Electrocardiographic Changes during Oesophagogastroscopy

Background: Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) should be very safe, but there are many potential hazards,although the rate of serious complications is small. There are so many complications that can arise during this procedure.Most of these complications involve the respiratory or cardiovascular systems, especially in sick or sedated patients.The aim of this study was to determine the various electrocardiographic changes that can occur at different stages of diagnostic EGD and to determine their severity.Materials and Methods: The study is a descriptive one which was carried out at the endoscopy unit of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, (LAUTECH), Osogbo, Osun State. Consecutive patients who were referred for oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) over a 3-month period and who consented to take part in the study were recruited. The electrodes of a portable electrocardiographic (ECG) machine (model Cardiovit AT_1ECG Machine) were attached to the patients accordingly and remained fixed till the end of the procedure. ECG recordings were done at baseline, postpremedication, during intubation and 5 minutes postprocedure. The results of the study were analyzed using simple descriptive statistical methods such as range, mean and standard deviation for continuous variables, and numbers and percentages for discreet variables.Results: Twenty-six (26) patients were studied, comprising 14 (53.8%) males and 12 (46.2%) females. The mean age of the patients was 47.19 ± 14.42 years. Three (11.5%) patients had tachycardia at the beginning of the procedure, while 13 (50%) patients developed tachycardia postpremedication and during the procedure, whereas 17 (65.4%) patients had tachycardia at the end of the procedure. Only one patient had bradycardia. Various ST-T wave abnormalities were observed at each stage of the procedure. Conduction abnormality was observed in 8 (30.8%), 9 (34.6%), 7 (26.9%) and 5 (19.2%) patients at rest, post-premedication, during the procedure and postprocedure respectively. Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) were observed in 4 (15.4%), 5 (19.2%), 4 (15.4%), and 4 (15.4%) patients at rest, postpremedication,during the procedure and post procedure respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown that, although ECG abnormalities do occur during EGD, these abnormalities are not severe enough to warrant specific interventions or discontinuation of the procedure

Prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in a population of students of tertiary institution in Nigeria

Objective: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); hepatitis B virus; and hepatitis C viruses (HCV) are major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. They are also among the commonest transfusiontransmissible infectious agents. Students of higher institutions are often used as voluntary unpaid donors by many hospitals in Nigeria. In this study; the prevalence of HIV and HCV and HBsAg is determined in a population of students attending Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in south west Nigeria; to provide background information on the burden of these infections in this population. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were obtained from students of the Pre-degree Science programme of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology; Ogbomosho and tested for antibodies to HIV; HCV and HBsAg using the ELISA procedure. Results: The prevalence rates of antibodies to HIV and HCV in the student population were 0and 4.8; respectively and that of HBsAg was 9.5. Conclusion: The findings of this study which showed that the prevalence of antibodies to HIV and of HBsAg in this group of students is somewhat similar to those carried out in similar populations. This strongly suggests that the viral burden amongst this population of students is similar and that probably similar factors (demographic) are responsible for maintaining this level of viral load. Further studies would be needed to elucidate the reasons why this is the case. Also it would be necessary to reemphasize the methods of prevention of transmission of these viruses; and to ensure their implementation in order to reduce the viral levels and therefore avoid the long term sequalae

Prediction of functional capacity during six-minute walk among patients with chronic heart failure

Formulae for predicting functional capacity during 6-minue walk are lacking and the accuracy of the existing formulae has been challenged in deferent populations. The purpose of this study was to develop an equation that would be useful in predicting functional capacity in form of maximum oxygen consumption) (V0 ) in Chronic Heart Failure Patients (CHF) during exercise. Sixty-five subjects were recruited for the study. The procedure required the subjects to walk on a self paced speed on a 20 meter marked level ground for 6 minutes. The distance covered in 6 minutes was measured and the speed calculated. The result showed that the distance covered was highly correlated with the VO2 (0.65; p 0.01). The regression analysis revealed that a linear equation model developed was a good predictor ofV0 for the group. The study concluded that in situation where sophisticated equipments are lacking; this equation might be useful during exercise supervision for patients withCHF. [VO2 (ml kg-1 min-1)

Burden of obesity in essential hypertension: pattern and prevalence

Obesity continues to be an epidemic worldwide. There also continues to be a relationship between obesity and hypertension both causal and consequentially. The study aims at determining the prevalence and pattern of overweight and obesity among our patients being managed for essential hypertension.The study was a cross sectional study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with essential hypertension were recruited from two university teaching hospitals in the SouthWest of Nigeria. Demographic data such as age, gender, weight and height were obtained from patients at recruitment. Patients with congestive heart failure, secondary hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and other chronic diseases were excluded. Pregnant women were also excluded. Obesity was defined according toWHOclassification.Statistical analysis was done by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 11.0.One thousand one hundred and two (1102) consecutive hypertensive patients were recruited. Two hundred and eighty six (286) were dropped due to evidence of overt heart failure (98) and chronic kidney disease and others (188).There were (420) males (51.5%) and 396 females (48.5%), mean age 54.97 (±13.14) years. (Range 10-91).7.6% (62) were underweight (36 males, 26 Females): 260 (31.9%) were overweight, consisting of 148 males and 112 females: 135 (16.5%) had mild obesity consisting of 48 males and 87 females: 43(5.3%) had moderate obesity with 15 males and 28 females while 30 (3.7%) had severe obesity (consisting of 22 females).About two thirds of the hypertensive patients seen in two teaching hospitals in the SouthWest of Nigeria in this study were either overweight or obese. Therefore lifestyle modification geared toward weight reduction should be emphasized in these patients