Perforated peptic ulcer - a case series and an African perspective.

BACKGROUND: Perforation of peptic ulcer (PPU) is the most morbid complication of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) with scant recent reports from sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to describe a PPU series from a single centre in South Africa and contrast the findings with other recent reports from sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: A retrospective study of PPU at Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria was performed. The relationship of patient demographics, risk factors, ulcer pathology and severity scores to mortality were analysed. Recent similar reports from sub-Saharan Africa were reviewed and the findings compared to the current study and findings from high income countries (HIC). RESULTS: The study comprised 121 patients. The majority were black men with an average age of 46.6 years, with few comorbidities. A large proportion of patients admitted to risk factors and most presented to hospital 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. The majority (71%) of the perforations occurred in the stomach. The patient sex, age, risk factors and the mortality at 4% were similar to other African studies, although perforations were mainly duodenal in most of the African studies. The median age of patients in the East African studies was lower by 13 years. Patients in HIC series of PPU were older, more likely to be female, have duodenal perforations and a higher mortality than in the African series. CONCLUSION: Patients were mostly smokers, presented late to hospital and had gastric perforations. The findings of low mortality and male predominance concurred with those of other sub-Saharan African reports and were the opposite of trends in HIC.

The adjunctive use of carbimazole during radioactive iodine treatment reduces the cure rate of Graves' disease.

BACKGROUND: Radioactive iodine (RAI) is widely used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Adjunctive antithyroid drugs (ATDs) are commonly prescribed to treat the hyperthyroid state before the RAI has taken effect. However, there is no consensus on the use of or timing of adjunctive ATD treatment with RAI. OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of the ATD carbimazole on the cure rate of RAI treatment for Graves' disease. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. The cure rate of patients treated with RAI for Graves' disease was analysed. The effect of adjunctive carbimazole treatment with regard to its use and timing with RAI dosing was analysed. The cure rate was determined in patients treated with carbimazole either before RAI or before and after RAI administration. Cure rate was defined by the biochemical thyroid function status (thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)) as euthyroid or hypothyroid from 3 months and sustained at 12 months. The need for a second dose of RAI was recorded. RESULTS: RAI treatment was administered to 171 patients with Graves' disease. The cure rate was higher in patients receiving a higher dose of RAI. The overall cure rate increased progressively from 3 months and was 91% at 12 months. The cure rate in 97 patients not receiving carbimazole was 98%. The cure rate of the 27 patients on carbimazole treatment given before RAI administration was 81%, and 73% in the 37 patients in whom it was resumed after RAI administration. The overall cure rate was lower in patients who received carbimazole (p<0.001), but especially in patients in whom carbimazole was continued after RAI administration (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive carbimazole treatment decreased the RAI cure rate of Graves' disease significantly.

Leucocyte count and C-reactive protein cannot be relied upon in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: South Africa has the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world, and is commonly found in association with appendicitis. Atypical presentation of appendicitis in the presence of HIV infection makes clinical diagnosis of appendicitis unreliable, and inflammatory markers are commonly used as adjuncts. The aim of this study was ascertain the value of inflammatory markers in the diagnosis of appendicitis in patients with and without HIV infection. METHODS: Patients with acute appendicitis were studied and divided into HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected groups. Symptoms, and systemic and local signs were recorded. Appendiceal pathology was classified as simple or as complicated by abscess, phlegmon or perforation. Total white cell count (WCC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were chosen as inflammatory markers. Findings were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 125 patients, of whom 26 (20.8 per cent) had HIV infection. Clinical manifestations did not differ statistically, and there was no difference in the incidence of simple or complicated appendicitis between the two groups. The mean CRP level was significantly higher in HIV-infected patients (194.9 mg/l versus 138.9 mg/l in HIV-uninfected patients; P = 0.049), and mean WCC (x109/L) was significantly lower (11.07 versus 14.17×109/l respectively; P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations and pathology did not differ between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients with appendicitis, except that the WCC response was significantly attenuated and CRP levels were generally higher in the presence of HIV infection.

Rat bite injuries in children: description of a novel classification.

