Tisseel for management of traumatic postpartum haemorrhage

Introduction  Following the introduction of haemostatic agents, new opportunities are available when facing problematic bleeding. We report the first case of traumatic postpartum hemorrhage successfully controlled with a fibrin sealant. Case presentation  26-year nulliparous patient had a rotational forceps delivery and developed multiple vaginal lacerations. Haemostasis could not be achieved after suturing, vaginal packing and IV tranaxemic acid. She lost approx. 3,500 ml blood and received 4 U transfusion. Tisseel was used as a thin layer on vaginal wall and bleeding settled. She had good recovery and perineum healed well. Conclusion  Tisseel consists of a two-component fibrin biomatrix to stop diffuse bleeding. When the tissues are very oedematous, it can be difficult to insert sutures. We tried this innovative option with very effective results. The absence of long-term complications is reassuring and we recommend its use in similarly extreme situations.     

Ventricular Septal Rupture in a 4-Year-Old Child Following Blunt Chest Injury

We report on a 4-year-old child who developed rupture of the ventricular septum after a blunt chest injury. The symptoms appeared more than 12 h later with progressive deterioration in his hemodynamic status. The diagnosis was made by echocardiography and the large defect in the muscular part of the ventricular septum was successfully closed at surgery.     

Risk factors for renal injury in patients with meningomyelocele

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty operated patients of myelodysplasia were clinically evaluated for the age at presentation, the extent of lesion and neurological deficit. Urological assessment was done with urine cultures, serum creatinine, radiological (ultrasound of kidney, ureters and bladder, voiding cystourethrogram) and urodynamic (water cystometry) parameters. An objective scoring for bladder (Galloway, et al.) was applied. Dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) scan was done in all the patients for evidence of renal scars. The results of above investigations were correlated with presence or absence of renal scars (renal injury) on DMSA scan. None of the patients had received any prior bladder care. RESULTS: Twenty one patients had no renal scars and 9 patients had evidence of renal scarring. Patients with renal scars were older at presentation, they had greater degree of hydroureteronephrosis (P < or = 0.001) and vesicoureteric reflux (P < or = 0.005). The incidence of high leak pressures (>25 cm of water, P < or = 0.05), unacceptable bladder volumes (maximum cystometric capacity < 60% for age, P < or = 0.005) and high risk Galloway's score (> 5, P < or = 0.05) was high in patients with associated renal scarring as compared to their nonscarred counterparts. Three of these patients had serum creatinine >1 mg/dl (P < or = 0.005). The incidence of urinary complaints and positive urine cultures was also higher in these patients (NS). CONCLUSION: Increasing age, evidence of hydroureteronephrosis and vesicoureteric reflux, high leak pressures, low bladder volume and high combined Galloway score (>5) define a high risk bladder in our population and predispose to renal injury in patients of myelodysplasia. Early referral for bladder risk assessment and management of all myelodysplasia patients is recommended.     

Acute T lymphoid and megakaryoblastic bi-lineal leukemia in a child

A 1 1/2-year-old boy presented with fever, anemia, petechial rash and hepatosplenomegaly. Bone marrow examination showed two morphologically distinct blasts (small and large) which were confirmed on immunophenotyping to be of T-lymphoid and megakaryocytic lineages respectively. Patient was refractory to therapy. This is a rare combination of bi-lineal leukemia in a child.     

Chronic sphenoid sinusitis revisited: comparison of multidetector axial sections, multiplanar reconstructions, and virtual sinoscopy with endoscopic sinus surgery

OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of multidetector computed tomography (CT) and CT virtual sinoscopy in the evaluation of chronic sphenoid sinusitis and to compare the imaging findings with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty patients with chronic sphenoid sinusitis referred for preoperative CT. INTERVENTIONS: Thin-section helical axial CT was performed using a multidetector CT scanner with multiplanar reformation (MPR) and volume-rendered or virtual sinoscopy images. Sixty sinuses were divided into quadrants for analysis. Extrasinus extension was labeled as the "fifth quadrant." MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Imaging findings were compared with those of functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and accuracy of the imaging modality was determined. RESULTS: Multidetector CT (axial CT and MPR) was found to be 100% sensitive, specific, and accurate in the evaluation of extent of sinusitis, status of the sinus septum, integrity of the optic nerve canal in relation to the sinus, and type of sinus pneumatization. Axial CT and MPR images showed sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 92% compared with functional endoscopic sinus surgery in evaluating the ostia. Regarding carotid canal integrity, axial CT and MPRs were 100% sensitive and 98% specific. Virtual sinoscopy showed sensitivity and specificity of 67% and 92%, respectively, for the 22 ostia that could be visualized and evaluated using this modality. CONCLUSIONS: Axial multidetector CT with secondary MPRs provide the necessary preoperative information regarding extent of disease and sphenoid sinus anatomy. Virtual sinoscopy is a navigational aid, an adjunct to endoscopy, and an educational tool for surgeons-in-training.     

Visual outcome of patients with central eales disease

A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate visual outcome of 11 patients (13 eyes) with central Eales disease (median age, 22 years). All patients had raised erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Nonischemic disease developed in 11 eyes, and 2 eyes had ischemic disease. All patients were administered systemic corticosteroid therapy. One patient with ischemic disease also received panretinal photocoagulation. Final visual acuity of 6/6 was achieved in 7 eyes in the nonischemic group.     

Distinct histopathological phenotypes of severe alcoholic hepatitis suggest different mechanisms driving liver injury and failure

Intrahepatic neutrophil infiltration has been implicated in severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) pathogenesis; however, the mechanism underlying neutrophil-induced injury in SAH remains obscure. This translational study aims to describe the patterns of intrahepatic neutrophil infiltration and its involvement in SAH pathogenesis. Immunohistochemistry analyses of explanted livers identified two SAH phenotypes despite a similar clinical presentation, one with high intrahepatic neutrophils (Neu^hi), but low levels of CD8⁺ T cells, and vice versa. RNA-Seq analyses demonstrated that neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (NCF1), a key factor in controlling neutrophilic ROS production, was upregulated and correlated with hepatic inflammation and disease progression. To study specifically the mechanisms related to Neu^hi in AH patients and liver injury, we used the mouse model of chronic-plus-binge ethanol feeding and found that myeloid-specific deletion of the Ncf1 gene abolished ethanol-induced hepatic inflammation and steatosis. RNA-Seq analysis and the data from experimental models revealed that neutrophilic NCF1-dependent ROS promoted alcoholic hepatitis (AH) by inhibiting AMP-activated protein kinase (a key regulator of lipid metabolism) and microRNA-223 (a key antiinflammatory and antifibrotic microRNA). In conclusion, two distinct histopathological phenotypes based on liver immune phenotyping are observed in SAH patients, suggesting a separate mechanism driving liver injury and/or failure in these patients.