Clinical speech impairment in Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and multiple system atrophy

Context: Speech abnormalities are common to the three Parkinsonian syndromes, namely Parkinson's disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), the nature and severity of which is of clinical interest and diagnostic value. Aim: To evaluate the clinical pattern of speech impairment in patients with PD, PSP and MSA and to identify significant differences on quantitative speech parameters when compared to controls. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary medical teaching institute. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with PD, 18 patients with PSP and 20 patients with MSA and 10 age-matched healthy controls were recruited over a period of 1.5 years. The patients were clinically evaluated for the presence and characteristics of dysarthria. This was followed by quantitative assessment of three parameters: maximum phonation time (MPT), semantic fluency and reading speed. The outcome measures were compared between the patient groups and with controls. Results: Patients with PD had hypophonic monotonous speech with occasional rushes of speech while patients with MSA and PSP had mixed dysarthria with ataxic and spastic elements respectively. All quantitative parameters were affected when compared to controls ( P values < 0.001, 0.012 and 0.008 respectively). Maximum phonation time was significantly less in PSP when compared to MSA and PD ( P =0.015). Reading speed also showed a similar trend which was not statistically significant. Semantic fluency was comparable in all three groups. Conclusion: Dysarthria in PD, PSP and MSA have many overlapping but certain distinctive features as well which could serve as a diagnostic clue. Patients with PSP had profound speech impairment probably indicative of the more severe frontostriatial pathology.     

A Pilot Study on the Role of T-Tube in Typhoid Ileal Perforation in Children

BACKGROUND: Ileostomy is usually performed for patients of typhoid intestinal perforation with poor general condition, but it is associated with significant morbidity. We have used the T-tube in such patients as an alternative to ileostomy. METHODS: This is a prospective evaluation of a cohort of children with proven typhoid intestinal perforation. Patients with multiple perforations and poor general condition were managed with a T-tube inserted into the bowel lumen after closing all distal perforations (group 3). They were compared with patients who had primary closure of perforation (group 1) or bowel resection (group 2) to determine the efficacy of the use of T-tube. RESULTS: The total number of patients for groups 1, 2, and 3 was 51, 4, and 12 (n = 67). The mean number of perforations for the three groups was 1, 3.5 +/- 0.58, and 4.25 +/- 0.97. The operation time for the three groups was 37.29 +/- 3.24, 59.25 +/- 3.09, and 59.17 +/- 4.17 minutes, respectively. The T-tube was removed after 13.17 days. The mean duration of fistula at T-tube site to heal was 8.58 +/- 2.11 days. The overall follow-up period was 10.94 +/- 1.15 months and none of the patients with T-tube placement had features of intestinal obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: In children with multiple typhoid intestinal perforations and poor general condition, the use of T-tube may be an effective management option.     

Lingual mucosal graft substitution urethroplasty for anterior urethral strictures: our technique of graft harvesting

OBJECTIVE: To describe our technique of lingual mucosal graft harvesting for substitution urethroplasty and the complications encountered at the donor site. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients who underwent lingual mucosal graft urethroplasty between May 2006 and March 2007 were included in this study. TECHNIQUE: The site of the graft harvest is the lateral mucosal lining of the tongue. Graft harvesting is started from the posterior landmark of the graft on the left side of the tongue. It is continued across the tip of the tongue to the other side if lengthier graft is required. The graft harvesting site is simultaneously closed with continuous running suture using 4-0 polyglactin suture to achieve immediate and good homeostasis. RESULTS: Mean duration of follow up was 4.2 months. Average length of harvested graft was 6.5 cm. Mean harvesting time was 18 min. At the first postoperative day, 92% patients experienced pain at donor site and 24% had slurring of speech. By third postoperative day, >70% were free of pain and four had slurring of speech. By sixth postoperative day, none of the patient suffered pain. All the patients were able to resume oral fluid within 24 h, eat soft solid diet in 48-72 h and return to normal diet after 4-5 days of surgery. No patient suffered from difficulty in opening the mouth, salivation disturbances, peri-oral numbness or difficulty in protrusion of tongue. CONCLUSION: Lingual mucosal graft harvesting is a simple procedure, provides lengthy graft and is associated with minimal donor site complications.     

