Sixteen year retrospective analysis of rheumatic and non-rheumatic heart disease patients undergoing valve procedures at Groote Schuur Hospital first incidence single aortic and mitral valve replacement

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Rheumatic heart disease is still the most common cause of valvular heart lesions requiring replacement or repair procedures worldwide. In South Africa, where there is an interesting mix of first and third world dynamics, factors sustaining the epidemic of rheumatic disease are still commonplace. The choice of appropriate valve procedure and prosthesis in our setting will depend on an adequate knowledge of short and long term outcomes of valve replacement and repair. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the demographics and presentation of our rheumatic and non-rheumatic patients and to determine if our current implantation choices could be validated

Strangulated Tension Viscerothorax with Gangrene of the Stomach in Missed Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture

Acquired diaphragmatic hernias are usually posttraumatic in occurrence. In patients who have blunt trauma and associated diaphragmatic hernia, the diagnosis may be missed or delayed, often leading to poor treatment outcomes. We present a rare occurrence of tension viscerothorax due to missed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture in a 25-year-old woman whose condition was complicated by gangrene and perforation of the fundus as well as questionable viability of the anterior wall of the body of the stomach. The patient had a successful emergency transabdominal suture plication of the diaphragm and gastroplasty and has remained symptomless 3 months postoperatively

Ultrasonographic quantification of pleural effusion: comparison of four formulae

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlations of ultrasonographically estimated volumes of pleural fluid with the actual effusion volume in order to determine the most reliable formula. Methods In 32 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed pleural effusion, an ultrasound estimation was made of the volume of effusion using four different formulae, including two in the erect position and two in the supine position. Closed-tube thoracostomy drainage using a 28-Fr chest tube was performed. The total drainage was calculated after confirmation of full lung re-expansion and complete drainage by plain chest radiographs and ultrasound. The ultrasonographically estimated volume was compared to the actual total volume drained as the gold standard. Results There were 14 female and 18 male subjects. The mean age of all subjects was 41.56±18.34 years. Fifty percent of the effusions were in the left hemithorax. Metastatic disease accounted for the plurality of effusions (31.2%). The mean total volume drained for all the subjects was 2,770±1,841 mL. The ultrasonographically estimated volumes for the erect 1, erect 2, supine 1, and supine 2 formulae were 1,816±753 mL, 1,520±690 mL, 2,491±1,855 mL, and 1,393±787 mL, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients (r) for the estimate of each formula were 0.75, 0.81, 0.62, and 0.63, respectively. Conclusion Although both erect formulae showed similar correlations, the erect 2 formula (Goecke 2) was most closely correlated with the actual volume drained

Abdominal cocoon

This is a report of three cases of abdominal cocoon encountered in our Hospital, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. A 70 year old man with symptoms of subacute intestinal obstruction, a 20 year old lady with peritonitis due to gangrenous appendix and 19 year old with on and off acute intestianal obstruction. In all the cases, there were encasement of the small intestine and other surrounding organs by dense and thick fibrous tissue. Nigerian Journal of Surgical Sciences Vol. 15(2) 2005: 52-5

Missed Distal Tracheal Foreign Body in Consecutive Bronchoscopies in a 6‑year‑old Boy

It is unusual but not uncommon for foreign bodies to be missed at bronchoscopy. This case report highlights the importance of the clinical history in the diagnosis of aspirated foreign bodies and the usefulness of chest imaging modalities. A 6‑year‑old boy presented with recurrent breathlessness and cough of 2 months. He was said to have aspirated the base cap of a pen at about the time symptoms started. He had two sessions of rigid bronchoscopy and a session of flexible bronchoscopy at three different  hospitals. He had an initial rigid bronchoscopy which failed to show the foreign body (FB). A chest computerized tomographic scan demonstrated the FB, which was retrieved at combined flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. Although rigid bronchoscopy is the gold  standard for managing airway foreign bodies, there remains a false negative rate for this procedure and where necessary,  appropriate imaging may compliment rigid  bronchoscopy, especially where there is some confusion.Keywords: Bronchoscopy, foreign body, trache

