Oa Arowolo

Laparoscopic Appendectomy in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Laparoscopic appendectomy reduced the rate of unnecessary appendectomies and postoperative length of stay.

Neo-adjuvant capecitabine chemotherapy in women with newly diagnosed locally advanced breast cancer in a resource-poor setting (Nigeria): efficacy and safety in a phase II feasibility study.

The majority of clinical trials of neo‐adjuvant therapy for breast cancer have been conducted in resource‐rich countries. We chose Nigeria, a resource‐poor country, as the major site for a phase II feasibility open‐label multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of neo‐adjuvant capecitabine in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Planned treatment consisted of 24 weeks of capecitabine at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily (2,000 mg/m2 total per day). The primary endpoints were overall, partial, complete clinical response rate (OCR, PCR, CCR) and complete pathologic response (cPR). A total of 16 patients were recruited from August 2007 to April 2010. The study was terminated early as a result of slow accrual. After the first three cycles of therapy, PCR were seen in five of 16 patients (31%; 95% CI 11–59%). Of the remaining 11 patients, eight had no response (NR) or stable disease (SD), and three had progressive disease (PD). Seven patients proceeded with further therapy of which had SD. OCR at the end of eight cycles was 44% (95% CI 20–70%). Clinical response and radiologic response by ultrasonomammography were highly concordant (spearman correlation 0.70). The most common adverse effect was Grade 1 hand–foot syndrome, which was seen in 75% of patients. Despite several limitations, we successfully carried out this phase II feasibility study of neo‐adjuvant capecitabine for LABC in Nigeria. Capecitabine monotherapy showed good overall response rates with minimal toxicity and further studies are warranted.

Giant fibroadenoma presenting like fungating breast cancer in a Nigerian teenager

BACKGROUND Giant fibroadenoma of the breast is a rare benign breast tumour which seldom grows to a giant size, it is even rarer for this benign tumour to grow rapidly, ulcerate spontaneously and present like a fungating breast tumour in a way mimicking breast cancer. CASE PRESENTATION This is a presentation of a 14 year old premenarchal girl with a massive ulcerating and fungating left breast mass that was initially thought to be a fungating locally advanced breast carcinoma on clinical examination. Further examination of the morphology of the resected surgical specimen and histological examination confirmed it to be giant fibroadenoma of the breast. It was successfully managed by partial mastectomy and breast reconstruction with an excellent result and a high degree of patient satisfaction was achieved. CONCLUSION Though a rare clinical entity benign breast tumour can present like a fungating breast cancer and this must be bore in mind especially in young adolescent patients presenting with ulcerating breast tumour.

Incidental carcinoma of the prostate gland presenting with initial manifestation of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (dic) in a middle aged man: a case report

BackgroundIncidental carcinoma of the prostate gland is a common clinical problem among elderly males but this malignancy presenting initially with features of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC) in the African blacks is rare. Disseminateded intravascular coagulathy is the most frequent coagulation disorder in patients with prostate cancer, However DIC as a first manifestation of prostate cancer is unusual.Case reportThis paper reports a case of a 56 year old Nigerian civil servant who presented initially with clinical features of DIC characterised by bleeding from multilple orifices but was subsequently diagnosed at autopsy to be infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the prostate.ConclusionThis rare case of DIC should be considered especially in elderly men when no other cause can be found for coagulopathy.

Safety and feasibility of early postmastectomy discharge and home drain care in a low resource setting: OLASEHINDE et al.

Early postmastectomy discharge with a drain in place is standard practice in most developed countries. Its feasibility has not been evaluated in low resource settings like Nigeria.

Evaluation of two injection sclerosants in the treatment of symptomatic haemorrhoids in Nigerians

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 5% phenol in almond oil with 50% dextrose water as sclerosants in the treatment of first- to third-degree haemorrhoids. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, comparative study conducted on eighty patients with first-, second- and third-degree haemorrhoids who consented to treatment by injection sclerotherapy with either 5% phenol in almond oil or 50% dextrose water. They were randomised equally into two groups. Results: A total of eighty patients including 58 males and 22 females whose age ranged from 19 to 61 years were included in the study. Bleeding was the chief symptom which was present in 78 (97.5%) patients, and there was complete resolution of this in 92.3% and 89.7% in the 5% phenol in almond oil and 50% dextrose water groups, respectively, at 6 months (P = 0.905). Similar degrees of resolution were noted for anal protrusion (89.1% and 85.3% in the 5% phenol in almond oil and 50% dextrose water group, respectively, P = 0.899). The overall complication rate was 3.6% with anal mucosa ulceration being the only complication, occurring in three patients who had 5% phenol in almond oil. Peri-procedure pain, patients satisfaction and acceptability were not significantly different in both groups (P = 0.912, 0.928 and 0.926 respectively). Conclusion: Five percent phenol in almond oil and 50% dextrose water are equally effective sclerosants in the treatment of haemorrhoids with very low complication rates.