Autologous thrombin: intraoperative production from whole blood

Thrombin is routinely combined in surgical practice with a fibrinogen source to prepare fibrin sealant to promote hemostasis or with platelet concentrates to prepare platelet gels to enhance wound healing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the robustness and reproducibility of a new sterile handheld disposable thrombin-processing device (TPD) to generate autologous human thrombin in the intraoperative setting, using whole blood as the starting source material. By using whole blood instead of plasma as the starting material, it is possible to eliminate the plasma separation step from whole blood and reduce the thrombin production time and increase its availability to the surgical team intraoperatively. Active thrombin was prepared by combining 4 mL of thrombin reagent (a mixture of calcium chloride and ethanol) to 11 mL of blood in a reaction chamber containing negatively charged particles. The whole blood, reagent and particle mixture was incubated for 25 minutes at either 18 degrees C or 24 degrees C (n = 25/group) to assess stability of the thrombin activity. The mean activity of the thrombin produced at 18 degrees C and 24 degrees C was 52 +/- 14 (n = 25) and 61 +/- 12.2 IU/mL (n = 25), respectively. The average volume of thrombin harvested from each aliquot of blood at 18 degrees C and 24 degrees C was 10 +/- 0.4 and 9 +/- 0.6 mL, respectively. The thrombin concentration generated was shown to rapidly (<5 seconds) coagulate fibrinogen concentrate and retained clotting activity for 1 hour at room temperature (18-26 degrees C) and up to 4 hours when stored on ice. The results show that the TPD is able to consistently generate high thrombin activity from human whole blood. The device offers a robust and rapid approach for preparing active thrombin from whole blood.     

Single-stage repair for rectovestibular fistula without opening the fourchette

Background

Anorectal malformations are one of the most common congenital defects. This study is conducted to demonstrate new technique for treatment of rectovaginal fistula without disturbing the fourchette through posterior sagittal approach.

Method

All the patients of rectovestibular fistula admitted after the neonatal age were treated with posterior sagittal anorectoplasty without opening the fourchette. The results were evaluated for cosmetic appearance and anal continence.

Result

A total of 40 patients were included in our study. All patients were more than 1 month old. Operative time ranges from 70 to 150 minutes. The cosmetic appearance was good. Anal continence was good in 72% cases and fair in 20% cases. Fifteen percent of patients had minimal constipation and 7.5% patients had mucosal prolapse.

Conclusion

Single-stage repair for vestibular anus through posterior sagittal anorectoplasty without opening fourchette has a good cosmetic appearance and good anal continence.     

Use of fibrin glue in preventing urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias repair

Urethrocutaneous fistula is one of the most common complications after hypospadias surgery.The incidence of fistula development has varied from 4% to 20% in larger series. We sought to investigate the role of fibrin glue (Tisseel manufactured by Baxter India Pvt Ltd, Chennai, India) to reduce the chances of fistula formation in cases in proximal penile hypospadias.

Method

A total of 120 patients with proximal penile hypospadias (patients having urethral meatus at posterior third of penile shaft and at penoscrotal junction) were included in the present study. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 60 each by using Strata 9 software random number table. In group A, fibrin glue was used as a sealant after hypospadias surgery, whereas in group B, no sealant was used. All the operations were performed by single surgeon using transverse preputial tubularized island flap urethroplasty.

Result

Fistula formation occurred in 6 cases in group A (10%) and 19 cases in group B (32%) (P = .027). The fistulae observed in fibrin glue group A were single and small in size (<1 mm). Multiple (≥2 fistulae) and larger fistulae (>2 mm) were observed in group B. Overall complication was significantly higher in group B (P = .006).

Conclusion

Fibrin glue in hypospadias repair does not eliminate fistula formation. However, it seems that it minimizes the incidence of fistula formation.     

Pruritus ani

INTRODUCTION

Pruritus ani is a common condition with many causes, predominately anorectal pathology. There are some new insights and therapies, but the most recommendations are based on low-level evidence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A literature search was carried out using Medline and the internet with the keywords ‘pruritus ani’ from 1950 to 2007.

RESULTS

A review of the evidence is presented and a management plan based on the elimination of irritants and scratching, general control measures and active treatment measures is offered.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of primary and secondary pruritus ani has a good prospect of regression of symptoms and skin changes.