Surgical manifestations and management of ascariasis in Kashmir.

Amongst 876 cases suffering from ascariasis 662 cases were managed conservatively and 214 cases were treated by surgery. Surgical complications were found to be more common in males in the age group of 6-10 years. Principal clinical features included pain abdomen (99.54%), constipation (80.25%), vomiting (67.46%), abdominal distension (47.03%), palpable worm masses in abdomen (35.50%), visible peristalsis (27.63%), worms in vomitus (24.20%) and palpable worm clumps on rectal examination (20.09%). Principal clinical diagnosis were worm colics (48.74%), sub-acute intestinal obstruction (27.74%), acute intestinal obstruction (11.42%) and acute intestinal obstruction with strangulation (5.71%); rest of the cases included worm cholecystitis (2.63%), obstructive jaundice (1.71%), bile peritonitis (0.91%), intestinal perforation (0.68%) and acute appendicitis (0.46%). Surgical procedures performed were milking of worms (34.12%), resection anastomosis of small intestine (23.36%), enterotomy with removal of worms (16.36%), cholecystectomy with T-tube drainage (12.15%), cholecystectomy (8.41%), appendectomy (1.87%), resection anastomosis with excision of Meckel's diverticulum (1.40%), repair of intestinal perforation with peritoneal toilet (1.40%) and cholecystectomy with choledochoduodenostomy (0.93%). In surgically managed patients 35 cases died of septicaemia and in conservatively managed cases 3 died of encephalitis with an overall mortality of 4.34%.

Primary ascaridial perforations of small intestine and Meckel's diverticulum.

The clinical presentation of six cases with primary ascaridial perforations of the terminal ileum (4 cases) and Meckel's diverticulum (2 cases), without any associated underlying intestinal disease, is described. All the cases presented clinically as peritonitis and had worm masses in the intestinal lumen with maximal impaction in the terminal ileum. Ileal perforations were surgically closed in two layers after removal of the worms. Diverticulectomy after removal of the worms was performed for Meckelian diverticular perforations. Peritoneal toilet was done in all the cases. Pressure necrosis from the impacted worm masses probably resulted in these perforations.

Serum sialic acid levels in healthy individuals.

Serum sialic acid values, estimated by thiobarbituric acid method of Warren as modified by Saifer and Gerstenfeld in 50 normal healthy persons of both sexes are reported. The average values were 68.47 +/- 4.85 mg% and 67.77 +/- 7.87 mg% for males and females respectively and for both sexes the value was 68.12 +/- 6.70 mg%. Age and sex have no influence on sialic acid levels in serum.

Biliary ascariasis.

The clinical presentation of 12 cases with biliary ascariasis is reported. Ultrasonography was employed to demonstrate worms in the gallbladder and common bile duct preoperatively. Ten cases were operated upon and operative findings were compared to assess the accuracy of sonography in biliary ascariasis. Our results show that ultrasonography can be relied upon for the demonstration of biliary tract ascariasis.