Nizama Salihefendic

E-health in bosnia - starting from the ground-up.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE DECLARED PAPERAIM SUMMARY. The development of the digital Information Communication Technology (ICT) has definitely changed healthcare system in all its areas. The development of standardized electronic medical record (EMR) make possible other forms of E-Health like transmural care, telemedicine etc. In this paper was described Health Information System (HIS) of Tuzla Canton and Brčko DC (whose citizens gravitate toward Tuzla Clinical Center). Tuzla Clinical Center is the only Clinic for tertiary healthcare in this region. To estimate level and types of the HIS, telecommunications and information management we have designed questionnaire. Based on this research we have presented current state of E-Health in Canton and the most important problems in this area. Also, based on this research and our experiences, we have identified the main directions of the HIS development, its standardization and integration as the base for E-Heath in Bosnia.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) from Endemic Influenza A/H1N1: Prehospital Management

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a form of acute life threatening respiratory failure. In daily practice there is difficulty in diagnostic and therapeutic management of Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We observed delay in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients with clinical signs for the presence of severe respiratory disorders. Finding timely evidence of the presence the clinical signs of threatening ARDS and underlying diseases like influenza A/H1N1 during prehospital period in early stage of disease it is possible introduce early adequate treatment: high flow oxygen, fluid replacement and pharmacological and antiviral therapy. This measure can reduce high mortality in patients who develop ARDS. It is important to improve diagnostic criteria for a precise definition of ARDS and transfer it in practice of emergency and family medicine, microbiology, intensive care units, hospital departments of infectious and respiratory diseases. In this article we underlined the key elements of the new definition of ARDS, diagnostic criteria and the importance of early diagnosis in prehospital period following clinical feature and course (a presence of severe dyspnea) by adding chest x-ray and laboratory investigations.

Effects of Salt Intake on Blood Pressure in Banovici Coal Mine Workers

Introduction: High blood pressure is the cause of almost 13 % of all deaths in the world. DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is “gold standard” in diet recommended by American Society of Hypertension, American Heart Association and Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 for reduction many CV risk factors including hypertension. Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension through DASH dietary program with reduction of salt intake can significantly reduce high values of blood pressure and decrease general cardiovascular risks. Goal: The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence of hypertension among miners in Banovici coal mine and amount of salt taken in meals during work time. Material and methods: We inspected the medical documentation and registers for all employees in coal mine Banovici in order to provide calculation of hypertension prevalence. Based on reports and company standards on grocery usage and average amount of salt used in preparation of one meal in coal mine kitchen, we have calculated the average consumption of salt of one employee per meal. Results: There are 2700 of employees in coal mine Banovici with average life age of 46 years. From them 694 (25.7%) miners have arterial hypertension. Also 707023 kg of salt is being spent for preparation of meals in coal mine kitchen on yearly basis. Employees take between 4-9 grams of salt per one meal excluding the salt contained in bread. Conclusion: the amount of salt intake per one meal in the coal mine kitchen is larger from daily doses recommended by ACC/AHA.

Telemedicine in Gastroenterohepatology

Telemedicine itself is not the medical profession, it is not a medical specialty, but the way in which the medical profession conduct its activity. Therefore we are talking about tele otorhinolaryngology, tele cardiology or tele pathology. In the definition of a multitude of telemedicine that can be found in the literature is the following: Telemedicine is a system that supports the process of health care by providing ways and means for more efficient exchange of information that allows multitude of activities related to health care, including health care and health personnel, including education, administration and treatment. Telemedicine applications include tele diagnosis, tele consultation, tele monitoring, tele-care, tele consultations and remote access to information contained in one or more databases. It turned out that telemedicine is an important factor in technological, professional, financial and organizational uniformity of development of the health system. Telemedicine, although a new area, to a large extent already changed the ways of providing health care, and even more influence on the ways of designing the future of medicine.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease LPRD

Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) referes to an inflammatory reaction of the mucous membrane of pharynx, larynx and other associated respiratory organs, caused by a reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. LPRD is considered to be a relatively new clinical entity with a vast number of clinical manifestations which are treated through different fields of medicine, often without a proper diagnosis. In gastroenterology it is still considered to be a manifestation of GERD, which stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Patients suffering from LPRD communicate firstly with their primary physicians, and since further treatment might ask for a multidisciplinary approach, it is important to have a unified approach among experts when treating these patients. Goal: This paper is written with the intention to assess the frequency of symptoms of LPR in family medicine, possible diagnostics and adequate treatment in primary health care. Materials and methods: This is a prospective, descriptive cohort study. Authors used „The Reflux Symptom Index” (RSI) questionnaire. Examinees were all patients who reported to their family medicine office in Gracanica for the first time with new symptoms during a period of one year. Patients with positive results for LPR (over 13 points) were treated in accordance with the suggested algorithm and were monitored during the next year. Results: Out of 2123 examinees who showed symptoms of LPR, 390 tested positive according to the questionnaire. This group of examinees were treated in accordance with all suggested protocols and algorithms. 82% showed signs of improvement as a response to basic treatment provided by their physicians. Conclusion: Almost every fifth patient who reports to their family medicine physician shows symptoms of LPR. On primary health care levels it is possible to establish some form of prevention, diagnostics and therapy for LPR in accordance with suggested algorithms. Only a small number of patients requires procedures which fall under other clinical fields.

Phacoemulsification After Penetrating Keratoplasty Due War Injury at Young Adult

Introduction: It is known that phacoemulsification of cataracts after penetrating keratoplasty there are always some difficulties and of course a higher rate of different intraoperative complications. Phacoemulsification after PK may cause significant endothelial injury and affect long term graft survival. Aim: The aim of this report is to describe one of these cases and the possible ways to manage them. Case report: We report a case o of a 31-year-old female patient, with a cataract on her left eye. She reported that when she was 10 years old, she was admitted to regional hospital in Bosnia and Herzegovina due perforative corneal war injury. At the age of 11 years at Germany on her left eye corneal transplantation was performed. She reported that she wasn’t ever seeing quite good, due high myopia. Twenty years after war injury she was admitted to hospital. At that moment patient has been ophthalmologicaly examined (visual acuity testing, biomicroscopy, tonometry, ultrasound of both eyes with biometry and ophthalmoscopy). At the day of admission to the hospital on slit lamp we found occlusion of pupil and complicated cataract. Her only wish was to get operated due cosmetic reasons. Before surgery her visual acuity on her left eye was light perception. Thirty days after surgery her visual acuity was 0,1 without correction. Conclusion: It is concluded that cataract surgery in patients after keratoplasty is more complicated. Therefore, these patients should be managed with utmost care and operated by an experienced surgeon.

A new approach to the management of uninvestigated dyspepsia in primary care.

Introduction: The prevalence of dyspepsia in the general population worldwide is very high (20-40%). Upper abdominal complaints are one of the most common cause of patients’ visits to primary care settings. Making an accurate etiological diagnosis of dyspepsia is difficult, but is an important challenge and goal for every doctor in primary care practice. Clinical guidelines have standards for gastroesophageal reflux disease, management of Helicobacter infection and indications for the use of endoscopy (empiric treatment, prompt endoscopy, “test and treat”). In spite of the application of those standards, many patients experience no improvement in their symptoms or often the recurrence of disease. Aim: This study presents a new approach to the diagnostic and therapeutic management of uninvestigated dyspepsia in primary care settings to provide long-term effective control of symptoms for family doctors. Material and methods: 3000 unselected consecutive dyspeptic patients underwent abdominal ultrasound, and 1000 dyspeptic patients from the same group upper endoscopy.. In this approach diagnostic evaluation of dyspepsia includes: abdominal ultrasonography as a first line obligatory routine method and the exact estimation of nutritional condition. Results: Abdominal ultrasound, physical examination and BMI control have significant value in the diagnostic evaluation of dyspepsia. The therapeutic approach includes, besides general standards (acid suppressive drugs, eradication of H. pylori, prokinetic and antidepressant agents), life style modification and nutritional interventions as first-line treatments. In this approach the use of new drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), pre and probiotics, and digestive enzymes supplements is recommended. Conclusion: Throug the combination of different diagnostic procedures as first line methods, including abdominal ultrasound and nutritional condition (BMI), a family doctor can manage successfully uninvestigated dyspepsia at the primary care level.