Primary Renal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Native Polycystic Kidney and Ureter 16 Years After Living Donor Kidney Transplant.

We describe a case of a 55-year-old woman with polycystic kidney disease who received a living donor kidney transplant 16 years earlier and was on immunosuppressive therapy with satisfactory renal function. The donor was her mother. The patient presented with flank pain on the right side and macrohematuria, and noncontrast computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging led to the diagnosis of tumors in the remaining right native polycystic kidney and ureter, as well as secondary retroperitoneal dissemination. We performed right radical nephrectomy and ureterectomy with extirpation of 2 metastases; the left native kidney remained intact. Histology showed squamous metaplastic changes and invasive epithelial neoplasm in the lumen of the renal pelvis and ureter with extensive squamous differentiation positive for nuclear p63 as squamous cell immunohistochemical marker. After surgery, an immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone was administered, without calcineurin inhibitors and mycophenolate mofetil. Twelve months later the patient was still alive, with a glomerular filtration rate of 29 mL/min. Needs remain for further treatment modalities in patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma in nonfunctioning kidneys and improvements in imaging technique accuracy.

Common hydrotherapy practices and the prevalence of burn wound bacterial colonisation at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

BACKGROUND: In many parts of the world, hydrotherapy plays an important role in the management of patients with wounds including burns. Different centers practice hydrotherapy differently. At the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, burn patients use a common bathtub for cleaning their wounds which theoretically increases the risk of cross-infection, an important source of morbidity and mortality. There is currently no evidence that hydrotherapy as practiced at our institution leads to cross infection among patients with burns. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine if our hydrotherapy practice and water plays a role in cross-infection and what organisms cause this infection. METHODS: This was a prospective analytical study. Patients meeting the selection criteria were recruited. Swabs from the burn wounds were collected on admission (day 0), day 4 and day 7. Weekly swabs of the bathtub were also collected, after the tub had been cleaned and declared ready for the next patient. Weekly water samples were also collected. Selected results, for Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, were subjected to further analysis and PCR. Results were analyzed using statistics software, SPSS version 23. RESULTS: In this study, there were 96 participants of which 51 (53.1%) were males and 45 (46.9%) were females. Age distribution ranged from 5months to 91 years. The modal age range was 1 to 2 years. The modal burn percentage was 6%-10%, followed by 11%-15%. Hot water was the cause of burns in 65.6%. S. aureus and K. pneumoniae were the most common organisms isolated. Others were enteric organisms. In terms of readily available antibiotics, there was more sensitivity to Amikacin and Chloramphenicol than Ciprofloxacin (our commonly used antibiotic). The bathtub also had S. aureus and K. pneumoniae, besides enteric organisms. Sixty five point four percent (65.4%) of the Klebsiella were ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase) producers. The tub had samples that were both ESBL producers as well as widely resistant Klebsiella by other means. No growth was obtained from the water samples. Seventy-two point nine percent (72.9%) of the patients were discharged, 19.8% died, while 7.3% left against medical advice. CONCLUSION: Hydrotherapy as currently practiced at the University Teaching Hospital does contribute significantly to cross-infection among burn patients with widely resistant organisms. The main ones are S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Switching care to a shower mechanism might help eliminate this problem as the study demonstrates that no bacteria were found in the water samples.

Factors Affecting Burn Contracture Outcome in Developing Countries: A Review of 2506 Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Burn contractures hinder joint mobility, resulting in functional impairment and reduced quality of life. This is of greater significance in developing countries where there are fewer resources for assistance with such impairments. Contracture release reduces deformity, but multiple factors affect the extent of postsurgical improvements and outcomes. Elucidating these factors may enable surgeons to better care for burn patients. This study assesses factors that impact burn contracture resolution in developing nations. METHODS: A retrospective review of 2506 burn contractures was performed using information extracted from a large nongovernment organization (ReSurge International) database from Nepal, India, and Zambia. Data points included age, type of burn, time elapsed between injury and release, and extent of final release achieved based on preoperative and postoperative images of hand (n = 1960), elbow (n = 371), and knee (n = 176) contractures. Hand improvement was scored based on digit/wrist involvement (severity of dysfunction) and joint extension capability (functionality); elbow and knee improvement were calculated using preoperative and postoperative joint angles. Multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Hands burned by hot liquid had greater functionality after surgery than open-fire burns (P < 0.01). Improvement in severity of dysfunction and functionality were inversely correlated to age (P < 0.01) and time until surgery (P < 0.01). Elbow improvement decreased as age increased (P < 0.01). Postoperative increase of knee extension decreased for each year elapsed between injury and surgery (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Burn type, age when burned, and timing of surgery were significant factors affecting hand outcomes, whereas age affected elbow outcomes, and time elapsed until surgery affected knee results. An algorithm was formulated to enable physicians in developing countries with limited resources to triage patients and optimize patient outcomes.

Pediatric emergency and essential surgical care in Zambian hospitals: a nationwide study.

