Antibiotic prescription patterns in the emergency department of a tertiary healthcare center in Nepal: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe antibiotic prescription patterns in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary healthcare center in Nepal. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of hospital records of patients who visited the ED. RESULTS: Of the 758 ED patients included in the study, 384 (50.6%) received a total of 536 antibiotic prescriptions. Common indications for antibiotic prescriptions included respiratory infection (37.5%), gastrointestinal infection (19.3%), urinary infection (10.4%), and prophylaxis (29.9%). Antibiotics listed as essential in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and generic formulations were used in 77.1% and 61.9% of the antibiotic prescriptions, respectively. Injectable antibiotics were prescribed to 54.9% of the 384 patients. Frequently prescribed antibiotics included ceftriaxone (34.1%), metronidazole (18.5%), amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (15.9%), and cefixime (14.3%). Bacterial culture testing was performed in 15.1% of the patients who received antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that overuse of antibiotics, prescription of branded antibiotics, prescription of antibiotics not listed in the NLEM, prophylactic use of antibiotics, and empirical treatment of suspected infections without isolation of pathogens were all prevalent. We recommend more research to determine the causes underlying these practices and develop interventions to limit such practices.

Effect of simulation-based emergency airway management education on the knowledge, skills and perceived confidence of medical interns.

Background: An effective airway management education program is a crucial part of the undergraduate medical education curriculum. Theoretical instructions and practical demonstrations are the major modalities of medical education in Nepal. Simulation-based education (SBE) programs have not yet been implemented effectively. The authors aimed to determine the effects of an SBE program on the knowledge, skills, and perceived confidence of medical interns regarding emergency airway management. Methods: This mixed methods study comprised both quantitative and qualitative components. The study participants were 47 medical interns who had participated in the SBE program. Results: The mean age of the 47 participants was 24.74 years. There were 33 (70.21%) male and 14 (29.79%) female participants. The knowledge, skills, and perceived confidence scores of the participants for airway management preparation, basic airway management, endotracheal intubation, and laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion improved significantly following the SBE program (P<0.001). Analysis of the participants' feedback indicated that they largely approved of the SBE program. The majority of students and faculty expressed a willingness to include similar programs in the undergraduate medical education curriculum. Conclusion: This study demonstrated through quantitative and qualitative metrics that SBE can enhance the knowledge, skills, and perceived confidence in performing emergency airway management among medical interns. The authors recommend measures to include and effectively implement SBE in the undergraduate medical education curriculum of Nepal.

Malignant recto-jejunal fistula: a rare case report.

Introduction and importance: Malignancy can lead to colo-enteric fistulas. A malignant fistula between the rectum and the jejunum is a rare occurrence. Case presentation: A 60-year-old female suffered from diarrhea, vomiting, and epigastric pain for 4 months. After demonstration of a dilated rectum with heterogeneous collection on ultrasonography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) along with rectal contrast was done, which showed heterogeneously enhancing asymmetrical circumferential thickening of the proximal rectum, including rectosigmoid junction, collection in the rectum and two recto-jejunal fistulous tracts. Colonoscopy showed ulcero-proliferative growth in the rectum with two fistulous tracts communicating with the jejunum. Biopsy from the growth indicated a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Conservative and palliative treatment was provided. Clinical discussion: Clinical features of colo-enteric fistulas can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. The patient may be asymptomatic in some cases. Options for diagnosis include barium studies, enteroscopy, colonoscopy, CECT, and computed tomography enterography (CTE). Malignant bowel fistula is associated with serious complications resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates. Surgical resection and fistula repair are the mainstay of curative treatment. Conclusion: Long-standing gastrointestinal symptoms like chronic diarrhea in the elderly should be investigated with imaging modalities like CECT. Early detection with imaging can reduce debilitating metabolic and nutritional deficiencies and improve patient's morbidity and mortality.

Spontaneous falciform ligament necrosis: A rare case report.

Spontaneous and isolated necrosis of the falciform ligament is a rare condition. A 55-year-old lady presented with sudden onset of epigastric pain, fever and vomiting. Laboratory studies revealed less than three-fold increase in serum amylase and lipase levels. Ultrasound examination and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) revealed features suggestive of inflammation and necrosis of the falciform ligament involving ligamentum teres hepatis and extending to the lesser omentum with an adjacent minimal ill-defined collection. Then, conservative management was started. However, the symptoms did not resolve completely. Therefore, CECT scan was repeated 12 days later which showed findings similar to previous scan with expansion and organization of the collection anterior to lesser omentum with peripheral enhancement, suggestive of an abscess. A minimally invasive approach to treatment was adopted. Aspiration of the collection was performed under ultrasound guidance. This was followed by continuation of supportive management. The patient improved clinically and was discharged. This case study highlights the importance of imaging in the diagnosis of falciform ligament necrosis. An innovative minimally invasive approach to treatment in the form of ultrasound guided aspiration may be considered when a collection is present adjacent to the necrosed falciform ligament.

