Religious circumcision (Khatna) and circumcision mishaps in Kashmiri children.

Background: Male circumcision is recommended practice in Muslim tradition and one of the oldest operations performed all over the world. Male circumcision is universal in our Muslim-dominated valley of Kashmir for religious reasons. It can be performed by different techniques such as the conventional open methods, the device methods and sutureless methods. The objective of this study was to report our practice of male circumcision amongst children and compare the different common surgical techniques and highlight the circumcision mishaps conducted by quacks in the Kashmir Valley. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative observational study conducted at SKIMS Medical College and Hospital, from 2017 to 2021. Children who presented for primary circumcision were subjected to one of two different surgical techniques; the dorsal slit or Guillotine method. The prospective analysis of children managed for circumcision mishaps conducted by non-professionals was also included in the study. Circumcisions done after 2 years of age were defined as delayed. The data were collected analysed using SPSS software (SPSS version 22, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: Total of 689 Kashmiri Muslim male children between 1 day and 10 years of age over a period of 5 years were studied. Six hundred and fifty-five children for primary circumcision and 34 children managed for circumcision mishaps were included in the study. Amongst the subjects for primary circumcision, the most number of children were between 1 and 2 years of age (33.28%). One hundred and fourteen (25.73%) hospital-delivered babies and 201 (94.81%) home-delivered babies had delayed circumcision that is after 2 years of age (P = 0.00001). Religious requirement was the only indication for circumcision in this study. Three hundred and ninety-six (60.46%) children were circumcised with dorsal slit and 259 (39.54%) with guillotine method using computer-generated random numbers. Complications were found 8.08% of subjects in dorsal slit method as compared to 16.60% in guillotine technique (P = 0.008). Out of 34 children managed for circumcision mishaps, 11 (32.35%) presented with massive bleeding after primary circumcision by half doctors, 18 (52.94%) had incomplete circumcision, 3 (8.82%) had multiple skin bridges and 2 (5.88%) had incomplete circumcision with glans injury. All the patients with circumcision mishaps were treated with good outcome. There was no mortality. Conclusion: Circumcision occurs at a wide range of ages and male circumcision is universal in our Muslim-dominated valley for religious reasons. Circumcision by quacks and the associated complications are still prevalent in our society. The procedure is safe and free of any major complications when conducted by trained medical personnel under aseptic conditions of the operation theatre and hence should be encouraged.

Ascaris lumbricoides and the surgical complications: our experience from Medical College Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal ascariasis is considered as state subject in our valley of Kashmir. The aim of our study was to analyse the age, clinical presentation, diagnosis, surgical complications, and management of Ascaris lumbricoides in children and adults. METHODS: Total of 312 patients above 2 years of age with definite clinical and radiological diagnosis of intestinal ascariasis and associated complications were included in our study. All our patients received anthelminthic drug (Albenzadole 400 mg stat) after termination of acute phase and attached to our Out-Patient Department for follow-up. Each patient was given second dose of antihelminthic drug at second follow-up visit. RESULTS: Total of 312 subjects included 131 (41.99%) males and 181 (58.01%) females. The highest number of patients was in age group of 6-10 years (46.47%). Colicky abdomen pain was the most common presentation and present in 80.12% patients followed by vomiting (64.1%). Palpable worm bolus was a cardinal sign present in 46.47% of our subjects. Two-hundred sixty-five (84.94%) patients responded uneventfully and were relieved of colic and obstruction after conservative non-operative treatment. Twenty (6.41%) patients underwent enterotomy and evacuation of worms, 2 (0.64%) subjects underwent resection anastomosis, and 8 (2.56%) patients had laparotomy and milking of worms into colon. None of patient expired during the study period. CONCLUSION: Ascaris lumbricoides is common cause of acute abdomen in our valley attributed to poor hygiene and low socioeconomic background. In patients of high clinical suspicion of worm obstruction, prompt investigations should be advised to reach a definitive diagnosis and prevent the development of complications. Significant efforts must be channelised at political and society levels for the prevention of this disease. Mass deworming programs should be adopted to overcome this menace.

