utility of sonography for blunt abdominal trauma patients

An optimal screening procedure for blunt abdominal trauma should be fast, accurate, portable, and easy to perform. Many believe that ultrasonography [US] meets these requirements. To evaluate the use of abdominal US for detection of organ injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and/or surgical follow-up as the standard of diagnosis. This prospective study was conducted from Jan 2007 to December 2007, at Alwahda Hospital, Derna-Libya. It included 56 patients [45 males and 11 females] with age ranging from 13 to 87 years; all were admitted for suspicion of blunt abdominal trauma. Patients were assessed clinically and followed within 30 min after admission by an abdominal sonography examination. Rigid abdomen was seen in 29 cases [51.8%], stap wound and pneumothorax in 9 [16.1%], tender abdomen in 8 [14.3%], polytraumatic in 7 [12.5%], abdominal blood collection in 1 [1.8%], gun shot in 1[1.8%] and blunt trauma in 1 [1.8%]. US showed that hem. perineum was seen in 26 cases [46.4%], multiple tear in 16 [28.6%], small tear in 10 [17.9%], laceration in 2 [3.6%], rupture spleen in 1 [1.8%] and not shown in 1 [1.8%]. As regard the outcome, 35 [62.5%] were discharged, 13 [23.2%] were complicated, and 8 [14.3%] were died. US is becoming the screening modality of choice in blunt abdominal trauma. US can help determine the need for surgical intervention within minutes of a patient's arrival. The rapidity, noninvasiveness, and portability of US are responsible for its increasing popularity

Cancer incidence and mortality in Derna and Kobba [Eastern Libyia] during 2003/2004

Cancer is a health problem worldwide. In 2020 WHO expects that 16 million people will develop cancer. To define the size of the cancer problem and the pattern of cancer occurrence in Eastern Libya [Derna and Kobba]. Data were collected from all pathological and hematological laboratories, from hospital located, from health offices and from death certificates. The primary site of malignancy and the morphology were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology. 142 cases, 80 [56.3%] were males and 62 [43.7%] were females. Status at last contact 93 [65.5%] were alive and 49 [34.5%] were dead. In men, the most frequent cancer site was the bladder [13.8% of cases], followed by either bone marrow or colon and rectum [10% of cases for each], head and neck and pancreas [7.6% of cases for each]. In women, the most frequent cancer were breast cancer [32.2% of cases], colon and rectum [12.8%], and lymph nodes and uterus [8.1% of cases for each]. To achieve a good and reliable cancer control system, it is essential to have reliable data on cancer patterns

study of colonoscopy procedure in Alwahda Derna Hospital from 2004 to 2006

Colonoscopy is currently the best diagnostic modality for evaluating colonic diseases but studies of its use in the very elderly are limited. To review the laparoscopic care at Alwahda Hospital, Derna Libya for the year 2004, to 2006. Retrospective analysis of 75 patients who underwent laparoscopy for recurrent small bowel obstruction from June 2004 to May 2006 was carried out. This study included 75 patients with age ranging from 19 to 84 years. They were 43 males representing 57.3% of cases and 32 were females, representing 42.7% of cases. The main complaint is bleeding representing 30.7% [23] of cases, constipation was found in 20 patients representing 25.7% of studied cases and abdominal pain in 15 cases [20%]. The commonest finding is colitis in 19 patients [25.3%], mass in 8 [10.7%], piles in 6 [8%]. Piles are the predominant complaint of bleeding. Males are more presented for colonoscopy than females except cases of abdominal pain. Adenocarcinoma represented 13.3% of the findindings of histopathological examinations, non-specific colitis represented 9.3%, piles represented 8%, ulcerative colitis and diverticulum represented 6.7% for each, Crohns disease represented 5.3%, hyperplastic, adenomatous polyps and IBD represented 2.7% for each. Laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment of recurrent small bowel obstruction is feasible, safe, and can be performed electively in selected cases. Laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of massive small intestinal bleeding is noninvasive with less pain, short recovery time and definite therapeutic efficacy