Neonatal Surgical Emergencies in a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Congenital anomalies those are incompatible with life unless they are corrected. They constitute the primary justification for pediatric surgery specialty because they demand experienced judgment in early diagnosis, expeditious management as well as highly refined operative technique and post-operative care. Materials and Methods: The clinical material in the present study consists of 124 neonates admitted to pediatric surgical ward of Medical College hospital, Jabalpur from 1st January 2011 to 31st July 2012. Results: Incidence of neonatal surgical emergency was 12.3% among all pediatric surgical admission, i.e. 124 cases in 1007 admissions. The most common neonatal emergency was constituted by gastrointestinal group observed in 49.1% cases. Next in order of frequency was skin defect, i.e., in 25.8% cases followed by respiratory emergency observed in 13.7% cases. Anorectal malformation was the most common cause of gastrointestinal emergency (63.5%). Out of total 35 cases gastrostomy alone was performed in 2 cases, gastrostomy along with ligation and division of trachea-esophageal fistula was performed in 1 case. Transverse colostomy alone in 26 (74.2%) cases and along with gastrostomy in 1 case. Ileostomy and nephrostomy were performed in 1 case each. Ligation and division of tracheoesophageal fistula and end to end anastomosis was done in 5 cases, in which general condition, of patient was good. Excision and repair of meningomyelocele and meningoencephalocele was possible only in 9 (45%) cases out of 20 cases. The mortality in surgical treated patients was (30%), i.e., 27 out of 90 patient treated surgically. Conclusion: There is a need to improve on neonatal surgical diagnosis and care at both primary and secondary health facilities to promote early referral of neonates to these centers. Skilled and dedicated staff with improved infrastructural facilities such as ventilators, a specialized neonatal surgeon, and operating theater and intensive care unit (NICU) will greatly minimize complex problems.

Lymphatic filariasis in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh.

As per earlier reports only Ratanpur PHC of the district Bilaspur of Chattisgarh was endemic for filariasis. During the present survey microfilaria infection and disease manifestations were detected in two more PHCs namely Bilha and Bilaspur. 3426 Night blood smears were collected from 24 randomly selected localities (13 rural and 11 urban) covering 25% known endemic areas and 75% reportedly non-endemic areas. Sample size was calculated taking 12% prevalence rate using standard statistical formula. Sixty-two indigenous residents (mf rate 1.80%) were found positive for W. bancrofti infection. Males (2.17%) were more affected than females (1.19%). The mf carriers were 2.05% in rural and 1.45% in urban communities, which indicates that lymphatic filariasis is prevalent in rural areas also. The mean mf density was 5.06. No infective or infected mosquitoes could be detected in Culex quinquefasciatus (544 nos.), M. annulifera (13 nos.) and M. uniformis (2 nos.). Comparing the earlier studies, in Bilaspur district the infection has been showing a declining trend and Brugia malayi infection has disappeared.

Quality of life after peptic perforation.

AIM OF STUDY: Quality of life (QOL) as outcome during treatment of acid peptic disease has been studied, but, peptic perforation, which is the commonest complication of acid peptic disease, has not been studied in the light of QOL outcome. The present-study addresses the important issue of QOL after peptic perforations. METHODS: This prospective study was carried on 51 adult consecutive survivors of peptic perforation managed in Gastrointestinal Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, Government NSCB Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur (MP) India. These underwent exploratory laparotomy with repair of perforation, and subsequently were discharged on anti-ulcer therapy (Pantoprazole 40 mg once a day) for 6 weeks. The instrument chosen to study their QOL was gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI). Patients were assessed before they underwent surgery and 3 months and 6 months after operation. RESULTS: The overall GIQLI score (t = 20.1, p < 0.00 at 3 months; t = 8.2, p < 0.001 at 6 months) as well as its G I core (t = 14.5, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 7.3, p < 0.001 at 6 months), G I disease specific (t = 12.9, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 2.6, p < 0.02 at 6 months), psychological (t = 15.4, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 3.5, p < 0.001 at 6 months) and physical and social components (t = 10.9, p < 0.001 at 3 months; t = 4.2, p < 0.001 at 6 months) significantly increased over 3 and 6 months of follow-up, reflecting improvement in quality of life as perceived by the patients. Variations in the pattern of recovery, based on age and gender were not seen in the present study. CONCLUSION: Peptic perforation does not result in any long lasting impairment of QOL and the QOL improves to near normal in 6 months time after the perforation.

