Surgery as a preferred modality of treatment for the patients of chronic anal fissure with sentinel piles

To find out the preferred modality of treatment by patients having chronic anal fissure with sentinel pile. Prospective, Observational Study. This study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Baish General Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from January 2008 to December 2011. Forty eight patients had chronic anal fissures associated with sentinel piles. They had been explained the multiple modalities of treatment available along with their advantages and disadvantages. Some patients preferred surgery as 1[st] line of treatment while others conservative. Lateral sphincterotomy associated with fissurectomy was the surgical procedure applied, while 0.2% GTN cream as conservative modality. Out of total 48 patients, 39 were treated by surgery [P=0.2]. Thirty two [Group-A] were treated by surgery as 1[st] line of treatment [P=0.2], while 7 [Group-C] as 2[nd] line after failure with 0.2% GTN cream [P>0.05]. Healing rate and patients' satisfaction were excellent. A total of sixteen patients [41.02%] developed different post-operative complications, out of which, one patient [2.56%] had marked bleeding. One [2.56%] had transient flatus incontinence. Eight [20.51%] suffered from severe pain treated by opiate-derivative analgesic. Six [15.38%] had urinary retention. A total of 16 patients [Group-B] were initially treated conservatively with 0.2% GTN cream [P>0.05]. Out of 16, nine [56.25%] were quite satisfied with conservative treatment, while seven [43.75%] had failure and switched to surgery as 2[nd] line of treatment. None of the modality of treatment is without complications. Lateral sphincterotomy associated with fissurectomy is an effective treatment and gives patients a sense of satisfaction to the patient to get rid of sentinel pile

Gerd symptoms and body mass index: a study in outpatients of Abbasi Shaheed hospital

This study aimed to determine the association between GERD [Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease] symptoms and Body Mass Index [BMI] in the outpatients of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi from December 2008 to March 2009. By convenient sampling method, 200 outpatients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study, visiting the hospital with symptoms of epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, acid regurgitation, heart burn, burping, belching, and feeling of wind. A questionnaire was filled, which contained patient's demographic profile, information on the frequency of all GERD symptoms and severity of main GERD symptoms. History of smoking, alcohol, drugs or any illness were also inquired and noted. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version 16. Among 200 outpatients, 65% were females and 35% were male. Mean age was 38.4 years. Nausea was complained in 87%, epigastric pain in 66%, acid regurgitation in 66% and heart burning in 64% of patients. The frequency of heartburn and acid regurgitation was seen once a week in 39% and 45% of patients respectively while severity of heartburn and acid regurgitation was found 25% and 33% of patients respectively and there relation with body mass index were found insignificant. Co-relation of body mass index was not associated with symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease i.e.: nausea [p=0.06], epigastric pain [p=0.658], acid regurgitation [p=0.935], heart burn [0.525]. Our study concludes that in our setting, the symptoms of GERD occur independently of body mass index. It seems that high BMI plays a more important role to cause symptoms of GERD among western population but not in Asian populations. However, further studies in Asian communities are also required in this regard