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.
Legionnaire's disease is a disease caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila, that lives in contaminated water circuits such as water pipes, water tanks or reservoirs, cooling towers, swimming pools and jacuzzis.
It is contracted through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets, whether physically in the water or merely close by, due to the fact that it can spread from the water to the surrounding environment.
It normally causes a respiratory infection similar to pneumonia which if not diagnosed and treated early can be serious and life-threatening.
Legionnaire's disease causes the same symptoms as pneumonia (fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing), along with severe muscle pain and major impact on the feeling of general wellness.
Legionnaire's disease can affect anyone who has come into contact with the bacteria which cause it, but it is more common among the elderly or people with a compromised immune system who have either come into contact with or breathed the vapour of water contaminated with legionella.
A diagnosis is reached through detection of the bacteria or its antibodies in the blood, once suspected due to the clinical characteristics of the patient (age of onset, fever, major impact on general wellness, muscle pain) or radiographies (indirect pulmonary pneumonia indirectly affecting the lungs). Isolation of the bacteria is relatively recent, as it requires special culture processes.
In fact, legionella was not identified as the cause of respiratory infection until 1976 during a pneumonia epidemic in the American Legion Convention in Philadelphia, to which it owes its name.
Legionnaire's disease responds well to specific antibiotic treatment.
Early treatment is very important.
Chest x-ray, determination of legionella antibodies in the blood, specific cultures for the identification of legionella.
Epidemiological surveillance of detected cases (water pipes, air conditioning towers, swimming pools or jacuzzis involved) is very important for disinfection.
When a case of Legionnaire's disease is detected, public health authorities must initiate an investigation in order to find the source and eradicate it.
Legionella is not resistant to high temperatures and can usually be eliminated by intermittent increasing of the temperature of the pipes. This should always be carried out by a professional to ensure the proper elimination of the bacteria.
People with Fabry disease have a complete genetic deficiency or lack of the alpha-galactosidase A enzyme. This causes a build up of a fatty substance (glycolipid), usually made up of this enzyme, in the cell lysosomes. The gene responsible for Fabry disease (GLA) is found in the X chromosome, meaning it is passed on via the affected X chromosome of the mother or father.
When the father has the disease (XY), they pass the X chromosome to their daughters but not to their sons, who inherit the Y chromosome from their father. When the mother has the disease (XX), there is a 50% chance of passing either the healthy or the altered chromosome both to her sons and daughters, as the mother has two X chromosomes. As women have two X chromosomes, the unchanged chromosome can partly compensate for the changed one. For this reason, women may present with a wide range of clinical forms of the disease of varying severity and, in general, it appears later than in men. Men with classic mutations of the disease tend to present with severe forms, which may even start during infancy or childhood.
The GLA gene affected has around 1000 different known variants. This means that Fabry disease may take various forms depending on the type of mutation (classic or late-onset and atypical forms).
The disease affects multiple organs (kidneys, heart, nervous system, skin and eyes, among others) and requires multidisciplinary care. Experts from different fields working together.
It tends to be more serious in men than in women. The fact that it is passed on through the X chromosome means that women are affected almost twice as much as men, but the variety of ways it is expressed means that many women are not diagnosed.
Some classic mutations begin during infancy. Children may have problems from 3-4 years old. It all depends on the type of mutation.
Early diagnosis can be made through a blood test to identify enzyme activity, and also genetic testing.
Depending on how the disease manifests in the patient, the condition they have may vary. Patients with kidney problems will be sent to a nephrologist, other patients may have arrhythmia and see a cardiologist. Someone else may have pain and be treated by a neurologist or rheumatologist, or be seen by dermatologist for a skin rash.
It usually begins with pain in the hands and feet, abdominal pain, becoming tired easily and a rash on the skin, and continues with kidney problems in adolescence (there may be albumin in the urine). Patients may also have myocardiopathy or left ventricular hypertrophy detected by an echocardiogram.
Symptoms appear gradually. Professionals must bear this possibility in mind and detect and diagnose it early.
The symptoms of Fabry disease can be treated with pain medication, or medication to reduce proteinuria or for arrhythmia, but specific treatments are also available. Enzyme replacement therapy has been an option since 2001. The genetic alteration means that enzyme reproduction is deficient. This protein can be genetically engineered in the laboratory and administered intravenously every 15 days. The protein enters the cell and its effect lasts several days. However, as it does not produce more, the deficient enzyme must be replaced intravenously on an ongoing basis.
