Diagnostic utility of PCR in detection of clinical cases and carriers of leprosy: A cross sectional study at a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India.

PURPOSE: Since ancient era leprosy is existing across the world. India, Indonesia and Brazil still harbour major proportion of global cases. Child leprosy and Grade II disability indicate delayed diagnosis and persistence of transmission in community. So, this study was conducted with aim to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of PCR in comparison to SSS (Slit Skin Smear) microscopy for detection of leprosy in early stages in both cases and carriers (contacts). METHODS: A cross sectional observational study was conducted on 100 subjects including 50 clinically diagnosed new cases of leprosy and their 50 contacts. Each group was subjected to SSS (Slit Skin Smear) microscopy and PCR using RLEP gene as target. RESULTS: The overall male: female ratio was 2.44. The Slit Skin smear (SSS) microscopy positivity was 34% (n = 17/50) among cases while it was 0% (n = 0/50) among contacts. The overall positivity for PCR was 42% (n = 42/100) being 66% (n = 33/50) in cases and 18% (n = 9/50) in contacts. About 30% (n = 25/83) of all the microscopically negative subjects were found to be positive by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: PCR was found to be a better diagnostic tool both among cases and their contacts. It should be used for screening contacts for early diagnosis and treatment and thus preventing transmission in community. KEY MESSAGE: To diagnose case and contacts of leprosy in early stages even in very low bacterial density using PCR.

Complications after Frey's procedure for chronic pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Frey's operation is indicated on patients with chronic pancreatitis who have "head dominant" disease and involves resection of the head of pancreas and lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (LRLPJ). There is little information about the postoperative complications after this procedure and the factors likely to be responsible for them. This paper addresses this aspect of LRLPJ. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of records of 41 patients undergoing LRLPJ for chronic pancreatitis between January 1990 to June 2003. RESULTS: Sixteen (39%) patients had 19 complications in the early postoperative period; septic complications were the commonest. One patient died. Regression analysis showed preoperative endoscopic pancreatic stenting to be the factor responsible for majority of these complications (P = 0.0041). Patients with a history of pancreatic stenting had a prolonged hospital stay (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications after LRLPJ are usually septic in nature and are likely to occur more often in patients in whom endoscopic pancreatic stenting has been performed before surgical intervention.

Postcholecystectomy bile duct injury and its sequelae: pathogenesis, classification, and management.

A bile duct injury sustained during cholecystectomy can change the life of patients who submit themselves to a seemingly innocuous surgery. It has far-reaching medical, socioeconomic, and legal ramifications. Attention to detail, proper interpretation of variant anatomy, use of intraoperative cholangiography, and conversion to an open procedure in cases of difficulty can avoid/lessen the impact of some of these injuries. Once suspected, the aims of investigation are to establish the type and extent of injury and to plan the timing and mode of intervention. The principles of treatment are to control sepsis and to establish drainage of all liver segments with minimum chances of restricturing. Availability of expertise, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life issues dictate the modality of treatment chosen. Endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for minor leaks and provides outcomes comparable to surgery in selected patients with lateral injuries and partial strictures. A Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) by a specialist surgeon is the gold standard for high strictures, complete bile duct transection and has been shown to provide excellent long-term outcomes. Percutaneous intervention is invaluable in draining bile collections and is useful in treating post-HJ strictures. Combined biliovascular injuries, segmental atrophy, and secondary biliary cirrhosis with portal hypertension are special circumstances which are best managed by a multidisciplinary team at an experienced center for optimal outcomes.

