Biomedical subjects

Gunnar Guðmundsson

Publications and source records attributed to Gunnar Guðmundsson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Spirometry in a health care center: indications, results and quality.].

OBJECTIVE: Spirometry is important for the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Studies on the use of spirometry in health care centers are few and none in Iceland. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of spirometry in a single health care center in Iceland in regard to indications, quality and results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients evaluated at the Primary Care Clinic in Garethabaer during a 6 month period were included in the study. Information was collected about the spirometry, indications and treatment given. Spirometry was done by a physican or nurse. All spirometries were evaluated by a pulmonary specialist. The study was approved by the National bioethics committee and Data protection agency. RESULTS: During the study period 63 spirometries were done and majority of them were on the request of one physican. There were 19 males and 44 females and the age distribution was from 17 to 69 years of age. Smokers were 17/63, former smokers were 24 and 20 were non smokers. The most common indication for spirometry was cough in 37/63 and dyspnea in 20/63. No spirometry was done for history of smoking only. Twenty eight patients had abnormal lung auscultation. The quality of the spirometry was sufficient in 54/63. In 24/63 patients the spirometry was normal. Of those with abnormal spirometry 30 had obstruction, 3 had restriction and in 6/63 of cases the results were mixed. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that primary care physicians are underutilizing spirometry for diagnosis of lung diseases.

English Abstract↗

PubMed2003

[Closed needle pleural biopsy in Iceland 1990-1999.].

OBJECTIVE: Closed pleural biopsy is done to determine causes of pleural effusion after fluid analysis has been nondiagnostic. The aim of the study was to evaluate results of closed pleural biopsy in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All pathology reports of closed pleural biopsy from 1990-1999 at the Department of Pathology were reviewed. Hospital records for these patients were screened. RESULTS: There were 130 samples from 120 individuals. There were 74 males and 46 females. Deceased are 75/120. The most common diagnosis was pleuritis or fibrosis in 85/120, cancer in 15 and three had tuberculosis but 17/120 had other results. The sensitivity of a closed pleural biopsy for diagnosing cancer was 27%. Adding cytology increased the sensitivity to 56%. Of those that had pleuritis on initial biopsy the cause was found to be cancer in 33/85, pneumonia in 11, trauma in 5 and in 8 there were other causes. In 25/85 no etiology could be found. By doing further studies it was demonstrated that the cause for the fluid was malignancy in 55/120. Of those most had lung cancer or 24/55, and the second most common cause was breast cancer in 7. Despite further studies no cause was found in 32/85. CONCLUSIONS: Closed pleural biopsy has fairly low sensitivity for diagnosis of cancer but it can be increased by adding cytologic evaluation. It is necessary to do further investigations and follow-up in patients that have inflammation in pleural biopsy.

English Abstract↗

PubMed2003

[Pulmonary arterial hypertension: new treatments and case report.].

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. In the last few years significant progress has been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis and course of the disease. New classification and drug treatment have emerged. The new drugs are expensive but can improve quality of life significantly. Given here is a brief review and two cases presented.

English Abstract↗

PubMed2002

[Diagnosing occupational diseases. Examples from shellfish industry.].

It is very important to report suspected occupational diseases in Iceland to the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health, so they can be diagnosed, investigated in details and improvements made. This article describes the illness of clam workers at Thornórshöfn, a small village in the northern part of Iceland. It lead to a detailed investigation and the diagnosis of clamworkers hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Many specialists participated in the study that lead to improvement in the factory that has benefitted the workers.

English Abstract↗