Overall, enzyme replacement therapy reduces the appearance of serious complications and improves survival by an average of 20 years. It is important to start treatment before there are irreversible lesions in the tissue to achieve optimal therapeutic benefits.
An alternative treatment to enzyme replacement has recently appeared: pharmacological chaperones. If the gene mutation means that no protein at all is produced, this type of treatment cannot be used. If a defective protein is produced, giving this molecule - so called because it binds to the residual protein and changes its structure, improving its activity - can be effective in the case of responsive genetic variants (20-30%).
A way to improve transportation and intracellular action of the medication is being investigated at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR). This will enable the enzyme to have an optimal effect by reaching the right area through nanoparticles. These allow the synthesised enzymatic molecule to be transported and released at a certain point.
Another type of treatment being developed is gene therapy. This consists of changing the genetic information, using a vector to introduce a normal gene into the cell to enable it to start producing this enzyme normally and permanently. If successful, this would be a cure.
Broader genetic testing helps to determine what is happening with the rest of the family and can detect those in the early stages of the disease.
Screening populations at risk, such as those with kidney disease of unknown origin, myocardial hypertrophy with no known cause, stroke at a young age, sudden loss of hearing, etc.
Nephrologists, cardiologists, neurologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, and so on, must be aware of the disease when analysing the symptomatology and pay attention to medical and family history to rule out the disease.
Early detection produces the best outcomes.
The Drassanes Vall d'Hebron Centre for International Health and Infectious Diseases is a clinic specialising in communicable diseases.
How to get there
Located in the heart of Barcelona, the Centre for International Health and Infectious Diseases of Drassanes- Vall d’Hebron, integrates different types of services that collaborate; pioneering the healthcare structure within the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS).
The department is divided into different units: sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, international health and travel medicine, community health, transcultural psychiatry, and the microbiology laboratory that aids all the units. Prevention, rapid diagnosis, and early treatment are key features of the Drassanes- Vall d’Hebron Center for International Health and Communicable Diseases, where administrative staff, nursing staff, community health agents, and medical staff from the pulmonology, paediatrics, infectious diseases, psychiatry, and microbiology department work together to provide the best care.
Professionals work with culturally competent care, adapted to each patient, guaranteeing compliance with visits and adherence to treatment. The centre supports care and teaching for Primary Care and other hospitals promoting multidisciplinary innovation and research programs both in its own and other multicentre (nationally and internationally), collaborating in a network with third-sector entities.
For any questions or queries, please email: ccee.drassanes@vallhebron.cat
This unit treats all patients who present with symptoms compatible with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), those who have had contact with an STI, or those who want to be screened.
An immediate care consultation can be requested by appointment, where a quick diagnosis and specific treatment are provided (most of the time administered in the same centre during the visit), and specialised advice to provide prevention according to sexual habits. This program is also known as the Drassanes Exprés.
The unit also provides pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP consists of a program for comprehensive sexuality care aimed at people vulnerable to contracting HIV based on the administration of antiretroviral medication.
The centre also specialises in rapid diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis. In any person with long-standing respiratory symptoms, this disease must be ruled out. The risk factors include alcoholism, drug addiction, economic difficulties, and homelessness, all increasing the risk of suffering from tuberculosis.
The professionals in this area are dedicated to the care of patients with suspected or confirmed diagnoses of tuberculosis, especially with pulmonary involvement, as well as monitor them throughout their therapy until the patient is in remission. The centre also works with individuals who have been in contact with an active case of the disease, informing them of proper treatments and preventative measures.
In the case of migrants from other countries with high incidence or high social vulnerability, early detection and treatment of a latent tuberculosis infection as well as an active tuberculosis case is offered in coordination with other agencies, including the Barcelona Public Health Agency. The Vall d’Hebron- Drassanes Tuberculosis Unit is a leader in its research and is currently collaborating with other centres. It is the reference point for Clinical units by the Primary Care department in the city of Barcelona.
This unit specialises in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of any individual, whether traveller or migrant, before their trip or upon coming back if they present any symptoms or have some clinical suspicion of an infectious pathology related to their trip. To offer the best, fastest, response, we coordinate closely with the other units in the centre. This unit is part of the Health Program for International Health of the Catalan Institute of Health, as an assistant program.
