Acta medica Croatica : c̆asopis Hravatske akademije medicinskih znanosti
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Fourteen casualties with penetrating injuries to the colon caused by firearms in combat zones have been treated according to the principles accepted today for the treatment of such injuries acquired in civilian violence. The patients were treated by primary resection of the injured part of the intestine, without relieving colostomy, providing that the time interval between the moment of injury and admittance to the hospital was less than six hours. ⋯ Complications related to colon surgery occurred in one patient (7%). Primary resection without relieving colostomy for the colon injuries caused by firearms is a safe procedure providing that the time interval between wounding and surgery does not exceed six hours.
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A prospective study was performed to determine whether the risk factor for hepatitis B, proposed by Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USA, are reliable predictors for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier state in an obstetric population. In the period between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 1992, all pregnant women from geographically defined areas of the Istrian and Rijeka districts were routinely screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Among 10,627 pregnant women, 107 (1%) HBsAg positive cases were registered. ⋯ The other 61 subjects had no recognizable risk factors. The screening of pregnant women for HBsAg only on the basis of the CDC recommended history guidelines, would have left 57% of our HBsAg positive mothers undetected and therefore their children unvaccinated against hepatitis B infection. Our results confirmed the need and value of the new CDC recommendations about routine prenatal screening of all pregnant women for HBsAg until hepatitis B vaccine is included in the scheme of compulsory vaccination of all newborns.
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During the war in Croatia so far, more than 250 casualties having missile wounds of the brain, spinal chord and peripheral nervous system were admitted to the Neurosurgical Clinic, University Hospital-Rebro. These injuries were mainly caused by low-velocity missiles. However, the high-velocity ones, used nowadays, in direct injury to the head, cause destruction of the brain that is incompatible with survival in most of the cases. ⋯ The mechanism of the brain destruction is not completely clear since the missile was found at the very entrance of the missile wound, while the brain was destroyed up to the opposite side of the endocranium. Four mechanisms of the missile's effect aimed at explaining the cause of death of the patient, as well as the bizarre position of the missile, were taken into consideration. The review shows how perilous a wound from a direct missile injury to the head could be, regardless of its speed.
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Editorial Historical Article
A brief review of Croatian medical history until the 19 century--Part 1.
The purpose of this study is to remind the contemporary readers of the role and contribution of Croatian medical heritage in the development of medicine in Europe and the World, as well as of the development of medical concepts and medical practice on the territory of what is Croatia today. Selected examples are presented of the famous events and notable persons from the ancient time until the middle of the 19th century.