A Cross Sectional Study to Determine the Prevalence of Obesity in a Rural Area of Goa.

Background: Nowadays, obesity has become a chronic disorder affecting the larger population than any other disease in the world. It mostly affects the adult population but children and adolescents are also prone to develop obesity. This study designed to determine the prevalence of obesity in both the sexes in person aged 25 years and above.1 Materials and Methods: The present study had been undertaken in rural area of Goa (Mandur village), in which persons aged 25 years and above were interviewed. A house to house survey conducted. Systematic random sampling method was used for selection of houses. Predesigned structured questionnaire was used to record socio demographic profile. Anthropometric data regarding height, weight was also taken. The data was analyzed using SPSS 14 software. Result: The study showed that, 9.2% of the population was obese (6.04% in males and 11.93% in females.) 29.9% of the population had BMI >/= 25kg/m2, 24.20% and 34.66% among male and females respectively. 22.72% of females and 18.12% males were pre-obese. Conclusion: BMI plays a crucial role in its early detection as it is simple to calculate and can even detect the pre-obesity stage in time. Obesity being a chronic illness, early detection of it can prevent various complications associated with it.

A cross- sectional study to assess the prevalence & certain associated risk factors for postpartum depression in women in a tertiary care hospital.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication after delivery and may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare and may even progress to negative events. If diagnosed early it can be treated with support, medication etc. & prevented by screening for depression. The study was carried out to find the prevalence of postpartum depression in women and to identify & establish the associated risk factors involved. Methods: Cross sectional study on women in first week of postpartum period. Data was obtained by interviewing the mothers using a structured questionnaire, which included socio-demographic details. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to identify patients at risk for PPD. Questions were translated into Konkani according to local needs & validated by pilot study. Results: Study revealed 18.25% prevalence of PPD and significantly associated with relationship with In-laws, outcome of immediate previous & present delivery, neonatal complications in immediate previous pregnancy, which could be identified as potential risk factors. Conclusion: As postpartum depression can put the mother and child to certain risks, it is important that women are screened for PPD. Social support and interventions including counseling, various supportive interactions during the pregnancy can help in preventing PPD. This is an essential area of research that needs to be further developed in order to guide policy and clinical practice.

Leiomyosarcoma of inferior vein cava presenting as acute Budd-Chiari syndrome.

We report a 49-year-old lady who presented with acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. Spiral CT scan showed inferior vein cava (IVC) tumor and ischemia of the right liver secondary to hepatic vein blockage. These were confirmed by MRI scan and IVC gram, at which time tissue diagnosis was obtained. At surgery, the tumor was seen to originate from the infrahepatic IVC and extended to the level of the diaphragm, blocking the hepatic vein outflow. The tumor was excised completely. Histology confirmed it to be leiomyosarcoma of the IVC. The patient is well, without recurrence of symptoms or tumor, 10 months later.

Gastric angina secondary to acute thrombosis of celiac artery.

We report a 48-year-old woman with foregut ischemia with splenic infarct due to isolated celiac artery obstruction. The patient presented with acute-onset pain in the epigastrium 10-15 min after every meal. Investigations revealed obstruction of the celiac artery by artheromatous plaque. This patient had an acute thrombosis, which responded to anticoagulation.

Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma.

Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma are uncommon. Preoperative diagnosis of parotid tumour as schwannoma is difficult when facial nerve function is normal. A rare case of solitary schwannoma involving the upper branch of the facial nerve is described and the literature on the subject is reviewed.

Post traumatic lumbar hernia.

A lumbar hernia which had developed following blunt abdominopelvic trauma is described here. The successful surgical correction is reported.

Hemangiopericytoma of the kidney.

The diagnosis and management of a thirty year old male with a hemangiopericytoma of the kidney is reported.

Carcinoma in a fibroadenoma.

A carcinoma arising within a fibroadenoma is an unusual occurrence, with only a little over 100 reported cases. The purpose of this report is to increase the awareness of this entity and to discourage the practice of rendering a diagnosis on gross examination of the tumor. We are reporting a case with two distinct primary tumors within the same breast, one of which was arising within the fibroadenoma. Only two such cases have been previously reported.

Massive upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to direct visceral erosion of splenic artery aneurysm.

Six male patients (age group: 30-60 years) with aneurysm of the splenic artery presented with massive upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Five patients presented with hematemesis and one with melena. Chronic pancreatitis was noted in all the patients, four of whom were chronic alcoholics. Endoscopy was not useful in diagnosis. Bleeding through the Ampulla of Vater was seen in the patient with melena. Angiography was diagnostic in all. Pancreatic resection including the aneurysm(2), and bipolar ligation with underrunning of the aneurysm (3) were the operative procedures. Distal pancreatectomy with pancreatogastrostomy was carried out in the patient with hemosuccus pancreaticus. If endoscopy is inconclusive, angiography and early intervention is recommended to reduce the high mortality associated with conservative management.

Post-partum pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy and post-partum period, rarely encountered in surgical practice, can have a lethal effect on the mother and the foetus. We report here a case of a 35 year old tertigravida who presented with high grade fever, abdominal pain with distension, tachycardia and tachypnoea. Chest examination and X-rays were suggestive of pneumonia. The abdomen was tense and tender. Peristalsis was absent. Ultrasound revealed presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity which on paracentesis was found to contain Gram positive cocci. Fluid amylase levels were high. On exploratory laparotomy, haemorrhagic oedematous pancreatitis was noticed. The patient expired on the 2nd post operative day.

Gastric lipoma presenting as obstruction and hematemesis.

A rare case of gastric lipoma presented to us with hematemesis and symptoms of obstruction. On oesophagoduodenoscopy, a mass projecting in the lumen of stomach was found. Barium meal examination revealed a mass in the antral region suggestive of malignancy. The diagnosis of lipoma was suspected only after exploration. It was confirmed following incision through the serosa. The lipoma was enucleated without any damage to mucosa.

Primary extrapancreatic gastrinoma.

Extrapancreatic gastrinoma is a rare clinical entity encountered in surgical practice. A patient was referred to us who had a history of recurring symptoms of peptic ulcer disease and ulcer perforation located at an unusual site. Serum gastrin levels were abnormally high. Scopy revealed multiple ulcers in the antrum and duodenum. A mass superior to the head of the pancreas was detected on USG, which later on found to be a separate mass on CT scan. The tumour was excised and confirmed on histopathology. Results of conservative surgery were found to be satisfactory.

Cholescintigraphic detection of biliary leaks.

We report four cases in whom post-traumatic or post-surgical biliary leak was detected using dynamic 99mtechnetium-iminodiacetic acid (IDA) cholescintigraphy. This technique is a non-invasive, safe, simple and sensitive method of documenting the presence, location and extent of biliary leaks. Further, it can be repeated and hence, is useful in evaluating the response to treatment. Surgery is indicated when a moderate extravasation of labeled bile suggests that the leak is the chief pathway of bile drainage, with relatively little bile entering the intestine.

Fibromatosis of thyroid gland (a case report).

Fibromatosis of thyroid gland is a rare condition encountered in surgical practice. Clinically presenting as goitre, it is treated with near total thyroidectomy with good results. We had one such case under our care at the K.E.M. Hospital, Bombay. Rarity of this condition prompted us to publish the data, the literature is briefly reviewed.