A personalized consultation includes the administration of vaccines, preventative measures for malaria, and a review of the different risks of the patient’s trip to preserve their full health. You can schedule an appointment online, by calling, or in person. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment at least one month before your trip. This service has been partially subsidized by CatSalud. In the case of children under 5 years of age, the service is free, except when the patient exhibits yellow fever, in which an additional fee is involved.
The team of Public and Community Health at Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron Hospital works in the field of international health and immigration, especially with vulnerable groups, in an integrated manner with different hospital services, in connection with other primary care teams including Public health institutions and civil society entities for more comprehensive and equitable care. The team has expert health personnel specialized in public and community health, including agents from different cultures.
We carry out the following actions:
The Paediatric Infectious Pathology and Immunodeficiency Unit is responsible for caring for the entire paediatric population that requires it in any of the institution’s areas of specialization. That is, international health and travel medicine, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of tuberculosis, and more recently, sexually transmitted infections, including preventative measures such as PrEP and HPV vaccination. In many cases, the care of this population requires coordination of care with professionals who care for other adult family members in the same centre.
The current trend, followed by most countries that have experienced an evolution towards multiculturalism, is to create programs of transcultural psychiatry referencing current frameworks from existing psychiatric services. The HUVH Transcultural Psychiatry Program (PPT) stems from an initiative supported by the Catalan Institute of Health and the Department of Health of the Generalitat of Catalonia. This program aims to offer mental health care services of the same quality to all patients, regardless of their ethnic or cultural origin. In 2014, the Transcultural Psychiatry Program began to collaborate with PROSICS, which resulted in the addition of the unit to the Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit of Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron.
PPT professionals offer psychiatric and psychological care, on a supra-sector basis, to all people in the community who, due to their cultural characteristics, cannot be adequately cared for in their reference mental health centers and offer additional support to programs in Cataluña that do not have those resources.
The centre has a Microbiology laboratory, an extension of the current lab at the University Hospital of Vall d’Hebron, that consists of different workspaces and is perfectly equipped with cutting-edge technology. Its location and organization model allows for quick diagnosis of the main diseases treated at the centre, creating fluid communication between professionals and clinical units. This differential feature has a direct impact on the efficiency of patient care and therefore improves it overall.
Thanks to their experience, they are referent in highly complex parasitological diagnoses. Additionally, the laboratory coordinates the rapid diagnosis program for sexually transmitted diseases in the asymptomatic high-risk population known as the Drassanes Express and the international primary health care working group for the city of Barcelona.
For any emergency, schedule an appointment or email us at ccee.drassanes@vallhebron.cat or call 934 894 408
We promote day surgery as it is an increasingly common alternative to traditional hospital admissions and is more convenient for patients. The facilities, technology and running of the whole centre are focused on maximising this kind of walk-in surgery.
Vall d’Hebron’s Day Surgery Unit (UCSI), currently situated in the Pere Virgili Major Outpatient Surgery and Rehabilitation Centre, offers an alternative to the usual hospital admissions process. The 2,330 m2 Unit boasts the latest cutting edge technology, and facilities designed specifically with ambulatory surgery in mind. The centre has 6 operating rooms, 3 surgeon’s offices and 4 outpatient rooms for nursing, anaesthesia and surgical specialities. The unit currently performs over 13,700 procedures a year.
Whilst always under supervision, all patients can return home to continue their recovery a few hours after treatment. This surgery service is focused on convenience for patients, so they can recover in their normal environment without having to be admitted to hospital.
The surgical teams at the Day Surgery Unit come from other departments and units at Vall d’Hebron. Ambulatory surgery related to various parts of the Hospital is currently carried out here, such as General and Digestive Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Urology and Vascular Surgery from the General Hospital; Orthopaedic foot, ankle, hand, shoulder and knee surgery, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital; and Gynaecological Surgery, Fertility and Breast Disorder Surgery from the Maternity and Children’s Hospital.
The Day Surgery Unit also actively participates in specialised medical training through the Resident Medical Intern (MIR) programme in the different surgical specialisations.
Diagnostic laboratory tests for allergies (blood analyses) are intended to complement the results of the skin tests by quantifying the antibodies present in the patient's serum against the various possible allergens.
Determining the presence of specific antibodies against possible allergens has repercussions on the decisions allergists take in prescribing treatments such as allergy shots. It also helps to confirm or rule out diagnoses when the patient's symptoms are consistent.
