Secuelas de la violencia colectiva: hablan las víctimas del estudio ISAVIC

Objective

Despite the significant influence of collective violence on the health status of its victims, there are still many gaps in our understanding of the nature of the functional limitations this violence produces and its impact on victims’ wellbeing and quality of life. The ISAVIC study was carried out in the autonomous region of the Basque Country from 2005-2008 to estimate the effects of collective violence on health. The assessment included victims’ perceptions of these sequelae and their impact on health.

Methods

A purposive sample of 36 primary victims was selected through contact networks and mediators. The victims’ perceptions were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, which were later analyzed according to the study's conceptual framework.

Results

The victims’ testimony suggests that they were profoundly traumatized by the collective violence experienced, which was often not yet completely overcome and significantly impaired their quality of life. The main functional, physical, emotional and social limitations described by the victims were identified.

Conclusions

The qualitative results of this study are coherent with those obtained through the parametric phase of the ISAVIC study and provide a more complete overview of the nature of the sequelae of collective violence and its impact on quality of life. These results should be verified in larger studies and the influence of the social context on the relationship between collective violence and health should be analyzed in greater depth.     

Early colonic transhiatal herniation and anastomotic leak after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy

Transhiatal herniation of the abdominal organs is a rare complication after esophagectomy. Surgical treatment is usually mandatory because of the high mortality associated with this condition. We present a case of colonic herniation that could contribute to failure of the esophagogastric anastomosis. Repair of both problems was performed through a right posterior thoracotomy.     

Correction to: A role for mast cells and mast cell tryptase in driving neutrophil recruitment in LPS-induced lung inflammation via protease-activated receptor 2 in mice

Inflammation Research - The original article can be found online.