Perioperative serum albumin as a predictor of adverse outcomes in abdominal surgery: prospective cohort hospital based study in Northern Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Albumin is an important protein that transports hormones, fatty acids, and exogenous drugs; it also maintains plasma oncotic pressure. Albumin is considered a negative active phase protein because it decreases during injuries and sepsis. In spite of other factors predicting surgical outcomes, the effect of pre and postoperative serum albumin to surgical complications can be assessed by calculating the percentage decrease in albumin (delta albumin). This study aimed to explore perioperative serum albumin as a predictor of adverse outcomes in major abdominal surgeries. METHODS: All eligible adult participants from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Surgical Department were enrolled in a convenient manner. Data were collected using a study questionnaire. Full Blood Count (FBP), serum albumin levels preoperatively and on postoperative day 1 were measured in accordance with Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Data was entered and analyzed using STATA version 14. Association and extent of decrease in albumin levels as a predictor of surgical site infection (SSI), delayed wound healing and death within 30 days of surgery was determined using ordinal logistic regression models. In determining the diagnostic accuracy, a Non-parametric Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) model was used. We adjusted for ASA classification, which had a negative confounding effect on the predictive power of the percent drop in albumin to adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Sixty one participants were studied; the mean age was 51.6 (SD16.3), the majorities were males 40 (65.6%) and post-operative adverse outcomes were experienced by 28 (45.9%) participants. In preoperative serum albumin values, 40 (67.8%) had lower than 3.4 g/l while 51 (91%) had postoperative albumin values lower than 3.4 g/l. Only 15 (27.3%) had high delta albumin with the median percentage value of 14.77%. Delta albumin was an independent significant factor associated with adverse outcome (OR: 6.68; 95% CI: 1.59, 28.09); with a good predictive power and area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% CI 0.55 0.89). The best cutoff value was 11.61% with a sensitivity of 76.92% and specificity of 51.72%. CONCLUSION: Early perioperative decreases in serum albumin levels may be a good, simple and cost effective tool to predict adverse outcomes in major abdominal surgeries.

Colorectal Cancer in Northern Tanzania: Increasing Trends and Late Presentation Present Major Challenges.

PURPOSE: A trend of increasing incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been observed in northern Tanzania. Studies have shown a six-fold increase in CRC in the past decade, with 90% of patients presenting in late stages, with resultant high morbidity and mortality rates. In this study, we aimed to document the burden of CRC in the northern zone of Tanzania from 1998 to 2018, focusing on patient presentation, clinical features, and treatment at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Pathological and clinical records for all patients from 1998 to 2018 were identified and reviewed. Records of patients whose CRC was diagnosed histologically were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Approximately 313 CRC cases were documented. The majority age group (29.1%) was between 50 and 64 years (mean [standard deviation], 54.28 [16.75] years). However, together, the age groups of patients younger than 50 years was 41.5% (n = 130). Of 174 patients with complete records, most (29.3%) were between 35 and 49 years of age. The median age was 52 (interquartile range, 40-67) years. Men accounted for 62.1% of patients and were mostly from the Kilimanjaro region. More than half (54.7%) presented > 3 months after symptom debut; 62.6% first sought care at lower-level health facilities. Most (64.9%) presented as emergencies, necessitating colostomy for fecal diversion as the initial surgical procedure in 60.3% of patients. Colonoscopy was performed for 38.6% of the study participants. Most tumors (72.7%) originated from the sigmoid and rectum. Adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent histologic type. CONCLUSION: High proportions of young individuals with CRC pose great concern and a need for further appraisal. Furthermore, late emergency presentation and low colonoscopy rates highlights underlying system challenges and need for education campaigns.

Tubular Duplication of the Midgut Presenting with Acute Abdomen and Hematochezia: A Case Report from Northern Tanzania.

Enteric duplication is one of the rare malformations affecting the small intestine more than the other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. It poses a challenge in diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms that may mimic other pathologies. Furthermore, the management options including total resection, mucosal striping, and internal drainage of the duplicate depend on the presentation of the patient, site, and length of the involved bowel. We present the first documented case of enteric duplication in Tanzania, a 3-year-old male, who was found to have a 90 cm long jejunoileal duplicate. We discuss the presentation and management offered.