Oa Sowande

Experience with anorectal malformations in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the characteristics and outcome of management of anorectal malformations (ARM) in Nigerian children at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, between January 1986 and December 2002. Eighty-six children with ARM were studied, 48xa0males and 38xa0females. Only 12xa0(13.9%) presented to the hospital within 24xa0h of birth. Twenty-four (27.9%) patients had one or more associated congenital anomalies, with oesophageal atresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula being the most common associated malformation. A low variety was identified in 26xa0(30.2%) cases, while 60xa0(69.8%) had intermediate or high lesions. Twenty-two patients with the low type of anomaly were offered primary anoplasty in the neonatal period, whereas 59xa0patients with intermediate or high malformations were offered a preliminary colostomy. A definitive pull-through procedure was ultimately performed in 27xa0of these 59xa0cases. Twenty-six patients (30.2%) died. Infection and severe associated malformations were responsible for most (65%) of the deaths. Early results of definitive surgery among survivors were generally good after a mean follow-up period of 13xa0months. Late presentation, inadequate facilities for neonatal intensive care, and paucity of specialist supportive personnel appear to have negatively influenced the outcome of treatment in our environment. Increasing awareness and availability of medical facilities and specialists are needed.

Outcome of primary closure of abdominal wounds following typhoid perforation in children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUNDnAbdominal wounds following surgery for typhoid perforation are classified as dirty, with an infection rate of over 40%. To date, the optimal method for closure of these wounds remains controversial. Delayed primary closure which was conventionally recommended as standard practice, is now considered to be of no value in preventing surgical site infection (SSI). This study evaluates the outcome of primary closure of this class of wounds in children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and advocates a multidisciplinary wound management protocol.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnThis is a retrospective study of children aged < 1-15 years who had had surgery for typhoid perforation in a teaching hospital in south western Nigeria, over a period of ten years.nnnRESULTSnThirty-two patients, 18 males and 14 females, in the ratio of 1.3:1 were managed for typhoid perforation during the ten year period. All 32 patients had primary closure of their abdominal wounds. There was primary wound healing in six (18.8%) patients, while 19 (59.4%) patients had surgical site infections. Wound dehiscence, intraabdominal abscess, and faecal fistulas were the other complications documented in the study.nnnCONCLUSIONnAbdominal wounds of typhoid perforation, though classified as being dirty, can be closed primarily with good healing outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach to wound management will reduce the incidence of wound sepsis and its associated morbidity and costs.

Determinants of mortality in neonatal intestinal obstruction in Ile Ife, Nigeria

BACKGROUNDnNeonatal intestinal obstruction (NIO) is a common cause of mortality. This study determined the causes of mortality in patients with NIO at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile Ife.nnnPATIENTS AND METHODSnRecords of all cases of NIO managed at OAUTHC between January 1996 and December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed and the possible factors that may result in mortality were analysed.nnnRESULTSnSixty-three neonates with intestinal obstruction were managed, representing 24.3% of the neonatal admissions during the study period. Forty-two were males and 21 were females (M:F = 2:1). The majority (71.4%) of the patients presented within the first week of life. Anorectal malformation constituted 57.1% of the causes of NIO. Other causes included Hirschsprungs disease, duodenal atresia, intestinal malrotation with midgut volvulus and jejunal atresia. There were 18 deaths, with a mortality rate of 28.6%. Reoperation, postoperative bleeding and peroperative sepsis were significant determinants of mortality.nnnCONCLUSIONnNIO is associated with significant mortality in our centre. Repeat surgery, postoperative bleeding and sepsis were the significant factors that contributed to mortality in NIO.

The role of preoperative antibiotics in the prevention of wound infection after day case surgery for inguinal hernia in children in Ile Ife, Nigeria.

