https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21644 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:56:22 GMT 2026-04-07T17:56:22Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21720 Title: Inaugural Conference of the WONCA Region Europe : European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine (ESGP) Abstract: The Malta College of Family Doctors, a founder-member of the WONCA Region Europe - European Society of General PracticejFamily Medicine, was represented by College President Dr Denis Soler MD FRCGP and Honorary Secretary Dr Mario R Sammut MD at the Society 's Inaugural Conference in the Hemicycle, the Meeting Room of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France on the 6th and 7th October 1995. The idea of an ,umbrella academic society to coordinate all European organisations offamily medicine originated in Lenzburg, Switzerland, during a meeting in January 1993 initiated by SIMG, Societas Internationalis de Medicinae Generalis. In Collaboration with WONCA, the World Organisation of Family Doctors, a 'Group of Eight' was formed which, together with the European bodies responsible for teaching (the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice EURACT), for research (the European General Practice Research Workshop - EGPRW) and for quality assurance (the European Working Party on Quality in Family Practice - EQuiP) in family medicine, worked hard to create the structure of the European Society of General Practice/Family Medicine (ESGP) which was inaugurated in Strasbourg. Through its academic role, the Society will complement UEMO, the political body of family medicine in Europe. Fri, 01 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21720 1995-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21719 Title: A lesson I've learnt... Abstract: A 53 year old man of sound constitution, and with a past history of peptic ulcer disease and mild diabetes mellitus, suddenly developed severe epigastric pain with occasional vomiting over the weekend. I was called to examine him, but found no significant abnormal clinical signs except epigastric tenderness. He had opened his bowels, and appendicitis and intestinal obstruction were excluded. There was no icteric tinge, and his urinalysis was normal. He was an obese individual, known to be a mild diabetic well controlled with dietary measures alone. He was not on any regular medication, drank alcohol socially and smoked 5 or 6 cigarettes daily. After 48 hours of conservative treatment, the pain, which was the predominant presenting complaint had not settled down. I called in a consultant surgeon for a home visit, and he advised urgent admission for investigation at St. Luke's Hospital, due to a possible epigastric mass. Fri, 01 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21719 1995-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21711 Title: Factors involved when a child is brought for a medical consultation Abstract: A child is not well. Someone has to notice that something is wrong. What makes the child carer eventually decide to go to the doctor? The reason leading to this decision is often thought by professionals to be obvious Le. because the child is ill. One rarely stops to think about other underlying factors why the consultation was made. This help-seeking behaviour depends on a variety of inter-related factors. Fri, 01 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21711 1995-12-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21710 Title: Acute neurological admission and exposure to carbon monoxide Abstract: Carbon monoxide poisoning produces central nervous system hypoxia and frequently presents clinically in occult form. From December 1994 to March 1995 we screened 305 patients admitted for acute neurological problems to St. Luke's hospital for exposure to Carbon monoxide by determining blood carboxy-haemoglobin levels on admission. A questionnaire on indoor air pollution was also administered. Three cases of acute intoxication are documented. The mean carboxy-haemoglobin of the other 302 patients was 3.24% (95% CL 0-7.4, n=43) for smokers and 0.73% (95% CL 0-1.90, n=259) for non- smokefs. Five non-smokers and two smokers had levels higher than the upper limit. This level was probably only clinically signi{icant in one case of a heavy smoker with transient ischaemic attack. There were no cases of exposure amongst strokes (n=141), epileptic fits (n=39), or episodes of loss of consciousness (n=87). However 3 out of 29 patients with impairment of consciousness without focal neurological signs had intoxication. Although this intoxication does not appear to be very common, a high index of suspicion must be maintained, as 34% o{the patients questioned had at least one potential source of carbon monoxide within their household. For this reason we suggest that, information on indoor heating should be part of routine history taking of acute neurological problems, particularly when impaired consciousness is persistent in the emergency room. Carboxy-Hb levels should be taken when there is even the slightest suspicion of exposure, as early treatment of this intoxication with high concentration oxyġen therapy is very effective. Fri, 01 Dec 1995 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21710 1995-12-01T00:00:00Z