PURPOSE: Pediatric surgical care in developing countries is not well studied. We sought to identify the range of pediatric surgery available, the barriers to provision, and level of safety of surgery performed for the entire pediatric population in Zambia. METHODS: In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, we validated and adapted a World Health Organization instrument. During onsite visits, the availability of 32 emergency and essential surgical procedures relevant to children was surveyed. The availability of basic World Health Organization surgical safety criteria was determined. RESULTS: A single interviewer visited 103 (95%) of 108 surgical hospitals in Zambia and carried out 495 interviews. An average of 68% of the 32 emergency and essential surgical procedures was available (range 32%-100%). Lack of surgical skill was the primary reason for referral in 72% of procedure types, compared with 24%, 2% and 3% due to lack of equipment, supplies and anesthesia skills, respectively (p<0.001). Minimum pediatric surgical safety criteria were met by 14% of hospitals. CONCLUSION: The primary limitation to providing pediatric surgical care in Zambia is lack of surgical skills. Minimum safety standards were met by 14% of hospitals. Efforts to improve pediatric surgery should prioritize teaching surgical skills to expand access and providing safety training, equipment and supplies to increase safety.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery in Zambia: epidemiology of 16 years of practice.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of surgical conditions in developing countries is not well studied, but plastic and reconstructive surgery can play a significant role in meeting the need for surgical care. Knowledge of the conditions treated by a plastic surgeon in a low-income country would inform the development of surgical services. METHODS: The surgical log of the lead author from 1993 to 2008 was reviewed. The cases were performed in 33 surgical facilities in Zambia, and name, gender, age, diagnosis, procedure, and hospital were prospectively recorded. Data were analyzed for the number and distribution of cases and for patterns related to age and gender. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2008, 5,740 operations were performed, and complete data were available for 5,735 (99.9%) patients. There were 5,774 surgical diagnoses. Of these, 3,885 (67.2%) were acquired conditions. These included 1,985 (34.3%) burns, 514 (9.0%) keloids, 448 (7.8%) nonburn traumas, 410 (7.1%) deep tissue infections, and 343 (5.9%) tumors. The 1,889 (32.7%) congenital conditions included 1,322 (22.9%) craniofacial defects and 354 (6.1%) limb defects. Children accounted for 78.2% of burns. Trauma cases were predominantly male (273, 60.9%). Congenital conditions were repaired after 5 years of age in 355 (18.8%) cases. CONCLUSION: Based on a 16-year case log from one developing country, more than half of conditions related to plastic surgery comprised injuries and congenital anomalies. Age- and gender-related patterns were evident. These findings may inform the provision of resources for injury prevention, surgical training, and delivery of surgical services.

Burn injuries in eastern Zambia: impact of multidisciplinary teaching teams.

The American Burn Association/Children's Burn Foundation (ABA/CBF) sponsors teams who offer burn education to healthcare providers in Zambia, a sub-Saharan country. The goals of this study are 1) to acquire burn-patient demographics for the Eastern Province, Zambia and 2) to assess the early impact of the ABA/CBF-sponsored burn teams. This is a retrospective chart review of burn patients admitted in one mission hospital in Katete, Zambia, July 2002 to June 2009. July 2002 to December 2006 = data before ABA/CBF burn teams and January 2007 to June 2009 = burn care data during/after burn outreach. There were 510 burn patients hospitalized, male:female ratio 1.2:1. Average age = 15.6 years, with 44% younger than 5 years. Average TBSA burned = 11% and mean fatal TBSA = 25%. Average hospital length of stay = 16.9 days survivors and 11.6 days nonsurvivors. Most common mechanisms of burn injuries: flame (52%) and scald (41%). Ninety-two patients (18%) died and 23 (4.5%) left against medical advice. There were 191 (37.4%) patients who underwent 410 surgical procedures (range 1-13/patient). There were 138 (33.7%) sloughectomies, 118 (28.7%) skin grafts, 39 (9.5%) amputations, and 115 (28.1%) other procedures. Changes noted in the 2007 to 2009 time period: more patients had burn diagrams (48.6 vs 27.6%, P < .001), received analgesics (91 vs 84%, P = .05), resuscitation fluid (56 vs 49%, P = not significant [NS]), topical antimicrobials (40 vs 37%, P = NS), underwent skin grafting (35.5 vs 25.1%, P = NS), and underwent any operative intervention (40.6 vs 35.2%, P = NS), compared with patients treated between 2002 and 2006. This study represents the largest, most comprehensive burn data set for a sub-Saharan region in Africa. There has been a statistically significant improvement in documentation of burn size as well as administration of analgesics, validating the efficacy of the ABA/CBF-sponsored burn teams. Continued contact with burn teams may lead to increased use of resuscitation fluids, topical antimicrobials, and more patients undergoing operative intervention, translating into improved burn patient outcomes.

Seasonal variation and regional distribution of cleft lip and palate in Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess variations in seasonality and regional distribution of orofacial clefts in babies born in Zambia. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was done using records of all cleft procedures performed by the only plastic surgeon in Zambia (G.J.). Delivery data from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) were also examined to estimate the birth prevalence of orofacial clefts (55,108 live births between 2001 and 2005). PATIENTS: All cleft patients operated in Zambia from 2000 to 2006 (413 patients). RESULTS: A low birth prevalence of clefts (1/4239 live births) was found using UTH delivery data. Surgical data showed no difference for the frequency of one gender over another overall (M:F ratio is 1.04; p = .70). More bilateral clefts occurred in cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients than in cleft lip (CL) patients (p < .01), and more unilateral left-sided clefts occurred in CL than in CLP patients (p = .03). The data reflected seasonal variation in month of birth of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL+/-P) patients (p < .01), with a peak in April and May and more births in March through August (57.2%) than in September through February (42.8%). There was regional variation in cleft births among the nine Zambian provinces (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows seasonal variation in clefts that may be explained, at least in part, by environmental factors affecting the development of CL+/-P. Access to treatment is likely the major determinant of regional disparity in clefts. These results provide a basis for further epidemiological studies of orofacial clefts in Zambia.