PurposeDay case surgery for inguinal hernia had been an established practice of the Paediatric Surgery Unit, OAUTHC, Ile Ife for about two decades. In a retrospective review of the practice from the same center, a high incidence of postoperative wound infection was noted, which was attributed to the poor personal hygiene of the patients. This prospective study, therefore, was performed to evaluate the role of a single dose of preoperative antibiotic (using gentamicin) in the prevention of these wound infections after day case surgery for inguinal hernia in children.MethodsThis was a prospective study carried out over a period of 8xa0months from 11 April 2004 to 20 December 2004. During this period, 88 children aged from birth to 15xa0years were randomized into two groups of equal numbers to undergo elective inguinal herniotomy. The children in the test group received prophylactic intravenous gentamicin, 30 min before a groin crease incision was made, while those in the control group did not. All patients were subsequently followed up for 32xa0days for any evidence of a wound infection.ResultsThere were 104 wounds in the ratio of 50:54 in the control and test groups, respectively. All 54 wounds of the children who received prophylactic gentamicin healed primarily and without complication. Five cases of wound infections occurred in the control group, giving an infection rate of 4.8% (Pxa0<xa00.041). Staphylococcus aureus was the single pathogen isolated from the infected postherniotomy wounds and this organism was wholly sensitive to gentamicin.ConclusionFrom the findings in this study, administration of preoperative gentamicin has a role in the prevention of wound infection after day case surgery for inguinal hernias in susceptible children. Preoperative intravenous gentamicin is therefore recommended as a prophylactic measure against wound infection after day case surgery for inguinal hernias in those children at risk of wound infection.

Day case inguinal hernia surgery in Nigerian children: Prospective study

BACKGROUNDnThere has been an increase in day case surgery for children worldwide, but there have been few reports of the practice (most of them being retrospective) by many of the surgical sub-specialties in the sub-region. The aim of this study was to document our experience with day case inguinal hernia surgery in a developing economy.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThis was a prospective study of uncomplicated inguinal hernias treated as day case at OAUTHC between April 2004 and December 2004. Data were collected and analysed.nnnRESULTSnEighty-eight patients were recruited into the study and none defaulted. There were 88 patients, (M:F = 16.6:1). A majority (n = 54) of the hernias occurred on the right side, while just a few (n = 18) occurred on the left. There were 5 cases of wound infections giving an infection rate of 4.8%. In all, the morbidity following day case inguinal hernia surgery was slight and no patient required readmission into the hospital.nnnCONCLUSIONnDay case inguinal hernia surgery in children is safe and well accepted by patients and parents alike. Health institutions in which children with inguinal hernias still queue for long periods for space on the operation list need to adopt day case surgery for inguinal hernia in order to forestall the risk of their obstruction.

Pentalogy of cantrell: A report of three cases

Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare upper midline syndrome that may present in association with anomalies outside the torso. The pentad - the supraumbilical body wall defect, sternal defect, deficiency of the anterior diaphragm, defect of the diaphragmatic pericardium, and the intracardiac anomalies - was first described by Cantrell et al., in 1958. The defect is said to be more common in males, and survival is dependent on the cardiac malformations and on the degree of completeness of the syndrome. We report three cases of Cantrell′s pentalogy managed in our unit. Two of the patients were females and one a male. All were seen at peripheral health centers before being referred to us. Age at presentation for the girls was 18 hours and 36 hours, respectively, the boy presented at the age of six weeks. All of their parents were unschooled manual workers. All patients presented with a defect in the supraumbilical body wall, bifid sternum, and a visible cardiac impulse. We were unable to do echocardiography to rule out intracardiac anomalies in the three patients. The thin membranous covering of the epigastrium in the female patients was managed conservatively. Both female patients were discharged against medical advice as requested by their parents, due to financial constraints. The male patient was lost to follow up after two clinic visits. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of this syndrome is recommended.

Spontaneous scrotal faecal fistula: A rare complication of incarcerated inguinal hernia in infancy

Spontaneous scrotal faecal fistula is a rare complication of incarcerated inguino-scrotal hernia in the neonate and infants. Only five previous cases have been reported in the English medical literature. We report another case of a 28-day-old neonate, who presented with fecal fistula following prolonged incarceration of a right inguino-scrotal hernia. The etiology and management of this rare complication is discussed.

