Cigarette smoking among health care workers at King Hussein Medical Center.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking among health care workers (HCWs) at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC), the biggest tertiary-care center in Jordan. METHODS: Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire on cigarette smoking distributed among 760 HCWs. Questions were designed to collect various demographic parameters and different aspects related to cigarette smoking. RESULTS: Six hundred HCWs returned the completed questionnaire. Responders were divided into 3 groups; physicians, 260 (43%); nurses, 250 (42%); and other HCWs, 90 (13%). Mean age (+/-SD) for the whole sample was 35.3 +/- 6.9 years. Men constituted 52%. The overall prevalence of smoking was 65%. Fifty-six percent of smokers smoked daily, with a mean consumption of 10 cigarettes per day. Smoking was more common among men (82%) than women (47%). The 31- to 40-year age group constituted nearly half the population studied; 58% of HCWs in this category were current smokers. In the physician group, the highest smoking rate was observed among family practitioners working in the emergency department (75%). Of the internists, 44% were current smokers. There was no statistical difference between the resident and specialist subgroups in this category (P = .45). All pulmonologists were nonsmokers, the second-lowest smoking rate was seen in the dermatologist subgroup (10%). The women in the nursing group had a smoking rate of 17% compared with the 49% of the men in the nursing group who smoked. In the other HCW group, 70% smoked cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a very high percentage of cigarette smoking among HCWs at KHMC. Smoking cessation programs should be introduced among Jordanian physicians.

Complications of video assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To document the possible complications of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy procedure and their frequency of occurrence. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan, between April 2001 and January 2006. Two hundred and seven patients underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy for the treatment of facial, axillary, and/or palmar hyperhidrosis. Follow up was completed for one year. All possible early and late complications were documented and analyzed. RESULTS: Males constituted 59.4% of the studied patients. Mean age (range) was 25.2+/-4.6 (13-34) years. One hundred and fifty-three patients (73.9%) had palmar hyperhidrosis as the main indication for sympathectomy, 4 patients (1.9%) had axillary hyperhidrosis, and facial sweating or blushing in 7 patients (3.4%). Palmar hyperhidrosis combined with axillary and/or facial sweating were found in 43 patients (20.8%). The most common recorded complication was compensatory hyperhidrosis, which occurred in 142 patients (68.6%). CONCLUSION: Compensatory sweating remains the most common, and most disabling complication of video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Other alternative more selective methods, rather than cutting the main trunk should be studied thoroughly to assess their efficacy in reducing the complication of compensatory sweating.

Tracheobronchial straight metallic pin aspiration in young Jordanian females.

OBJECTIVE: To define the clinical spectrum of tracheobronchial straight metallic pin aspiration in adults, assess predisposing conditions, evaluate the efficacy of bronchoscopy, and determine the outcome and complications at the largest 2 hospitals in Jordan. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 60 consecutive clinical cases from 2 referral-based medical centers (32 patients at King Hussein Medical Center [KHMC] and 28 patients at Al-Basheer Hospital). Medical records of adult patients (>13 years of age) who presented with history of straight metallic pin aspiration over 6-year period (July 2000 and July 2006) were analyzed. Clinico-radiological features and location of the pins were studied. The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) was used for foreign body (FB) identification and removal in all KHMC patients; video assisted rigid bronchoscope under general anesthesia was used at Al-Basheer Hospital. RESULTS: All patients were females <28 years of age. Fifty-six patients (93%) presented within the first 24 hours after aspiration. Medical history was suggestive of FB aspiration in all patients. Chest x-rays demonstrated the radio opaque pins in all patients. At bronchoscopy, the intermediate bronchus was the most common site of FB lodgment (62%). Ninety-two percent of patients were discharged on the same day of the procedure. CONCLUSION: Tracheobronchial straight metallic pins are relatively frequent FB in Jordanian young females and can occur in a very specific clinical setting. Removal of these FBs can usually be accomplished successfully by FFB.