Clinical and Endoscopic Findings in Patients Presenting with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding is a severe medical condition that requires prompt evaluation and management. Understanding the clinical and endoscopic findings in patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Objective To investigate the age and sex composition, clinical presentations, and endoscopic findings of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding at a tertiary care hospital. Method A total of 561 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were included in the study. Data on age, sex, and clinical presentation were collected for each patient. Endoscopic findings were recorded, and the relative frequency of various upper gastrointestinal lesions was analyzed. Result The age distribution of patients revealed that 40.82% were between 15 and 45 years, 32.98% were aged 46 to 65 years, and 26.20% were above 65 years. Among the patients, 73.08% were male and 26.92% were female. Hematemesis was observed in 248 cases, while melena was present in 136 cases, and both were present in 171 cases. Recent onset anemia with positive occult blood was reported in 6 patients. The most common endoscopic finding was varices (39.39%), followed by ulcers (15.51%). Mallory Weiss tear was noted in 5.53% of cases. Conclusion According to our findings, varices are the most common endoscopic finding in individuals with upper gastrointestinal bleeding rather than peptic ulcer disease. The considerable increase in varices emphasizes the critical importance of early identification and care in high-risk individuals, as well as contributing to a better understanding of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) Score on Outcome of Patients Presenting with Acute Pancreatitis in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background Acute pancreatitis is a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas causing intense abdominal pain and potential harm to multiple organs. The mortality rate is 1-5% and thus requires specialized and interdisciplinary care to inhibit it. Objective To describe the bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis score on the outcome of acute pancreatitis patients in a tertiary care hospital. Method This is a hospital based observational cross-sectional study conducted in the internal medicine inpatient department of Dhulikhel Hospital from April 2018 and March 2019. This study reviewed the medical records of the department. Result The study included 70 participants with 44 (±14) years of average age and stating common cause as gallstone (45.7%). The study showed that those with bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis score ≥ 3 during hospital admission had significantly higher rate of organ failure (p-value < 0.05), as well as had a prolonged hospital stay (mean: 20 [±7.9] days). The mean hospital stay was 12.9 days. Conclusion Patients with bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis score greater than three at admission were found to have an increased risk of organ failure, significantly higher chances of requiring mechanical ventilation, and a longer duration of hospital stay.

Nitrobenzene Induced Methemoglobinemia with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Single Volume Exchange Transfusions.

Methemoglobinemia is a potentially fatal condition if left untreated. Conventional treatment of nitrobenzene induced methemoglobinemia dictates the use of methylene blue, which is the antidote of choice. However, its availability in our setting is limited only to the laboratory use. We present a case of a 21-year-old female with intentional ingestion of nitrobenzene. Clinical history and supportive investigations revealed methemoglobinemia and it was successfully managed with single volume exchange transfusions in absence of specific antidote. While exchange transfusions are indicated for severe cases, it may be useful as an alternative treatment in acute life-threatening conditions where methylene blue is not available.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Drop Hydrogen Peroxide Test as a Novel Bedside Diagnostic Test to Differentiate Transudative and Exudative Pleural Effusion Against Light's Criteria.

Background Diagnostic evaluation of pleural fluid according to Light's criteria to differentiate between exudative and transudative fluid takes 1 or 2 working days. For rapid clinical management, especially in critically ill patients, a simpler bedside diagnostic test can be done which has similar diagnostic accuracy as that of Light's Criteria. Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Drop Hydrogen Peroxide test to differentiate exudative and transudative pleural effusion in comparison to Light's criteria. Method A concurrent validity test was performed using a convenient sampling technique including patients presenting to the Department of Internal Medicine from January to September 2021, who had pleural effusion. Two milliliters of tapped pleural fluid of patients who underwent aseptic thoracocentesis was collected in a test tube to which one to two drops of 20% hydrogen peroxide was added. Presence of bubbles suggested an exudative type of fluid. Rest of the tapped pleural fluid was sent to the laboratory for further evaluation by Light's criteria, which was compared with the results by Drop Hydrogen Peroxide Test. Result There were 83 patients who had pleural effusion, of them a total of 43 patients had transudative pleural effusion while 40 patients had exudative pleural effusion based on Light's criteria and 37 patients had transudative pleural effusion while 46 patients had exudative pleural effusion based on drop hydrogen peroxide test. Conclusion The drop hydrogen peroxide test allows cost effective and prompt evaluation of the type of pleural effusion is exudative or transudative, thereby making it a convenient diagnostic bedside test.

