A perspective in the management of myelomeningocoele in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Myelomeningocoele (MMC) is common in the developing world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and management of myelomeningocoele and to identify factors contributing to outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study of consecutive children diagnosed with MMC managed in the Paediatric Neurosurgery Unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified clinical characteristics, demographics and surgical variables that were associated with outcome. RESULTS: A total of 309 children were managed during this period (M:F 1.3:1). The most common sites were lumbar, lumbo-sacral and sacral. Mean age at surgical repair was 4.7 ± 15.6 months. Two hundred and eight children had ventriculomegaly, of whom 158 had symptomatic hydrocephalus, requiring CSF diversion. Fifty-eight (21%) patients developed wound sepsis, of whom 13 (22%) developed meningitis (p = 0.001). The time to wound sepsis was 9.5 ± 3.6 days. The commonest organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus followed by MRSA. Thirty-two patients (23%) developed shunt malfunction and three (11%) developed ETV malfunction. Twenty children (9%) demised during the admission period. Death was associated with meningitis (p < 0.0001), and meningitis itself was associated with wound sepsis (p < 0.0001). Hospital stay was 20.4 ± 16 days. Wound sepsis (p = 0.002) and meningitis (p < 0.0001), respectively, were associated with prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSION: There was a slight male preponderance and hydrocephalus occurred in two thirds of cases. Wound sepsis and meningitis were associated poor outcomes.

Abdominal trauma in durban, South Africa: factors influencing outcome.

Abdominal injury as a result of both blunt and penetrating trauma has an appreciable mortality rate from hemorrhage and sepsis. In this article, we present our experience with the management of abdominal trauma in Durban and investigate factors that influence outcome. We performed a prospective study of patients with abdominal trauma in one surgical ward at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban over a period of 7 years, from 1998 through 2004. Demographic details, cause of injury, delay before surgery, clinical presentation, findings at surgery, management and outcome were documented. There were 488 patients with abdominal trauma with a mean age of 29.2 ± 10.7 years. There were 440 penetrating injuries (240 firearm wounds; 200 stab wounds) and 48 blunt injuries. The mean delay before surgery was 11.7 ± 16.4 hours, and 55 patients (11%) presented in shock. Four hundred and forty patients underwent laparotomy, and 48 were managed nonoperatively. The Injury Severity Score was 11.1 ± 6.7, and the New Injury Severity Score was 17.1 ± 11.1. One hundred and thirty-seven patients (28%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), with a mean ICU stay of 3.6 ± 5.5 days. One hundred and thirty-two patients developed complications (28%), and 52 (11%) died. Shock, acidosis, increased transfusion requirements, number of organs injured, and injury severity were all associated with higher mortality. Delay before surgery had no influence on outcome. Hospital stay was 9.2 ± 10.8 days. The majority of abdominal injuries in our environment are due to firearms. Physiological instability, mechanism of injury, severity of injury, and the number of organs injured influence outcome.

How far has the pendulum swung in the surgical management of sigmoid volvulus? Experience from the KwaZulu-Natal Teaching Hospitals and review of the literature.

AIM: Sigmoid volvulus is common in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to document the clinicopathological patterns of sigmoid volvulus in KwaZulu-Natal. METHOD: Analysis was performed of prospectively collected data of patients presenting with sigmoid volvulus at the KwaZulu-Natal Teaching Hospitals from 2000 to 2009. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, operative findings, management and outcome. RESULTS: There were 135 patients (122 male) of mean age 39.3 ± 17 years. Management was by emergency surgery (103), elective surgery (23), no surgery (9). The level of the twist was at the pelvic brim. Fifty-four patients had gangrenous bowel and 81 had viable bowel. Resection was accompanied by primary anastomosis (80) and Hartmann's procedure (46). Complication and mortality rates were 47% and 17% respectively. Mortality rates for emergency and elective surgery were 19% and 9% (P = 0.330), and those for primary anastomosis and Hartmann's procedure were 14% and 24% respectively (P = 0.305). Mortality rates for gangrenous and viable bowel were 21% and 15% respectively (P = 0.624). Twenty-eight (22%) patients required intensive care in the intensive care unit (ICU) with an ICU stay of 8.8 ± 8 days. Hospital stay was 10.5 ± 14.4 days. CONCLUSION: The clinicopathological picture of sigmoid volvulus resembles that in the rest of Africa in that it affects predominantly young African males. The level of the twist is at the pelvic brim. The timing of surgery, the type of anastomosis and the viability of the bowel does not influence outcome.