Changing spectrum of gallstone disease: an experience of 23 cases less than 10 years of age

An overall increase in the incidence of paediatric cholelithiasis forms the basis of this study, which aims to investigate the overall changing clinical pattern of cholelithiasis. This is a retrospective observational descriptive study including twenty three [23] patients with gallstones admitted and operated during June 2006-June 2008 in surgical department of a teaching hospital. All the patients with sonological evidence of gallstones, less than 10 years of age with history of acute or chronic abdominal symptoms are included in the study population. After admission all the subjects were investigated and finally operated by open approach [21 patients] during the same admission. The details of all the patients were recorded on a proforma and statistical analysis done on SPSS version 12. Of the total study population, there were 19 [82.6%] males and 4 [17.39%] females with a mean age of 7 years and a range of 4-10 years. Ultrasound revealed gallstones in all the patients with a varying proportion of the walls of gallbladder. The commonest presentation was abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, which was vague, and of mild to moderate intensity. In 21 [91.30%] patients, no specific underlying cause was found while two patients [8.6%] had haematological disorder as underlying cause for the gallstones. This study indicates an alarming increase in the incidence of idiopathic gallstones in children less than 10 years of age with a distinct male predominance

Transurethral resection of prostate versus open prostatectomy

A study on 150 cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy was carried out from January, 1990 to December, 1992 at the Urology Department of Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro to compare the results of two operative procedures viz. TURP [75 cases] and open prostatectomy [75 cases]. The ages of the patients ranged from 50 to 100 years with maximum incidence [86.67%] between 50 to 70 years. Ninety five [63.33%] cases presented with urinary retention. Secondary haemorrhage seen in 10 [13.33%] cases of TURP and 15 [20%] cases of open prostatectomy and transient incontinence in 12% cases in TURP and 22.67% cases in open prostatectomy were the most common complications encountered. Wound infection [28%] and urinary leakage [6.67%] were only seen in open procedures. The average hospital stay with TURP was 8.3 days as compared to 22.4 days in open prostatectomy

Breast cancer: epidemiological, pathological and clinical presentation

Out of the 100 patients studied breast cancer was seen in 99 females, mostly [63%] in the age growth of 31-50 years, and one male. A lump was palpable in all women with involvement of left breast in 56% cases. Majority of the women [90.90%] were married, parous [84.84%] and had breast fed [80.80%] their children. Awareness regarding breast cancer is increasing as is evident by the earlier presentation i.e. in stage-I [35%] and stage-II [44%]. On histopathology invasive duct cell carcinoma [72%] was the commonest type of breast cancer seen in this study

Transurethral resection versus open prostatectomy

A study of 150 cases of enlarged prostate has been carried out from January 1990 to December 1992 at the Urology Department of Liaquat Medical College Jamshoro. Age range was 50 to 100 years, 86.6% of patients presented between 50 to 70 years. Majority of them presented with retained catheter. Seventy five patients underwent TURP and the same number of patients underwent open prostatectomy. Comparison has been made regarding complications and hospital stay between the two procedures. Secondary haemorrhage seen in 13.3% [10 cases] in TURP and 20% [15 cases] in open prostatectomy and transient incontinence 12.05% [9 cases] in TURP and 22.7% [17 cases] in open prostatectomy were the common complications found in both procedures. Wound infection 28.0% [21 cases] and urinary leakage 6.7% [5 cases] were the complications seen only in open procedures. The average hospital stay with TURP was 8.3 days as compared to open prostatectomy 22.4 days