Clinical Profiles of Children With Sickle Cell Anaemia Presenting With Acute Clinical Events: A Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is a common genetic disorder characterised by chronic haemolytic anaemia and vaso-occlusive crisis. Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) has both short-term effects in the form of acute clinical events and long-term repercussions seen with chronic multiorgan involvement. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In India, the disease is largely undocumented. Thus, there is an urgent need to highlight the features of the disease so that locally appropriate models of care may be implemented. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate acute clinical events in SCA and to provide data that may help to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality associated with this disease by early interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between November 2020 and May 2022 at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Central India. The inclusion criteria included previously diagnosed patients of SCA (homozygous sickle cell disease) on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) between the age groups of six months and 12 years, presenting with acute clinical events. The exclusion criteria included patients younger than six months and older than 12 years of age, and all patients with other haemoglobinopathies and sickle cell trait. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee. All the data was entered into a well-designed Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet (v 2019, Microsoft, Washington, USA). All the clinical, biochemical, and haematological data were tabulated and analysed. RESULTS: A total of 100 children with sickle cell disease diagnosed by HPLC were enrolled during the study period. About 215 acute clinical events among the 100 cases were recorded, for which they were admitted to the paediatric ward or PICU. The majority (35%, n=35) were seen in the age group of six to nine years (school-going age). About 52% were male and 48% were female (male-to-female ratio= 1.08:1). Pain was the most common symptom. The highest incidence of 36.75% (n=79) was seen with acute painful crises and was the most common indication of hospitalisation, followed by acute febrile illness (AFI) (34.42%, n=74), aplastic crisis (10.23%, n=22), splenic sequestration crisis (9.77%, n=21), hepatobiliary involvement (3.72%, n=8), acute chest syndrome and haemolytic crisis (each 1.86%, n=4), and stroke (1.40%, n=3). In cases of having foetal haemoglobin (HbF) ≥20%, the incidence of acute painful crisis (p=0.0001), hand-foot syndrome (p=0.047), aplastic crisis (p=0.033), splenic sequestration crisis (p=0.039), and AFI (p=0.035) was low as compared to cases having HbF ≤20% which was statistically significant. The incidence of acute painful crisis, hand-foot syndrome, and an aplastic crisis was significantly low in patients receiving hydroxyurea therapy as compared to patients who were not on hydroxyurea. Out of 100 cases, four died during the study period, three died because of splenic sequestration crisis with septic shock, and one died due to hepatic encephalopathy due to haemolytic crisis with septic shock. CONCLUSION: Acute clinical events in sickle cell disease can have significant morbidity and mortality in the paediatric age group. The nutritional status of sickle cell disease children must be given due importance. Early initiation of hydroxyurea must be encouraged to maintain higher HbF levels, which plays a significant role in reducing morbidity.

Outcomes in neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 during the second wave in India.

COVID-19 pandemic has affected all age groups globally including pregnant women and their neonates. The aim of the study was to understand outcomes in neonates of mothers with COVID-19 during the first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis of 2524 neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers was conducted during the first wave (n = 1782) and second wave (n = 742) of the COVID-19 pandemic at five study sites of the PregCovid registry in Maharashtra, India. A significant difference was noted in preterm birth, which was higher in the second wave (15.0%, 111/742) compared to the first wave (7.8%, 139/1782) (P < 0.001). The proportion of neonates requiring NICU admission was significantly higher in the second wave (19.0%, 141/742) as compared to that in the first wave (14.8%, 264/1782) (P < 0.05). On comparing regional differences, significantly higher neonatal complications were reported from Mumbai metropolitan region (P < 0.05). During the second wave of COVID-19, birth asphyxia and prematurity were 3.8- and 2.1-fold higher respectively (P < 0.001). Neonatal resuscitation at birth was significantly higher in second wave (3.4%, 25/742 vs 1.8%, 32/1782) (P < 0.05). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates was comparable (4.2% vs 4.6%) with no significant difference between the two waves. CONCLUSION: Higher incidence of adverse outcomes in neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers in the second wave of COVID-19 as compared to the first wave. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PregCovid study is registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2020/05/025423, Registered on 28/05/2020). WHAT IS KNOWN: • The second wave of COVID-19 was more lethal to pregnant women than the first wave. Newborns are at risk of developing complications. WHAT IS NEW: • Birth asphyxia, prematurity, and neonatal resuscitation at birth were significantly higher in the second wave as compared to those in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft fixed with sutures, glue, or autologous blood.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study compared surgical outcome of pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft fixed with sutures, tissue glue or autologous blood in relation to recurrence rate and surgical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical records of 148 patients operated for excision of primary nasal pterygium with conjunctival autograft were reviewed retrospectively for the period between January 2015 and June 2018. Based on surgical technique used to fix the graft, patients were divided into three groups. In Group A, 8 "0" vicryl suture was used to fix the graft in 90 patients. In Group B, fibrin glue was used to fix the graft in 23 patients. In Group C, autologous blood was used to fix the graft in 35 patients. Patients who were operated by single surgeon and had followed up for minimum six months were included in the study. RESULTS: Group A had recurrence in 7 cases (7.78%) whereas; Group B and C had no recurrence. But, in Group C two patients (5.71%) lost their graft. Overall recurrence rate in the study was 4.72%. CONCLUSION: Among the three techniques used in the study, recurrence was seen in the suture group and autologous blood group had loss of graft. The fibrin glue group was free of complications.

Comparison of the Posterior Capsule Rupture Rates Associated with Conventional (Start to Finish) Versus Reverse Methods of Teaching Phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: Comparison of the rates of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) associated with conventional versus a reverse method of teaching phacoemulsification. METHODS: Trainees were taught conventional (start-to-finish) phacoemulsification beginning with an incision (tunnel construction) to capsulorhexis, sculpting, nucleus cracking, segment removal, cortex aspiration, intraocular lens implantation, and viscoelastic removal. In the reverse method, after incision and capsulorhexis, the trainees were progressively taught viscoelastic wash, cortex aspiration, segment removal, nucleus cracking, sculpting, and intraocular lens implantation. Trainees from a Tertiary Eye Care Centre were classified as beginners, for their first 30 cases and then trainees for their next 70 surgeries. Data were collected on posterior capsular rent and vitreous loss during each step of training. RESULTS: Thirty-two ophthalmic surgeons learning phacoemulsification surgery on 609 cataracts cases were supervised by 3 trainers. Fifteen beginners performed 287 surgeries using the conventional method, and 17 beginners performed 322 surgeries with the reverse method. The incidence of PCR was 18/287 (6.2%) with the conventional method and 15/322 (4.6%) with the reverse method (P = 0.38). PCR occurred during cortex aspiration (8/287, 2.8%) and segment removal (5/287, 1.7%) in the conventional method. PCR occurred during nucleus cracking, segment removal, and cortex aspiration (4/322 surgeries for each step, 1.2%). In the follow, 70 cases (trainees) there was no difference in PCR with either method (4.7% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.705). CONCLUSION: Conventional and reverse method for training phacoemulsification were both safe in a supervised setting.

Posterior scleritis in pediatric age group: A case report and review of literature.

Posterior scleritis is rare in both the adult and pediatric age groups. Increased awareness and availability of advanced diagnostic facilities aid in early diagnosis and management. Visual recovery is possible with systemic steroids and immunosuppression. We report the case of a 12-year-old male child who presented with poor vision in his right eye and was found to have retinal striae and disc edema due to posterior scleritis.