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.
The aim of the intestinal biopsy is to obtain a surface fragment of the mucus of the small intestine to analyse it under a microscope. This sample helps us to determine if the patient has any disease or health problem, as well as showing us how the patient is progressing.
To take the sample, a very thin catheter is inserted through the patient's mouth to the area being explored. Then the person undergoing the test must change position until the doctor makes sure that the capsule is properly placed using x rays.
When the position of the capsule is correct, a syringe is used to collect a sample, what we call a "biopsy".
It is used to analyze and determine whether there is any disease or health problem in the small intestine.
Sometimes, it is necessary to move the catheter to make sure the capsule is properly placed, which does not hurt, but can cause irritation to the throat or a feeling of nausea.
The risks involved are minimal. There may be complications, such as perforation, bleeding or difficulty in removing the capsule, though these are very rare.
This test helps us to see arteries and detect possible problems.
The medical team performing the test accesses the arteries of the patients using long tubes that allow us to reach almost any part of the body, these are called “catheters.” To do this, we need to puncture the artery or carry out a small surgical operation. Normally the femoral artery is used, in the groin. In some cases, the humeral artery can be used, located on the arm or armpit.
Using the catheter, a radiological contrast is injected that fills the arteries and allows us to see how they are working, using X-rays. The puncture is done using local anaesthesia, to avoid discomfort.
Generally, the test lasts from 30 to 60 minutes and once the scan is over, a compressive dressing is placed. Once the test is done, patients must rest in bed for somewhere between 6 and 24 hours, depending on each patient.
This test is used to visualize the arteries and detect possible problems.
Like any type of surgery, arteriographies involve a series of consequences and possible complications, usually minor ones that disappear or improve over time.
Testicular cancer is an uncommon type of cancer with a good prognosis when detected early. Recognizing symptoms and performing regular self-examinations help identify changes early and allow timely treatment.
If you are concerned or have any of the symptoms listed below, it is important that you see a doctor.
It is important for young men to perform regular self-examinations; especially those who are considered to be at risk of contracting testicular cancer.
A testicular self-examination can help a man detect any changes in their testicles on time. This means that if treatment is needed, it can be started as soon as possible.
Prostate cancer can be detected early through tests such as digital rectal examination, PSA blood testing, and, when needed, biopsy. Early diagnosis allows for better treatment decisions and improves disease outcomes.
The purpose of the tests is to detect prostate cancer in the early stages, before the disease progresses. There are two common initial screening tests. Depending on the result, you may be referred to a urologist for a biopsy. These initial tests are:
The PSA blood test seeks to identify a protein in the blood that is specifically produced by prostate cells.
An elevated or rising PSA level alone does not always mean that a man has prostate cancer. PSA levels may increase with age and other benign conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostatitis. To diagnose prostate cancer, you will need to undergo a prostate biopsy.
Depending on the results, you may be referred to a urologist in order to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and a biopsy. This is the only way to determine the presence of a cancer.
This is another type of biopsy which uses the images obtained from the MRI scans and real-time ultrasound images. Using a computer programme, the images obtained in the ultrasound scan are fused, or merged, with those of the previously-performed prostate MRI. This allows lesions to be located with greater accuracy. Samples will be taken from the lesion and from the rest of the prostate. The prostate samples will be sent to the anatomopathologist (a specialist who analyses and studies the tissues). After analysing the samples under a microscope, they will confirm whether the patient has cancer. If they do have cancer, the anatomopathologist will also confirm how aggressive it is.
We suggest that you talk with your doctor to see whether you need to undergo a PSA blood analysis.
Together you can decide on the best way to proceed.
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®):
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.
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 tips
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.
People who have experienced a stroke may face physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges that impact daily life. These guidelines support rehabilitation, help maintain independence, and provide guidance for caregivers.
After suffering a stroke, the patient may live with physical or cognitive after-effects and complications. Despite rehabilitation, complete recovery is not always achieved and secondary disabilities that affect movement, coordination, or control may remain.
It is important to keep in mind the fact that, beyond the physical aspects, the patient may also suffer psychological problems that will need treatment.
These include all injuries or complications that affect the patient’s body. The most common are related to motor deficits, sensory or language disorders and urinary incontinence:
Although less common, other injuries such as problems with sight, central pain, or infections can also occur.
During recovery, rehabilitation, or later on, mood swings may be noticed. These usually occur in the first three months after a stroke, although there are cases where they occur later. Symptoms are similar to other depressions: problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and reduced appetite. The most common psychological problems are depression and anxiety. Depression usually occurs in one in three patients, and is more common in women and patients with previous problems with depression, psychiatric disorders or social isolation or poor family structure. Emotional instability, apathy, irritability, and lack of awareness can also occur following a stroke.
In this case, the most common cognitive impairment occurs in the form of dementia, attention deficit, and decreased memory. There are also patients who present with problems relating to orientation, difficulty in planning, and organising tasks.
All of these factors have an impact on the patient’s family. In 60% of cases, the person who assumes the role of caregiver suffers from overload and anxiety at discharge. It is important:
A stroke is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. If you suspect a stroke, you must act as quickly as possible, as brain cells that die are not recovered and their function will stay damaged.
