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.
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.
How to get there
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.
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.
The kidneys benefit from a healthy diet, from a relatively high intake of water and from avoiding tobacco. Regular bowel and bladder movements are also essential. Constipation and delaying urination are both damaging to kidney function. Plain water without anything dissolved in it is necessary for good kidney function, apart from liquids such as milk and broth and drinks such as tea and coffee. The amount of urine a healthy person produces varies depending on how much water they drink, the air temperature, whether they are at rest or doing exercise, etc. A healthy adult would normally required 1 to 2 litres per day. Kidney function does not necessarily improve if excessive water is consumed.
Exercise and a diet rich in fibre encourage healthy bowel and bladder movements and improve kidney function. In terms of related conditions, often diabetes, good metabolic control of the diabetes is essential to preserve good kidney function. Controlling arterial pressure, which often has an unknown cause, is also vital to maintain good kidney function.
Meningococcal disease (meningitis) is a serious infectious illness caused by a bacterium called “meningococcus”, which is transmitted through pharyngeal and nasal secretions.
The risk of contracting meningitis increases if you come into close contact with someone who has it (if you sleep in the same room, live in the same house, kiss on the cheek, etc.), but there is no need to disinfect objects or areas because meningococcus bacteria do not live long outside of the human body.
The measures to prevent this illness are:
With meningitis, the appropriate measure is to administer antibiotics to the family and other people who live with the affected person.
If the illness was caused by meningococcal group B, the only preventive measure, and the most common in Spain, is chemoprophylaxis, which aims to eliminate the microorganism from the pharynx. This stops it from spreading, in the space of a few days, between the people who have taken the medication.
If the illness was caused by meningococcal group C, as well as administering chemoprophylaxis, people close to the affected person will be vaccinated if they have not already been so.
If there is evidence that someone has had intimate contact with the patient in the ten days prior to the occurrence of the disease and they have not been administered chemoprophylaxis, healthcare staff must be informed.
Educating patients with resistant osteoarticular infections is key to avoiding contamination of utensils and possible complications resulting from the infection. Healthcare professionals will therefore emphasise the importance of hygiene in the infected area and will give instructions on dressing the area (if required) and on taking medication correctly for the duration prescribed.
When the patient is discharged, nursing staff will give them all the support and information they need to be able to look after the wound themselves. Most patients will be fitted with an external fixator that needs daily care, so healthcare staff will emphasise the importance of hygiene in the affected area, which should be cleaned daily and the correct dressing applied.
If patients are not independent and do not have a relative or carer to look after them, the local health authority will be contacted (through the PREALT discharge preparation unit), so that they may be provided with nursing care. If patients are being treated with intravenous medication, the Hospital at Home Unit will be contacted to follow up and provide the relevant treatment.
It is also necessary to explain the importance of taking the medication prescribed. On being discharged, most patients will receive long-term oral antibiotics (prescribed by the Infectious Diseases Unit) and they are reminded of the importance of maintaining a fixed schedule and not forgetting to take their medication.
They are also reminded of the need to maintain healthy habits, such as:
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