Targeted detection of 65 kDa heat shock protein gene in endometrial biopsies for reliable diagnosis of genital tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical utility of PCR compared with other available diagnostic modalities in prompt diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis causing infertility. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-controlled trial. Premenstrual endometrial biopsy specimens were collected from 150 infertile women of reproductive age group suspected of having genital tuberculosis. All patients underwent diagnostic endoscopy (laparoscopy and hysteroscopy) and the samples obtained were subjected to microscopy, culture by the BACTEC 460 TB System, histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of 165 bp region of 65 kDa gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The results were correlated with the laparoscopic findings. RESULTS: While the laparoscopy/hysteroscopy findings were indicative of tuberculosis in 12.6% of cases, 14.6% of the specimens showed evidence of 65 kDa gene of M. tuberculosis and only 3.33%, 1.33% and 0.66% were positive by culture, smear and histopathology, respectively. CONCLUSION: Since laparoscopy, hysteroscopy other endoscopic procedures are associated with operative risks and may cause flaring of infection, and other conventional laboratory tests including histopathology have poor sensitivity, PCR-based detection of 65 kDa gene of M. tuberculosis in endometrial biopsy specimens could be a promising molecular diagnostic technique compared to conventional methods of diagnosis.

Reoperative surgery for postcholecystectomy bile duct injuries.

BACKGROUND: Surgical repair for a postcholecystectomy bile duct injury can be complicated by the development of an anastomotic stricture which necessitates re-intervention. The authors reviewed their experience with patients requiring re-operation after unsuccessful surgical repair of the bile duct injury, to analyze the possible causes of the failure of the operative procedure and the long-term outcome following revisional surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the records of 41 patients referred to a tertiary care center for the management of recurrent stricture following surgical repair performed for a postcholecystectomy bile duct injury. RESULTS: Before referral, 69 operative procedures had been performed on these 41 patients. Factors likely to be associated with increased chances of failure of the biliary reconstructive procedures included presentation with cholangitis after the biliary injury, no cholangiographic study before the surgical repair and surgical intervention within 3 weeks of the injury. Thirty-seven (90%) patients were found to have strictures at or above the level of confluence of right and left hepatic ducts, while at the time of the index repair only 12 (29%) patients had an injury at that level. Revisional surgery in all the patients was a Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. One patient died, 2 patients with multiple previous operations developed recurrence and needed intervention again. Over a mean follow-up period of 4.2 years, 90% patients had a satisfactory outcome. CONCLUSION: Development of recurrent stricture following surgical repair of a postcholecystectomy biliary injury can be related to the technique and timing of the surgical procedure, the complication may therefore be avoidable in some patients. In experienced hands the results of revisional surgery are good but are adversely affected as the number of previous repairs increases.

Carcinoma of pelvic pouch following restorative proctocolectomy: report of a case and review of the literature.

One of the possible long-term complications following an ileoanal pouch procedure is the development of malignancy in the mucosa of the rectal stump. Only 10 such cases have been reported so far. We report the case of a 23-year-old male who had ulcerative colitis with high-grade dysplasia and underwent an ileoanal pouch procedure. He was found to have a malignancy in the rectal stump 5 years after surgery. The malignancy presented with symptoms of refractory pouchitis. Pouch excision was performed. The risk of developing malignancy in the rectal mucosa after an ileoanal pouch procedure mandates regular follow-up in these patients, with a high index of suspicion especially in patients with delayed onset pouchitis.

Pancreatic tuberculosis: still a histopathological diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic tuberculosis is usually unsuspected as it can present in various forms. Though an uncommon disease, once diagnosed it is potentially curable. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of the records of 9 patients with histologically proven tuberculosis of the pancreas. RESULTS: In none of the 9 patients was a preoperative diagnosis of tuberculosis possible. The diagnoses considered included: pancreatic cancer (n = 5); acute pseudocyst (n = 1); pancreatic abscess (n = 1); chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic head mass (n = 1), and carcinoma of the colon causing massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). All the patients underwent surgery. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of biopsy specimens obtained at the time of laparotomy. One patient died, the remaining patients received antitubercular therapy and are doing well at a median follow-up period of 26 months. CONCLUSION: In view of the nonspecific and variable clinical presentation and atypical radiological signs, a clinical diagnosis of pancreatic tuberculosis is usually not possible. Therefore there should be a high index of suspicion for this disease in young patients residing in endemic areas. Our experience highlights the importance of performing biopsy in apparently inoperable pancreatic mass lesions.