Complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: In most neurosurgical centres, ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is a commonly performed neurosurgical procedure for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion in Hydrocephalus in children, especially, but also in adults though etiology may differ. Despite the advent of other CSF diversionary procedures, like endoscopic third ventriculostomy, VPS has remained the mainstay of the treatment for Hydrocephalus. However, it is fraught with several complications.Objective/Purpose of Study: To highlight the setbacks plaguing a common and relatively short neurosurgical procedureMethods: This was a retrospective study on all 110 patients who presented at our Teaching Hospital with clinical and radiological features of hydrocephalus over a 60-month period between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014. Results: A total of 139 procedures were carried out in 110 patients. There were 64 males and 46 females, a ratio of 1.4: 1. Most patients, 73 i.e. 66.4%, had Congenital Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus was secondary to tumors in 21 patients (19.1%) and meningitis in 14 patients (12.7%). One patient had traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Shunt failures were seen in 23 patients (20.9%); causes of failure included shunt malfunction (56.5%), infection (21.7%), overdrainage (13.0%) and shunt migration (8.7%).Conclusions: Successful treatment of VPS complications depends on early diagnosis and a high index of suspicion. Any features of sepsis or other symptoms referable to central nervous system in patients who have undergone VPS insertion should warrant thorough clinical, radiological and laboratory screening for shunt complications. Keywords: Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion; Hydrocephalus; Complications; Mainstay; Index of Suspicion

Lipid profile of apparently healthy adolescents in Calabar, Nigeria.

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Internet use among primary care patients attending a tertiary health facility in Uyo, south-south Nigeria

Background: Global attention is being drawn to the use of internet resource because of its overwhelming benefits. Individuals, families, social groups, patients as well as research teams spend quality time on a daily basis exploring the internet.Objective: We carried out a study to determine internet use among primary care patients attending a tertiary health facility in Uyo, Nigeria.Methods: Using structured questionnaire, a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among primary care patients attending University of Uyo Teaching  Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria .The enrolled 290 respondents were 132(45.5%) males and 158(54.5%) females with male to female ratio of 1:1.2. The mean ± standard  deviation of the respondents' age was 37±12.2 years. One hundred and seventeen (40.3%) respondents used the internet. Only 29 (24.8%) of the respondent used the internet for health information. Internet use was higher among men (48.5%) compared to 33.5%women(X2= 6.06; P = 0.013). Young respondents (£ 40years) were more likely to use the internet than the older ones(X2 = 58.45; P<0.001). Respondents with high level of education (99.1%) used the internet more than those with low level of education (X2 = 102.31; P<0.001). Similarly, internet use was higher among the unmarried (60.68%) respondents compared to their married (39.32%) counterparts (X2 = 13.49; P<0.001). Most (85.47%) of the respondents who reported excellent/good health condition were internet users while those  (14.53%) with fair/poor health condition did not use the internet (X2 =26.77; P<0.001).Respondents who do not use the internet were more likely to report chronic ill-health (78.7%) than internet users (X2 =18.50; P<0.001).Conclusion: The percentage of the primary care patients that used internet in this study was less than average (40.3%) and only few (24.8%) use it for health  information. Factors identified to be associated with internet use were male gender, younger age, high level education, unmarried, excellent/good health perception and the absence of chronic ill-health. Efforts should be made to create public awareness on the merits of internet use especially among patients. Health education focusing on internet use should be carried out among primary care patients