Comparative analysis of the pattern of intimate partner violence against women admitted to a tertiary hospital in Sri Lanka during and after the periods of COVID-19 lockdown.

Lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in restrictions on people's ability to move, allowing more time for intimate partners-this increased opportunities for intimate partner violence (IPV), especially against women. The study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of IPV against women during and after the lockdown period. A prospective, descriptive study on female victims of IPV presented from March 2020 to February 2022 to a leading teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Out of the 876 patients admitted during the period, details could be obtained from 300 victims. Ninety-four (31%) were during the lockdown, while 206 (69%) were post-lockdown admissions. The mean age of the victim in both groups was 33.5 years. Even though physical abuse was high throughout, the prevalence of sexual abuse was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) during the lockdown period (31.9%) than during the post-lockdown period (3.4%). Financial problems (46.6%), followed by substance abuse (35%), were the most common risk factors during the post-lockdown period, while morbid jealousy (34%) was the most common risk factor, followed by extramarital relationships (33%) during the lockdown. Psychological consequences due to IPV were observed in 76.5% of victims during the lockdown period and only 11.2% during the post-lockdown period. The prolonged lockdown has significantly influenced mental and sexual health, changing the pattern of IPV against women. The need to have services to ensure the mental and sexual well-being of the community was highlighted.

A case of early pulmonary embolism following blunt trauma to chest and a long bone fracture: a case report.

Background: After substantial trauma, pulmonary embolism (PE) carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Early post-traumatic PE in the absence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a distinct entity that might be connected to rare mechanisms or unidentified biochemical processes. Case presentation: A driver of a car was presented with worsening chest pain and shortness of breath (SOB) following a road traffic accident in which he suffered an impact on the chest against the steering wheel and a closed fracture of the right femur. Radiological investigations revealed a pulmonary embolism in the left posterior segment pulmonary artery, without evidence of internal chest injuries or DVT within 12 h from the incident. D-dimer, troponin I, and creatinine kinase were elevated without evidence of myocardial infarction or myocardial injury. Other parameters were within the normal range. Conclusions: Possibilities of early PE in the absence of detectable DVT could be due to hyper-coagulability states, clots from the lower extremity completely getting detached and embolizing to the pulmonary circulation, screening errors, and "de novo" thrombi in the pulmonary circulation. Chest trauma is an identified risk factor for early or late pulmonary embolism. Action of the post-traumatic adrenergic response causing vascular endothelial inflammation and the synthesis of circulating adhesion molecules leading to localized thrombosis have also been suggested as causes for this phenomenon. A greater understanding of rare risk factors for early PE and the possibility of rare complications of chest trauma is useful in detecting and treating them in time, reducing morbidity and mortality.