Effectiveness of Foot Reflex Therapy in Post-Operative Pain among Patients Subjected to Major Abdominal Surgery

Most patients experience post–operative pain and it is unavoidable. It is the duty of the nurses to ensure that patients' pain is assessed and managed effectively when they are at the hospital. Foot reflex therapy is one effective way nurses can adopt to manage the patient with pain after surgery. We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of foot reflex therapy on post-operative pain in patients who are subjected to major abdominal surgery. METHODSThis is a descriptive randomized control study that was conducted at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Hospital, among 360 patients who underwent major abdominal surgery. They were equally divided into two groups as control and study groups and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTSMajority of the patients in the study group showed a positive effect on pain control during 4th and 5th [ (Mean: 1.27 with SD: 1.12) (Mean: 0.03with SD: 0.32) at p < 0.001] post-operative day following foot reflex therapy. CONCLUSIONSThe existing pain and the post-operative pain can be managed by nurses, patients, their care takers or families together, whenever appropriate, in a multidisciplinary manner. Foot reflex therapy is one such alternative complementary therapy which the nurses can adopt to implement the techniques independently.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a tertiary-care teaching hospital

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is widely prevalent in the world especially in the developing countries. The common clinical presentation of this disease includes peptic and duodenal ulcer. A major post-infection complication of this disease is gastric carcinoma. The scope of this study was to determine the prevalence of active H. pylori infection in the local population by retrospective review of patient records, which can give a better picture of the current situation and estimate the at-risk population of gastric carcinoma. Objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in biopsy specimens obtained from upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed in dyspeptic patients in a tertiary-care hospital.Methods: The study was performed as a retrospective review of biopsy reports of 262 dyspeptic patients with previously unknown H. pylori status who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during the months of January 2018 to May 2018. Biopsy obtained from stomach was evaluated for the presence of H. pylori infection by Rapid Urease Test (RUT) or histopathological examination.Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients obtained from the above study was 44.7% and was found to be more common in males compared to females.Conclusions: H. pylori is a risk factor for gastric carcinoma. Determining the prevalence with early identification of active infections results in better treatment and post infection monitoring for malignancy.

Uterus didelphys with fibroid uterus and ovarian cyst--rare Muellerian malformation.

Persistent Muellerian duct syndrome is a very rare anomaly. A woman of 46-year-old was admitted with the history of lower abdominal pain, bleeding per vaginum and irregular menstrual cycles for last 6 months. An irregular non-tender mass of 16 x 10cm in size was palpable in suprapubic region. Per vaginal examination revealed two cervices and an incomplete vaginal septum. Ultrasound abdomen showed one uterus with endometrial cavity clearly delineated with a fibroid and an ovarian cyst in the left lumbar region. On laparotomy, 2 uterii along with a fibroid from the anterior wall of left uterus and a left ovarian cyst was seen. Patient had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and adnexa removal. The specimen showed florid adenomyosis with leiomyoma of fibroid.