A prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided ganglion impar block in patients with chronic perineal pain.

BACKGROUND: The blockade of the ganglion impar has been described to relieve the intractable perineal pain of sympathetic origin in patients with coccydynia. Chronic perineal pain (CPP) has been effectively managed by ganglion impar block. The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided ganglion impar block by transsacrococcygeal approach was analyzed in the present study. METHODS: A total of 15 patients with CPP were administered US-guided ganglion impar block using out of plane approach. Patients were followed for VAS and quality of life using Karnofsky performance status (KS), Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA), and constipation score up to 2 months at different time intervals. Time required to perform the procedure, number of attempts, and any complications were also noted. RESULTS: The mean time required to perform the procedure was 7.67 ± 1.23 min. There were no adverse events. All the patients had significant pain relief during 2 month follow-up (P < 0.05 compared to baseline VAS). The KS and LASA score improved post block which was statistically significant. The dose of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) decreased from preblock state with statistically significant difference, while the difference in dose of tramadol and morphine was statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: US-guided ganglion impar block is technically feasible and safe technique. USG can be used to locate sacrococcygeal junction (SCJ) and facilitate the performance of ganglion impar block. The efficacy and safety of the US-guided ganglion impar blockades needs a proper evaluation in the randomized controlled trials.

Human papillomavirus 16 and 18 in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and sexual practices: A pilot study at a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India.

CONTEXT: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy in India and tobacco and betel nut chewing are well established risk factors. Despite successful campaigns to help people shun this habit in developing countries the incidence has rather gone up and HPV and sexual practices are now definitely implicated for this. AIM: An attempt was made to generate Indian data on role of HPV and sexual practices in relation to OSCC. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective observational study was conducted on 50 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tissue biopsies from fifty patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were subjected to PCR analysis to look for presence of HPV 16 and 18. Fifty patients with benign lesions were taken as control. STATISTICAL METHODS USED: The data was statistically analysed using SPSS version 22 and chi square test. RESULTS: 42% of OSCC patients were found to harbour HPV 16 and 18 whereas only 8% of patients with benign lesions had HPV 16 and 18. A significant number of HPV positive patients i.e. 9 out of 21 gave history of multiple sexual partners and oral sex. CONCLUSIONS: This high percentage of HPV in OSCC in an Indian population from a tertiary care centre in north India and its association with prevailing sexual practices is quite significant.

Reproductive risk factors associated with breast carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital of north India: A case-control study.

Context: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In India and other developing countries, breast carcinoma ranks second only to cervical carcinoma among women. But the incidence of breast cancer is on the rise and may become number one cancer in females in near future. Aims: (1) To find out the magnitude of reproductive risk factors of carcinoma breast among the study subjects; and (2) to find out the association of reproductive risk factors with breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The study was done in the wards of General Surgery and Oncosurgery from August 2009-July 2010 in a tertiary care institute. A total of 128 histopathologically confirmed cases of breast cancer those came in this duration were considered. Equal controls were selected by simple random sampling by lottery method. The controls were matched for age with a range of ± 2 years. The subjects were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Written informed consent was taken from study subjects before starting the interview. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test, odds ratio with 95% confidence interval, and t test. Results: The age group of the cases was 25-78 years, whereas that of the controls was 24-79 years. The difference among cases and controls regarding age at marriage, age at menarche, age at menopause, age at first pregnancy, and number of children was statistically significant. Continuous variables of the study population were analyzed by independent t tests, in which age at menarche and age at first pregnancy were found statistically significant. Conclusions: Information, education, and communication activities regarding risk factors and breast self-examination should be imparted to the women to create awareness about this fatal disease.

Femoral pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts: Hunterian ligation still a gold standard.

Pseudoaneurysm formation in the site of Intravenous drug abuser had been reported in literature. The repeated puncture of femoral vessels leads to abscess formation and epithelisation of the wall which leads to pseudoaneurysm formation. A case of lacking pseudoaneurysm presenting as reptured groin abscess in a drug addict is reported, which was managed successfully by Hunterian ligation with salvage of lower limb.

Profile of breast cancer patients at a tertiary care hospital in north India.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We carried out this study in order to know the epidemiology and management strategies for breast cancer patients in our patient population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The epidemiological data pertaining to demography and risk factors for carcinoma breast were analyzed retrospectively in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital of North India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hospital records of 304 patients admitted for over a period of five years (January 1998 to December 2002) were used for data analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Paired T-test. RESULTS: Mean age of our female breast cancer patients was found to be lower compared to the western world, with an average difference of one decade. A majority of the patients were from a rural background and had a longer duration of symptoms compared to urban patients. Lump in the breast was a dominant symptom. Familial breast cancer was uncommon. Left sided breast cancer was slightly preponderant. Screening by mammography and staging procedures such as bone scan, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) were sparsely used. The most common histology was infiltrating duct carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Modified radical mastectomy was found to be a safe operative procedure. Breast conservative surgery, although considered the gold standard in early breast cancer, was found unsuitable for our patients, due to the social background and lack of intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy backup. Infiltrating duct carcinoma was more commonly associated with positive lymph nodes compared to other histopathologies. Cases operated by surgical oncologists had better axillary clearance. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was used mainly by surgical oncologists suggesting a more rational approach toward the management of breast carcinoma.

Spontaneous transmural migration of surgical sponges.

Postoperative retained surgical sponges or other foreign bodies are usually underreported. Radio-opaque materials are usually detected on follow-up radiological investigations, but radiolucent materials such as sponges create diagnostic problems and clinically mimic various abdominal pathologies. Introduction of spiral computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and dedicated ultrasonography has enabled clinicians to find these foreign bodies at the earliest opportunity to avoid disastrous complications. Spontaneous transmural migration and expulsion per rectum of more than one sponge without sequelae is also possible. We report one such interesting case.

Strangulated femoral hernia presenting as parietal wall emphysema.

Surgical emphysema of abdominal and thoracic wall, along with features of intestinal obstruction, has not been reported as a complication of strangulated femoral hernia. We report a 31-year-old woman with such a presentation.

Infected primary intramuscular echinococcosis of thigh.

An unusual case of infected primary echinococcosis involving quadriceps muscles of the thigh and presenting as a cystic mass in a child is being reported. The diagnosis was made preoperatively with ultrasound examination and serology. After a cover of medical treatment the cyst was excised. Various clinical possibilities and management strategies are discussed.

Malignant Brenner tumour--a case report.

Malignant Brenner tumour is a rare pathological entity. Apart from identification of typical benign, metaplastic and/or proliferating components, stromal invasion must be observed for diagnosis of Brenner tumour. A case of malignant Brenner tumour is described along with a brief review of strict criteria of diagnosis and its biological behaviour.

Extrarenal calyces: a rarity.

Extrarenal calyces are an extremely rare entity and only a few cases have been reported worldwide. We report a case with extrarenal calyces and give a brief review of the literature. Awareness of this rare entity can prevent inadvertent injury to the pelvicalyceal system during surgery.

Implantation malignancy after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may result in spillage of gall bladder contents during dissection or delivery of gall bladder through the umbilical port. We report a 50-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for suspected calculous cholecystitis. Histology showed a single focus of adenocarcinoma in the gall bladder. There was spillage of gall bladder contents at the umbilical port during delivery. Six months later, he developed adenocarcinoma at the port site. This was treated by wide excision.