To present a critique of the disaster management, the pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster events surrounding the Ozone Disco fire, the worst land fire disaster in the Philippine history, that occurred on March 19, 1996 were retrieved and summarized from available and verifiable records. The disaster events were analyzed based on the principles of disaster management, particularly in the medical care of the casualties and the operational structures existing in the region at that time. The existing disaster plan of the hospital involved was included in the analysis. Conclusions were set to refocus interest in the disaster and provide basis for planning in disaster preparedness.

Ozone ; Philippines ; Disaster Planning ; Disasters ; Fires ; Hospitals

The worst recorded man-made maritime disaster in the country and in Asia was the bombing of Super Ferry 14 last February 27, 2004. The pre-disaster and post disaster events surrounding the bombing incident were reviewed and summarized. The maritime disaster plan of the Philippine Coast Guard and the responding hospitals were reviewed and evaluation of the medical management of the casualties made. Investigation proved the incident to be due to explosive device brought in by a terrorist due to lapses in security. Prompt response of the disaster management team provided immediate rescue of survivors and provision of emergency management to the injured.

Military Personnel ; Philippines ; Bombs ; Terrorism ; Disasters ; Disaster Planning ; Survivors ; Asia

The ULTRA tragedy occurred on February 4, 2006 when the ABS-CBN popular noontime gameshow "Wowowee" was slated to hold its first anniversary presentation with large monetary prizes, including houses and lots, jeepneys, taxicabs, and tricycles up for grabs. In a stampede which occurred at the start of the show with an audience of 30,000, seventy-one people died and 800 were injured with trauma to the head, chest and the abdomen. The WHO analysis is presented together with the analysis of the author, and recommendations were formulated.

Human ; Male ; Female ; World Health Organization ; Abdominal Cavity ; Abdomen ; Thorax ; Head ; Disasters ; Environment And Public Health

The decision to take over Camp Abubakar, the largest camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), resulted in one of the largest numbers of combat-related casualties in the Philippines. In the delivery of health care, the health service of the AFP in the area encountered various problems. There were difficulties in the retrieval of the casualties, lack of transportation to the collecting points and centers for definitive care, lack of health personnel, and the limited surgical/medical capabilities of the treatment areas near the engagement. In spite of the adaption of new strategies, there was still significant increase in the morbidity and mortality incurred by the battle casualties. During the Abubakar assault, there were 127 wounded military personnel. Twenty percent was due to classified as "killed in action" (KIA). Twenty percent was due to delayed application of emergency care secondary to blood loss from chest and abdominal wounds. This incident brings to fore the need for changes in the current strategy in disaster management.

Human ; Military Personnel ; Philippines ; Hemorrhage ; Emergencies ; Morbidity ; Disasters ; Health Personnel ; Transportation ; Emergency Medical Services

Osteosarcoma of the spine accounts for 1 to 3 percent of osteosarcoma. When this afflication of the spine occurs, it is often fraught with diagnostic dilemmas and treatment challenges.

OBJECTIVE: This manuscript reports on the cases reported over a 15- year period from the UP Musculoskeletal Tumor Unit. Only 2 of the 3 cases were available for review.

RESULTS: Both patients were initially misdiagnosed. This delay in diagnosis led to a delay in instituting appropriate chemotheraphy inevitable causing poor outcomes of treatment.

CONCLUSION: This report highlights the dilemma of treating a difficult site. Spinal osteosarcoma presents with numerous diagnostics and management obstacles. Unless clinician awareness is improved and these treatment options become available to patients, prognosis will not improve.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Osteosarcoma ; Bone Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Spine ; Treatment Outcome

Stereotactic vacuum assisted breast biopsy has been developed as a minimally invasive alternative procedure to mammogram-guided wire localization then excision breast biopsy for non-palpable breast abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study was to describe the Medical City experience on stereotactic vacuum assisted breast biopsy from September 2007 to December 2009.

METHODS: Review of patients' records, mammogram results and histopathology reports of all patients who had stereotactic breast biopsy done at the Medical City from September 2007 up to December 2009. Percentages of patients with BI-RADS category 4 on mammogram and of patients with positive histopathology results were calculated. Conclusions were obtained from the tally and the percentage computations. Present rates of stereotactic complications were noted as well.

RESULTS: There were 25 patients who had stereotactic vacuum assisted breast biopsy from September 2007 to December 2009. Of the 25 patients, 15 (60%) had mammogram results with BIRADS category 4. Of the 15 patients with BI-RADS category 4, 5(33.33%) had a histopathology diagnosis positive for malignancy.

CONCLUSION: Stereotactic vacuum assisted breast biopsy is more cost-effective as against mammogram-guided wire localization then excision breast biopsy with the present rates at our institution. Post stereotactic complications experiences by a few patients were very minor.

