International normalised ratio control in a non-metropolitan setting in Western Cape Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: The quality of international normalised ratio (INR) control determines the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy. Data on INR control in non-metropolitan settings of South Africa (SA) are sparse. OBJECTIVES: To examine the time in therapeutic range (TTR) and its potential predictors in a sample of Garden Route District Municipality primary healthcare clinics (PHCs). METHODS: INR records from eight PHCs were reviewed. The TTR and percentage of patients with a TTR >65% were determined. A host of variables were analysed for association with TTR. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of the cohort (N=191) was 56 (44 - 69) years. The median (IQR) TTR was 37.2% (20.2 - 58.8); only 17.8% of patients had a TTR ≥65%. Compared with patients aged >50 years, those aged <50 had worse INR control (median (IQR) TTR 26.6% (16.1 - 53.0) v. 43.5% (23.5 - 60.1); p=0.01). Patients hospitalised for any reason during the study period had worse INR control than patients not hospitalised (median (IQR) TTR 26.2% (16.2 - 50.2) v. 42.9% (23.5 - 62.0); p=0.02). On multivariable regression analysis, participants on warfarin for atrial fibrillation/flutter had better INR control than those with other indications for warfarin (odds ratio 2.21; 95% confidence interval 1.02 - 4.77; p=0.04), but the control was still very poor. CONCLUSIONS: INR control, as determined by TTR and proportion of TTR ≥65%, in these non-metropolitan clinics was poor. Age and hospitalisation as a marker of illness predicted poor control. There was a difference in control between groups, depending on the indication for warfarin. Evidence-based measures to improve the quality of INR control in patients on warfarin therapy need to be instituted as a matter of urgency.

Rhinectomy for the management of nasal malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Tumours of nasal skin or mucosa are common, and can usually be treated with limited surgical excision or radiotherapy. This paper highlights a subset of high risk tumours which require rhinectomy for complete oncological clearance. METHOD: Retrospective case note review of 14 patients undergoing rhinectomy for nasal tumours. Clinical and histological findings, treatment and outcome are reviewed and discussed. RESULTS: Forty-three per cent of patients had recurrent disease and underwent rhinectomy as a salvage procedure following previous surgery or radiotherapy. Most tumours (79 per cent) were basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. After a mean follow up of 30.1 months (range, zero to 96 months), seven patients (50 per cent) were alive and disease-free. Reconstruction was most commonly with a prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Rhinectomy is an oncologically sound procedure for the management of high risk nasal malignancies. Prosthetic rehabilitation can be an excellent alternative to surgery, particularly in those patients unsuitable for major reconstruction.

Immediate breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and implant: audit of outcomes and patient satisfaction survey.

METHODS: A retrospective case-note study of immediate breast reconstruction using the pedicled latissimus dorsi flap with a silicone implant and a patient-satisfaction survey were carried out. RESULTS: Fifty-four reconstructions were performed in 52 patients between March 2001 and October 2006. Major complications included capsular contracture requiring capsulotomy (7.4%); minor complications included donor-site seroma (20.4%) and superficial wound problems (13%). The average score out of 10 for the appearance of the reconstructed breast whilst wearing a bra was 8.35; score for appearance whilst out of a bra was 7.0 and overall symmetry was 6.6. On the basis of the scores, 16 patients were grouped as excellent; 15 as good; seven as fair and two as poor. Significantly, more of the patients without a contralateral matching procedure graded their reconstruction as good or excellent (p=0.024). CONCLUSIONS: The pedicled latissimus dorsi flap with a silicone implant gives the majority of patients a satisfying reconstruction, without necessarily requiring a contralateral matching procedure, whilst minimising postoperative complications.