A Prospective Study of Surgical Site Infection with its Risk Factors and Their Correlation with the NNIS Risk Index.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the third most commonly reported nosocomial infection, accounting for 10%-40% of all nosocomial infections and is a major cause of postoperative morbidity. Knowledge of factors related to SSI can help in reducing its incidence and related morbidity, which in many studies is shown to account for 38% of all infections in surgical patients. Lack of extending nosocomial infection surveillance programme and prevention measures in countries like India is viewed as a major challenge for the future. Objectives: The aims of this work were (1) to study the SSI rate in patients undergoing both elective and emergency abdominal surgery and SSI with CDC, and NNIS risk index; and (2) to assess SSI along with body mass index (BMI), glycaemic status, smoking and duration of pre-operative hospital stay of patients. Materials and Methods: In total, 300 patients who underwent elective and emergency abdominal surgery were enrolled in the study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. SSI with CDC's NNIS risk index were analysed considering BMI, glycaemic status, smoking and duration of pre-operative hospital stay of patients. Results: In total, 300 cases of abdominal surgeries (elective and emergency) were analysed, out of which 60 cases were diagnosed to have SSI as per the criteria. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is a significant increase in SSI with increasing NNIS score that is, the greater the NNIS score, the greater the risk of SSI. With an increase in age, BMI, glycaemic index and preoperative hospital stay, the risk of SSI increases. Smoking and associated comorbidities also increase the risk of SSI.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Ckd Crash Landing and Initiating Dialysis Is it Time for Mandatory Screening Programme for Detection of CKD?

The present study was undertaken to study clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease crash- landing and initiating hemodialysis at first presentation in our centre. MATERIAL: Ours was a cross-sectional study of one hundred and seventy patients with chronic kidney disease starting hemodialysis. Detailed history and examination were done. Apart from routine biochemical tests and CKD-MBD profile, all patient underwent ultrasonography, urine examination and echocardiography. Efforts were made to delineate etiology in each patient. OBSERVATION: Out of 170 patients 64% were males, 36% were females. Mean age at presentation in our study was 41.27 (±16.47) yrs. Chronic glomerulonephritis was the most common etiology accounting for 54% of cases followed by Diabetes (20%). Mean eGFR at presentation was <5 ml/min/1.73 m². Hypocalcemia was present in 87.1%, hyperphosphatemia in 84.2% and elevated PTH levels in 98% with mean PTH levels being 588.07±309.58 ng/ml. LVH on echocardiogram was present in 58.4 % of patient with diastolic dysfunction being reported in 31 % of patients. DCM was present in 28% of patients and 21% of patients had frank left ventricular failure at presentation. CONCLUSION: Chronic Kidney Disease patients referred late have clinical and lab characteristics which are worse as compared to routine CKD patients .This calls for a mandatory CKD screening programme for increasing awareness and early identification of CKD patients.

Pancreatic tuberculosis: An unusual presentation.

Tuberculosis (TB) of pancreas is a rare presentation in both immune-competent and immune-suppressed patients. Its presenting clinical features are usually vague and non-specific, while radiological features mimic other common pancreatic conditions such as malignancy, so it is often misdiagnosed. It commonly involves the head and the uncinate process of the pancreas. We report a middle-aged immune-compromised man who presented with left-sided tubercular pleural effusion and later was diagnosed as pancreatitis by clinical presentation and TB of pancreas on computed tomography of the abdomen.

Early Detection of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to investigate the effects of pulmonary arterial hypertension on RV systolic and diastolic functions in cases of COPD and to correlate RV systolic and diastolic functions with pulmonary arterial pressure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 100 patients admitted in various medical wards of tertiary care Hospital and a primary care hospital with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease persons with age and sex-matched. 35 age and sex matched person without any associated and known disease were taken as control subjects. Selection of cases has been made on basis of detailed history, thorough clinical examination, electrocardiography, chest x-ray, pulmonary function tests. OBSERVATION: RV Systolic function (RVEF and RVWT) are significantly abnormal in patients of stable compensated COPD and they are significantly correlated with PAP(p< 0.002). RV diastolic function i.e., E/A ratio and PFR are altered in 60%(n-60) of patients of COPD studied against control subjects and significantly correlated with PAP(p< 0.002). CONCLUSION: Echocardiography is a non invasive method to detect changes of right ventricular dysfunctions in early stages with very good significant sensitivity and specificity.

Catatonia - an unusual presenting clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus / Catatonía - manifestación clínica de presentación infrecuente del lupus eritematoso sistémico

A 24-year-old female presented with catatonia and symptoms suggestive of Depressive Disorder. She also gave history of undocumented low grade irregular fever. The patient was worked up to rule out any organic cause or psychiatric illness. However, further investigations revealed immunological profile diagnostic of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with CNS involvement (CNS lupus). The diagnosis of SLE in this patient presenting with catatonia was of practical importance because catatonia as one of the manifestations of SLE or as a standalone presenting symptom is extremely rare. Hence, clinicians should be aware of this rarity so that diagnosis of Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or catatonia as a presenting feature of SLE is never missed (AU)

Mujer de 24 años que se presentó con catatonía y síntomas indicativos de trastorno depresivo. También presentó historia de febrícula discontinua no registrada. Se llevó a cabo evaluación diagnóstica para descartar cualquier causa orgánica o enfermedad psiquiátrica. Sin embargo, exploraciones complementarias posteriores revelaron un perfil inmunológico diagnóstico de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) con implicación del SNC (lupus del SNC). El diagnóstico de LES en esta paciente que se presenta con catatonía era de significado práctico ya que la catatonía, como una de las manifestaciones del LES o como un síntoma que se presenta de forma independiente, es extremadamente rara. Por ello, los médicos deben ser conscientes de esta rareza y no deben olvidar nunca el diagnóstico de LES neuropsiquiátrico (LESNP) o catatonía como rasgo presente en el LES (AU)

Catatonia - An unusual presenting clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 24-year-old female presented with catatonia and symptoms suggestive of Depressive Disorder. She also gave history of undocumented low grade irregular fever. The patient was worked up to rule out any organic cause or psychiatric illness. However, further investigations revealed immunological profile diagnostic of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) with CNS involvement (CNS lupus). The diagnosis of SLE in this patient presenting with catatonia was of practical importance because catatonia as one of the manifestations of SLE or as a standalone presenting symptom is extremely rare. Hence, clinicians should be aware of this rarity so that diagnosis of Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) or catatonia as a presenting feature of SLE is never missed.