To determine the incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis in general surgical patients of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Apparent rarity of post-operative DVT and pulmonary embolism in Asian patients was first reported since 1964. Very few literature and clinical studies were done for post-operative DVT in Asian population as well as in Malaysia.Compared to the Western hemisphere,low incidence 2.6% to 15.3% was reported from Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysian studies.Conflicting results of high incidence in orthopaedic patients was reported in two other Asian studies from Hong Kong and Malaysia.To find out the incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in our general surgical patients after major surgical procedures.To find out the subgroups of patients at special risk to post-operative DVT.To reviewthe policy of withholding routine DVT prophylaxis in Malaysian patients

The incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis in general surgical patients of Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis is believed to be rare in Asians. During recent years, a few reports have appeared with high incidence in orthopaedic patients comparable to Western studies. This study was carried out to find out the incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after major surgical procedures in general surgical patients in an Asian population. In a prospective study of 45 consecutive Asian patients after major general surgery, colour-flow duplex scan of the legs as an initial screening was done twice within two weeks. Mean age of the patients was 54 years 5 months and 87% of patients were included in the moderate and high risk group for deep vein thrombosis. Ascending venography was used to confirm deep vein thrombosis on patients with equivocal or positive results from colour flow duplex scan. One patient showed positive evidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis on colour flow duplex scan which was further confirmed by ascending venography; giving an incidence of 2.2%. The incidence of post-operative deep vein thrombosis in general surgical patients is lower than the Western studies

Suppurative BCG lymphadenitis and the importance of microbiology investigations – a case report

Suppurative BCG lymphadenitis can easily be overlooked, as it mimics other diseases such as tuberculous lymphadenitis. A case of a three-month old female infant who received the BCG vaccination at birth presented with isolated left axillary mass at two months of age. She was initially treated as lymph node abscess but was referred to the hospital due to the increasing size of the swelling. Needle aspiration was done and the microbiology analysis came out positive for acid-fast bacilli. She was planned for syrup isoniazid; however, the management team withheld treatment until they were certain of the identity of the bacteria. The bacteria was confirmed by the molecular method to be Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain. The case report highlights the importance of the microbiology investigations for appropriate management in this case