Complications associated with splenectomy in thalassemia

The study aims at investigating the complications associated with splenectomy in thalassemic patients It was a prospective clinical study. Sixty Splenectomies were preformed electively after pre-operative preparation in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore during the year Jan 2003 to Sep 2005. Complications were categorized into per-operative, early post-operative and late complications. The frequency of per-operative complications was 3%, early post-operative complications were 10% and late complications were 1.6%. The rate of complications has decreased markedly as the patients are well prepared and improved post operative carp has also reduced the post-operative complications. With good perioperative management, splenectomy in children with massive splenomegaly is both safe and effective

Outcome of pregnancies in diabetic mothers: a descriptive study

Data of 50 diabetic mothers and their new borns collected from two hospitals over a period of twelve months was studied. 23[46%] of the mothers had gestational diabetes; 17[34%] were in White's class B, and the rest were in classes A, C and D. Out of 50 newborns, 25[50%] of the newborns had macrosomia. Among macrosomic babies, 11 were from class B and 8 from gestational diabetics. Six new borns had hypoglycemia, six had hypocalcemia, seven were jaundiced, two babies had congenital malformations, whereas 6 died. In conclusion, most of the mothers had gestation diabetes but macrosomia and Caesarean section rate were higher in infants of class B mothers