A case series of cyclic vomiting syndrome in paediatric patients at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Cyclic vomiting syndrome is an increasingly recognized disorder with sudden, repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and physical exhaustion that occur with no apparent cause. It is more common in children than adults. However, we don't often see a diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome being made. Hereby we report 7 cases of cyclical vomiting.Methods: This is a retrospective study. Medical records of 5 years were review and consecutive paediatric patients discharged with a diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome were identified, data collected and analysed.Results: Total of 7 cases were found, all of which were adolescents. The mean age was 13.28. 57.14% (4) were females and 42.86% (3) were boys. 42.86% (3) presented with complications. 14.28% (1) had an association with menstrual cycles and 14.28% (1) had an association with psychological stress.Conclusions: Cyclic vomiting syndrome should be kept in mind when a child presents with multiple episodes of vomiting, especially when repeated admissions have been made for the same. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the quality of life.

Combined endothelial keratoplasty and clear lens extraction for corneal decompensation in irido-corneal endothelial syndrome.

A 38-year-old woman presented with corneal decompensation in left eye secondary to irido-corneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome. She underwent simultaneous Descemet’s stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) and clear lens extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. The surgery was accomplished comfortably without rupture of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS). 5 weeks postoperatively, the graft was a􀄴 ached, the cornea was clear and best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/400 to 20/30. DSEK combined with clear lens extraction appears to be an eff ective measure to treat corneal decompensation in patients with ICE syndrome. Associated lens extraction in such cases increases the working space in anterior chamber for DSEK, which minimizes the intra-operative graft manipulation. This also avoids a future diffi cult cataract surgery in the presence of PAS and an endothelial graft, which may increase the chances of graft survival.

Challenges in pediatric endothelial keratoplasty.

We performed endothelial keratoplasty (EK) in three eyes of two siblings (2.5 years, male and 3.5 years, female) with congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and report the intraoperative and postoperative difficulties. Repeated iris prolapse, apprehension of crystalline lens touch due to positive vitreous pressure, and need for frequent air injections to attach the graft were intraoperative challenges in all three eyes. These were addressed by use of Sheet’s glide instead of Busin’s glide during graft insertion and suturing of main and side ports before air injection. One eye had graft dislocation on second postoperative day due to eye rubbing by the child. Graft was repositioned with air and a venting incision was created. Postoperative examination required repeated general anesthesia. Corneal edema resolved completely in all three eyes. Present case series highlights the possible intraoperative and postoperative challenges and their solutions in pediatric EK for CHED.

Simultaneous bilensectomy and endothelial keratoplasty for angle-supported phakic intraocular lens-induced corneal decompensation.

A 40-year-old lady presented with severe endothelial cell loss in both eyes 14 years after angle-supported phakic intraocular lens (AS PIOL) implantation. The left eye had severe corneal edema with bullous keratopathy. The right eye had markedly reduced endothelial cell count (655 cells/mm2) although the cornea was clear. She underwent simultaneous bilensectomy (AS PIOL explantation and phacoemulsification) and Descemet's stripping and endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) in the left eye. Explanted AS PIOL was identified as ZSAL-4 (Morcher, Stuttgart, Germany) model. Corneal edema cleared completely in 2 months with a best corrected visual acuity (-2.25 D sph) of 20/60. No intervention was done in the right eye. The present case illustrates that AS PIOL-induced endothelial decompensation can be effectively managed by simultaneous bilensectomy and endothelial keratoplasty.

Voriconazole-refractory fungal infection of phacoemulsification tunnel.

A 44-year-old man presented 28 days after cataract surgery (phacoemulsification) in right eye with multiple pinpoint infiltrates in posterior stroma at cataract surgery wound site. Visual acuity was 20/60. Corneal scraping from the floor of the corneal tunnel revealed fungus which was later identified to be Aspergillus flavus. The patient was started on oral voriconazole 200 mg twice daily and topical voriconazole 1% every hour. Two intracameral injections of voriconazole (50 micrograms/ 0.1 ml) were given 72 h apart, five days after starting initial therapy. Infiltrates increased in size and density in spite of 20 days of voriconazole therapy. Full-thickness patch graft was done to arrest progressive necrosis. Four months after surgery, patient had 20/60 best-corrected visual acuity. There was no recurrence in one-year follow-up. Present case illustrates the therapeutic challenge in fungal tunnel infections and possibility of voriconazole-resistant Aspergillus species.