PURPOSE: Rats are common intruders into human settlements. Apart from their role as disease vectors, they can also cause bite injuries. We describe the clinical course of a series of children with rat bites, and characterise the injures. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospital records of children admitted for rat bites in a large regional hospital was undertaken. The demographics, wound characteristics, treatment given and clinical outcome of the patients are described. RESULTS: Fifty-nine children, with a mean age of 3.7 years, were admitted for rat bites. Three distinct types of wounds were treated: superficial scratches (Type I), deeper bites often with infection and ulceration (Type II) and full-thickness with loss of skin or underlying soft tissues (Type III). Few wounds displayed signs of inflammation. Only some Type II injuries required urgent local surgery in the form of drainage and debridement. Type III wounds required a skin graft. All patients recovered. CONCLUSION: We suggest that treatment of rat bites should be based on the wound type. Most patients do not require hospital admission or antibiotic treatment. Treatment should be mostly conservative wound care management. Surgery is only indicated for drainage of pus, debridement, skin graft or rarely reconstruction.

Absence of effect of post-discharge socioeconomic circumstances on the outcome of dysvascular lower limb amputees: a prospective cohort study

Background: Significant mortality and morbidity occur after major lower limb amputation for diabetes-related footcomplications and peripheral arterial disease. Risk factors for atherosclerosis and medical comorbidities are common in amputation for diabetes-related foot complications and are major determinants of outcome. Conversely, the effect of post-hospitalisation circumstances on outcome has not been systematically studied. We hypothesised that poor socioeconomic circumstances after discharge would have an adverse effect on the outcome of major amputation in a developing country.Objectives: To determine the association of the status of post discharge socioeconomic circumstances on the outcome of dysvascular amputation. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients scheduled for major dysvascular lower limb amputation were recruited. Data were collected regarding the socioeconomic circumstances to which patients would be discharged, such as housing, income and personal care. Patients were followed up at our hospital, at clinics and later telephonically for three years. Mortality and wound morbidity were documented. Association of differences in status of socioeconomic factors and outcomes was analysed statistically.Results: Ninety nine patients were enrolled. Eight patients died in hospital and 91 were discharged. The socioeconomic circumstances of discharged patients were relatively favourable, the majority living in brick houses (92%) with running water (87%). Most patients had a regular income (86%), more than half had state/government grants. The availability of co-habitants, care givers and accessible medical facilities was also favourable. None of the different socioeconomic status levels demonstrated an effect on morbidity or mortality, all associations having a p-value greater than 0.05 (Chi-squared Fisher's exact and Spearman's rank correlation tests).Conclusion: No association between socioeconomic status factors and post-discharge outcome of amputees was demonstrated. This is probably because the dysvascular amputees in this study cohort were living in relatively favourable circumstances

Inferior vena cava injuries: a case series and review of the South African experience.

INTRODUCTION: Penetrating injury may involve the major vessels in the abdomen. Injury to the abdominal inferior vena cava (IVC) is uncommon and is usually caused by gunshot wounds. Mortality from IVC injuries is high and has changed little over time. AIM: The aim of the study was to report a series of IVC injuries from an urban trauma unit and to compare this with reports from similar institutions. METHOD: A retrospective review of penetrating abdominal injuries at Kalafong Hospital from 1993 to 2010 was performed. All cases of injury to the IVC were retrieved and the following data recorded: patient demographics, incident history, origin of referral, description of the IVC injury, associated injuries, operative management, hospital stay and outcome. The results were compared to those from similar institutions. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with IVC injuries were treated. All were caused by gunshot wounds, and all had associated intra-abdominal injuries. The majority (56%) of injuries were infrarenal. The injury was managed most commonly by venorrhaphy and, when successful, all the patients survived. A third of patients with infrarenal injuries died, some after exploration of a stable peri-caval haematoma. Ten of the patients died (37%), half of them during surgery. These results are similar to those from similar institutions from earlier time periods. CONCLUSIONS: This report concurs with other studies. IVC injury carries a high mortality rate and that this has not improved over several decades. Less aggressive management of some stable patients or stable injuries is proposed by the authors for possible improvement of the mortality rate.

The perspectives of South African general surgeons regarding their postgraduate training.

