Presentation, management and outcomes of iliopsoas abscess at a University Teaching Hospital in Nepal.

Objectives: Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is an uncommon clinical disease and is often missed to diagnose due to vague clinical presentation. Early treatment with drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy is necessary before sepsis sets in and become lethal. We conducted this study to evaluate clinical features, etiology, management strategies, and outcomes in patients with IPA from a University Teaching Hospital in Nepal. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 32 consecutive IPA cases managed at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal for the period of January 2019 to February 2022 was carried out. Results: The mean age was 42.5 ± 19.1 years (range, 19-75 years) and the male: female ratio was 2.2:1. Two-thirds or more patients presented with fever, limp, fixed flexion deformity and/or low back pain. Ultrasonography (US) was diagnostic in 27 (84.4%) patients. Eighteen (56.3%) patients had primary IPAs, and 14 (43.7%) had secondary IPAs. Thirty (93.7%) patients were managed with US guided percutaneous drainage (PCD) and 2 (6.2%) patients underwent open surgical drainage. Drainage procedures were combined with antibiotics in all patients. Pus culture showed Staphylococcus aureus growing in the majority of cases (10 of 23, 43.5%). The hospital stay was longer in patients treated via surgical drainage compared to those who received PCD: 13 days (range 12-14 days) vs. 6.6 days (range 4-13 days), respectively. Recurrence of abscess was seen in 4 (12.5%) cases and all were successfully managed via a second PCD. There was no mortality. Conclusions: Varying clinical presentation of iliopsoas abscess demand a high index of suspicion for early diagnosis. Initial imaging modality in suspected case of IPA is US. US-guided PCD along with the appropriate antibiotics is a successful frontline treatment of IPAs with shorter hospital stay.

Inadequate Completion of Computed Tomography Request Forms of Patients Visiting the Department of Radiology and Imaging in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: From both medical and legal points of view, it is vital that computed tomography request forms should be adequately filled up. It is the responsibility of physicians to collect adequate clinical information that justifies the computed tomography examination and the ethical responsibility of radiological technologists and radiologists is to perform only the justified radiological examinations. Thus, a properly filled request form is crucial for understanding the clinical problem, using the proper protocol for avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure and providing concise radiological reports. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms of patients visiting the Department of Radiology of a tertiary care centre. Methods: This descriptive study was performed in the Department of Radiology from 22 April 2021 to 21 April 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Computed tomography request forms from emergency, ward and outpatient Departments were used in the study whereas that from other hospitals and clinics were excluded. A convience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Out of 470 computed tomography examination forms, the prevalence of inadequate computed tomography request forms was 195 (41.49%) (37.03-45.94, 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of the inadequacy of completion of computed tomography examination forms was higher than other similar studies done in similar settings. Keywords: audit; computed tomography; form.

Chilaiditi's syndrome in a patient under long-term antidepressants- A case report.

Introduction: Chilaiditi's sign is a rare radiological sign characterized by interposition of the colon between diaphragm and liver. It is called Chilaiditi's syndrome if the patient presents with associated symptoms. Its diagnosis is incidental and can be confused with other acute conditions. Case presentation: This is a case of 85-year-old gentleman who presented with complaints of epigastric pain and vomiting. The patient had a history of long-term antidepressant medications. X-ray of chest and abdomen revealed presence of bowel loops under the diaphragm. CT scan helped confirm the diagnosis of Chilaiditi's sign. Discussion: Chilaiditi's sign has a low prevalence on chest and abdominal X-rays. Common associated symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and constipation. It can be misdiagnosed as bowel perforation and can lead to unnecessary surgical interventions. Symptomatic patients are managed conservatively. Conclusion: Chilaiditi's syndrome is a rare radiological entity and should be diagnosed carefully to avoid unwanted surgical procedures.