Demographic and clinical profile of patients undergoing colonoscopy at a tertiary care center in Nepal: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Colonoscopy is widely used as a tool for diagnosis, screening and treatment of various pathologies in the rectum, colon, and terminal ileum. The aim of this study is to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and histological parameters of the records of patients undergoing colonoscopy at a tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Materials and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included the hospital records of all patients who underwent colonoscopy from 2015 to 2019 in a tertiary care centre in Nepal. Results: A total of 1255 records were included in the study. The mean and standard deviation of age were 43.8 and 19 years, respectively. Among the total study population, 61.9% were males and 38.1% were females. Common indications for colonoscopy included lower gastrointestinal bleeding (27.7%), altered bowel habit (26.9%) and persistent or recurrent abdominal pain (17.3%). Only 3% of the patients who underwent colonoscopy had inadequate bowel preparation. The overall diagnostic yield of colonoscopy was 57.5%. Findings during colonoscopy included colorectal polyp (19.4%), internal haemorrhoids (8.2%) and colitis (6.5%). Having an age of 50 or more years was significantly associated with the presence of colorectal adenocarcinoma (P=0.017, χ2 test) with an odds ratio of 2.35 (95% CI: 1.14, 4.89). Furthermore, having a female sex was found to be significantly associated with the presence of colorectal adenocarcinoma (P=0.012, χ2 test) with an odds ratio of 2.43 (95% CI: 1.19, 4.97). Conclusion: In the authors' study, a smaller proportion of the colonoscopies was aimed at screening for colorectal carcinoma (CRC), when compared to studies in developed countries. The sex predisposition of CRC in the authors' study is in contrast to the global trend. The authors recommend conducting studies to determine the risk factors and need for CRC screening in the Nepalese population.

Lambda-cyhalothrin ingestion: an infrequent yet concerning presentation of pyrethroid poisoning.

Introduction and importance: Lambda-cyhalothrin is a type II pyrethroid compound commonly used as a pesticide, with the potential to cause life-threatening toxicity in humans. Furthermore, among cases of pesticide poisoning in Nepal, organophosphates are most frequently implicated. Case presentation: A 40-year-old female presented to our hospital after ingesting a pesticide compound with suicidal intent. She also admitted to alcohol intoxication and exhibited symptoms of confusion, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. An atropine challenge test yielded negative results. Therefore, conservative management was continued. It was discovered later that the ingested pesticide was lambda-cyhalothrin. The patient's condition eventually improved with supportive treatment. Clinical discussion: Several reports have highlighted the overlapping clinical features between organophosphorus and pyrethroid poisoning. In some cases of pyrethroid poisoning, misdiagnosis as organophosphorus poisoning has occurred, leading to the inappropriate administration of atropine. In our case, initial management was challenging owing to the lack of accurate information about the ingested compound. On further evaluation, cholinergic clinical features were absent and the atropine challenge test was negative. This was suggestive of nonorganophosphorus compound poisoning. Conclusion: This case illustrates that managing pesticide poisoning becomes challenging when the nature of the pesticide is unknown. Patients suffering from poisoning caused by pyrethroid compounds like lambda-cyhalothrin can present with features resembling organophosphorus poisoning. In such circumstances, a comprehensive clinical evaluation should guide the management. Clinical features and an atropine challenge test can aid in differentiating organophosphorus from nonorganophosphorus compound poisoning. This distinction facilitates therapeutic decision-making, including the consideration of atropine administration.

Spontaneous Common Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm: A Case Report.

Spontaneous femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in a young person with no comorbidity is a rare occurrence. A 30 years old gentleman presented to our hospital with complaints of painful swelling of spontaneous onset in the right inguinal region for 15 days. He had undergone incision and drainage of the contents of the swelling five days back but he suffered from a recurrence of the painful right inguinal swelling and persistent bleeding from the incision site for four days. Computed tomography showed a pseudoaneurysm of the right common femoral artery. It was treated surgically by emergency exploration, hematoma evacuation, removal of pseudoaneurysm, and repair of the defect in the right common femoral artery. In this case, we were fortunate that inadvertent incision of the pseudoaneurysm didn't result in a massive haemorrhage. This serves as a reminder that the possibility of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm should be considered when evaluating a swelling of the inguinal region. Keywords: case report; common femoral artery; misdiagnosis; pseudoaneurysm; vascular surgery.