/library/oar/handle/123456789/39528 Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:31:55 GMT 2025-11-10T17:31:55Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/995 Title: Professional medical journal publications in Malta Authors: Savona-Ventura, Charles Abstract: After the establishment of freedom of the press in 1839, the Maltese medical community initiated the publication of a medical journal in their efforts to maintain professional standards through continuing medical education. The first initiatives unfortunately were often relatively short-lived due to a number of factors. These initiatives were often undertaken by individuals and were often dependant on paid subscription for their maintenance. Longer lasting publications required a change in management policies. The second half of the twentieth century saw the first long-lasting initiative being undertaken by the medical student association; this journal’s financial support being dependant on income from advertisements. Twenty years later, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery initiated a professional journal. These two journals have since changed their name and editorial policies but are still extant in the current publications Murmur and the Malta Medical Journal. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/995 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/994 Title: The nurse of the Mediterranean Authors: Pisani, Saviour Abstract: During the First World War Malta did not take an active part in the fighting. Britain was joined in an ‘entente’ a friendship agreement with France since 1904 and later with Russia in 1907. On the other hand Germany was allied to the Austrian- Hungerian Empire, hence when the Great War started in July 1914 there were France, Britain and Russia on one side and Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other. The British fleet “ruled the waves”, hence with France and Britain as allies, to be joined later by Italy, the Mediterranean was more or less an allied lake, with Malta in the centre. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/994 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/993 Title: Implementation of a graft surveillance programme for infrainuginal vascular bypass surgery Authors: Cassar, Noel; Dunjic, Brancko; Cassar, Kevin Abstract: Aim: Patients undergoing bypass graft placement in the lower limb are often entered into a graft surveillance programme using duplex scanning. The aim of this programme is to identify stenoses in vein grafts before they become symptomatic and treat these by angioplasty or surgery, thus prolonging the patency of the graft. This paper aims at reporting on the progress and viability of this programme at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta. Method: Infrainguinal bypass grafts carried out between July 2007 and May 2009 were enrolled. Scanning starts during the patient’s in-hospital stay at one week post-operation. It is then scheduled at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, and yearly afterwards. When a significant stenosis is encountered, the patient is referred for angioplasty. Surgery would be considered in cases when angioplasty is not an option. Results: During this period 56 patients were recruited. At one week post-op the patency rate was 100%. At 6 months the primary unassisted patency was 77.5% while the primary assisted patency was 87.5%. At 12 months the primary unassisted patency was 50% while the primary assisted patency was 77%. Secondary patency rates at 6 and 12 months were 95% and 82% respectively. Conclusion: The graft surveillance programme ensures that any problem detected in the post-operative period is dealt with as soon as possible. The study shows that this programme is being effective in that assisted rates (i.e. after angioplasty or surgery) are better than unassisted rates. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/993 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/992 Title: A rare cause of hypoglycaemia Authors: Sciberras, Robert Abstract: This paper describes a case study concerning a young man on treatment for psychiatric illness who developed severe episodes of hypoglycaemia. After several investigations, lithium therapy was implicated. Stopping this treatment resulted in the patient being relieved of these episodes. Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/992 2010-01-01T00:00:00Z