Through a traditional blood sample, taken by healthcare professionals, which is then sent to the Immunology Department, processed and determined.
There is no need for patients to fast or refrain from taking allergy medications such as antihistamines before their blood samples are taken.
Dizziness or bruising after the blood has been taken.
Analytical testing provides a lot of information which enables the origin and severity of the kidney disease to be established. A kidney biopsy allows a microscopic study that is often essential. Genetic testing also provides very important information.
These tests serve to determine the origin of the kidney disease. There are many causes that may be genetic or acquired via a bacterial or viral infection, or resulting from a metabolic disease (diabetes) or an autoimmune disease such as lupus.
In addition to blood and urine tests, a kidney biopsy and/or a genetic analysis, imaging tests can also be useful.
A kidney biopsy may produce minimal bleeding that almost always stops by itself. If it doesn't, it can be controlled using an interventional radiology procedure, whereby the kidney is catheterised to close the area of bleeding. Genetic testing is increasingly used to decrease the need for a kidney biopsy. However, kidney biopsy continues to be the main diagnostic method for kidney disease.
The computed tomography, also known as a "CT" or "CAT scan", is a test that gives morphological information on different types of tissues: bones, lungs, brain, liver, blood vessels and soft tissues etc.. This test lets us diagnose cardiovascular diseases, infections, musculoskeletal disorders, cancer and infections, as well as track progress and plan medical and surgical treatments, if necessary.
In order to do the test, the patient must lie down on the CT stretcher. The patient then moves through the interior of the device. Depending on the part of the body being examined, the patient may be aware of this movement or not.
While this radiological exploration is taking place, a contrast medium (iodine) is administered into a vein, though the patient will not even notice this as it is completely painless. You will be accompanied at all times by health professionals who will be on hand to help you and answer any questions you have.
Once the test has been completed, the radiologist, who is a specialist in CT scans and other radiological exams, will interpret the images and provide a report for the specialist who requested the test.
There is no risk involved, unless the patient is intolerant or especially sensitive to any of the components of the contrast substance.
However, there may be risks if the patient has some illnesses, but this will depend on each individual case. In addition, there are the risks for certain people, that are common to all radiological explorations with contrast:
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a test that allows us to take anatomical, functional images of the human body to diagnose and assess a person's state of health. There are several diseases that require such images, such as trauma, brain and bone marrow explorations and cancer, among others.
Using a powerful magnet and radio waves, the magnetic resonance device allows us to get detailed images of the internal structures of the human body.
To have the test done, patients lie down on a stretcher that is inserted into the magnetic resonance device. Usually it lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, during which a nurse or technical staff attend to the patient and indicate what position they need to lie in so that nothing interferes with the images. It is important that patients do not move during the test.
There are times when it is necessary to administer a contrast intravenously, so that some parts of the body can be seen better.
When the patient is a child or does not want to cooperate, professionals can assess whether sedation is necessary.
After finishing the test, the radiologist will interpret the images and draw up the report.
You will be unable to have the test done if you:
You should always notify staff treating you if:
Blood tests are one of the most frequent medical tests. They involve taking a blood sample from the patient that is then analysed in a laboratory.
Information about the composition of the patient’s blood can be used for many different purposes. For this reason, not all the components of the sample are ever analysed, but rather those components that the doctor decides are useful, depending on the signs and symptoms the patient presents or what they need to know about the patient’s state of health. Blood tests can be requested to:
The most commonly used parameters in blood tests offer an overall view of the patient’s health status using different indicators:
There are specific studies that should be carried out depending on each specific case, for example immunological studies, genetic analysis, etc.
Taking the blood sample is simple, the healthcare professional just needs to puncture a patient’s vein with the right type of calibre needle, depending on the patient, and fill the prepared tubes, depending on what needs to be analysed.
The puncture is usually done on the inside of the elbow, and, before doing so, the nurse places a compressor on the arm, normally a rubber band, so that the blood vessels fill up and the blood can be taken more easily. Sometimes it is difficult to puncture this area and alternative locations are used, such as the back of the hand and, especially in children, feet and neck and groin veins.
Once the professional has decided where to make the puncture, it must be cleaned with antiseptic solution before the needle is inserted.
In some cases, patients need to remain still during the extraction, but this is not always necessary. It all depends on the type of analysis required.
Although complications are not usual, some may occasionally occur:
There are no alternatives for taking blood samples.
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