Deworming rates and lack of awareness of the National Deworming Day in the endemic region of Kashmir: an opportunity to improve public health using immunization program infrastructure.

We assessed the level of regular, periodic deworming and awareness of National Deworming Day in the local population in the endemic region of Kashmir by conducting a cross-sectional survey in the local population of patients (or their attendants for patients 18 years of age or younger) who visited the hospital as outpatients or were admitted as inpatients. The study team presented questionnaires with simple questions about deworming and child immunization to 1150 participants, noted responses, and then compiled the data. We found that the level of regular deworming was very low: only 3.7% (43/1150) of respondents regularly dewormed themselves and 16.34% (188/1150) dewormed their children at least once in a year. None of 1150 participants was aware of national deworming day despite having adequate knowledge about the immunization infrastructure. The immunization infrastructure can be used to improve public health in such circumstances.

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis.

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis (HPA) was described as a clinical entity from Kashmir, India in 1985. HPA is caused by invasion and migration of nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides, in to the biliary tract and pancreatic duct. Patients present with biliary colic, cholangitis, cholecystitis, hepatic abscesses and acute pancreatitis. Ascarides traverse the ducts repeatedly, get trapped and die, leading to formation of hepatolithiasis. HPA is ubiquitous in endemic regions and in Kashmir, one such region, HPA is the etiological factor for 36.7%, 23%, 14.5% and 12.5% of all biliary diseases, acute pancreatitis, liver abscesses and biliary lithiasis respectively. Ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic tool in visualizing worms in gut lumen and ductal system. The rational treatment for HPA is to give appropriate treatment for clinical syndromes along with effective anthelmintic therapy. Endotherapy in HPA is indicated if patients continue to have symptoms on medical therapy or when worms do not move out of ductal lumen by 3 wk or die within the ducts. The worms can be removed from the ductal system in most of the patients and such patients get regression of symptoms of hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease.

Portal biliopathy.

Portal biliopathy refers to cholangiographic abnormalities which occur in patients with portal cavernoma. These changes occur as a result of pressure on bile ducts from bridging tortuous paracholedochal, epicholedochal and cholecystic veins. Bile duct ischemia may occur due prolonged venous pressure effect or result from insufficient blood supply. In addition, encasement of ducts may occur due fibrotic cavernoma. Majority of patients are asymptomatic. Portal biliopathy is a progressive disease and patients who have long standing disease and more severe bile duct abnormalities present with recurrent episodes of biliary pain, cholangitis and cholestasis. Serum chemistry, ultrasound with color Doppler imaging, magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance portovenography are modalities of choice for evaluation of portal biliopathy. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography being an invasive procedure is indicated for endotherapy only. Management of portal biliopathy is done in a stepwise manner. First, endotherapy is done for dilation of biliary strictures, placement of biliary stents to facilitate drainage and removal of bile duct calculi. Next portal venous pressure is reduced by formation of surgical porto-systemic shunt or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. This causes significant resolution of biliary changes. Patients who persist with biliary symptoms and bile duct changes may benefit from surgical biliary drainage procedures (hepaticojejunostomy or choledechoduodenostomy).

Clinicopathological profile of gastrointestinal lymphomas in Kashmir.