Human ; Vacuum ; Mammography ; Breast ; Breast Diseases ; Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the demographic as well as clinical profile of patients participating in the breast cancer community outreach program and determine if the Breast Cancer Community Outreach Program can successfully find breast cancer cases in the community.

METHODS: In 2001, a breast cancer community outreach program was organized by the Vicente Sotto Memorial Center - Breast Center. The program components included breast cancer lay forum, breast self-examination (BSE) classes and breast clinic. Twenty seven breast cancer community outreach program were conducted in a span of 8 years.

RESULTS: There were 1719 participants with a mean age of 32.5 years. The most common reason for consultation was breast check-up (79.6%), majority had normal breast examination findings (75.9%) and breast cancer was also identified in only 19 out of 1719 (1.1%). Most of these were early breast cancer.

CONCLUSION: The Breast Cancer Community Outreach Program was not only vital in providing an-site breast cancer cases among women consulting at the community breast clinic.

Human ; Breast Self-examination ; Community-institutional Relations ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Ambulatory Care Facilities

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to define the anatomy of the musculocutaneous nerve as it innervates the biceps and brachialis muscles in relation to nerve transfer surgery in brachial plexus injury.

METHODS: Surgical dissection of the musculocutaneous nerve of both upper extremities of 34 embalmed cadavers was performed to define the anatomy of the musculocutaneous nerve as it supplies the biceps and the brachial muscles. Among the data that we noted were the distance where the branch of the biceps and branchialis took off from the musculocutaneous nerve from the coracoids, which was the bony landmark.

RESULTS: There were 17 males and 17 females with a total of 65 musculocutaneous nerve to biceps muscle had an average distance of 10.9cm and a median of 11.0cm±1.83cm (range, 6.5-14.2 cm) from the coracoid. The branching of musculocutaneous nerve to the brachialis had an average distance of 15.1 cm and a median 15.5cm±1.72cm (range, 12.7-21.0cm) from the coracoid. Transferring the fascicles of the ulnar nerve to the biceps branch and a fascicle of the median nerve to the brachialis branch is fairly easy since both nerves are within the vicinity of respective recipient site.

CONCLUSION: The anatomy of the musculocutaneous nerve as it supplies the elbow flexors is fairly consistent and there is little discrepancy between cadaveric specimens. Human ; Male ; Female ; Musculocutaneous Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve ; Median Nerve ; Elbow ; Nerve Transfer ; Elbow Joint ; Brachial Plexus ; Embalming ; Cadaver

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to present the experience of the Micro-surgery Unit of the Department of Orthopedics of the UP-PGH, in the use of fasciocutaneous rotation-advancement flap coverage for sacral decubitus ulcers.

METHODS: A review of patient referred to the unit of management of sacral decubitus ulcers, from 2003-2009. All patients with grades III or IV ulcers, managed with fasciocutaneous flap coverage, and with a minimum follow-up of 1 month were included in the study. Demographic data for all patients were retrieved including albumin level at the time of surgery, operative time, blood loss, complication and status of flap.

RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included in the analysis. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (with a range of 18-78 years). The average operative time was 2.7 hours±1.1 hours and the average blood loss was 428 ml (range, 100 - 500 ml). With a mean follow-up of 9.6 months, there were 3 recurrences and 2 mortalities. Twelve complications were documented in the 25 patients. Seventy-two percent (18/25) had healed sacral flaps on final follow-up.

Human ; Pressure Ulcer ; Ulcer ; Orthopedics ; Operative Time ; Surgical Flaps ; Bleeding Time ; Sacrum ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Recurrence ; Albumins

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to describe the demographic profile and determine the cause of delayed consultation among breast cancer patients seen at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Breast Center. The differences between these delayed consultations compared with those who consulted promptly, in terms of clinical, demographic, knowledge and cultural factors were determined.

METHODS: A survey of all female patients with breast cancer seen at the Breast Center of the VSMMC from September 2007 to February 2008, analyzing demographic, clinical, knowledge and cultural factors was conducted. Statistical analysis was done using chi square to determine factors significantly associated with delayed consultation.

RESULTS: Sixty-six (65.4%) out of 101 subjects had consulted late. Most of the delays were due to financial constraints. Delayed consultation was significantly associated with patient's low educational attainment up to elementary level only, and the patient's negative perceptions regarding the cause and possible cure of their cancer. During this time period, most breast cancer patients consulted late for their condition, primarily because of financial reasons.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this study showed that financial factors, and inadequate education were major causes of delayed consultations. Inappropriate cultural beliefs may have also contributed to this delay. Modification of current advocacies in the community served by VSMMC is needed to address this problem. Financial support through the community, in whatever form, may be significant in decreasing the incidence of delayed consultation for breast cancer.

Human ; Female ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Financial Support