Original Article Prevalence and patient characteristics associated with pleural tuberculosis in Nigeria

Background: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with a growing death rate. The pleural space is a common extrapulmonary site of involvement. The aim of this paper is to document prevalence and types of pleural involvement in pulmonary tuberculosis and patient characteristics associated with its occurrence. Methodology: The study was conducted in a hospital outpatient clinic in which consecutive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) or suspects were recruited and studied for the presence of co existing pleural disease or involvement (PD). Results: Of 100 patients studied, eighty-two (82%) had PTB alone and six (6%) patients had PD. Pleural effusion was responsible for the majority of the cases, accounting for 67 % of PD. There was no case of empyema. Mean age between patients with PTB and PTB/PD was similar. On univariate analysis, patients with PD had a shorter duration of symptoms and increased reporting of fever (p value =.0.02) and were also different from those with only PTB in HIV seropositivity and sputum smear from AFB (p value = 0.02 and 0.00 respectively). However, after adjustment for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni test, the only significant difference between them was in the HIV seropositivity rate (p value < 0.012). Conclusion: Less than one tenth of patients with PTB have co-existing and involvement of the pleural space. Pleural involvement is associated with HIV

Pattern of extremity arterial injury and outcome of repair in Southwest, Nigeria

Background: Extremity arterial injuries are an important cause of loss of life/limb after trauma. Early intervention is important for the good outcome. Objectives: The objective of this study is to review the pattern of presentation and study the factors that influences the outcome of extremity arterial injuries in our hospital. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients with injuries to the extremity arteries requiring surgical intervention from July 2007 to June 2015. Data obtained included biodata, ischemic time, arteries involved, surgical intervention, and outcomes and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Setting: Our hospital is the main referral hospital for vascular trauma serving four adjoining states in Nigeria and is linked to major cities by at least 3 Trunk-A federal roads. Subjects: The subjects are patients who were managed in our cardiovascular surgical unit for the study duration (July 2007–June 2015) who had extremity arterial injuries. Results: A total of 36 patients presenting with 40 arterial injuries in 37 limbs were studied. The mean age was 28.4 ± 10.3 years with male preponderance (88.9%). Gunshot injuries were the most common cause of arterial injuries (37.8%), followed by assault (27%). The mean time from injury to presentation for acute injuries was 20.4 h but 23 of the patients (63.8%) presented to the accident and emergency department within 12 h of injury. A limb salvage rate of 64.9% was achieved though ischemic times of ≥12 h were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: Prolonged ischemic time is associated with poor outcomes. Efforts should be put in place to reduce the limb ischemic times

Pattern of Extremity Arterial Injury and Outcome of Repair in Southwest, Nigeria

Background: Extremity arterial injuries are an important cause of loss of life/limb after trauma. Early intervention is important for the good outcome. Objectives: The objective of this study is to review the pattern of presentation and study the factors that influences the outcome of extremity arterial injuries in our hospital. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all patients with injuries to the extremity arteries requiring surgical intervention from July 2007 to June 2015. Data obtained included biodata, ischemic time, arteries involved, surgical intervention, and outcomes and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Setting: Our hospital is the main referral hospital for vascular trauma serving four adjoining states in Nigeria and is linked to major cities by at least 3 Trunk-A federal roads. Subjects: The subjects are patients who were managed in our cardiovascular surgical unit for the study duration (July 2007–June 2015) who had extremity arterial injuries. Results: A total of 36 patients presenting with 40 arterial injuries in 37 limbs were studied. The mean age was 28.4 ± 10.3 years with male preponderance (88.9%). Gunshot injuries were the most common cause of arterial injuries (37.8%), followed by assault (27%). The mean time from injury to presentation for acute injuries was 20.4 h but 23 of the patients (63.8%) presented to the accident and emergency department within 12 h of injury. A limb salvage rate of 64.9% was achieved though ischemic times of ≥12 h were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: Prolonged ischemic time is associated with poor outcomes. Efforts should be put in place to reduce the limb ischemic times