Neonatal Cholestasis - Single Centre Experience in Central India.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal cholestasis syndrome (NCS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. The disorder has rarely been studied in centers from Central India. OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence, clinical presentation and etiology of NCS at a tertiary referral center in Central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out at a tertiary referral center in Central India. The study is a descriptive study. The records of all patients with suspected NCS treated in the Department of Pediatrics from 2007-2012 were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-eight children had a provisional diagnosis of NCS. The complete records of 100 children were available for the study. The median age of presentation was 78 days (range 15-270 days). The male: female ratio was 1.17:1. The clinical features noted were- jaundice (100/100,100%), failure to thrive (73,73%), organomegaly (68, 68%), acholic stools (38,38%), abdominal distention (52,52%) and poor feeding (29, 29%). The etiology as confirmed by investigations is as follows- neonatal hepatitis (20,20%), idiopathic neonatal hepatitis (18,18%), biliary atresia (41,41%), sepsis (14,14%) and others (7,7%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of NCS in our group of patients was 1.2 per 1000 patients. Jaundice, organomegaly and failure to thrive are the common presentations. Biliary atresia, neonatal hepatitis and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis were the common etiological factors at our center.

Inflammatory bowel disease in central India: a single centre experience over five years.

In this retrospective study, the records of all patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease between 2005 and 2010 were analysed. Ulcerative colitis is far more common than Crohn's disease in our setting. The incidence is similar in both sexes and the age at diagnosis for both is similar. Limited left-sided ulcerative colitis is more common. Crohn's disease is difficult to diagnose and is commonly treated as tuberculosis in our setting.

Acute febrile illness in cirrhosis - thinking beyond spontaneous bacterial peritonitis!

The aim of this study was to look at the aetiological factors presenting as acute febrile illness in cirrhotic patients. The study group included all cirrhotic patients admitted as inpatients between January and December 2011 with a history of fever of less than seven days duration. Detailed history, clinical examination and investigations, as required, were noted. The data collected were analysed. A total of 42 patients formed the study group. The male-to-female ratio was 9.5:1. The mean age at presentation was 45.09 years (24-77 years). The aetiological factors for fever were: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (20), lower respiratory tract infection (8), urinary tract infection (6), lower limb cellulitis (4), acute cholecystitis (2) and malaria (2). The mean MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score at presentation was 20.4. Three patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and a mean MELD score of 31 died during the hospital admission. Febrile illness in cirrhosis is attributable to multiple causes. Outcome is dependent on the severity of underlying liver disease.

V-y advancement flap technique in resurfacing postexcisional defect in cases with pilonidal sinus disease-study of 25 cases.

We report our experience of technique of V-Y-plasty in treatment of pilonidal sinus. A retrospective study of 25 patients performed from 2005 to 2010 at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune, was performed. The unilateral or bilateral V-Y advancement flap technique was used in the management of these patients. The outcome was assessed on the basis of efficacy of flap surgery in achieving wound healing and recurrence. The follow-up ranged from 6 months to 5 years. The study included 25 cases of pilonidal sinus. Nineteen patients (76%) underwent unilateral V-Y-plasty and six patients (24%) underwent bilateral V-Y-plasty. Eighty-four percent cases were from the age group of 21-30 years. Sixty-eight percent patients were mobilized on the fourth postoperative day and 32% patients were mobilized on the third postoperative day. No recurrence was found in any of the patients. Itching and hypertrophic scar were found in two cases (8%), and decreased sensation was found in one patient (4%). The V-Y advancement flap technique for the treatment of pilonidal sinus is efficient and can reduce recurrence. Unilateral/bilateral V-Y flap achieves suture line away from midline, obliteration of natal fold and coverage of defect without tension. In follow-up none of the patients showed recurrence. This technique has distinctly less morbidity and avoids of multiple dressings, reducing the total cost of the treatment. V-Y advancement flap is distinctly better choice among the available flaps as it is less time-consuming, requires less technical expertise as compared to Z-plasty and perforator flaps, and is reliable and easy to plan.