The impact of non-closure of the platysma muscle layer on the cosmesis of thyroidectomy scar - a randomised double-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The relevance of closing the platysma muscle layer after open thyroidectomy has received little interest in terms of research. The objective was to determine whether non-closure of the platysma muscle layer after open thyroidectomy impacts significantly on the cosmetic outcome of the resulting collar scar. METHODS: In this prospective randomised controlled clinical trial, patients were assigned randomly to have the platysma muscle layer closed or not closed. The primary endpoint was the cosmesis of the collar scar six weeks after surgery assessed using the patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS). Additional endpoints included operation time and early postoperative wound complications. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients were recruited, with 46 randomised to each group. The patient scar assessment subscale(PSAS) of the POSAS showed no significant difference in the scar cosmesis between the two groups six weeks after surgery (median PSAS: 16.5 vs 17.5; p = 0.514). The observer scar assessment subscale (OSAS) showed that the platysma muscle layer closure group had marginally better scars (median OSAS: 15 vs 17; p = 0.045). The size of the goitre did not make any significant difference in the scar cosmesis. There was no significant difference in the incidence of early postoperative wound complications as well as the median operation time. CONCLUSION: Not closing the platysma muscle layer had no significant impact on the scar cosmesis six weeks after open thyroidectomy, with no significant difference in the incidence of early postoperative wound complications and the operation time.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin-1 Alpha as Predictors of Survival in Peritonitis: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: Peritonitis induces an inflammatory response characterized by the elevation of various cytokine levels. Included in this cascade of cytokines are tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α). The outcome of patient care may be associated with the pattern of elaboration of these cytokines. AIM: The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of cytokine response (TNF-α and IL-1α) in the course of peritonitis and evaluate them as predictors of mortality in peritonitis. SETTING AND DESIGN: This was a prospective study conducted in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan. METHODS: Consenting patients with clinical diagnosis of generalized peritonitis over a 6-month period (July to December 2015) were recruited. The serum samples of these patients were obtained at presentation, immediately after surgery, and 24 h and 48 h after surgery with a follow-up period of 30 days. RESULTS: Twenty-six samples out of thirty could be analyzed. Serum TNF-α and IL-1α levels were both elevated at presentation in all patients. However, the patterns of change after intervention varied between the survivors and nonsurvivors. CONCLUSION: Peritonitis triggers a simultaneous increase in serum levels of TNFα and IL-1α. Lower serum level of TNF-α is associated with survival, while on the contrary, higher level of IL-1α is associated with survival.

Comparison of postoperative pain in diathermy and conventional scalpel Skin incision after mastectomy in Ibadan, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Pain control is a challenge after surgery. Inadequate control of acute postoperative pain in mastectomy patients may lead to chronic post mastectomy pain syndrome. The study aimed to compare the effect of diathermy incision with scalpel incision on the severity of acute postoperative pain after mastectomy. METHOD: Sixty three females had mastectomy under general anaesthesia. Thirty two patients had skin incisions made with scalpel while 31 patients with diathermy. Both groups received intraoperative Fentanyl and Tramadol. Tramadol was also employed as postoperative analgesic while Paracetamol was given as the rescue analgesic. The outcome measures were pain scores using visual analogue score (VAS) and analgesic consumption within the twenty four hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean VAS in the diathermy group versus scalpel group at 6th, 12, 18th and 24th hour post operatively were 11.84 +/- 6.15 mm versus 16.18 +/- 8.5 mm (p=0.001), 11.10 +/- 4.26 mm versus 15.84 +/- 5.12 mm (p=0.001), 11.07 +/- 4.15 mm versus 17.32 +/- 6.01 mm (p=0.001), 10.6 +/- 8.08 mm versus 19.19 +/- 8.7 mm (p = 0.001) respectively. The mean dose of Tramadol was 264 +/- 84 mg in the diathermy group versus 278 +/- 64 mg in the scalpel group p=0.189, three patients required rescue analgesic (paracetamol) in the diathermy group mean dose 1.5.7 +/- 0.54 g versus 7 patients in the scalpel group, mean dose 1.67 +/- 0.58 g p=0.75. CONCLUSION: Diathermy can contribute to reduction in the acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing mastectomy.

Features and Outcome of Surgical Management of Spinal Tumors in a Cohort of Nigerian Patients.

OBJECTIVE: There is a dearth of information on operated cases of spinal tumors in patients in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the histologic pattern, anatomic distribution, and extent and outcome of surgery of Nigerian patients with spinal tumors. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised a cohort of Nigerians who underwent surgery for spinal tumors. Data obtained included patient demographics, duration of symptoms, anatomic location, imaging findings, Frankel grading before and after surgery, and type and outcome of surgery. Univariate analysis was performed, and results were compared with results from other parts of the world. RESULTS: There were 59 patients (male-to-female ratio 1:1.1) with a bimodal age distribution. The highest (20.34%) incidence was seen in the 20-29 age group. More than half (58.06%) of the patients presented with a duration of symptoms of at least 6 months (duration of symptoms was >12 months in 35.48%). Motor deficit was present in 97.73% of patients at presentation. Functional grading was Frankel A in 38.10% of patients, Frankel C in 26.19%, Frankel B in 16.67%, Frankel D in 16.67%, and Frankel E in 2.38%. The tumors were mostly in the thoracic region (65.45%), and 58% were extradural in location. Gross total tumor excision was performed in 50.88% of the cases, and subtotal resection was performed in 24.56%. Spinal stabilization was performed in 17.86% with spinous process wiring and vertical strut being the most common method of stabilization (80%) among this group. Metastasis was the most common histologic tumor type (23.21%). Meningioma accounted for 12.50% of tumors, and ependymoma, astrocytoma, and hemangioma each accounted for 7.14%. The most common source of metastasis was the prostate (38.46%). Postoperatively, 45% of patients improved neurologically, 52.5% remained the same, and 2.5% deteriorated. There was no perioperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis was the most common histologic type of spinal tumor in this study, and the most common location was extradural. The outcome was satisfactory in most cases with neurologic function remaining the same or improving after surgery in most patients.

