Survival and recurrence after hepatic resection in cirrhotic patients

Although hepatic resection is one of the most effective treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], the long term results of hepatic resection of this malignancy are far from satisfactory. The potential benefits of hepatectomy for patients with HCC have not been fully delineated. This study aimed to identify surgical outcomes of 18 consecutive cirrhotic patients with HCC undergoing hepatic resection. 18 patients with cirrhotic liver underwent hepatic resection between March 2002 and January 2007. We had 14 men and 4 women. The mean age was 55 years with a range between 42 and 67 years. The 30-day [operative] mortality rate was one case [5.5%] and there was one additional late death [5.5%]. Ten patients [62.5%] had recurrence after curative resection. Major hepatectomy was performed in 14 patients [77%] and the other 4 [22%] had minor hepatectomy In our study, the overall survival of patients after 3 years was 43.75% while the disease-free survival was 37.5%. The survival rate after operation remains unsatisfactory mainly because of the high recurrence rate. The improved care of cirrhotic patients, early detection and effective treatment of recurrent HCC may play an important role in achieving better prognosis and survival after operation

Correlation between glycaemic state and microalbuminuria in type I [insul independent] diabetics with incipient nephropathy

To evaluate the relationship between the glycemic state and the microalbuminuria in type I insulin-dependent diabetics with incipient nephropathy, 28 type I diabetic patients without clinical proteinuria and/or retinopathy were selected. Glycemic state was determined by measurement of glycated hemoglobin [HbA1] by an ion exchange chromatographic method. Microalbuminuria was measured by RIA. An association between the level of HbA1 and the microalbuminuria has been demonstrated in the present study, HbA1 was positively correlated to the level of microalbuminuria. These observations suggested that poor glycemic control is an important contributing factor in the development of incipient phase of diabetic nephropathy in type I insulin dependent diabetics

Accidental poisoning of children in Erbil province

This Is a retrospective study of 541 children with accidental poisoning admitted to Erbil Children Hospital in 1986, 448 children [82.8%] were between 1 and 5 years of age. Kerosine poisoning was the commonest [296 cases, 54.7%] followed by food poisoning [123 cases, 22.7%] and drugs and chemicals poisoning [122 cases, 22.6%] The male to female ratio was 1.5. The period of hospitalization was longer in cases of kerosine poisoning than in the others. The mortality rate was 2/541 [0.3%]. 364 cases [67.3%] were discharged with no complications and 175 [32.3%] took their own discharge. No seasonal variation was observed In kerosine poisoning, but 61% of food Poisoning and 34.5% of drug poisoning occurred in the summer