Open common bile duct exploration in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: The prevalence of extra-hepatic biliary stones in Nigeria is unknown and its treatment frequently undocumented. We have observed an increase in bile duct exploration in our hospital. Methods: This is an eight-year retrospective report on consecutive patients who underwent common bile duct exploration. The diagnosis, pre-operative preparation, intra-operative findings and post-operative outcome were documented. Results: Forty-one patients were explored; 33 females (80.5%) and 8 (19.5%) males. Four had sickle cell anaemia. Pre-operative ultrasound showed common duct dilatation in 36 (87.8%), and choledocholithiasis in 29 (70.7%). Six patients did abdominal CT, 2 MRCP and none ERCP. Choledocholithiasis was operatively confirmed in 39 (95.1%) and dilated CBD without stones in 2. T-tube was inserted in 17 (41.5%) and primary closure of the common duct was done in 24 (58.5%). The meanduration of operation (102 vs 184 minutes) and hospital stay (10.6 vs 14.4 days) were less with primary closure. Conclusion: Common bile duct exploration is increasingly being performed in our center with a good outcome. There is increasing adoption of primary closure of the common bile duct in our setting. Keywords: Common bile duct, T- tube

Early Experience with Stapled Gastrointestinal Anastomoses in a Nigerian Hospital.

Background: Hand-sewn gastrointestinal anastomoses has been the traditional approach to gastrointestinal anastomosis in Nigeria while stapled anastomoses are infrequently performed in few centers. Objectives: To describe the outcome of our initial experience with stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses in a semi-urban patient population. Patients and Methods: Consecutive patients who had stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses between January 2011 and June 2014 in a Nigerian tertiary hospital were prospectively evaluated. Indications for operation, procedures performed and anastomoses constructed and postoperative outcome of each patient were documented. Results: Nineteen patients including seven males and 12 females had stapled anastomoses within the period. Their ages ranged between 41 and 68 (mean 52.5) years. Six (31.6%) Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomies, 6 (31.6%) ileo-colic, 3 (15.8%) ileo-ileal, 2 (10.5%) colo-colic, and 2 (10.5%) colo-anal anastomoses were performed. Indications include antral gastric cancer in 4 (21.1%), right colon cancer 4 (21.1%), ileal perforations in 3 (15.8%) while 2 (10.5%) each had left colon cancer, common bile duct obstruction, rectal cancer and ruptured appendix. Mean duration of operation was 108 ± 46 min and mean duration of postoperative stay was 5 ± 2.6 days. No intraoperative complications were recorded and no anastomotic leakage occurred. At a median follow-up of 5 months no staple related stricture had occurred. Conclusions: Stapled gastrointestinal anastomoses are associated with a good outcome in our center. We propose a prospective, large-population randomized comparison of the technique with hand-sewn anastomoses.

Emerging pattern of emergency abdominal surgeries in Ile-ife Nigeria

Background: The pattern of abdominal surgical emergency may not be the same in different settings because of changes in demography, diet, socioeconomic or geographical factors. We present the pattern, management and outcome of such emergencies in Ile Ife, South Western Nigeria. Aim: To document the pattern of abdominal surgical emergency in our environment with a view to highlighting the management and outcome. Because, superstitiously our people mostly think toward poison as the cause of abdominal pain, it is justified to do this study. The societal meaning of poison refers to a situation whereby someone′s friend or relative introduces a deadly substance or material into his drink or food which will eventually lead to morbidity or mortality. It is thought that the introduction of deadly poison could be physically done or diabolically in form of spiritual attack. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of data collected in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria between June 2006 and June 2012. Patients with abdominal surgical emergencies exclusive of gynecological cases were consecutively entered into the study at the time of presentation and followed-up. The frequencies of different diagnosis and age distribution were recorded. The indications for operative intervention, management and outcome were also highlighted. Results: Of the 8001 cases presenting with abdominal pain in our hospital, 2408 (28.8%) required surgery. Males were 1445 (60.1%), while 963 (39.9%) were female patients with a mean age of 35.9 years. Uncomplicated appendicitis was the most common indication for surgery (61.3%), obstructed hernias constituted the most common etiological factor in intestinal obstruction (51.2%), while postoperative bands and adhesions accounted for 14.6%. Ruptured appendix and typhoid perforation accounted for 32.4% and 18.9% of peritonitis, respectively. The spleen was the most affected intra-abdominal organ in cases of abdominal trauma. Three patients had repair of the spleen. 16 (0.7%) had emergency surgery for complicated duodenal ulcer, repair of burst abdomen accounted for 48 (2.1%) cases of emergency abdominal surgery. Postoperative death was 1.1%. Delayed presentation increased mortality. Conclusions: Surgery for appendicitis is the commonest emergency abdominal surgery. Others include operations for peritonitis, trauma and strangulated inguinal hernia. Delayed presentation contributed to delayed intervention in some cases which impact negatively on treatment outcome. No single case of abdominal pain secondary to ingestion of the so called poison was seen during the study period

A middle aged woman presenting with massive empyema of the gallbladder: a case report

Empyema of gallbladder is generally a rare disease and it is even rarer in the traditional African population where incidence of cholelithiasis is much lower compared with the Caucasian population. This is a presentation to highlight massive empyema of the gallbladder in a 58 year old woman who had no prior history of gallstone disease and who was treated with open cholecystectomy. The outcome was successful and she was followed up for a year.