/library/oar/handle/123456789/39525 2025-11-11T04:40:37Z 2025-11-11T04:40:37Z Scerri, Anne Marie /library/oar/handle/123456789/1015 2020-12-02T13:12:35Z 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Tommaso Chetcuti : the man in the light of his times Authors: Scerri, Anne Marie Abstract: This paper describes the life of the pioneer Maltese Psychiatrist, Tommaso Chetcuti as depicted by his esteemed friend and biographer Gavino Gulia and explores the advances in local psychiatric practice which he established in the Maltese Islands in the light of advances being made in Europe during his time, especially the prime works of Philippe Pinel and Etienne Esquirol.

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z Muscat Baron, Yves Camilleri Agius, Rodianne Craus, Johann Attard, Alex Cachia, Mario /library/oar/handle/123456789/1014 2020-07-01T10:39:59Z 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Primary hyperparathyroidism in pregnancy : case report and review Authors: Muscat Baron, Yves; Camilleri Agius, Rodianne; Craus, Johann; Attard, Alex; Cachia, Mario Abstract: A twenty-six year old secundagravida booked her pregnancy at 14 weeks gestation. It was noted in the past obstetric history that the woman had lost her first child at 41 weeks gestation, delivering a stillborn baby weighing 4.2kg. At 34 weeks into the second pregnancy mild polyhydramnios was noted and the patient was admitted. During her hospitalisation the patient complained of having passed a small renal stone. Two serum calcium levels were found to be significantly elevated 3.36mmol/l and 3.2mmol/l. Serum parathormone was found to be significantly elevated - 247pg/ml (Normal levels: 12.0 - 72.0pg/ml) and an ultrasound scan of the neck confirmed the presence of a parathyroid adenoma. A parathyroidectomy was performed and the postoperative period was uneventful. The rest of the pregnancy was uneventful and at 38 weeks gestation a healthy child was delivered vaginally. In view of this woman’s past history and the events occurring during the second pregnancy it may be useful to consider obtaining serum levels of calcium in cases of idiopathic stillbirth.

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z Vella Briffa, Benedict Agius, Maria /library/oar/handle/123456789/1013 2021-03-17T10:55:54Z 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Penetrating eye injuries at the workplace : case reports and discussion Authors: Vella Briffa, Benedict; Agius, Maria Abstract: We describe two recent cases of penetrating eye injury seen at Mater Dei Hospital, both resulting in a poor final outcome and illustrating the importance of wearing appropriate eye protection at the workplace. In case 1, injury was caused by a metal chip produced by a hammer and chisel that penetrated the sclera and lodged in the vitreous cavity, requiring vitrectomy and lens extraction and ultimately resulting in severe visual loss. In case 2, injury was caused by a shard released from an angle grinder disc that struck the orbit and caused severe disruption of the globe, which required enucleation. This is followed by a discussion on penetrating eye injuries, summarising the initial assessment and management of a suspected penetrating injury in the primary care setting and highlighting the need for urgent ophthalmic referral in cases where the nature of work was suggestive of high-speed projectiles, even where the trauma is seemingly trivial.

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z Abela, Jurgen C. Mallia, Pierre /library/oar/handle/123456789/1012 2020-05-22T10:13:39Z 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An evaluation of palliative care education in the specialist training programme in family medicine Authors: Abela, Jurgen C.; Mallia, Pierre Abstract: Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the teaching in palliative care (PC) provided during the Specialist Training Programme in Family Medicine (STPFM) in Malta. Methodology: A questionnaire was used, based on two other validated questionnaires used in a similar population. Fifteen topics commonly encountered in PC were analysed. Results: Twenty-two (74.4%) trainees returned the questionnaire. All trainees received exposure to palliative care patients, but only 5 (22.7%) felt involved in their care and only 6 (27.3%) ever used a syringe driver. Most PC teaching in the STPFM was formal in nature. Trainees felt that palliative care subjects were covered well in the STPFM, but non-medical areas received lower scores. Trainees’ confidence closely mirrored the scores for subject coverage. The Half-Day Release Programmes were the most useful palliative care teaching resource. A correct answer for the question on pain management was obtained by 63.3% of trainees and 23.7% got a correct answer for the question on the use of a syringe driver. Concerns on managing dying patients in the community were raised by 40.9% of trainees. Trainees judged overall positively their STPFM. Conclusion: GP trainees need to be trained in PC in a manner that adequately addresses their future caseload. Changes need to be made in the PC teaching within the STPFM to address areas such as ethical issues in end-of-life; using a syringe driver; selfcare and managing patients in the community.

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z