Ask the person to raise both arms at the same time to check if anything unusual occurs. If the person is unable to lift one arm or the other due to weakness, this may be a sign of a stroke. If they feel weakness in the legs, ask them to sit down and lift both feet at the same time.
Ask them to smile to detect whether one corner of the mouth droops to one side (a crooked smile). Facial paralysis is related to stroke and may be accompanied by a tingling or numb sensation. Sometimes, vision loss may also occur.
Ask simple, specific questions such as what an object you are pointing at is, or what is happening around them. The aim is to observe whether they mix up syllables or mispronounce the name of the object (in the first case), and whether they respond in a fragmented way or speak incoherently (in the second). This helps check for difficulties in speech and understanding.
Every minute, 1.9 million neurons and 14 trillion neural connections are lost: one hour can mean the equivalent of 3.6 years of brain ageing and a loss of 120 million neurons.
If you suspect that a person may be suffering a stroke, call emergency services immediately (112 in Spain). While waiting for medical help to arrive:
Keep the patient calm and still. Ideally, lay them down to improve cerebral perfusion. If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position. Keep the head flat (unless they are vomiting or having difficulty breathing). Do not administer any medication that has not been prescribed by a healthcare professional. Call emergency services to confirm the most appropriate hospital and allow pre-notification to the receiving centre. Avoid intermediate care levels (such as primary care centres or general practitioners), as they may delay the start of acute treatment.
Pain is a phenomenon that involves several different realms: biology, psychology, and social relations. It’s triggered when the body’s alarm system tells the brain that it’s in danger of being injured, whether this danger is real or not.
We feel pain when the brain “reaches the conclusion” that it is in danger and that it needs to do something, which sometimes involves activating the “pain programme”. In this context, it is crucial to discover why the brain reaches the conclusion that there is a threat.
Feeling pain does not always mean that there is any damage or injury. We can feel it without there being an injury. For example, when we see our child fall and hurt themselves. But there can also be an injury without pain; have you ever had a wound or scratch appear and not even remembered or felt it when you hurt yourself?
The intensity of pain is not related to how bad the injury to the tissues is. Does the same punch hurt the same every time and the same for everyone? Do the stitches from a C-section hurt the same for everyone?
Pain is generated in the brain, not in the tissues. We have “danger sensors” throughout our bodies that send signals to the brain, which will use that information and other factors to decide whether to activate the pain or fatigue programme.
It is always the brain that decides whether to generate pain or not. 100% of the time, if it believes itself to be in danger, it will decide to do so based on several variables: context, previous experience, beliefs, emotions, etc.
Patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome might feel more pain than other people or might feel pain in response to stimuli that do not normally trigger pain, such as a caress.
These processes occur because the brain activates the pain or fatigue programme to protect the individual from the danger it believes there to be, even though this danger does not really exist, as the brain interprets reality incorrectly.
Pain is always real, it is not consciously brought on, nor is it made-up, nor is it a figment of people’s imaginations. It is not a psychological problem. Someone who suffers from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue is not to blame for their condition, but they are responsible for being involved in their treatment using active strategies.
The first step towards getting better is understanding what is happening in your brain and what is causing your pain. Do not let pain dictate your life and limit what you can do.
Anemia is a disorder in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen to the body, usually due to a lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. It can cause fatigue and dizziness and, if left untreated, may lead to serious complications.
Anaemia patients' bodies do not get enough oxygen-rich blood. As a result, symptoms such as feeling tired or weak, as well as dizziness or headache appear. If left untreated, severe or prolonged anaemia can cause damage to the heart, brain and other organs of the body.
Your doctor may ask you if you have any of the signs or symptoms of anaemia, or if you have had a disease or health problem that may cause it.
In order to give the precise indications to the doctor and for them to be able to make a quick diagnosis of the case, it is necessary to give:
Treatment of anaemia depends on the type, cause and severity of the disease. Treatment may consist of:
The goal of treatment is to increase the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry. This increase is achieved by increasing the number of red blood cells or the concentration of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that is rich in iron and carries oxygen to the body's cells.
Another goal is to treat the underlying disease or the cause of the anaemia.
Changes in diet and nutritional supplements:
Blood transfusion may be necessary at times, although this should be assessed by the physician.
It is possible to prevent repeated episodes of certain types of anaemia, especially those due to a lack of iron or vitamins. Making dietary changes or taking supplements recommended by your doctor can prevent these types of anaemia from returning.
Treating the cause can prevent anaemia (or keep it from recurring). For example, if a medicine is causing the patient to become anaemic, the doctor may prescribe another type of medication.
To prevent anaemia from getting worse, patients need to explain all their signs and symptoms in detail to their doctor. It is also recommended to ask what tests should be done and to adhere to the treatment plan.
Some types of hereditary anaemias, such as sickle cell anaemia, cannot be prevented. In the case of hereditary anaemia, patients need to consult their doctor about treatment and ongoing care.
This pathology has no cure, however, owing to the muscle and bone involvement that patients are afflicted with, it is important for them to adopt an appropriate diet and exercise to avoid becoming overweight or obese. This will reduce overloading of the joints and help in part to minimise feelings of fatigue while maximising functionality.
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