Kenyan-Belgian Project in Marine Sciences: First Quarterly Report

The scientific programs, discussed with the Belgian experts during the two first years of the project are successfully running now. In general terms the research work in the different fields is carried on as last year. Some new programs fitting in the framework of the project, have been started recently. In order to develop the present project into a Regional Project of Marine Sciences, Prof. Polk - Director of the KBP established contacts with Universities and International Organizations (UNESCO, UNEP, IUCN, EEC..). Prof. Polk has been appointed expert by UNEP to undertake a mission to visit the Institutes, Universities and Ministries of the East African 1 I countries and the West Indian Ocean Islands, to discuss the possibilities for an interdisciplinary collaboration on a regional basis. Besides this mission, Mr. Onyango and Mr. Pissierssens of the Computer Section - KMFRI, were asked by UNESCO to elaborate the possibilities of a computer network for a Documentation and Scientific Data Base for the East African Region. For the organization of the scientific work a seminar is organized at the end of each month to discuss the sampling schedule for the next month. As there is only one 4-wheel drive Landrover, lent to us by the Cooperation Section - Belgian Embassy Nairobi, and two canoes with outboard engines for a team of about 15 research officers working on different research fields, a coordinated planning for transport is needed so that each research topic sampling can be done. However, the most important hamper for the continuity of the research work is still transport, besides the fact that delivery of equipment ordered from Belgium takes a long time. During the monthly meetings, the progress of the research work of the different topics is discussed as well as any problem concerning the sampling and research

The role of open abdomen in non-trauma patient : WSES Consensus Paper

The open abdomen (OA) is defined as intentional decision to leave the fascial edges of the abdomen un-approximated after laparotomy (laparostomy). The abdominal contents are potentially exposed and therefore must be protected with a temporary coverage, which is referred to as temporal abdominal closure (TAC). OA use remains widely debated with many specific details deserving detailed assessment and clarification. To date, in patients with intra-abdominal emergencies, the OA has not been formally endorsed for routine utilization; although, utilization is seemingly increasing. Therefore, the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS) and the Donegal Research Academy united a worldwide group of experts in an international consensus conference to review and thereafter propose the basis for evidence-directed utilization of OA management in non-trauma emergency surgery and critically ill patients. In addition to utilization recommendations, questions with insufficient evidence urgently requiring future study were identified.Peer reviewe