A simplified prognostic scoring system for peptic ulcer perforation in developing countries.

BACKGROUND: Several complex prognostic scoring systems are available for abdominal sepsis. We constructed and assessed a simplified scoring system for peptic perforation, which can be easily used in developing countries. METHODS: One hundred and forty consecutive patients with perforated pre-pyloric or duodenal ulcer undergoing Graham's patch omentopexy closure were studied prospectively. Each factor was given a score based on its severity in accordance with the APACHE-II scoring system to construct the simplified prognostic (Jabalpur) scoring system, and multiple regression analysis was used to identify risk factors. This system was prospectively validated in the next 50 consecutive patients and compared to existing systems. RESULTS: The factors associated with mortality were age, presence of co-morbid illness, perforation-to-operation interval, preoperative shock, heart rate, and serum creatinine. The mean score in survivors (4.9) was less than that in those who died (12.5; p<0.0001). This scoring system compared favorably with other scoring systems. CONCLUSIONS: The Jabalpur scoring system is effective for prognostication in cases of peptic perforation. It is simple and user-friendly as it uses only six routinely documented clinical risk factors.

Correlation of trauma scoring systems with abdominal septic complications in abdominal trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Anatomical trauma scoring systems can predict the occurrence of postoperative abdominal septic complications (ASC) after major abdominal trauma; however, this has not been validated in any Indian study. We attempted such an evaluation in patients attending a teaching hospital in central India. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of data from 169 patients who had undergone emergency laparotomy for penetrating or blunt abdominal injury between August 1996 and July 2001 was done. Every patient was scored using three trauma severity indices and the occurrence of ASC was identified. RESULTS: Patients who developed ASC had higher trauma severity scores than those who did not. Thirty-eight patients had isolated small bowel injury; trauma scores underestimated the occurrence of ASC in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma severity indices may serve as useful tools to predict the occurrence of postoperative ASC in patients with abdominal trauma, except in those with isolated small bowel injury. There is thus a need to modify the weight of small bowel injury in these scoring systems.

Surgical anatomy of retrohepatic inferior vena cava and hepatic veins: a quantitative assessment.

BACKGROUND: Accurate knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) and hepatic veins is necessary for hepatic surgery. METHODS: Lengths of different segments of retrohepatic IVC and their diameters, and prevalence of various types of ramification and lengths of different hepatic veins, were noted in 100 disease-free human livers during autopsy. RESULTS: The mean lengths of the IVC from entry into atrium to diaphragmatic hiatus, from the hiatus to the upper margin of right hepatic vein, between the upper margins of the right hepatic vein and the right suprarenal vein, from right suprarenal vein to the lowermost dorsal hepatic vein, and from the lower-most dorsal hepatic vein to the right renal vein were 29.1 mm, 8.6 mm, 40.6 mm, 28.6 mm and 33.7 mm, respectively. The mean diameter of IVC at the diaphragmatic level was 30.1 mm. The commonest ramification pattern of the hepatic veins was type I (82%) for the right hepatic vein, type II (63%) for the middle and left hepatic veins, and type II (55%) for the caudate veins. In 96% of cases the middle and left hepatic veins formed a common trunk. In a majority of cases, the diameters of the right and left hepatic veins were between 7 mm and 12 mm. No gender differences were found. CONCLUSION: This study provides an anatomical perspective for various hepatic surgical techniques.

Dengue/DHF: an emerging disease in India.

Dengue/DHF is an emergent disease in India and some parts of country are endemic and periodically contributing annual outbreaks of dengue/DHF. Dengue infection manifests as undifferentiated fever, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) which leads to hospitalization large number of people in a localized area. There is high mortality and morbidity associated with the onset of each dengue outbreak leading to great socio-economic impact. The prevention and control of dengue outbreak depends upon the proper monitoring of the disease case through disease surveillance so as to ensure timely management of cases. Vector surveillance helps in the proper and timely implementation of emergency control measures against dengue vector i.e. Aedes aegypti. There is an urgent need for an effective diagnostic strategy for early diagnosis to shorten the illness duration, hospitalization time and the associated complications.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia "occulta".

