Aim To examine the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the outcome of patients with the diagnosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods The study included 76 patients who were hospitalised at the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, with the diagnosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, following the return of spontaneous circulation. Therapeutic hypothermia was performed with an average temperature of 33oC (32.3 - 34.1o C) on the patients who had coma, according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Results Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) significantly affected survival (p=0.0001), as its presence reduced patients' survival by 96%. In addition, ventricular fibrillation (VF) as the presenting rhythm, also significantly affected survival (p=0.019). A degree of patient's coma, as measured by the GCS, significantly affected survival (p=0.011). For each increasing point on the GCS, the chance for survival increased twice. Moreover, other physiological factors such as the pH and the lactate serum levels significantly affected patients' survival (p=0.012 and p=0.01, respectively). Conclusion In patients with the diagnosis of OHCA who underwent to the treatment with therapeutic hypothermia, verified VF as a presenting rhythm was a positive predictive factor for their outcome. Therefore, therapeutic hypothermia represents an option of therapeutic modality for this type of patients.

Aim To investigate etiological link between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the accompanying impotence/erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods Study included 99 male patients (48 who had AMI - patient group, and 51 healthy examinees without previous cardiovascular disease - control group). All patients completed a standardized questionnaire, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Results Older patients had significantly lower IIEF-5 score (negative correlation) (p<0.05), but higher ED degree (significant positive correlation) (rho=0.522; p=0.0001). In the patient group, 37 (77.1%) patients had ED, while in the control group it was found in 26 (51%) examinees (p<0.05). A clear correlation was found between incidence of ED and diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and positive family history (they were more common in patients with ED, with no statistically significant difference). There was no statistically significant difference between patients with ED and patients without ED according to the beta-blocker usage (p=0.824): ED was reported in 11 (68%) patients in the group who used carvedilol, 14 (82.3%) in the group who used metoprolol, and nine (81.8%) who used nebivolol. Conclusion Myocardial infarction as well as age are directly related to the occurrence of ED. Cardiovascular risk factors are in direct correlation for the occurrence of erectile dysfunction after myocardial infarction.