Indications and findings of colonoscopy in patients presenting to the endoscopy unit at Soba University Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan

The new endoscopy unit at Soba University Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan is an emerging unit, established in June 2003. In 2004 less than 200 colonoscopies were performed, the number rising to over 700 colonoscopies in 2009. The objectives of this study were to identify the common indications and findings in patients attending for colonoscopy and to study the correlation between patients' symptoms and significant endoscopic findings, mainly colonic polyps and colorectal cancer. All patients referred for colonoscopy were assessed prospectively by the study investigators and a questionnaire was filled with all relevant data including age, gender, indications for the procedure, clinical examination and endoscopic findings. A total of 123 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 46.7 years. Indications for colonoscopy included abdominal pain, altered bowel motions, rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia. Polyps were found in 15% of cases and colorectal cancer in 11%. Male gender, iron deficiency anaemia and a rectal mass on digital examination were all significant risk factors in predicting a positive diagnostic yield on colonoscopy. Patients presenting with iron deficiency anaemia and a rectal mass on digital examination should have a priority over others in undergoing a colonoscopy. Despite the fact that flexible sigmoidoscopy is a useful initial investigation when a delay is anticipated in doing a colonoscopy, cases with proximal colonic polyps and cancers can be missed. Performing a full colonoscopy should be the investigation of choice in symptomatic patients

Paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy: experience in a Sudanese university hospital

We investigated the indications for and findings of gastrointestinal [GI] endoscopy in all children

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: a retrospective study in qatar between 2000-2008

Emergency pericardium hysterectomy [EPH] is one of the most major life saving procedures in obstetrics performed to arrest bleeding associated with the uterine incision or placental implantation, or a laceration of major uterine vessels .placenta accrete, often in association with repeat cesarean delivery, and uterine atony are the most common indications today for cesarean or postpartum hysterectomy. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence, indication, risk factor and complication associated with emergency peripartum hysterectomy [EPH]. This study retrospectively including A review of medical record was undertaken on all cases of EPH that were performed at women's hospital in Doha-Qatar during period from 1st January 2000 to the end of December 2008. Study included maternal age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, previous obstetric history and medical history were recorded, indication and types of hysterectomy, complication of operation, pre and post operative value of hemoglobin, blood transfusion, duration of hospital stay, post operative complication and maternal morbidity and mortality. During the study period there were 115, 025 deliveries and, out of those, only 23 cases of EPH were performed. The overall incidence was 0.2 per 1,000 deliveries. The study covered 22 cases and one file was missed. There were 19 cases of multiparous and three cases of nuliparous women. The mean age of patients was [33 +/- 4.7 years][range27-42], the median parity was 4 [range 0-10] and the mean gestational age was [35 +/- 3.4] weeks [27-41], 22 cases were delivered by cesarean section ,19 cases [86.3%] were due to previous cesarean section and 3 [13.7%] were primary cesarean section. All patients required blood transfusion. Abnormal placentation due to repeated cesarean section was the main cause of EPH. In conclusion EPH is a life saving operation and it should be performed by an experienced obstetrician before patient's condition becomes extreme

Clinical presentation of epilepsy among adult Sudanese epileptic patients seen in Sheik, Mohamed Kheirs Friday epileptic clinic-Sudan

To study the pattern of clinical presentation of epilepsy among adult Sudanese epileptic patients. 120 patients with epilepsy were included in a prospective cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at Sheik Mohamed Kheir Friday Epileptic Clinic. May 2003- Oct 2006. Males were [54.15%] while females were [45.85%]. In 80 patients [67%] no cause was identified. Cerebrovascular accident was found to be the commonest risk factor, 24 patients [20%] had a family history of epilepsy. 103 patients had generalized epilepsy while 18 patients had focal epilepsy. The prodromal symptoms and neurological signs were common among patients with partial epilepsy. 78 patients [64.8%] showed abnormal EEG. 12 patients [10%] with generalize epilepsy had abnormal CT of the brain, while 50% of those who had focal epilepsy had abnormal CT of the brain. Generalized epilepsy is more common than partial epilepsy. Prodromal symptoms and neurological signs were common among patients with partial epilepsy. EEG and CT Brain play an important role in supporting the diagnosis of epilepsy