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia usually presents with cyanotic attacks, dyspnoea and dextrocardia, a typical triad which is almost considered pathognomonic. The case records of 10 patients (out of a total of 20) of congenital diaphragmatic hernia presenting beyond the neonatal period were reviewed retrospectively. Age and symptoms at presentation and signs elicited were paid special attention. All the patients underwent operative repair of hernia under general anaesthesia. Given below is an explanation for such a high incidence of late presentation in our series. This nomenclature (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia "Occulta") will help clinicians in remembering this entity if and when such patients present to the clinicians.

Hypertonic saline enema in gastrointestinal ascariasis.

Many dangerous surgical complications like intestinal obstruction, acute appendicitis with perforation, ileal perforation in a typhoid patient, Meckel's diverticulitis, disruption of post operative intestinal anastomosis, volvulus, and intussusception are known to occur due to ascariasis, with considerable morbidity and mortality. In this retrospective study of 250 cases of gastrointestinal ascariasis admitted in paediatric surgical wards of Govt. Medical College, Jabalpur (MP), the authors analysed the results of conservative (especially the use of hypertonic saline enema-given just like an ordinary soap water enema but substituting freshly made hypertonic saline in place of soap water) and surgical treatment. The success rate of conservative treatment was 95.6%. Hypertonic saline passes through the incompetent ileo-caecal valve (present in 80% of children) and irritates the worm bolus commonly situated in the terminal ileum, causing it to disintegrate. It also helps to increase the intestinal motility and passage of worms into the colon. The use of hypertonic saline enema is safe and effective in the conservative treatment of gastrointestinal ascariasis. Authors feel that it is the most grossly under utilized part of conservative treatment and deserves to be known and used on wider scale.

Is prognostication in congenital diaphragmatic hernia possible without sophisticated investigations?

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a complex disorder, in which the anatomical defect is only one part of the spectrum of disease. Hypoplasia of lung complicated by pulmonary hypertension and right to left shunting results in serious hypoxemia. Many factors, based on degree of alterations in respiratory physiology and involving analysis of blood gases and acid base systems, have been used in an attempt to prognosticate the outcome. Majority of these investigations are not available in a modest set up like ours. The case records of all 20 patients admitted and operated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in pediatric surgery unit of Government Medical College Hospital, Jabalpur from 1978 to 1997 were reviewed retrospectively in an attempt to prognosticate without the sophisticated investigations. It was found that even in a very modestly equipped hospital it is possible to prognosticate--to some extent--the outcome in these cases. Major prognosticators found were APGAR score (if child born in hospital), late age of presentation, location of stomach and identification of hernial sac.

Arterial pH and arterial oxygenation are not essential for risk stratification in perforation peritonitis.

BACKGROUND: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) scoring system is widely used for assessing the severity of disease and prognostication in cases of perforation peritonitis. Investigations like arterial pH and oxygenation (PaO2), which are considered important in APACHE II, are not available in most hospitals. We therefore attempted to validate a modified APACHE II (without arterial pH and oxygenation) in cases of perforation peritonitis. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients with perforation peritonitis admitted in the general surgical ward were prospectively analyzed vis-a-vis risk factors and mortality according to the modified APACHE II. RESULTS: The mean modified APACHE II score of those who died was 15.3 (SD 5.7) as compared to 6.6 (4.7) (p < 0.001) in those who survived. As the score increased, mortality rate rose (p < 0.001). When the score was greater than 15, mortality was 88.9%; there was 100% mortality with score greater than 17. CONCLUSION: The modified APACHE II, excluding arterial pH and oxygenation, is simplified, reliable and objective for prediction of outcome in perforation peritonitis.

Some aspects of the bionomics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Rajahmundry town, Andhra Pradesh.

From January 1991 to December 1992 the adult and immature populations of Culex quinquefasciatus were monitored in selected localities of Rajahmundry town. The larval density per dip ranged from 1.1 in September to 25.3 in October and the pupal density from 1.2 to 8.4 in October. Two high peaks of adult density in a year were observed during the study. Infective mosquitoes were recorded only in November 1991 and August 1992. Cx. quinquefasciatus landing on human bait was maximum between 2200 to 2400 hours and they preferred to land on body site followed by legs, hands and face in that order. The anthropophilic index was 79.5 per cent. Ratio of Female: Male mosquitoes was 5:1.