Oncology clinical practice guidelines usage among physicians in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: Oncology clinical practice guidelines (OCPGs) are systematically developed evidence-based recommendations aimed to guide practitioners in decision making during the diagnosis, management, and treatment of cancer patients under specific circumstances, thereby optimizing clinical outcomes. However, little is known about the implementation of those guidelines in low and middle-income countries including Nepal. This research aimed to identify the type of OCPGs used by Nepalese physicians working in oncology departments and to explore barriers and facilitators affecting their use. METHODS: Using the total population sampling technique, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey from June 2020 to January 2021 among physicians working in the oncology departments of Nepal. Descriptive analyses were conducted to summarize the research findings. RESULTS: Out of 171 physicians approached for the study, 102 (59.6%) responded to the questionnaire. The sizable proportions of the participants were a senior group of physicians with 27.5% being consultants, 14.7% senior consultants, and 16.7% professors. The most commonly used guideline was the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline of the United States (75.5%) followed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline (44.7%). While only 22.6% of physicians reported using OCPGs every time, more than half (56.9%) highlighted that OCPGs are not feasible to implement in Nepal. Insufficient facilities/equipment, physicians' unwillingness to change their usual practice, inability to discuss research with knowledgeable colleagues, and lack of time were commonly cited barriers. CONCLUSION: Findings of our study highlighted that the OCPGs developed in high-income countries may not be feasible for low resource settings like Nepal. Comprehensive local OCPGs should be developed considering the available resources, feasibility, and financial constraints of patients. Furthermore, a constant sharing and learning environment should be created to enhance the knowledge of practicing physicians and to promote the proper implementation of evidence-based findings.

Pancreatic Configuration Index in Predicting Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula in a Tertiary Care Center in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative pancreatic fistula is the single most common and most significant cause of post-operative morbidity and perioperative mortality. Identification of at risk patient preoperatively help to take policy of extra vigilance to act on time. This study evaluated the predictive role and cut-off value of pancreatic configuration index to predict post-operative pancreatic fistula. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study in patients who had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy from March 2017 to June 2018 at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The patients with age <16 years, those who underwent re-exploration or mortality before 3rd postoperative day, additional surgery besides pancreaticoduodenectomy were excluded from the study. Pancreatic configuration index was calculated as a ratio of pancreatic parenchymal thickness and pancreatic duct diameter. Predictive value of pancreatic configuration index in predicting post-operative pancreatic fistula was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 58 patients, 9 were excluded from study and 49 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 56.6 ± 13.9 years (21 to 79 years) and male to female ratio was 1.1:1 (26 vs 23). Post-operative pancreatic fistula developed in 13/49 (26.5%) patients. On both univariate and multivariate analysis, pancreatic texture (p = 0.022), main pancreatic duct diameter at neck (p = 0.002) and pancreatic configuration index (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with development of post-operative pancreatic fistula. The sensitivity and specificity of pancreatic configuration index to predict post-operative pancreatic fistula are 92.3% and 91.7% with positive predictive value of 80% and negative predictive value of 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic configuration index is a useful preoperative predictor of post-operative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Detection of Pan drug resistance OXA-48 producing Providencia in an ICU patient for the first time in Nepal.

Background: Resistance to antimicrobial agents of pathogenic bacteria has become a major problem in routine medical practices. Carbapenem resistance has long been increasing. The production of carbapenem- hydrolysing ß-lactamases (carbapenamases), which include NDM, KPC, OXA-48, IMP-1 and VIM is the most common mechanism. Case presentation: A 56 years old male presented with fever and mental changes with progressively decreasing sensorium for the last 3 days. He was admitted to Intensive care unit (ICU) with a diagnosis of meningoencephalitis. On day seven, he developed ventilator associated pneumonia due Klebsiella pnemoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. He was on meropenem, but the isolates were susceptible to colistin, tigecyclin and amikacin solely. Hence, amikacin was started with addition of intravenous and nebulized colistin. Subsequently, vital signs improved with resolution of fever. However, on day 18, he developed fever once again with a drop in blood pressure. Inotropic support was maintained, and echinocandins and tigecycline were added to the regimen.Repeat blood and urine culture grew Providencia species, which were resistant to most of the drugs on phenotypic Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and are intrinsically resistant to colistin and tigecycline. Phenotypic detection of ESBL (combined disk method), MBL, KPCs, AmpC and co-producer were tested according to updated CLSI guideline and all were negative. But the Modified Hodges test was found to be positive. Consequenty, OXA-48 drug resistance pattern was brought into action by blank disc method according to A Tsakris et al., which revealed indentation of growth toward both EDTA and EDTA/PBA disk indicating production of OXA-48 carbapenamase. To confirm the resistance pattern we processed the isolated colonies for Xpert Carba-R (Cepheid) assay, which detected blaOXA-48 gene and confirmed the OXA-48 drug resistance pattern. Hence, the infecting organism was not susceptible to any of the antibiotics. The patient was kept under isolation and on 31th day of admission, he died of septic shock. Conclusions: Carbapenamase production along with intrinsic colistin resistance in infecting bacterial pathogens can cause fatal outcomes in the resource limited countries like Nepal where new antibiotic combinations ceftazidime+ Avibactam, or aztreonam +avibactam are not available. Drug resistance patterns including OXA 48 producer should be characterized in all cases by standard phenotypic methods or by Xpert Carba-R assay and larger studies are required to know the exact burden of OXA 48 producer in Nepal.

