Ultrasound Evaluation of Liver in Patients Who Had History of Hepatitis C

Background: Hepatitis is an infection of liver. The disorder can be self-limiting or lead to fibrosis(scarring), cirrhosis, or liver cancer. Both acute infection and chronic sequelae, such as hepatitis C, cause significance morbidity and mortality in the hum of population. Hepatitis can be very high in general population. Our study evaluate the liver parenchyma in patients with history of Hepatitis C and provide descriptive to prevent future liver pathologies.The primary goal of our research is to delay or perhaps stop the progression of liver fibrosis, as well as to prevent liver disease.Grey scale ultrasonography has been reported to detect Ultrasonographic features of chronic disease resulting in decreased liver function and ultimately, liver failure and to help the patients with cured hepatitis C to check out the parenchymal damage and to give healthy lifestyle. Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonographic features of the liver in the patients who had history of hepatitis C. Study design: ur study design was retro prospective. Material and method: The retro prospective study was conducted in which data of 56 patients were taken. The data was collected from the radiology department of al-Razi health care and Jinnah hospital. After informed consent, data was collected through ultrasound machine. Out of 56 patients 27 were females and 29 were males. study duration was 4 months. Inclusion criteria includes patients with history of liver hepatitis C. Exclusion criteria was patients with other causes of liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, metabolic liver disease and liver transplant recipients except hepatitis C. Result: 56 patients were included in our study out of which 27 were females and 29 were males. The ultrasonographic findings of the patients having liver hepatitis C shows the cirrhosis in 44.6%, change in liver contour in 37.5%, nodularity in 42.9% and vascular changes in 58.9%. Conclusion: Some extent of hepatitis C diseases cannot be seen on CT or MRI but can be seen on grey scale ultrasonography due to its high resolution .so, it can be concluded that the grey scale ultrasonography is more efficient and authentic diagnostic equipment in assessing the liver hepatitis C as compared to the CT. Keywords: hepatitis C, cirrhosis, liver abnormalities, ultrasound. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/91-08 Publication date:July 31st 202

Verbal Autopsy of Maternal Mortality in Rawalpindi District

Objective: To identify the causes and risk factors leading to maternal mortality through verbal autopsy in the District of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Study Design: A retrospective, descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Community Department of Foundation University Medical College Islamabad from January 05, 2019, to December 25, 2019. Materials and Methods: Data of 105 women died of causes related to death during pregnancy/ delivery between 01 April 2013 and 30 April 2018 was retrieved from the office of District Health Officer (DHO) Rawalpindi. A Verbal Autopsy was conducted to determine cause of death and the possible risk factors, through a structured questionnaire that was filled by close relatives of the deceased women. Analysis of data was done using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The Mean age of the patients was 31 years, and it ranged from 15 to 49 years. In 26.7% of mothers cause of death could not be determined. Overall, the major and most obvious cause of maternal death was delivery related hemorrhage in 58% cases. Out of these, antepartum hemorrhage was the commonest cause occurring in 43.8% of the total cases. Postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 11.4% cases, while fatal hemorrhage during the delivery occurred in 2.8% mothers. Eclampsia was the next common cause that occurred in 11.4% mothers. Difficult and prolonged labour was found to be cause of death in 2.8% cases, while 0.95% died of Sepsis. Among the risk factors, lack of antenatal care emerged as the leading risk factor, present in 62% mothers, followed by anemia being present in 46.6% mothers. Multi-parity was found to be the next common risk factor being present in 26.6% mothers. Reduced interval in successive pregnancies was found in 21% cases. Systemic medical disorders like hypertension, renal disorders, Diabetes Mellitus, Pneumonia, hepatic failure, were found in 6.66% mothers. History of complications in previous pregnancies was present in 3.8% cases. History of lack of proper medical services in the hospital as possible factor leading to death was present in only 5 (4.8%) cases. Conclusion: Hemorrhage related with delivery, especially the antepartum hemorrhage emerged as the commonest cause of maternal mortality, followed by eclampsia. At the same time, lack of antenatal care and anaemia emerged as the commonest risk factors in this regard