[Organization of radiologic services in Sarajevo during the war (1992-1995)]. / Organizacija radioloske djelatnosti u Sarajevu tokom agresije (1992.-1995.).

The organization and functioning of radiological diagnostic services in Sarajevo during the three and a half years of aggression are presented. The sudden and brutal aggression, all kinds of blockage, and total unreadiness of the services caused many problems regarding the number, age structure and qualification of the staff, expended and technically defective equipment lacking spare parts and shortage of electric power, water, heating, of X-ray films, chemicals, contrast agents, sanitary, and all other kinds of material. In spite of all these problems and the necessary narrowing of indications, from April 1992 till September 1995, 340,079 radiological examinations were performed at the Institute of Radiology and 82,924 in the State Hospital, respectively. The majority of examinations was done on the muscular-skeletal system and the thorax. All radiological techniques like classic roentgenology, ultrasound examinations, computerised tomography and digital methods were used. The organisation employed in both institutions proved justified, rational and effective. It can be concluded that in this difficult period the radiological diagnostic services in Sarajevo fulfilled what was demanded of them. Regarding the extremely difficult circumstances, their contribution could also be deemed unexpected.

The left ventricular ejection time/filling period ratio as derived and simplified new index for noninvasive approximation of primary lusitropy disturbances in chronic hypertensive heart disease: a comparative Doppler-cardiographic and digital-echocardiographic study.

A theoretical new Doppler-cardiographic index was developed for a noninvasive approximation of primary lusitropy disturbances from the peak filling/peak ejection rate ratio. This simplified index, the left ventricular ejection time/filling period ratio was directly extrapolated from the outflow and inflow sample volumes. An index was significantly lower in a group of hypertensive patients with global relaxation disturbance than in the group with "partial" lusitropy disturbance. Between this index (x) and the isovolumetric relaxation period (y) there exists a very tight linear correlation: y = -124 x + 148; r = -0.89. All patients had a pressure overload left ventricular hypertrophy and therefore a prolonged protodiastolic period from the aortic valve closure to the mitral valve opening without a significant difference between the groups of patients. There were significantly higher values of the isovolumetric relaxation period and the standard and normalised first time derivatives of protodiastolic left ventricular dimension changes in the group of patients with global relaxation disturbances. There were determined confidence limits for the appearance of primary lusitropy disturbances on the basis of defined parameter changes, the left ventricular ejection time/filling period ratio, the isovolumetric relaxation period and the standard and normalised first time derivatives of protodiastolic dimension changes. One could conclude that the left ventricular ejection time/filling period ratio is a simple and easily derived index for the noninvasive approximation of primary lusitrophy and global relaxation disturbances in the pressure overload left ventricular hypertrophy.