Anaesthesiology perspective on a multidisciplinary approach to optimal perioperative management of a patient with giant peptic ulcer perforation caused by the physiological stress of a thyroid storm necessitating emergent laparotomy.

Thyroid storm is a rare, fatal complication of thyrotoxicosis that necessitates aggressive medical treatment. We present a case of a patient who developed duodenal ulcer perforation as a result of a thyroid storm caused by Graves' thyrotoxicosis. In addition to life-threatening intra-abdominal sepsis complicated by high anion-gap metabolic acidosis, he was found to have severely deranged thyroid hormone levels and clinical features compatible with thyroid storm based on the Burch-Wartofsky Score. Diagnosis and management of such patients with compromised gastrointestinal (GI) tract present a remarkable clinical challenge to the anaesthetist and the intensivists. Multidisciplinary care with rapid preoperative optimisation, careful intraoperative anaesthetic techniques and postoperative care resulted in excellent outcomes. This case report sheds light on how to tailor general anaesthesia to minimise physiological derangement associated with thyroid storm and re-establish homeostasis in patients presenting for emergent surgery, particularly those with GI dysfunction.

Non-diabetic euglycaemic ketoacidosis and rapid weight loss in a post-traumatic surgical patient: is the outré preventable?

To highlight the implications of the metabolic stress response and the role of anaesthesia in attenuating its deleterious effects, we present this extremely rare case of non-diabetic euglycaemic ketoacidosis with rapid weight loss in a post-traumatic surgical patient. Ketoacidosis is the accumulation of ketone bodies in blood and is generally associated with relative or absolute insulin deficiency secondary to diabetes mellitus, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and extensive fasting. The stress of systemic disease, trauma or surgery in such predisposed patients could precipitate ketoacidosis. Our patient developed high anion gap metabolic acidosis intraoperatively due to ketosis, a potentially life-threatening complication, without any predisposing factors as a result of metabolic stress of major trauma and surgery. Aiding the interpretation, he lost 15 kg weight perioperatively, suggesting his body was in a hypercatabolic state. This report emphasises the value of anaesthetic techniques to prevent such rare complications.

Descriptive cross sectional study on prevalence, perceptions, predisposing factors and health seeking behaviour of women with stress urinary incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) leads to considerable physical and psychological morbidity. The highest prevalence reported was found in Caucasian Americans (range 23% -67%) and the lowest in Singaporean females (4.8%). The study assessed the prevalence, perceptions, predisposing factors and health seeking behaviour of women with SUI in an Asian setting which may have different sociocultural implications. METHODS: 400 consecutive women >20 years of age attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka, for non-urinary conditions were studied over a 3 week period using an interviewer administered questionnaire. SUI was diagnosed on clinical history alone when leakage of urine occurred either with coughing, sneezing, walking or lifting heavy objects. The severity was graded using the Finnish Gynaecological Society's Urinary Incontinence Severity Score (UISS). Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Odds ratios were calculated using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Ninety three (23.33%) had SUI and only 12 (12.9%) had sought treatment. The prevalence among women >50 years of age was 34.71% ( n = 121) compared to 18.28% (n = 279) in those ≤50 years. 25 (26.88%) had mild SUI, 66 (70.97%) moderate and 2 (2.15%) severe as per UISS. SUI was perceived as an illness by 210 (52.5%). SUI was significantly associated with pregnancy, parity, vaginal delivery, complicated labour, diabetes mellitus, chronic cough, constipation and faecal incontinence (p < 0.05).Among those affected main reasons for not seeking medical advice included; being embarrassed (n = 27, 33.33%), not knowing that it is remediable (n = 23, 28.40%), perceiving SUI to be a normal consequence of childbirth (n = 19, 23.46%) and having to attend to needs of the family (n = 12, 14.81%). None who had been pregnant (n = 313) had received advice on postnatal pelvic floor exercises. SUI interfered with social activities (71;76.34%), sexual function (21; 22.58%) and resulted in despair (67; 72.09%). It was associated with clinically diagnosed candidiasis (50; 53.76%) and soreness in the perineal region (49; 52.69%). CONCLUSIONS: SUI is a common and neglected gynaecological problem with poor healthcare seeking behaviour. Community based education may help to minimize the occurrence and improve the quality of life of those affected.

Renal replacement therapy in sepsis-induced acute renal failure.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common complication of sepsis and carries a high mortality. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) during the acute stage is the mainstay of therapy. Va-rious modalities of RRT are available. Continuous RRT using convective methods are preferred in sepsis-induced ARF, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients, although clear evidence of benefit over intermittent hemodialysis is still not available. Peritoneal dialysis is clearly inferior, and is not recommended. Early initiation of RRT is probably advantageous, although the optimal timing of dialysis is yet unknown. Higher doses of RRT are more likely to be beneficial. Use of bio-compatible membranes and bicarbonate buffer in the dialysate are preferred. Anticoagulation during dialysis must be carefully adjusted and monitored.