Evaluation of cosmetic appearance of herniotomy wound scars in African children: Comparison of tissue glue and subcuticular suturing

Aim: To evaluate the cosmetic appearance of herniotomy wound scars closed using either the tissue glue or subcuticular suturing technique. Materials and Methods: Prospective randomised control study; randomisation into tissue glue and suturing groups. Ethical clearance obtained. Cosmetic outcome were based on visual analogue scale by parents and Hollander wound evaluation scale by a Plastic Surgeon blinded to the wound closure method. Results: Fifty one wounds were evaluated, 26 in the tissue glue group and 25 in the suturing group. Parents evaluation using Visual Analogue scale (VAS) showed that in the suturing group, 17 parents (68%) gave a VAS of 8cm while six parents (24%) gave a score of 7cm. Two parents (8%) gave a score of 9cm. In the tissue glue group, 22 parents (84.6%) scored the scar of their children as 8 or 9cm on the VAS while four parents (15.4%) gave a score of 7cm. The median VAS was 8cm for both groups with a range of 7 to 9cm. The Chi- square test showed that the parents preferred tissue glue compared with subcuticular suturing (X2 = 7.90, P < 0.05). The Hollander Wound Evaluation Scale (HWES) used by Plastic Surgeon showed 21 herniotomy wounds (84%) had a score of 6 in the suturing group while four wounds (16%) had a score of 5. In the tissue glue group, 19 wounds (73%) had a score of 6, six wounds (23.1%) had a score of 5 and a patient (3.8%) had a score of 4. The median score is 6 for both groups. There was no statistically significant difference between both groups (X2 = 1.481, P = 0.393). Conclusion: This study has shown that the cosmetic outcome of wound closure using the tissue glue technique and subcuticular suturing technique are similar.

Posterior sagittal approach in complicated Swenson's pull- through

Context: Swensons pull-through is one of the standard operations for the treatment of children with Hirschsprungs disease. Complications arising from the operation are difficult to treat because of fibrosis in the pelvis. The posterior sagittal approach may be a safer alternative. Aims: The aim of this paper is to highlight our experience with the use of the posterior sagittal trans-sphincteric approach to treat unusual complications of Swensons pull-through. Settings and Design: A retrospective study of four patients who had posterior sagittal repair of their complications of Swenson pull-through at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Four cases of Hirschsprungs disease that developed post-Swenson pull-through complications are presented. There were three males and one female. Their age ranged between 10 months and 15 years. The patients had rectovaginal fistula, rectourethral fistula, high trans-sphincteric fistula-in-ano and complete anastomotic disruption. Result: All the patients were successfully treated using the posterior sagittal approach. The approach was used twice in one patient without significant sequelae. The three patients were old enough to be assessed and had a Kelly score of 4-6 at follow-up. Conclusion: The posterior sagittal technique offers a safe approach to treat the complications of Swenson pull-through.

Day case surgery in Nigerian children: influence of social circumstances of patients.

BACKGROUNDnIn order to achieve good results in day surgery and avoid pitfalls, selection of appropriate procedures and patients is required with attention given to the social circumstances among other considerations. The aim of this prospective study therefore was to evaluate the influence of the social circumstances of the patients on the performance of day surgery practice in our environment.nnnMETHODnThis was a prospective study carried out between April, 2004 and December, 2004, during which time 88 children aged 15 years and below with uncomplicated inguinal hernias were treated at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). The parents of the patients were interviewed about their social circumstances to determine the possibility of compliance with postoperative instructions. The data generated were then analyzed.nnnRESULTSnMore than half (54.6%) of the patients were from Ile-Ife. A few came from towns varying in distances from 65 to 80 km and spent an average time of 75 to 90 minutes to reach the hospital. Majority of the patients used public vehicles as a means of transport to and from the hospital in escort of their mothers. Despite the long distances and difficult traveling conditions, the parents still preferred day case surgery and were willing to obey postoperative instructions.nnnCONCLUSIONnFrom the findings in this study, day case surgery in children in our environment is feasible, despite the poor social circumstances of most of them. There is, however a compelling need to raise the standard of living of the people to enable them benefit maximally from day case surgery.