BACKGROUND: The histological categorization of lymphoma has been a source of controversy for many years for both clinicians and pathologists. Clinicopathologic information of gastrointestinal lymphomas in Indian subcontinent is lacking. We studied histopathological spectrum of Primary Gastrointestinal Lymphomas (PGIL) and attempted to classify the G.I. lymphomas based on the recent WHO classification in to major histological types and immunological categories. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was done to evaluate the clinicopathological pattern of 100 cases with a histopathological diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma at a tertiary care hospital. All patients of primary gastrointestinal lymphomas were included with the help of medical records over a 11-years period that is, January 2005 to December 2015. RESULTS: The study included 100 cases (60 males, 40 females; mean age 51.43 years; age range 4.5-90 years). The disease involved stomach in 82 (82%), small intestine in 8 (8%), large bowel and rectum in 8 (8%), gall bladder in 1 (1%) and oesophagus in 1 (1%). 82 (82%) of the 100 cases were Diffuse Large B cell lymphomas; 12 (12%) were Extra Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphomas (ENMZL of MALT type) 2 (2%) IPSID 2 (2%) of Mantle cell lymphoma morphology, 1 (1%) Burkitt's and 1(1%) enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma. The commonest presenting symptom was abdominal pain. 99 (99%) of 100 tumours were classified as B-cell lymphomas immunohistochemically and majority exhibited monoclonal light chain restriction on kappa/lambda staining. In addition; Burkitt's lymphoma showed positivity for CD 10. One tumour (1%) showed positivity for T-cell markers. The data demonstrated that primary GI NHL is more common among males, mainly in their fifth decade. Abdominal pain is the most common presenting symptom, with stomach being the most commonly involved site. Diffuse large cell lymphoma is the most frequent histologic subtype, followed by extranodal marginal-zone B cell lymphoma (MALT type). H. Pylori infection was observed in cases with low grade MALT lymphomas. Striking was the observation of two cases of IPSID (a disease commonly found in Mediterranean countries) and one case of enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma. CONCLUSION: EGD, imaging, light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical workup for B and T cell markers and staining for light chains to assist documentation of monoclonality are of precise diagnostic value in gastrointestinal lymphomas and form a part of the diagnostic workup.

Wandering ascaris coming out through the abdominal wall.

A rare case of ascaris coming out through the anterior abdominal wall is reported here. A 40-year-old female had undergone dilatation and curettage by a quack. On the second day she presented with presented with features of peritonitis. She was explored. Resection anastomosis of the ileum was done for multiple perforations of the ileum. Patient developed a fistula in the anterior abdominal wall which was draining bile-colored fluid. On the 12(th) postoperative day a 10-cm-long worm was seen coming out through the fistulous tract which was found to be Ascaris lumbricoids. Ascaris lumbricoids can lead to many complications ranging from worm colic to intestinal obstruction, volvulus, peritonitis, pancreatitis, cholangiohepatitis, liver abscess and many more. Worm has been reported to come out through mouth, nostrils, abdominal drains, T-tubes etc. But ascaris coming out through the anterior abdominal wall is very rare hence reported here.

Elliptical excision with midline primary closure versus rhomboid excision with limberg flap reconstruction in sacrococcygeal pilonidal disease: a prospective, randomized study.

To compare elliptical excision with primary midline closure and rhomboid excision with limberg flap reconstruction techniques for the sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus. This prospective randomized study of 80 patients of sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus was performed in SKIMS medical college from 2004 to 2007. After assigning patients randomly to either of the surgical groups, group A patients (40/80) were operated by using rhomboid excision with limberg flap reconstruction whereas group B patients (40/80) were operated by using elliptical excision with primary midline closure. Data was compiled in terms of operative period required, immediate post operative complications, post operative pain (VAS scores), work-off period, hospital stay and recurrences over a follow up of 3 years for the two study groups. Data thereby collected was analyzed by using Microsoft excel. The parameters in which the two techniques were found to differ significantly were work-off period, immediate post operative complications profiles and recurrence rates. Rhomboid excision with limberg flap reconstruction technique surely outscores elliptical excision with primary midline closure in certain important parameters. While facing a patient with uncomplicated sacrococcygeal pilonidal sinus, instead of, which procedure for the patient? Surgeons should pose the question why not rhomboid excision with limberg flaps reconstruction?

Primary splenic hydatidosis.

Primary extrahepatic hydatid cysts are rare, and primary splenic hydatid cysts even more so, constituting 2% to 3.5% of all hydatid cysts. We report here a case series of isolated splenic hydatid cysts. Case records of 382 adult patients of abdominal hydatid cysts were analyzed; eight of them (2%; aged 23 to 45 years, 5 women and 3 men) had primary splenic hydatid cysts. Seven patients presented with dull dragging pain in the left hypochondrium. Four patients had splenomegaly. Diagnosis was made at ultrasonography and/or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for hydatid antibodies tested positive in all patients. One patient presented with hemoperitoneum. All patients underwent splenectomy. Primary splenic hydatid cyst is rare but should be considered in patients with cystic lesions of the spleen.

Ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract: a rare case report.

A 65-year-old male was operated for esophageal carcinoma. Transhiatal esophagogastrectomy with jejunostomy feeding tube was done. Orals were started on the 12th postoperative day. The jejunostomy feeding tube was removed on the 20th postoperative day. Immediately after removal of the feeding tube, a 10-12 cm ascaris was seen emerging through the jejunostomy tract. Ascaris lumbricoides can cause a variety of complications like intestinal obstruction, perforation, biliary obstruction, pancreatitis, liver abscess, cholangiohepatitis, volvulus, and gangrene, etc. Although the above-mentioned complications have been frequently reported, ascaris exit through the feeding jejunostomy tract is very rare. This case is reported here to emphasize the importance of this complication of wandering ascariasis.

Congenital intranasal glioma.

Congenital midline swellings of nose are encountered rarely, and nasal gliomas constitute about 5% of such lesions. Various theories have been suggested to explain the pathogenesis. Imaging preferably by MRI is mandated to study the extent and to rule out intracranial extension. Treatment is complete excision, and the approach depends upon the extent of the lesion and availability of expertise. We present the management of one such case of congenital intranasal glioma without any intracranial extension that presented as a septal polyp.

Rare presentation of biliary ascariasis.

Ascariasis is the most common helminthic infection in the world. We present a very rare manifestation of ascariasis in which the worms came out through the T-tube tract of a 36 years old patient who had undergone cholecystectomy with choledocholithotomy.

Laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair using polypropylene mesh - a comparative single centre study.

INTRODUCTION: Repair of incisional hernias continues to be a challenging surgical procedure for general surgeons. Currently open mesh repair and laparoscopic repair are the two main options available for general surgeon for managing this complication. Laparoscopic repair though offers all the advantages of minimal access surgery but is a costly procedure especially due to the use of costly composite mesh. The present study is aimed to compare the open and laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia and at the same time evaluate the safety and feasibility of using comparatively cheaper polypropylene mesh. METHODS: Between December 2005 and December 2009 80 patients underwent incisional hernia repair, 40 open repairs and 40 laparoscopic repair. The results of the two procedures were compared with a mean follow up of 26 months for open repair and 28 months for laparoscopic repair. RESULTS: Obstetrical or gynecological procedure was the most common index surgery leading to incisional hernia and lower midline incision was the most common site of hernia. The mean defect size in open repair group was 55.2 cm(2) and 62.2 cm(2) in laparoscopic repair group. Polypropylene mesh was used in all cases. We had 1(2.5%) major complication of enterotomy and 1(2.5%) conversion in laparoscopic repair group. Postoperative complications were most commonly seen in open repair group 10(25%) and 2(5%) in laparoscopic repair group. Mean hospital stay in open repair group is 4.33 days and 1.53 days in laparoscopic repair group. We had 1(2.5%) recurrence in both groups. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of incisional hernia is a much better procedure for curing incisional hernia as compared to open mesh repair and additionally intraperitoneal use of polypropylene mesh was not associated with any significant complication.

Missed foreign bodies in the hand: an experience from a center in Kashmir.

INTRODUCTION: Penetrating hand injuries are common and improper assessment can result in missed foreign bodies. These bodies can result in a wide range of complications. AIM: The aim of our study was to study the profile of patients reporting with missed foreign bodies in the hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the cases treated in the Department of Surgery, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (medical college), Kashmir, for missed foreign bodies in hands from June 2003 to May 2009 were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 61 cases with missed foreign bodies of different nature were treated over the period of six years. Wooden splinters were the most common foreign bodies missed. Preoperative localization was accomplished with plain radiographs and ultrasonograms. Most of the cases were treated on outpatient basis. CONCLUSIONS: Foreign bodies should be suspected and ruled out in all cases of penetrating injuries of hands. Missed foreign bodies need to be removed after proper localization by imaging.