The Philippine Medical Women’s Association, Inc. celebrates its Diamond Anniversary and 60th Annual Convention on November 6 & 7, 2009 at the Historic Landmark Manila Hotel. The Philippine Medical Women’s Association is an organization of medical women to foster closer relationships and fellowship among all medical graduates to enrich, encourage, and empower one another in their chosen fields of practice or specialties and subspecialties so that they may be beter equipped to serve the community and the underprivileged and take an active part in national affairs speciallyy in problems that affect women, children, and the family. Since then, the association has grown to more than 4,000 members nationwide in 45 various chapters in Metro Manila and the provinces. … Read entire article »

January 14 – 15, 2010 For further information, please contact: International Institute for Neurosciences Tel. No. (02) 723-0101 / 723-0301 ext. 4302 Direct Line: (02) 725-6703 Email address: ics@stluke.com.ph Website: www.ics.stluke.com.ph/neuro It is with great pride and honor to introduce the First International Symposium on Neurocritical Care of St. Luke’s Medical Center which will be held on January 14 and 15, 2010 in Manila, Philippines.   The symposium will provide participants a unique opportunity to get an update on the remarkable developments in neurocritical care. Leading scientists and clinical experts will present the state of the art in basic and clinical research in neurocritical care and patient management. We look forward to welcoming you to the symposium. We hope that this meeting will be a memorable experience for all of you, where you will be able to further friendships … Read entire article »

Albert Lim Rafanan, MD Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu City, Visayas, Philippines WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA(OSA)? Loud snoring which is interrupted by respiratory arrest (apnea) of more than 10 secs in duration is obstructive sleep apnea. This is usually accompanied by a reduction in blood oxygen saturation followed by a microawakening to breath. In severe cases, hundreds of breathing pauses can occur every night. In obstructive apnea, the throat closes during inhalation due to excessive relaxation of the pharynx muscles and the floor of the mouth, accompanied by increased tissue pressure from outside. This prevents air from entering the lungs, and the patient is threatened with suffocation. IS OSA DANGEROUS? WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS? OSA has been associated with an increased mortality ratio of 3.33. Sleep apnea has been associated with … Read entire article »

Maria Arleen G. Atilano-Obsioma, MD Infectious Disease Consultant Capitol University Medical City, Cagayan de Oro City Severe sepsis and septic shock are major healthcare problems affecting millions of individuals around the world each year. In 2004, an international group of experts in the diagnosis and management of infection and sepsis published the first internationally accepted guidelines that the clinicians could use to improve outcomes in severe sepsis and septic shock. The 2008 guideline is an update to the previous guideline. The key recommendations include: early goal-directed resuscitation of the septic patient during the first 6 hours after recognition; blood cultures prior to antibiotic therapy; imaging studies performed promply; administration of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy within 1 hour of diagnosis; reassessment of antibiotic therapy with microbiology and clinical data to narrow coverage, when appropriate; a usual … Read entire article »