PILOT SCREENING PROGRAM FOR THALASSEMIA IN A COUNTRY WITH LIMITED RESOURCES: A COLLABORATION MODEL BETWEEN CLOSE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

Screening for thalassemia carriers should not only be conducted in middle-income countries but also can be possible in low-middle income countries, through cooperation of experienced professionals from middle income countries. We describe a collaborating model between two close neighboring countries in establishing such a screening program for thalassemia. After training and setting up of facilities, a total of 152 out of 187 hospital staff were screened as a pilot activity to encourage community participation. Referring system for sending blood samples to a reference center in Thailand was also established. Among 152 health staff, 12.5% α0-thal, 2% ß-thal and 13% Hb E carriers were found. Applying thalassemia screening to 411 pregnant women and 71 spouses, 5 couples at risk of bearing a child of thalassemia disease were identified. The thalassemia screening program has a sensitivity of 99.5%, specificity of 77%, positive predictive value of 73%, and negative predictive value of 99.5%. Thus, it is possible to operate a thalassemia screening program with acceptable performance in a low-middle income country (Lao People's Democratic Republic) with the cooperation of a referral center located within close proximity in a middle income country (Thailand).

Intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoars of banana seeds: a case report.

Phytobezoars are a well-known, though rare, cause of mechanical alimentary tract obstruction. They occur mainly in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery, where most literature reports describe the causes as persimmons and oranges. We report four cases, seen within a period of 19 months in Laos, with intestinal obstruction caused by phytobezoars from jungle banana seeds. They had no history of previous gastrointestinal surgery. The recommended therapy in total obstruction is laparotomy, "milking" through the ileocaecal junction, or enterotomy and direct extraction. As recurrence and presentation at multiple sites are possible, all of the gastrointestinal tract should be thoroughly examined intraoperatively.