Frequency of medical complications in hospitalized stroke patients at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur

Objective: To find out the frequency and nature of medical complications in hospitalized patients admitted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur with acute stroke

Study Design: Cross-sectional Study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Bahawal Victoria Hospital and Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur from July 2015 to September 2015

Materials and Methods: 98 patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria and gave informed consent were enlisted in the study. These patients were regularly observed for any post stroke medical complications after the clinical evaluation and CT scan plain brain until they were discharged from the hospital

Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.15 +/- 15.42. Most of the patients suffering from stroke were female [68.4 %] and belonged from rural population [73.5 %]. Most of them were suffering from ischemic stroke [66.3 %]. Specified medical complications included: Recurrent Stroke [29.6 %], Epileptic seizures [12. 2 %], Urinary tract infections [30. 6 %], respiratory tract infections [31. 6 %], bed sores [15.3 %], shoulder pain [10.2 %], depression [53.1 %], falls [13.3 %], Venous Thromboembolism [7.1 %]. A total of 14 patients [14.28 %] died during the hospital stay due to severe disease

Conclusion: This study established the post stroke medical complications mainly the pressure sores, pain and infection. As a complication, depression was also identified among the stroke patients. The disability and mortality can be minimized by early identification and treatment of these likely avertable complications

Strangulated internal hernia through falciform ligament: a rare cause of small bowel obstruction

Internal hernia through the falciform ligament is exceedingly rare. Preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult, therefore high index of suspicion is required. We report a case of 72 year old male who presented with discomfort in upper abdomen and episodic bilious vomiting. He later developed severe excruciating abdominal pain with generalized guarding. Exploratory laparotomy revealed strangulated internal hernia through the falciform ligament