Rickettsial Infection amongst Febrile Illness Patient in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study.

Background Rickettsial infection is an emerging neglected tropical disease in the Southeast Asia. In past few years Nepal is also reporting escalating prevalence of rickettsia. The under evaluation is resulting it as undiagnosed or are simply labeled as pyrexia of unknown origin. Objective To find out the prevalence of rickettsia in a hospital setting, assess the sociodemographic and other relevant clinical features of the rickettsia patients. Method This is a hospital based retrospective cross-sectional study from October 2020 to October 2021. This study reviewed the medical records of the department. Result The study included 105 eligible patients and the prevalence rate was 4.38 per 100 patients. The mean age of the participants was 42 years, and the mean hospital stay was 3 (SD ±2.06) days. More than 55% of the participants had fever for less than or equal to 5 days and 9% had Eschar present. Vomiting, headache, and myalgia were the most common symptoms and hypertension, and diabetes were the common comorbidities. Pneumonia and the acute kidney injury were the two complications of the patients as stated in the study. The severity of the thrombocytopenia deducted from admission time to discharge, and the case fatality was 4%. Conclusion The future studies shall consider on collaborative clinical and entomological research. This would help in better understanding of the etiology of supposedly unknown febrile illness and the under-investigated field of emerging rickettsia in Nepal.

Clinical Dilemma of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and COVID-19 Infection.

The COVID-19 Pneumonia with diabetic ketoacidosis is a dreadful health condition. Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the severe metabolic complications and it can be precipitated by infection. We presented a case of 48 years female with no known comorbidities who presented with COVID-19 symptoms and with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. The case presented with elevated inflammatory markers, high anion gap metabolic acidosis with type I respiratory failure. During admission, the oxygen saturation had marked drop, later her improvement was steady followed by gradual tapering of the oxygenation. Marked improvement was noticed in the subsequent follow-up. COVID-19 infection can be precipitated by preexisting diabetes or newly diagnosed diabetes and the severity of COVID-19 infection is more pronounced in patients with diabetes mellitus, thus should be managed timely and accordingly. The scarce studies among the COVID-19 cases with diabetic ketoacidosis reflect the need for further studies for the availability of a wider range of information.

Smoking and Thromboangitis Obliterans- Are they related ?

INTRODUCTION: In 1908 Leo Buerger first gave the world the clinical picture of this dreadful disease which he called Thromboangitis Obliterans. Virtually all investigators believe that smoking or tobacco use in some form is a requirement for the diagnosis of Thromboangitis Obliterans. We studied the demographic profile and smoking pattern of patients with Thromboangiitis Obliterans. METHODS: Retrospective study carried out in a tertiary level hospital of South India from 1st January 1997 to 31st December 2003. Patients fulfilling Shionoya's criteria form the study group. Incidence of Thromboangitis Obliterans, relation to smoking habits, type and nature of manifestation were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 105 cases were studied and found to have declining pattern of incidence from 0.9%-0.3%. All patients were males, smokers at the time admission and 76% out of them were from low socioeconomic background. Patients smoking 5-15 cigarettes per day, for 5-10 years duration constituted 45% of the study group. The most frequent reasons for being referred to hospital were ischemic ulcers (83.80%), claudication (78.0%) and rest pain (26.66%). CONCLUSIONS: In those who present early with the disease the number of cigarettes and duration of smoking shows no direct correlation to the severity. Most patients continue to smoke inspite of counseling and awareness that the disease progresses due to smoking. Ulcer, intermittent claudication and rest pain are the three common presenting symptoms of Thromboangitis Obliterans.

