Kim Mammen

Influence of music on operation theatre staff.

Background and Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the perception of influence of music among surgeons, anesthesiologist and nurses in our hospital as well as to critically evaluate whether music can be used as an aid in improving the work efficiency of medical personnel in the operation theatre (OT). Materials and Methods: A prospective, questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 100 randomly selected subjects were interviewed, which included 44 surgeons, 25 anesthesiologists and 31 nurses. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Windows Version 16 software was used for statistical evaluation. Results: Most of the OT medical personnel were found to be aware of the beneficial effects of music, with 87% consenting to the playing of music in the OT. It was also found that most participants agreed to have heard music on a regular basis in the OT, while 17% had heard it whenever they have been to the OT. Conclusions: Majority of the respondents preferred playing music in the OT which helped them relax. It improved the cognitive function of the listeners and created a sense of well being among the people and elevated mood in them. Music helped in reducing the autonomic reactivity of theatre personnel in stressful surgeries allowing them to approach their surgeries in a more thoughtful and relaxed manner. Qualitative, objective and comprehensive effect of specific music types varied with different individuals. Music can aid in improving the work efficiency of medical personnel in the OT. The study has reinforced the beneficial effects of playing music in the OT outweighing its deleterious outcomes.

Hormone refractory carcinoma prostate with peritoneal metastases and malignant ascites without skeletal involvement: A case report and review of literature.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis is rare in prostate cancer especially in the absence of skeletal or other visceral metastases. We report a case of hormone refractory adenocarcinoma prostate presenting with only peritoneal metastases and massive malignant ascites. Palliation with docetaxel based cytotoxic chemotherapy resulted in clinical improvement of refractory ascites decreasing respiratory embarrassment and thereby improving the quality of life.

Schwannoma with concomitant tuberculosis in the adrenal gland

Schwannoma is a rare primary tumor originating in the neural sheath with a good prognosis. The management is surgical. We present a case in which a retroperitoneal mass arising from the adrenal gland was excised and histopathology revealed a schwannoma with coexisting tuberculosis. This case report highlights the need to be aware of the potential coexistence of tuberculosis in any case of incidentaloma, especially due to resurgence of tuberculosis as a global epidemic with the increasing incidence of HIV and AIDS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a schwannoma and tuberculosis coexisting in the adrenal gland.

Successful renal transplantation after two separate urinary tract malignancies

A patient who was treated for renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma, later presented with end stage renal disease. He was managed with hemodialysis and later underwent successful renal transplantation. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence nearly nine years post-renal transplantation.

Acute Urinary Retention and Obstipation: A Rare Cause…

Tailgut cysts are rare congenital anomalies, believed to be remnants of the primitive embryonic hindgut. In addition to causing genitourinary and bowel obstructive symptoms, they have been reported to harbour occult adenocarcinoma. Varying positions of a tailgut cyst with respect to the rectum have also been reported in literature. We present a rare presentation of this disease vis a vis obstipation and acute urinary retention in a 70 year old man.

Penile Gangrene and Urethrocutaneous Fistula Following Transurethral Resection of Prostatic Carcinoma. A Case Report

Channel transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is an accepted treatment for advanced carcinoma of prostate (CaP) to improve quality of life. We are presenting a case of penile gangrene and urethrocutaneous fistula following TURP in a CaP. This is the first case in literature to our knowledge.

Bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit

Urinary stones are one of the most common complications of urinary diversions. We report the case of a 40-year-old man with renal and ureteric stones after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit. Normally renal stones are fragmented and removed through the ureters and urethra. However, in this patient with ileal conduit, the neo ureteric orifices being extremely narrow and because of the delicate wall of the ileum percutaneous nephrolithotomy has become the best option of treatment.

Isolated brain metastasis from prostate cancer: A case report

Brain metastases arising from prostate cancer are exceedingly rare and generally occur late in the course of the disease. Most patients have widespread metastatic disease before developing brain metastases from prostate cancer. We report the case of an 80-year-old male with adenocarcinoma of the prostate presenting with isolated symptomatic brain metastasis.

Clinical Aspects of Urological Cancers Including Haematuria and Haematospermia

Haematuria is one of the commonest symptoms of urological cancers. Haematospermia hitherto considered as insignificant symptom and finding is associated with prostate cancer in some cases. In addition, there are host of local and systemic symptoms that arouse a suspicion of genito-urinary cancer. It is also important to remember that these cancers could also asymptomatic for a considerable period of time. Typically, more renal tumours are now diagnosed incidentally by imaging for other systemic conditions.

Angioembolization for post-traumatic renal arteriovenous malformations

The risk of renal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) must be kept in mind as a cause as sudden hematuria in patients with previous renal injury. Treatment of renal AVMs has evolved from nephrectomy to angioembolization, as it allows good control bleeding while preserving maximum renal function and appears to be the first treatment of choice. Hence, angioembolization facilities must be available in centers dealing with renal trauma.