Early outcome of Frey's procedure for chronic pancreatitis: Nepalese tertiary center experience.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive and persistent inflammatory disease resulting in pancreatic insufficiency leading to diabetes and steatorrhea. Abdominal pain is the most debilitating feature and is often refractory to treatment. Medical management with adequate analgesia and replacement of pancreatic enzyme supplements is the first line in management of chronic pancreatitis. Surgery is reserved for those who fail medical management. The choice of surgical procedure and timing of surgery is a topic of debate. The objective of this study was to analyze surgical safety along with short- and long- term outcomes of Frey's procedure for patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of cases of chronic pancreatitis who underwent Frey's procedure from 2016 January to 2019 February at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Demographics, intraoperative findings, perioperative outcomes, and short- and long-time outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Total of 26 patients (age ranged 17-52, male - 14) underwent Frey's procedure in the study period. Alcohol was etiology in six patients while the majority (76.9%) were nonalcoholic. Half of the patients had tropical pancreatitis. Intractable pain was present in all cases along with pseudocyst in three and pseudoaneurysm in one case. The mean preoperative Izbicki scores were 53.4 ± 17.6. Six patients had diabetes and two patients had steatorrhea. Major complications were seen in 11.5% of cases while mortality was in one patient. The median duration of the hospital stay was seven days. Over a median follow up of 17 months (range, 3-38), there were significantly lower pain scores postoperatively and 92% were pain-free. Only one new case of diabetes developed postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Our early experiences suggests that Frey's procedure can be a safe option for patients with chronic pancreatitis, with acceptable perioperative morbidity with adequate pain relief without worsening of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine function.

Long-term trends of hospital admissions among patients with cancer following the 2015 earthquake: a single institution observational study in Kathmandu, Nepal.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known regarding how natural disasters affect patients with cancer in low-income and middle-income countries. The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of the 2015 Nepal earthquake on the admission of patients with cancer at a core medical institution in Kathmandu. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We considered all 3520 cancer patient admissions to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, from 25 April 2013 to 24 April 2017 (2 years before and 2 years after the earthquake). OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of cancer patient admissions was calculated for each month. Using a negative binomial model, we estimated the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for admission numbers each month after the earthquake compared with the pre-earthquake baseline and investigated chronological change. RESULTS: The total admission number in the first month after the earthquake was decreased compared with that of the predisaster baseline (IRR=0.66, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.00), which largely reflected decreased admissions of patients from outside of the most disaster-affected districts. From the second month, the admission number consistently exceeded the predisaster baseline for the remaining postdisaster period. In contrast to the month of the disaster, the continuation of increased admissions was most prominent among those from outside of the most affected districts. CONCLUSIONS: After a transient decrease immediately following the 2015 Nepal earthquake, there was a long-term increase in cancer patient admissions in a core hospital in Kathmandu. These changes were seen most prominently in patients from outside the most disaster affected areas.

Human case of Fasciola gigantica-like infection, review of human fascioliasis reports in Nepal, and epidemiological analysis within the South Central Asia.