Experience with common bile duct exploration at Lumbini Medical College.

Common bile duct stones represent a significant danger to patients, because they can lead to biliary colic, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, or pancreatitis. Common bile duct stones either migrate from the gallbladder or form primarily within the bile ducts themselves. Primary stones are more common in South Asia and are usually sequelae of biliary infection and stasis. In the United States and other Western countries, common bile duct stones are predominantly secondary stones, having formed in the gallbladder. In patients who have gallstones, and in whom a cholecystectomy is considered, common bile duct stones can be found preoperatively, intraoperatively, or postoperatively. Ten percent to 15% of patients undergoing a cholecystectomy will be found to have choledocholithiasis at some point during their treatment. We present our case of 16 patients of common bile duct stones with or without cholelithiasis from April 2011 to March 2012. To review the treatment and outcome of patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones who underwent cholecystecomy with open common bile exploration (CBDE). We analysed the fact that cholecystectomy with commonbile duct exploration still holds as a good modality of treatment where ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde cholangio pancreaticogram) is not available. All 16 persons in age group of 20-65 years, all females with body weight in the range of 45-60 kgs undergoing inpatient common bile duct exploration during April 2011- March 2012 were included. Common bile duct exploration was successful in all patients. Mean operating time was 120 +/- 40 minutes and length of hospital stay was 13 +/- 3days. 3 complications (18.75%) were recorded, 2 cases of retained stone (12.5%) who underwent choledochoduodenostomy. In 16 patients undergoing common bile duct exploration, CBD stones were discovered with flexible choledochoscope and intraoperative cholangiography. None of the Gallbladder specimen revealed any feature of malignancy in final histopatholgical report. All patients are doing fine till date. Open common bile duct exploration can still be a gold standard technique in set up where ERCP is not available. The results of common bile duct exploration are good with less complications in experienced hands.

Acute appendicitis in elderly patients: a challenge for surgeons.

The classic symptoms of acute appendicitis are seldom seen in the elderly patient. More subtle symptoms and the more virulent pathologic course allow the disease to progress rapidly and insidiously. This leads to delayed hospitalization, diagnosis and treatment. The high incidence of concomitant diseases and the multiplicity of differential diagnostic possibilities in this age group are also factors. The aim of this study is to compare the results of appendicitis operated at Lumbini Medical College, Pravas, in patients younger than 60 and patient elder than 60 years of age. All patients aged 60 years and older who underwent appendectomy for appendicitis between January 2008, and December 2011, were studied and compared with the patients who were younger than 60 years of age. All the operations were performed by consultant surgeons at Lumbini Medical College, Pravas, Tansen. Preoperative USG was done in all the cases. Preoperative antibiotics were given in all the cases. All patients underwent appendectomy as an emergency basis. The results were compared with regard to age, sex, pre-operative evaluation, operative duration and findings, postoperative course, duration of hospital stay, and mortality rate. There were 50 patients in group 1 and 150 patients in group 2 who met the inclusion criteria. The mean age (64 years for group 1 and 28 years for group 2), sex, preoperative suggestion of appendicitis (group 1, 35 [70%] of 50 patients; group 2, 135 [90%] of 150 patients), and duration of the preoperative hospitalization over 24 hours (group 1, 1 patients [20%]; group 2, 30 patients [20%]) were similar in both groups. Laparoscopy was used in (group 1, 5 patients [10%]; group 2, 6 patients [4%] and associated with no significant difference in the duration of hospitalization, frequency of appendiceal perforation or abscess, occurrence of complications, or mortality. The length of operating time was more in the first group. The mean hospital stay was 5.3 in group 1 and 2.2 in group 2 (p < 0.05). Also duration of Hospital stay was 9.5 days for perforated appendicitis and 5.4 for non perforated appendicitis in both group (p < 0.05). Advanced age adversely affects clinical diagnosis, the stage of the disease and the outcomes. Late presentation, delayed diagnosis, presence of perforation and co-morbidities are associated with poor outcome from surgery.