International classification of functioning, disability and health with long-term consequences of cranio-brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To describe health status and related functioning of patients with different severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in past medical history in Ukraine and determining the feasibility of using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Brief Core Set for TBI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: A total of 102 patients, who were treated in the neurological department of Dnipropetrovsk regional clinical hospital and State Institution ≪Ukrainian State Scientific Research Institute of Medical and Social Problems of Disability of Health Ministry of Ukraine≫, had been examined. Patients were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe TBI in past history and evaluated using ICF Brief Core Set for TBI. RESULTS: Results: Тhe most common problems in the functioning and health of patients in remote period of TBI, along with the influencing factors have been identified in the study. The most frequent categories from ≪Body Functions≫ and ≪Activity and Participation≫ sections in which patients had alterations were: memory functions, emotional functions, sensation of pain, functions of attention, brain structure, complex interpersonal interactions, family relationships. The increase in the amount and severity of disturbances with increasing severity of TBI had been established in all categories, except complex interpersonal interactions and family relationships. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Patients of all groups identified the family and close relatives, healthcare service and social welfare services, as the most frequent relieving factors of life activity. The use of the ICF Brief Core Set for assessing the subjects with TBI in past history provides a convenient procedure to standardize and structure functioning description. Information collected by the ICF Brief Core Set may be used for different purposes: clinical assessment, administration of medical services, planning and implementation of rehabilitation and evaluation of results, in scientific research, reports and health care statistics.

The first human laparoscopy and NOTES operation: Dimitrij Oscarovic Ott (1855-1929).

Dimitrij Oscarovic Ott (1855-1929) can undoubtedly be called the true pioneer of laparoscopy, especially of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. In 1901 already he performed abdominal examinations via a transvaginal access calling this procedure 'ventroscopy'. In 1902 the publication of his first results, as well as a description of the method and the equipment used, were released. In addition to Georg Kelling (1866-1945) and Hans Christian Jacobaeus (1879-1937), he therefore was one of the pioneers of present-day laparoscopy. Whereas Kelling published and presented his first results of merely animal trials in 1901 and Jacobaeus performed his first interventions on humans only in 1910, Ott had already used his new method in clinical practice since 1901. By only one incision in the cul-de-sac and utilizing a head lamp system similar to reflector lamps used by otolaryngologists, he inspected the abdominal cavity making use of a gynecological speculum. The patient was positioned in an extreme head-down position; for better lighting he used an additional light source which was connected to the speculum. Nowadays in Russia Prof. Ott still is a legend, especially in St. Petersburg. He was the director of the National Institute of Obstetrics and the personal physician to Empress Aleksandra Fedorovna (1872-1918). He is regarded as the father of the Russian school of obstetrics and gynecology as well as the founder of endoscopic surgery and laparoscopy in Russia.