The diagnosis of a 22 year-old male patient from Kerabari, Morang District, Nepal led to the review of human fascioliasis cases and analysis of the epidemiological situation in that country not included in the WHO fascioliasis map. Symptom onset one month before egg detection and normal levels of ALT and AST did not agree with the 3-4-month migratory period of fascioliasis. A shorter acute phase may happen when the main biliary duct is reached by the migratory juveniles directly from the intestinal lumen. The causal agent was ascribed to F. gigantica-like worms after considering adult fluke morphology, altitude of the patient's infection area, fasciolid characteristics in the neighbouring Bangladesh, and lymnaeid snail vector species known in Nepal and in the patient's infection area. Previous reports of human infection by Fasciola in Nepal are reviewed. The patient in question proved to be the twelfth case and the first in whom a F. gigantica-like infection is reported. In Nepal, the wide geographical distribution of livestock fascioliasis, with high prevalences in buffaloes, cattle and goats, and the reports of Fasciola-infected schoolchildren close to the capital Kathmandu, give rise to concern on the situation in remote rural areas in a country where most of the population lives in rural areas. Moreover, the climate change impact in Nepal remembers Pakistan, where human fascioliasis emergence has been related to climate change and man-made irrigation. All in all, the present analysis suggests that human infection by Fasciola may be underestimated in Nepal.

Comparison of Stage and Lymph Node Ratio in Young and Older Patients with Colorectal Cancer Operated in a Tertiary Hospital in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is being diagnosed more frequently in the young and it presents in an advanced stage. In TNM staging, stage depends on tumor size and number of positive nodes, which depend on location of tumor as well as the extent of dissection.The lymph node ratio is regarded as a more reliable marker for prognosis. In this study, we compare epidemiology of colorectal cancer in the young (<40 years) and older patients as well as the LNR. METHODS: Patients with colorectal cancer operated at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal for a period of 4 years (2012 - 2016) were included in the study. Patients were grouped into young (? 40 years) and older (> 40 years) and clinic-pathological data such as site of lesion, clinical stage, and lymph node ratio were compared. RESULTS: Of the 95 patients of colorectal cancer, 25 patients were of age ? 40 years (26%) and they had a higher median stage at diagnosis. In patients above 40 years, it was diagnosed at a relatively earlier stage. The mean number of positive nodes was 11.64 in younger patients whereas it was 18.34in those more than 40 years of age,but younger patients had higher lymph node ratio than elderly (0.31 vs 0.13) (P-value ? 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Young patients with colorectal cancer tend to have more advanced disease. The lymph node metastasis and lymph node ratio tend to be higher in young patients.

Unique Features of Gastric Cancer in Young Patients: Experience from a General Hospital in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer, the fifth most common malignancy in the world, usually affects older individuals but can occur in younger age groups. In this study we compared the clinicopathological profile of young patients of gastric cancer with that of older patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a prospective study of gastric cancer patients treated over three year period (January 2012 to December 2014). Data of patients were obtained from the medical record. Clinical and pathological characters of younger patients (age 40 years or less) were compared with older patients (age more than 40 years). RESULTS: There were total of 152 patients treated during the study period. Twenty patients (13.2%) were less than 40 years of age and 132 (86.8%) were older. The male to female ratio in younger patients was 1:1.5 whereas in older patients it was 1:0.6. In the younger age group 14 patients (70%) had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in contrast to 45% in the older age group (<0.01). Some 55% of younger and 42% of older patients had stage IV disease at presentation and curative surgery was not possible. Palliative surgery for gastric outlet obstruction or bleeding from the tumor was performed on 25% and 21% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric cancer in young people aged less than 40 years has unique characters like female predominance, unfavorable tumor biology, and advanced stage at presentation. There should be a high index of suspicion of gastric cancer even in young patients.

Pancytopenia in a surgical patient, a rare presentation of hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Pancytopenia is a rare complication of hyperthyroidism. Various mechanisms have been described such as immunological, bone marrow suppression. The possibility of hyperthyroidism should be considered in patients with unexplained pancytopenia. There are many case reports showing the association between hyperthyroidism and pancytopenia. All of these reports show association between Graves disease and pancytopenia but our case shows association between Multinodular goitre and pancytopenia. Besides it is uncommon to find such association in a surgical patient. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a 62 yr old hindu female with splenic injury and pancytopenia. On further investigations the patient was found to have hyperthyroidism. CONCLUSION: Though the definite mechanism regarding the association of pancytopenia with hyperthyroidism isn't clear, various cases have been described in the literature. This case shows the diagnostic dilemma that can occur in patients with pancytopenia. Any patient with unexplained pancytopenia should undergo thyroid function tests to rule out hyperthyroidism.