Background. There is a perception among general surgeons that there are deficiencies in surgical training in South Africa (SA). Dependence on under-resourced state training institutions possibly plays a role. The opinions of qualified surgeons may make an invaluable contribution in this regard.Objectives. To canvass the perceptions of SA general surgeons regarding certain aspects of their training.Methods. An electronic postal survey was conducted. All general surgeons on the Association of Surgeons of South Africa database were requested to complete a structured questionnaire. Four Likert scale items were interrogated: knowledge acquisition, surgical skill, research, and practice management.Results. Eighty-eight surgeons responded. Knowledge acquisition and surgical skills development were regarded positively, except for a perceived deficiency in availability of newer technologies. Exposure to surgical research was viewed as beneficial and useful. However, the mandatory research project during training was not perceived as useful for current careers. Training in practice management was perceived as severely deficient.Conclusion. This survey highlights positive perceptions of general surgeons regarding the acquisition of knowledge and surgical skills during training in SA, but some negative views emerged regarding research, exposure to newer technology, and especially practice management training.

The histology of peau d'orange in breast cancer - what are the implications for surgery?

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is sometimes performed on patients with peau d'orange (dermal oedema) of the breast. This may be done to achieve local control of cancer after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy or in resectable locally advanced disease. Conventional practice is not to place excision lines through areas of peau d'orange for fear of recurrence in such an area. The question can be asked whether this wisdom is still valid in modern practice. No formal cohort studies documenting the histopathology of the skin in areas of peau d'orange have been published, and available descriptions are scanty. AIM: To describe the histopathological features of peau d'orange. METHOD: Consecutive patients undergoing mastectomy for cancer in whom peau d'orange was present were selected over a period of 2 years. Blocks of skin were excised from areas of peau d'orange and examined histologically. The presence, nature and location of malignant cells were recorded and correlated with lymph node pathology. Prior administration of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was noted. RESULTS: Twenty-six mastectomy specimens were examined. Tumour islands in lymphatics were identified in 10 of the 26 specimens. These tumour groups were found in lymph vessels of both the superficial and deep dermal plexuses. In 1 specimen the presence of malignant cells was equivocal. Metastatic tumour was present in axillary lymph nodes in 19 of 22 specimens. Fourteen patients had been treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and 5 of their specimens exhibited the presence of tumour cell groups in lymphovascular channels. CONCLUSION: Tumour cells were present in the lymphatic vessels in areas of peau d'orange in 38% of the specimens studied. It would be expected that placing an excision line in such an area would result in an incomplete cancer operation in a high percentage of, but not all, cases.

Cutaneous infection due to Cladophialophora bantiana in a patient receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Cladophialophora bantiana (Xylohypha bantiana, Cladosporium trichoides), a dematiaceous fungus, causes mainly infections of the central nervous system. Systemic antifungal therapy is apparently unsuccessful. Extracerebral involvement is uncommon and only few cases have been reported. We describe a 63-year-old patient, a kidney transplant recipient on prolonged prednisone and cyclosporin, who developed a large single lesion on the thigh from which Cladophialophora bantiana was cultured. A 3-month course of itraconazole 200 mg daily resulted in complete healing of the lesion. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on cutaneous infection with Cladophialophora bantiana in an organ transplant recipient and the first in whom treatment with itraconazole led to resolution.

Determination of the functioning of autotransplanted parathyroid tissue in muscle.

Twenty dialysis and renal transplant patients with parathyroid hyperplasia underwent a total parathyroidectomy and an autotransplantation in forearm muscle. Twelve patients were available for investigation of the function of the transplanted parathyroid tissue. Differential studies of the two arms revealed functioning of the transplanted tissue in all cases. This was more readily demonstrated by determining the intact hormone in both arms.

Investigation--including computed tomography and ultrasonography--of the renal transplant patient with hypercalcaemia.

One hundred and eleven stable renal transplant patients were investigated, using sensitive methods, for the effect of hypercalcaemia on renal function and for the presence of nephrocalcinosis. Twenty-five patients (22.5%) were hypercalcaemic but this had no effect on renal function. Nephrocalcinosis was detected in a small percentage of patients using ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Extracorporeal surgery for renal tumour. A case report.

A case of adenocarcinoma of a single functioning kidney is presented. The tumour was removed by extracorporeal bench surgery and the remnant successfully autotransplanted.

Thoracic kidney. A report of 2 cases.

Thoracic kidney is extremely rare; there are two types--traumatic and congenital--which are illustrated. One patient had been in a motor vehicle accident and sustained injury to the diaphragm and the congenital representation was found in an asymptomatic patient with a hiatus hernia. Both displaced kidneys were left in situ.