Aetiology and treatment outcome of severe traumatic brain injuries in neurosurgical center with inadequate facilities

Background: Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major challenge to the patient, the relatives, the care givers, and the society in general. The primary and secondary injuries, and the high metabolism are formidable stages of the injury, each capable of taking the life of the patient. The objectives were to determine the etiology and outcome in severe traumatic brain injuries patients.Methods: This was a prospective study on patients with severe traumatic brain injury patients managed in our center from August 2010 to December 2014. Patients were resuscitated in accident and emergency unit using Advanced Trauma Life Support protocols. Those with Glasgow Coma scale scores ≤8 were included in the study.Data were collected with structured proforma which was component of our prospective data bank that was approved by our ethics committee, and were analyzed with Environmental Performance Index info 7 softwareResults: One hundred and ten patients were studied. Males were 86. The mean age Was 31.43 years. Ninety six were involved in road traffic accident. Seventy seven patients had favorable outcome.Conclusion: The commonest etiology was road traffic accident.Seventy seven patients had favorable outcome.Keywords: etiology, outcome, severe traumatic brain injur

Specialty choices amongst graduating medical students in University of Calabar, Nigeria: Implications for anaesthesia practice

Background: Despite its strategic role in health care delivery, anaesthesia does not attract medical manpower in developing countries more so amongst medical trainees. This has resulted in an alarming lack of physician anaesthetists. This study aims to determine the rate of selection of anaesthesia as a specialty choice and factors that influence medical students when choosing specialties.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst final year medical students in University of Calabar. A semistructured self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a total of 105 final year students who had undergone their posting in anaesthesia.Results: The mean age of respondents was 27± 4 years. Seventy-two (69%) were males. Ninety-six (91%) of the students indicated interest in specializing. Thirty-four (32%) preferred obstetrics and gynaecology, 20 (19%) wanted paediatrics and 13 (12%) preferred family medicine while 3 (3%) wanted anaesthesia. Factors which influenced choice of specialty amongst the graduating students included: personal interests 85 (81%), future job opportunities 66 (63%) and  requirement of specialized skill 65 (62%). Forty-six respondents (44%) reported that their anaesthesia posting experience was interesting, 27 (28%) as very educative. The duration of the posting was rated very short by 25 (24%).Conclusion: With less than 5% of graduating medical students indicating interest in anaesthesia specialization, improvement of training facilities and provision of incentives to intending trainees are strongly recommended.Keywords: Specialty choices, anaesthesia, medical student