Management of oesophageal foreign bodies

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the management of foreign bodies in the oesophagus and to determine the association with socioeconomic status.MethodsThis cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat and head and neck surgery of Bahawal Victoria Hospital affiliated with Quaid-i-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, between December 2012 and May 2013. The medical records of 34 consecutive cases of foreign body ingestion were searched, and the data were recorded on a questionnaire prepared for this purpose.ResultsThe average age of the patients was 10.38 years; 29 cases (85.2%) were in children under 12 years. There were 18 females (52.9%) and 16 males (47.1%). Thirty patients (88%) presented with a history of dysphagia, and 25 (73.6%) had vomiting. The site of impaction was the post-cricoid region in 22 patients (66%), the lower oesophagus in 5 (15%), the mid-oesophagus in 4 (13%), the posterior pharyngeal wall in 1 (3%) and the pyriform fossa in 1 patient (3%). Coins were the most common foreign body (61.8%). Socioeconomic analysis showed that 18 patients (52.9%) were in the low socioeconomic class, 12 (35.3%) in the middle class and 4 (11.8%) in the upper class.ConclusionThe presence of a foreign body in the oesophagus is a serious condition, and early removal is recommended. Foreign body lodgement is commoner among poor families

Why research productivity of medical faculty declines after attaining professor rank? A multi-center study from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Pakistan

<p><b>Objectives:</b> Research has shown a fall of research productivity of faculty after their promotion to professor rank. This study explores the factors that lead to this decline in research productivity of professors in medical discipline.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> A 20-item questionnaire was distributed online to medical professors of a Saudi, Malaysian and a Pakistani medical school. The participants were instructed to select their responses on a 5-point Likert’s scale and the collected data was analyzed for quantitative and qualitative results.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Of 161, 110 responded; response rate of 68.3%. About 35% professors spent 1–4 hours and 2% spent 19–25 hours per week for research. As many as 7% did not publish a single article and 29% had published 10 or more articles after attaining professor rank. During the last two years, 44% professors had published 5 or more research articles. Majority pointed out a lack of research support and funds, administrative burden and difficulty in data collection as the main obstacles to their research.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This research has identified time constraints and insufficient support for research as key barriers to medical professors’ research productivity. Financial and technical support and lesser administrative work load are some suggested remedies to foster the professors’ research output.</p