions d’assessorament i els enfocaments conductuals representen la prevenció primària contra les ITS, que inclouen:
Així mateix, l’assessorament pot millorar la capacitat de les persones per reconèixer els símptomes de les ITS, amb la qual cosa augmentaran les probabilitats que aquests sol·licitin atenció i animin les seves parelles sexuals a fer-ho.
Malauradament, la manca de sensibilitat de la població i l’arrelat estigma generalitzat vers les ITS segueixen dificultant l’eficàcia de les intervencions sanitàries.
L’estudi dels contactes en les ITS és el procés pel qual les parelles sexuals d’un pacient diagnosticat amb una ITS són identificades i informades del risc de contraure aquesta infecció, i se’ls ofereix atenció i tractament per un professional sanitari. L’estudi de les parelles té beneficis clínics i de salut pública per tres raons:
L’epidemiologia de les ITS està canviant en els últims anys i s’observa una nova emergència d’aquestes infeccions. Aquest fenomen va associat a les noves pautes de comportament: l’ús de noves tecnologies per a la cerca de parelles sexuals, l’alta mobilitat de la població, la relaxació en l’ús del preservatiu, etc.
El panorama anterior fa inqüestionable l’adopció de noves estratègies de control i prevenció, entre les quals hem d’incloure els estudis de contactes i tota la seva riquesa metodològica basada en l’evidència científica.
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