Point-of-care lung ultrasound for the detection of pulmonary manifestations of malaria and sepsis: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with severe malaria or sepsis are at risk of developing life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The objective of this study was to evaluate point-of-care lung ultrasound as a novel tool to determine the prevalence and early signs of ARDS in a resource-limited setting among patients with severe malaria or sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serial point-of-care lung ultrasound studies were performed on four consecutive days in a planned sub study of an observational cohort of patients with malaria or sepsis in Bangladesh. We quantified aeration patterns across 12 lung regions. ARDS was defined according to the Kigali Modification of the Berlin Definition. RESULTS: Of 102 patients enrolled, 71 had sepsis and 31 had malaria. Normal lung ultrasound findings were observed in 44 patients on enrolment and associated with 7% case fatality. ARDS was detected in 10 patients on enrolment and associated with 90% case fatality. All patients with ARDS had sepsis, 4 had underlying pneumonia. Two patients developing ARDS during hospitalisation already had reduced aeration patterns on enrolment. The SpO2/FiO2 ratio combined with the number of regions with reduced aeration was a strong prognosticator for mortality in patients with sepsis (AUROC 91.5% (95% Confidence Interval: 84.6%-98.4%)). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential usefulness of point-of-care lung ultrasound to detect lung abnormalities in patients with malaria or sepsis in a resource-constrained hospital setting. LUS was highly feasible and allowed to accurately identify patients at risk of death in a resource limited setting.

Cystoscopic removal of leeches in the lower urinary tract: our experience.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of managing leech infestation in lower urinary tract from a tropical country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records (January 2002 to December 2010) of children with history of leech infestation in the urinary system, admitted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Chittagong Medical College & Hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh were reviewed. All patients underwent saline irrigation through urethral catheter. When saline irrigation failed, cystoscopic examination was done with removal of leeches by flexible graspers. Follow-up was done 2 weeks later. RESULT: The study included 117 patients. Age ranged from 4 to 12 years. Male and female ratio was 3.7:1. All patients had per urethral bleeding. 51 (43.6%) patients had suprapubic pain. All children underwent saline irrigation through urethral catheter. Spontaneous expulsion occurred after saline irrigation in 57 (48.7%) patients. The expelled leeches were alive in 11 cases; dead in 46 patients. Cystoscopic removal of leeches was done in 60 patients (51.3%). In the cystoscopic group, 54 of the removed leeches were dead and 6 were alive. CONCLUSION: Cystoscopic removal can be a useful technique for the removal of leeches from the urinary tract when saline irrigation fails.