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.
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.
Currently, Zika virus mainly affects some countries in Latin America. In order to avoid the risk of being infected, therefore, we advise travellers not to visit those countries during pregnancy. As there is still no vaccine to prevent the virus, prevention measures are fundamental to avoiding infection.
The advice to prevent infection with Zika virus is particularly aimed at pregnant women or those thinking of becoming pregnant in the short to medium term. The possibility of transmitting the infection to the foetus means that pregnant women are the most vulnerable group. For this reason, you are advised to:
Another way of preventing mosquito bites is to avoid proliferation of mosquitoes, which you can do by finding out and periodically checking the areas where these insects reproduce. Once breeding points are located, the measures should focus, as appropriate, on:
These syndromes are a group of diseases characterised by insufficient blood cell production (anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia), constitutional malformations and the risk of cancer.
They are usually diagnosed in childhood but there some cases diagnosed in adults. Specifically, these syndromes are: Fanconi anaemia, dyskeratosis congenita or selectively severe congenital neutropenia, Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, Diamond-Shwachman syndrome, and amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia.
Malformations caused by inherited bone marrow failure syndromes affect the skin, bones, heart and digestive system as well as the urinary system, the central nervous system, and others. They may also affect the area around the bone marrow.
Besides this, they also increase the predisposition to cancers such as acute myeloid leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and squamous carcinoma of the head, neck and reproductive organs.
These syndromes have important biological pathways in common related to cell growth and division such as the activation of the p53 gene that is responsible for halting the cell cycle, cell ageing and cell death. In addition, mutations have been identified in more than 80 genes.
Although this is treated in childhood, once the patient reaches adulthood monitoring is very important. Early diagnosis of these syndromes is essential to ensure the patient receives appropriate treatment. The aim is to minimise toxicity at the same time as allowing genetic counselling, and implementing strategies for cancer prevention and monitoring. This treatment should focus on treating the bone marrow failure, but also any constitutional malformations and extra-haematological manifestations, in addition to cancer treatment.
A multidisciplinary team of specialists with extensive experience of these diseases is necessary to ensure optimum patient care.
The first symptoms are related to a lack of blood cell production:
There are also signs related to malformations such as:
Estimated incidence rates of the different syndromes are:
The usual tests to detect inherited bone marrow failure are:
The following methods are used to treat these pathologies:
To prevent these diseases it is important to avoid smoking, alcohol, sun exposure, and to have a balanced diet. In addition, a cancer prevention programme should be followed with regular visits to the Cancer Prevention Unit and the Ear, Nose and Throat, Maxillofacial and Gynaecology departments.
The disease caused by the Zika virus is contracted by a bite from an infected mosquito, as in the case of dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever. It can also be spread through sexual intercourse, pregnant women may transmit it to their children, or through blood transfusions. In Europe there are no cases of infection by mosquito; all cases have been imported.
It is disease lasting a short time that can be overcome without complications or the need for admission to hospital. However, there is a relationship between this infection and some neurological disorders. In addition, pregnant women who are infected may give birth to babies with microcephaly.
The incubation period in humans is 3-12 days, up to 15 maximum. Although on many occasions there are no symptoms, when there are the disease is characterised by:
Since 2015, 71 countries have declared transmission of the Zika virus via mosquitoes. In addition, 13 more have stated that the disease has arrived by other means, generally through sexual contact.
In Europe, most cases have been imported from countries where it is endemic, mainly from Latin America but also from South East Asia. In Catalonia in December 2016, there were 150 registered infections, of which 32 were pregnant women.
Between the first seven to ten days of the disease, diagnosis is made using molecular biology techniques (RT-PCR) in blood and urine to detect the virus.
After this period, Zika disappears from the blood and is detected through antibodies in the serum.
There is no specific treatment for this disease. Symptoms generally disappear between three and seven days after infection. They are therefore lessened with analgesics and antipyretics.
There is currently no vaccine for this virus. For this reason, prevention is based on avoiding mosquito bites in countries where it is endemic, as well as using protection during sexual intercourse.
In the case of Catalonia, the risk is associated with the arrival of travellers from countries where it is endemic. Here there is a screening programme for pregnant women and their partners; they are a sensitive group as the virus may be passed to the foetus.
The Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine Department cares for pregnant women, prioritizing the health of the mother and the future baby above all else, while always respecting the wishes of the mother, such as her preference for a natural birth or a C-section.
For women who want to have children and require technical assistance, we also have a cutting edge assisted reproduction laboratory. We also store the frozen eggs of women who have been diagnosed with cancer; provide treatment and support to women who have suffered consecutive miscarriages; and offer gynecological treatment to girls, teenagers and women who are entering the menopause or who have a health problem.
The Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine Department is a leading centre for prenatal diagnostics and intrauterine surgery.
The Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine Department offers world-leading treatment, teaching and research.
The Reproductive Medicine Unit has the required technology and infrastructure in order to treat all issues related to human reproduction.
The Foetal Medicine and Surgery Unit monitors pregnancies in which the future baby will require special care, such as in cases of multiple births or twins, or when the future baby has a health problem. We are specialists in intrauterine surgery, and our experience makes us a reference point in Catalonia, Spain and around the world.
In the Foetal Medicine and Surgery Unit, we use cutting edge technology to treat the future baby and the mother.
We provide personalised care for the mother, monitor her pregnancy and offer her the most appropriate treatment. We also work alongside professionals from other specialist areas, assessing the mother together and ensuring the health of the future baby before it is born.
The Prematurity Prevention Unit is responsible for assessing and attending to pregnant women who are at risk of having a premature birth.
The majority of pregnant women (9 in every 10) give birth after 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is known as a “full term birth”. 1 in every 10 women, however, have a premature birth and give birth before these 37 weeks have elapsed. If a baby is born a few weeks before it is due, its health ought not to be affected. However, if it is very premature, certain complications may arise.
The Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology Unit offers specialist care to children and adolescents, supported by professionals from other areas and units at the hospital. We deal with changes to the menstrual cycle and also advise on contraceptive methods and treat patients with various disorders.
The Unit works with Paediatric Endocrinology and Social Paediatrics, as well as other paediatric services such as Oncohaematology, Hepatology and Pneumology.
It sees cases such as:
We deal with diagnosis and treatment of sexual hormone disruption. We also offer advice on contraceptive and reproductive methods to patients with high risk conditions, such as congenital heart disease or early menopause.
The Gynaecological Endocrinology Unit works with other units and specialists, such as: Cardiology (Congenital Heart Disease Unit), Paediatric Endocrinology, Assisted Reproduction and the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Ultrasound Unit. It also has sub-specialist and multi-disciplinary appointments, such as paediatric and adolescent gynaecology.
It deals with treatment of the following:
Our work here at the Diabetes and Pregnancy Unit is to monitor the pregnancies of women who are diabetic or who develop diabetes during their pregnancy. We offer coordinated care with endocrinologists and specialists in the management of the disease.
When someone suffers from diabetes, their body cannot properly process food and obtain energy from it, which leads to high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. High levels of glucose in the blood over long periods of time have been shown to cause damage to blood vessels, as a result of which the body’s organs can no longer function properly.
Having diabetes before pregnancy (pre-gestational diabetes) or developing diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) are two situations requiring specialist care.
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