The impact of education level on Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: For effective Public Health measures, factors that influence Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) need to be understood. In this paper, we document the relationship between levels of education on the KAP towards COVID-19 among the population of Edo State, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional KAP questionnaire was delivered across 13 communities. The study population was dichotomized into those who had or had not completed secondary education. Chi-square tests were conducted to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: Of the 538 participants, 30% had completed secondary education. Those with secondary education were significantly more likely to recognize symptoms of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). For attitudes, only one option showed a statistically significant association with 78.4% of those who did not complete secondary education having a high confidence in the church compared with 66% of those who had (P = 0.022). For practices, those who have completed secondary education practiced all of the supplied measures more than those who had not, except for taking herbal supplements. DISCUSSION: Higher levels of education impacts on knowledge and practices but has less impact on attitudes regarding how well certain individuals/organizations can handle the pandemic. Findings highlighted the importance of tailoring public health communication and strategies to local populations to improve the efficacy.

Retinal ischemia with neovascularization in cisplatin related retinal toxicity.

PURPOSE: To report a case of macular ischemia and retinal neovascularization in a patient who received cisplatin related chemotherapy. DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: A patient with germ cell testicular tumor received polychemotherapy (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin or BEP) for a recurrence of his tumor. Ten weeks after completion of treatment, he presented with loss of vision in his left eye. RESULTS: Fluorescein angiography revealed bilateral retinal ischemia and left retinal neovascularization. Panretinal laser photocoagulation was performed. Unfortunately, his vision did not improve. CONCLUSIONS: Like interferon, cisplatin related chemotherapy could cause considerable ocular morbidity. It can cause marked irreversible visual loss at therapeutic dose, and it is not well recognized. Retinal neovascularization related to cisplatin therapy has not been previously reported. Physicians should be aware and warn patients of the potential ophthalmic side effects of cisplatin related chemotherapy.

LBBB with History of Complete Atrioventricular Dissociation Underwent Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty.

A 70-year-old female patient, known case of hypertension and incomplete Left bundle branch block (LBBB), posted for bipolar hemiarthroplasty. A geriatric patient with LBBB and systemic hypertension is a fatal combination; it may precipitate into complete AV dissociation during anaesthesia and surgical stress. We are reporting this interesting case as our patient had developed complete Atrioventricular (AV) dissociation when scheduled earlier for surgery and got postponed. We had given combined spinal epidural anaesthesia and managed successfully without any complication.

Evaluation of the Effect of Tracheal Tube Orientation on Success of Intubation through Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway.

INTRODUCTION: Polyvinyl Chloride Endotracheal Tube (PVC ETT) can be used as an alternative to Fastrach Silicone Wire-Reinforced Tube (FTST) for intubation through Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway (ILMA) as the latter is expensive and has low volume high pressure cuff. AIM: To evaluate the effects of orientation of PVC ETT (normal curve and reverse curve) on the success of intubation through ILMA, haemodynamic response and postoperative sore throat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty healthy adult patients of ASA physical status I & II scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation were randomly divided into two groups. In Normal (N) group (n=30), the tracheal tube was inserted with its natural curve following the 90° curvature of ILMA. In Reverse (R) group (n=30), the tracheal tube was inserted with its natural curve directed opposite to the curvature of ILMA. The time taken to intubate, number of attempts, and maneuvers required for successful endotracheal intubation along with haemodynamics and oxygen saturation were noted. Postoperative sore throat was evaluated using a Verbal Analogue Scale (VAS) (0-10). Qualitative data was analysed by Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact test. Quantitative data was analysed by unpaired t-test and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Placement of ILMA was successful in all patients. Total Intubation Time (mean±SD) in Group N was 12.53±1.78 seconds and in Group R was 11.97±1.33 seconds (p>0.05). Tracheal intubation through ILMA was successful in all patients. First attempt success rate in R Group (26 patients, 86.7%) was higher than N Group (22 patients, 73.3%) (p>0.05). Four patients (13.3%) in R Group and 8 patients (26.7%) in N Group required 2nd step of Chandy's maneuver during second attempt for successful intubation. Incidence of sore throat 6 hours postoperatively was statistically significant (median value 2.00 in N Group vs. 0.00 in R Group) between two groups. CONCLUSION: PVC ETT with reverse orientation increases first attempt success rate of intubation through ILMA with less immediate postoperative laryngeal morbidity.

Smoking and cataract: review of causal association.

Several risk factors for the development of cataract have been identified. This review evaluates epidemiologic literature that has examined tobacco smoking as a risk factor for cataract formation using established causality criteria. Twenty-seven studies were included in this review. Evidence suggests that smoking has a 3-fold increase on the risk for incident nuclear cataract development. There was also evidence of dose response, temporal relationship, and reversibility of effect. There was limited evidence of an association between smoking and posterior subcapsular cataract, but little or no association with cortical cataract. Thus, the literature review indicated a strong association between smoking and the development of cataract, particularly nuclear cataract. The association fulfills the established criteria for causality. The association between smoking and other types of cataract is less distinct and requires further evaluation.

Lateral approach for supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

A lateral approach described by Volker Hempel and Dr. Dilip Kotharihas been further studied, evaluated and described in detail in the present study. The aim of this study was to evaluate lateral approach of supraclavicular brachial plexus block, mainly in terms of successes rate and complication rate. The study was conducted in secondary level hospital and tertiary level hospital from 2004 to 2008. It was a prospective nonrandomized open-level study. Eighty-two patients of both sexes, aged between 18 and 65 years with ASA Grade I and II scheduled to undergo elective major surgery of the upper limb below the midarm, were selected for this new lateral approach of brachial plexus block. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block, any complications and need for supplement anaesthesia were observed. Success and complication rate were calculated in percentage. Average onset and duration of sensory and motor block was calculated as mean ± SD and percentage. Out of 82 patients, 75 (92%) have got successful block with no significant complication in any case.