Predictors of mortality in children with typhoid ileal perforation in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Purpose

Childhood typhoid ileal perforation is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to ascertain the predictors of survival in children.

Materials and methods

This is a tertiary hospital-based retrospective review of patients aged ≤15 years managed for typhoid ileal perforations between January 2005 and December 2013. The details of their biodata, potential risk factors and outcome were evaluated.

Results

Forty-five children out of a total of 97 with typhoid fever had typhoid ileal perforation. The age range was 2–15 years, mean (±SD) = 9.3 (±3.31) years, median = 10 years. There were more males than females (26:19). Thirty-nine (86.7 %) patients were >5 years old. There were nine deaths (20 % mortality). The mean (±SD) age of survivors was 9.8 (±2.9) years and 7.1 (±4.2) for non-survivors (p = 0.026). The duration of illness at presentation, gender, admission temperature, nutritional status and packed cell volume, perforation-operation interval, number of perforations, surgical procedure, and the duration of surgery did not statistically influence survival (p > 0.05). The age of the patients and burst abdomen attained statistical significance (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The patients’ age and postoperative burst abdomen were significant determinants of survival in children with typhoid ileal perforation.     

A review of the management of perforated duodenal ulcers at a tertiary hospital in south western Nigeria

Background

Gastro-duodenal perforations are common and may complicate peptic ulcer disease. Management is often by surgical closure.

Objective

To determine the patterns of presentation and mode of management of duodenal ulcer perforations.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients with duodenal ulcer perforations seen at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital between June 2001 and July 2011. Patients'' records were reviewed for demography, duration of disease, probable risk factors, type of surgery and complications. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS 15.0.

Result

Forty- five patients were reviewed. There were 37 males (82.2%). Mean age was 39.7years (range 15–78years). There were 10 (22.6%) students and 8(17.8%) farmers. NSAIDs abuse (11), previous peptic ulcer disease (2), and no prior dyspeptic symptoms (20) constituted 24.4%, 4.4% and 44.4% respectively of cases. Seven (16%) patients presented less than 24 hours of onset of illness. Forty one perforations (91.1%) involved the first part of duodenum. Twenty two (49%) patients had Graham''s omental patch. We had one (2.2%) failed repair and six (13.3%) mortalities.

Conclusion

Late presentation of duodenal ulcer perforation is common with high mortality. Pragmatic surgical intervention with Graham''s omentopexy with broad spectrum antibiotics is still commonly practiced.     

Racial disparities in routine health checkup and adherence to cancer screening guidelines among women in the United States of America

Purpose

Routine health checkup and cancer screening rates among women are suboptimal, partially due to the health care disparities by race/ethnicity in the USA. This study examined the previously understudied associations between routine health checkup, cervical cancer screening, and breast cancer screening by race/ethnicity using the national representative sample of women.

Methods

Data were obtained from three cycles (2017, 2018, and 2019) of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) (n?=?12,227). Survey-weighted logistic regressions were evaluated to assess associations between routine health checkup and cervical and breast cancer screening compliance with the established guidelines with the age criteria and frequency of screening by race/ethnicity (Black, White, Hispanic, and Other).

Results

This study included 6,941 women in the cervical cancer screening and 8,005 women for breast cancer screening, considering the age criteria. Women who had received routine health checkups were more likely to meet the cervical cancer screening guideline (Odds ratio?3.24, p?<?0.05) and breast cancer screening guideline (OR?5.86, p?<?0.05) compared to women who did not receive routine health checkups. While routine health checkups were associated with both types of cancer screenings in most racial/ethnic groups, analyses stratified by race/ethnicity suggest that Hispanic women and Other women did not benefit from routine health checkup in relation to cervical and breast cancer screening, respectively.

Conclusion

Promotion of routine health checkups could promote cancer screening among women across racial/ethnic groups, although specific racial/ethnic groups may require additional support.

     

The Crisis of Sickle Cell Disease in Africa from Insights into Primary Prevention in Ghana and Nigeria: Notes from the Field

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited blood disorder, impacts 2% of newborns in Nigeria and Ghana. Despite devastating health consequences, SCD...     

Comparing Lichtenstein with darning for inguinal hernia repair in an African population

Purpose

Being a relatively new entrant into our practice, mesh repair has not been compared with previously existing tissue-based techniques in our setting. This study is set out to compare darning with Lichtenstein technique of inguinal hernia repair in terms of frequency of post-operative complications, recovery and cost.

Method

Patients with uncomplicated, primary inguinal hernia were randomized to have their hernias repaired either by the Lichtenstein or darning technique. Details of their socio-demographic, hernia characteristics and intra-operative findings were recorded. Postoperatively patients were assessed for pain, wound site complications and recurrence. Both direct and indirect costs were calculated. Mean duration of follow-up was 7.5 months.

Result

Sixty-seven patients were studied. Thirty-three had Lichtenstein repair while 34 had darning repair. Lichtenstein repair was associated with less post-operative pain, less analgesic requirement, and shorter time of return to work activities, these were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). Frequency of post-operative complications was comparable in both groups with wound haematoma and scrotal oedema being the commonest. There was no recurrence in any of the groups. Total cost was comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

Lichtenstein is superior to darning in terms of post-operative recovery while both techniques are comparable in terms of frequency of early post-operative complications and total cost.

     

Herniorrhaphy: an unusual cause of ureteral injury in Nigeria

Herniorrhaphy is a common surgery worldwide. Common complications include hemorrhage, infection, chronic pain, and recurrence. Ureteric injury from herniorrhaphy is unusual. We present a case of ureteric injury complicating an inguinal herniorrhaphy for a huge right inguino‐scrotal hernia. Patient had primary uretero‐neocystostomy but died from septicemia in the postoperative period.     

One-Stage Urethroplasty for Urethral Strictures at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, South Western Nigeria

Background

Urethral stricture, a common urologic condition, is probably the most common cause of urinary retention in tropical Africa and a frequent cause of lower urinary tract symptoms worldwide. This study aimed at presenting our experience with one-stage urethroplasty at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Osogbo, Nigeria.

Methods

All male patients who underwent one-stage urethroplasty between December 2005 and December 2011 were studied retrospectively. Details of their presentation and management were reviewed.

Results

A total of 50 patients aged 2–75 years (mean ± SD 44.2 ± 21.53 years) with a urethral stricture underwent one-stage urethroplasty. The modal age group was 61–75 years (26 %). In all, 27 (54 %) patients were >40 years. Strictures following previous urethritis were more common (29, 58 %) than those seen after trauma (21, 42 %). Strictures following trauma were more common in men ≤40 years (52.2 %), and 69 % of strictures in men >40 years were infective in origin. Altogether, 88 % of strictures were exclusively found in the anterior urethra. In all, 32 (64 %) patients had bacteriuria at presentation. Strictures ≥2 cm with extensive fibrosis were noted in 21 (42 %). Excision of scar tissue was done, followed by end-to-end anastomosis in 32 (64 %), penile pedicle flap in 16 (32 %), and buccal mucosal graft in 2 (4 %) of the patients. Wound infection was the most common complication. Overall, 76 % of patients achieved a urine flow rate of 15 ml/s and postvoid residual urine of ≤50 ml.

Conclusions

One-stage urethroplasty offered satisfactory results in the study group. It is recommended for urethral reconstruction in men with urethral stricture.