ABSTRACT
Background: Urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing or loss of distensibility of any segment of the urethra surrounded by corpus spongiosum. In the last two decades, there has been a change in the pattern of aetiology of urethral stricture in urban centres in Nigeria with a shift away from post-infective strictures to the emergence of traumatic and iatrogenic causes.Objective: This study aims to present our observation of the occurrence of long-segment urethral strictures in patients after urethral catheter placement for various indications.Methodology: This is a descriptive, cross sectional report of patients who presented to and were managed at the Urology Unit of a tertiary hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Relevant information were retrieved from patients' case notes and the data was entered into a proforma and analysed using the SPSS 20 software.Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.4 ± 19.4 years, with a range of 11-80 years. Indications for urethral catheterization were acute urine retention 11 (43.8%), intra-operative urine output monitoring 9 (28.1%), following road traffic accident 10(31.2%), unconsciousness secondary to meningitis 1 (3.1%) and after urologic surgery 1 (3.1%). Urethral catheterization was carried out in peripheral hospitals in 19 (56.3%) patients; and from the hospitals operating room in 10 (31.2%), accident and emergency room 2 (6.3%) and trauma centre 1 (3.1%). Strictures were panurethral in 22 (68.75%), in the bulbar urethra in 6 (18.75%) and in the penile urethra 4 (12.5%). The length of strictures ranged from 1 cm to 20 cm. Treatments offered included substitution urethroplasty using oral mucosa grafts (OMG) urethroplasty 30 (93.8%), fasciocutaneous penile flap 1 (3.1%) and direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU)1 (3.1%). Satisfactory voiding was recorded in 28 (87.5%), voiding was unsatisfactory in 2 (6.3%), while one patient had stricture recurrence and another one is awaiting second stage repair.Conclusion: Urethral catheterization is an emerging cause of panurethral strictures in our practice and may occur even after relief of acute urine retention but more worrisome following short-term catheterization during surgery. There is need for evaluation of the quality of silicone-coated latex urethral catheters currently available
Subject(s)
Catheterization/complications , Latex Hypersensitivity , Nigeria , Urethral Stricture , Urinary CathetersABSTRACT
Adverse reaction to latex is a common problem among nurses and other health care workers. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of adverse reactions to latex amongst nurses at Mankweng Hospital. A cross sectional study was carried out amongst 235 nurses at Mankweng Hospital using a self-administered questionnaire to collect information about history of allergic reaction; family history; signs and symptoms of adverse reactions after using latex gloves. Among 155 nurses who responded to the questionnaire (66 response rate); 41 (26) had a family history of allergic reactions; with asthma as the commonest allergic condition reported. Fifty four respondents (n= 54; 35) reported having had signs and symptoms of adverse reaction after using latex gloves. The most common features associated with adverse reaction to latex gloves were sneezing (n=32; 21); itching nose (n=24; 16); itching eyes (n=21; 14); runny nose (n=18; 12); cough (n=16; 11); skin redness (n=13; 9); skin redness (n=13; 9); hives (n=12; 8); scratchy throat (n=9; 6); light headedness (n=10; 7) and swelling and rash in area(s) of contact (n=11; 7). There was significant association between family history and occurrence of adverse reaction to latex gloves (p=0.029). Accordingly; this study concludes that adverse reaction to latex gloves is prevalent among nurses at Mankweng Hospital; and poses the potential for harmful effects to nurses. These effects may vary in severity from skin problems to anaphylactic shock. It is therefore important to educate nurses about the prevalence; presentation and prevention of adverse reaction to latex