[Congenital Hypothyroidism: 2 observed cases at the Gabriel Toure University Hospital of Bamako, Mali]. / Hypothyroïdie congenitale: a propos de deux observations au CHU Gabriel Toure de Bamako-Mali.

We report two observations of congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed in 2011 in the university hospital of Gabriel Toure in Bamako. The first occurred in a male infant of 40 days, admitted for respiratory distress and anterior compressive cervical swelling. Although his neonatal period occurred without any medical particularity, family medical history revealed the presence of unexplored goiter in three paternal uncles. Neurological examination was normal with the presence of constipation. A cervical-thoracic scan showed a homogeneous and symmetric hypertrophy of thyroid lobes with a compression of the trachea. The dosage of thyroid hormones confirmed hypothyroidism (FT4 = 1.6 pmol/l, TSH = 60 µUI/ml). After one month of treatment using Levothyroxine, 10 mg/kg, there was a drastic improvement of respiratory distress, a regression of goiter and normalization of thyroid hormones. At six months of life he had no goiter and psychomotor development was normal. The second case occurred in a male infant of 2 years, from an area of endemic goiter. Puffiness of the face without lower limb edema, constipation, and delayed independent walking were the reasons for consultation. On examination, we noted the absence of goiter, large anterior fontanel with facial dysmorphism (lunar facies, hypertelorism, flat nose, macroglossia) and infiltration of the skin more marked in the face with cold extremities. He required support to sit. The thyroid function tests confirmed hypothyroidism (FT4 = 72 nmol/l, FT3 = 0.40 nmol/l, TSH > 60 µUI/l). Under levothyroxine, there was normalization of thyroid hormones after one month of treatment and disappearance of the skin infiltration. At six months of treatment he had acquired independent walking. Mental prognosis remains to be evaluated. These cases confirm the necessity of routine neonatal diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

Nous rapportons deux observations d'hypothyroïdie congénitale diagnostiquées en 2011 au CHU Gabriel Touré de Bamako. Il s'agit d'un nourrisson de 40 jours, de sexe masculin admis dans le service pour une détresse respiratoire et une tuméfaction cervicale antérieure compressive. Son passé néonatal était sans particularités, il aurait trois oncles paternels ayant un goitre non exploré. Une constipation chronique était le seul signe fonctionnel tandis que l'examen neurologique était normal. Une tomodensitométrie cervico-thoracique montrait une hypertrophie homogène et symétrique des lobes thyroïdiens avec compression de la trachée. Le dosage des hormones thyroïdiennes confirmait l'hypothyroïdie (T4L = 1,6 pmol/l, TSH= 60 µUI/ml). Sous lévothyroxine à 10 µg /kg, on notait une disparition de la détresse respiratoire, une régression du goitre et la normalisation du taux des hormones thyroïdiennes à un mois de traitement. A six mois de vie, il n'avait pas de goitre et son développement psychomoteur était normal. Le second est un nourrisson de 2 ans, de sexe masculin, provenant d'une zone d'endémie goitreuse. Une bouffissure du visage sans œdème des membres inférieurs, une constipation, un retard de la marche autonome constituaient les motifs de consultation. A l'examen, on notait l'absence de goitre, une fontanelle antérieure large avec une dysmorphie faciale (facies lunaire, hypertélorisme, nez aplati, macroglossie) et une infiltration de la peau plus marquée au visage avec une froideur des extrémités. Il s'asseyait avec appui. Le dosage des hormones thyroïdiennes a confirmé l'hypothyroïdie (T4L = 72 nmol/l, T3L= 0,40 nmol/l, TSH > 60 µUI/l). Sous lévothyroxine, on notait la normalisation des hormones thyroïdiennes à un mois de traitement et la disparition de l'infiltration de la peau. A six mois de traitement il avait acquis la marche autonome. Le pronostic mental reste à être évalué. Ces observations confirment la nécessité du diagnostic néonatal de l'hypothyroïdie.

Issues for consideration in the establishment of a program management structure.

In a product management structure, the management of separate products is moved down in the organization to achieve greater participatory management as well as greater effectiveness in the identification of factors most relevant to the survival of the product. For the business industry, managing products as separate entities enables more effective competition in the marketplace. This approach has been used in U.S. hospitals in managing programs and services. Described here are the initial attempts at program management undertaken at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, a highly specialized, provincial 1,100-bed teaching and referral hospital. Some issues important in developing and implementing the program management approach are discussed.

Program management and health care informatics: defining relationships.

The program management (PM) structure is a relatively well-known organizational model for hospitals. A variation of the matrix structure, it allows for an interdisciplinary team of health care providers to facilitate patient care delivery. However, providing such focused care results in a complex, highly information-dependent operational environment. To meet the information needs of such an environment, careful planning in selecting and implementing technology is required. Along with supporting patient care, the technology will also help in managing costs, human resources, quality and utilization, as well as in monitoring performance and outcomes measurement. Focusing specifically on the information technology environment, this article addresses health care informatics (the diverse categories of information and systems) needed to support clinical program managers, executives and others in a PM organization. Examples from both a university-affiliated and a community-based program managed hospital illustrate their approach to PM and information technology.