Childhood intussusception in Benin City, Nigeria.

The clinical and radiological features of 24 cases of childhood intussusception presenting at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital are analysed. Nineteen (79%) children presented before the age of one year and the main symptoms were vomiting 87%, passage of bloody stool 62%, abdominal pain 50% and palpable abdominal mass 33%. The commonest aetiologic agent was ascariasis which was seen in three children. Radiological examination was found most useful in selecting patients for barium hydrostactic reduction, and a case is made for the use of the latter procedure in the treatment of childhood intussusception in developing countries. The high case fatality rate of 25% is related to the late presentation of children to hospital.

Amniotic membrane dressing for burns in children. A cheap method of treatment for developing countries.

Ten children aged seven months to eleven years with superficial burns involving (mean) 24% of total body surface were treated with amniotic membrane dressing in a general ward. The result of treatment was compared with that obtained during an earlier (12 months) period using non biological antimicrobial dressing on the same ward. One patient treated with amnion developed pseudomonas wound infection and another required skin grafting. These children spent an average of 31 days in hospital, as compared with 56 days for the control group. It is concluded that amniotic membrane dressing is to be preferred in the treatment of burns in hospitals in poorer countries, because of it's ready availability, ease of preparation and cheapness of storage.

Epidermoid cyst of the appendix.

Epidermoids cyst of the abdominal viscera is an uncommon condition. Cases have been reported involving the spleen, kidneys, gonads, fallopian tubes, uterus, mesentery, and cecum (mice). An epidermoid cyst of the vermiform appendix is presented.

Mechanical bowel obstruction. Review of 316 cases in Benin City.

A retrospective study of 316 patients with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction admitted to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a 5 year period is presented. The overall mortality was 10.6 percent. Attention is called to the unacceptably high morbidity and mortality associated with volvulus in this and other series. Because the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in Africa is strangulation, a preventable complication of inguinal hernia, the clinician has a unique opportunity to significantly decrease the incidence of intestinal obstruction in Africa. Finally, our study confirms that the single most important antecedent of a grave prognosis in intestinal obstruction is late presentation of the patient.