Regional anaesthetic technique for laparoscopic appendicectomy in Ibadan.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is now readily being deployed for abdominal surgeries in our centre, thanks to the surgeons' interest and the desire to follow best practice as obtained in other climes. General anaesthesia (GA) with intermittent positive pressure ventilation is usually the preferred mode of anaesthesia for this procedure. There are reports of laparoscopic surgery of abdomen performed under spinal and or epidural anaesthetic techniques. METHODS: With Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP) from CO2 insufflations limited to 10-12 mmHg, Laparoscopic Appendicectomy (LA) was performed under Combined Spinal Epidural (CSE) for ten consenting ASA 1 and II patients with mean age 23.6 years and BMI of 24.9 kg/m2 in University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. Intra-operative events and ease of operation were studied; systemic drugs were administered if patients complained of pain and discomfort, and G.A if regional techniques and sedation failed. RESULTS: Eight(8) patients had the procedure completed under spinal anaesthesia supplemented with sedation, two (2) patients whose block went as high as T4 had no need of sedation. There were operative difficulties in four patients out of which 2 had sedations and the surgeons could continue operating. We converted to GA in two (2) patients when regional techniques and sedation failed. CONCLUSION: We concluded that with proper selection of patients and limiting IAP to 10-12 mmHg, LA can be safely performed with spinal anaesthesia with some supplementation.

Factors influencing the immediate postoperative outcome in operated head injured patients in Ibadan, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The injured brain is subjected to anaesthetic agents and various intravenous fluids which may exacerbate haemodynamic instability, increase cerebral blood volume and intracranial pressure. OBJECTIVE: The study examined factors that influenced the immediate postoperative outcome in head injured patients who underwent general anaesthesia in a tertiary health care facility. METHODS: The demographic and outcome data of all head injured patients who had neurosurgical procedures under general anaesthesia in our centre between January and December 2010 were compiled prospectively. Outcome was measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), good outcome was defined as an improvement in the GCS/recovery while poor outcome as worsening of GCS / mortality post operatively. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 and p value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Ninety nine patients were recruited. The patients' median age was 37.0 years and 81.8% were males. The most affected age group was 17-49 years. Indications for surgery were compound depressed skull fracture 28.3%, intracerebral haematoma 17.2%, subdural 35.4% and extradural haematoma 13.1% and impacted intracranial foreign body 6%. Eighty six percent of the patients had their head injury following road traffic accident. Fatality rate was 16.2%. Outcome was poor in patients with severe head injury (13%) compared with patients with mild (1.1%) and moderate head injury (2%) p = 0.001, and poor in American Society of Anaesthesiologist's (ASA) 3 (9%) and 4 (6%) classification compared to ASA 2 (1%) (p = 0.0069). Outcome was also poor in patients with intracerebral haematoma (9%) and acute subdural haematoma (2%) compared to that of depressed skull fracture (1%) (P=0.002) and in patients with intraoperative hypotension (13.1%) compared with those with normal blood pressure (1%) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Road traffic accident is the leading cause of head injury, increasing ASA, decreasing GCS, type of cranial lesion and intraoperative hypotension are some of the factors affecting outcome in operated head injuries. Efforts should be made to reduce the incidence of intra operative hypotension to increase good outcome in operated head injured patients.

Comparison of intravenous ephedrine with phenylephrine for the maintenance of arterial blood pressure during elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.

Hypotension is a major concern of the anaesthetists whenever subarachnoid block is performed especially in obstetric patients. Vasopressors have been shown to be more effective at limiting spinal hypotension than other treatment of hypotension like preloading and left uterine displacement. The aim of the study is to compare the effect of bolus intravenous Ephedrine with Phenylephrine for the maintenance of arterial blood pressure during elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. This was a randomized, double blind, controlled study of sixty two healthy parturients American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) status 1 and 2 at term with singleton pregnancy who consented to subarachnoid block at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. The parturients were preloaded with 10 ml per kg of crystalloid before the induction of spinal anaesthesia with injection of 2.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine at L3/L4 levels. Ephedrine 5 mg (group A; n = 31) or phenylephrine 100 ug (group B; n = 31) was given for the maintenance of arterial blood pressure. Results showed that the incidence of hypotension in the 62 patients was 24.2%. Both vasopressors effectively restored both the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure. There was significant difference in heart rate between the two groups. Nausea occurred in both groups and was found in hypotensive patients, no patient vomited during the procedure. The mean APGAR Scores were similar for the two groups; no baby had Apgar score of < 8 in either group. We concluded that phenylephrine is safe and can be used as effectively as Ephedrine. Its administration results in higher blood pressure than Ephedrine in parturients undergoing Caesarean Section under spinal anaesthesia.