Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Problem Based Learning In The 3rd World Context, V Zaman

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Neoplastic Growth Of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Presenting With Impending Cerebral Herniation: A Case Report And Review Of The Literature On De Novo Growth Of Cavernomas, Arshad A. Siddiqui, Rashid Jooma

Section of Neurosurgery

Background: Cerebral cavernomas are rare vascular anomalies and their expansile growth has been considered to be mainly due to recurrent hemorrhages. They are not generally reported to show aggressive behavior.
Case description: A 27-year-old male presented with headache, visual disturbances, and a 17-year history of seizures. He was known to have a temporal lobe lesion on CT scan, consistent with a diagnosis of cavernous malformation but with no relevant family history. Serial clinical and radiological follow-up revealed a progressive increase in the size of the lesion with formation of a growing cyst of 7 cm in diameter, which produced mass …

Infected Endometrioma With Ascites And Bilateral Pleural Effusion, T Naru, N Chaudhury

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

No abstract provided.

An Audit Of Blood Cross-Match Ordering Practices At The Aga Khan University Hospital: First Step Towards A Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule, T Chawla, G N. Kakepoto, M A. Khan

Department of Surgery Docs

Objective: In the absence of an explicit maximum blood order policy, ordering for blood transfusion is frequently based on subjective anticipation of blood loss instead of evidence based estimates of average requirement in a particular procedure. This study was done to assess current practice and the feasibility of a prospective randomized work to develop practice guidelines.METHOD: We audited transfusion data for elective surgical procedures in our hospital during the last 2 years. Cross-matched to transfused ratio (C/T ratio) and Transfusion Index (Ti) for each of the elective surgical procedures was performed during the study period. C/T ratio is used as …

Post-Infarction Left Venticular Free Wall Rupture, S M. Nadeem, S A. Sami, G Khan, N Basir, K A. Kazmi

Section of Cardiology

No abstract provided.

Anaesthetic Management For A Patient With Severe Multiple Sclerosis, E I. Khan, N Amjad, A A. Khan

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.

Treatment Of Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures With Closed Flexible Intramedullary Ender Nails: 39 Fractures Followed For A Period Of Two To Seven Years, Hussain R. Usman, Muhammad A. Umer, Masood Umer

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of flexible intramedullary Ender nails for the treatment of tibial diaphyseal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This is a retrospective review of patients treated with the Ender Nail for both open and closed tibial shaft fractures. Between January 1989 and December 1994, 43 fractures were treated with these nails. The configuration of each fracture was determined using the Orthopedic Trauma Association classification and the extent of soft tissue damage was assessed using the Gustilo and Anderson's classification. Four patients were excluded from the study due to inadequate follow-up. There were 27 closed and 12 open fractures. …

Conversion Disorder: Difficulties In Diagnosis Using Dsm-Iv/Icd-10, E U. Syed, R Atiq, S Effendi, S Mehmud

Department of Psychiatry

Objective: Conversion disorder presents differently in various cultures. The commonest symptoms in the Asian subcontinent may be very different from those seen in Western Hemisphere. This causes some difficulty in making a diagnosis while using DSM-IV and ICD-10.METHOD: This study searched inpatient records for the last 10 years at the Aga Khan University and collected some demographic data as well as assessed the phenomenology of conversion disorder in the patient population.Results: We found unresponsiveness to be the most common symptom in this sample thus not exactly fitting the DSM-IV/ICD-10 picture.CONCLUSION: We observed that current criteria of conversion disorder as stated …

Diagnostic Issues In Abdominal Tuberculosis, M R. Khan, I R. Khan, K M. Pal

Department of Surgery Docs

Objective: To analyze the modes of presentation and diagnostic issues in the management of abdominal tuberculosis at a tertiary care hospital in a developing country, where most of the established diagnostic modalities are available.SETTING: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.Methods: This study is a retrospective review of medical records of all inpatients, diagnosed to have abdominal tuberculosis, from January 1991 to December 1997. The data was collected and particularly analyzed for spectrum of presentation and role of various diagnostic modalities. Of special interest was the sub-group of patients, who after all investigations did not have a firm diagnosis. Following a …

Histological Pattern Of Central Nervous System Neoplasms, Z. Ahmed, S. Muzaffar, Naila Kayani, Shahid Pervez, A. S. Husainy, S. H. Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective:

To see in a large series of patients the histological pattern of CNS neoplasms and to provide a comprehensive data about the frequency of CNS neoplasms in Pakistani patients and to give a clearer idea about their prevalence.

Method:

Retrospective study of all consecutive cases of CNS neoplasms diagnosed at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) between 1st January 1994 and 31st December, 1999.

Setting:

The section of Histopathology, AKUH, Karachi.

Observation:

Our series included a large number of cases i.e., 1110 . There are very few local studies on CNS tumours and none so large . Our data …

Behind The Counter: Pharmacies And Dispensing Patterns Of Pharmacy Attendants In Karachi., Fauziah Rabbani, F. H. Cheema, N. Talati, S. Siddiqui, S. Syed, S. Bashir, L. Z. Zuberi, A. Shamim, Q. Mumtaz

Community Health Sciences

BACKGROUND:

There is little literature available on dispensing patterns and unsupervised sale of medicines from pharmacies in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE:

This study obtained background information on pharmacies assessed the level of training, knowledge and dispensing patterns of pharmacy attendants in Karachi.

METHODOLOGY:

This is a descriptive cross sectional study with convenient sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to interview pharmacy attendants.

RESULTS:

Of the 219 pharmacies surveyed, 62% reported more than 50 customers daily and 20% also sold items of general provision. Mean operating hours were 13. Only 24 (11%) had a visible license. On an average 3 attendants were …

Maternal Deaths In A Developing Country: A Study From The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan 1988-1999, R N. Qureshi, S Jaleel, R Hamid, S F. Lakha

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objective: The maternal deaths occurring over a twelve-year period (1988-1999) in a tertiary referral center were reviewed. The purpose of the study was to assess the causes of these maternal deaths.
Setting: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: The medical records of maternal deaths were reviewed. These were women who had either registered for delivery at the hospital; or were referred from another hospital or from home, when an emergency developed. They were either admitted to the Medicine, Surgery and the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments at the hospital.Results: A total of 81 maternal deaths were identified, of …

Comparison Of Spontaneous With Controlled Mode Of Ventilation In Tonsillectomy, F A. Khan, G A. Memon

Department of Anaesthesia

Methods: This randomized study compares spontaneous versus controlled ventilation in 60 ASA I and II patients undergoing tonsillectomy as regards haemodynamic stability, recovery characteristics, intra- and immediate postoperative complications and surgical impressions.Results: The patients in the balanced anaesthesia (B) group showed less haemodynamic variability compared to baseline after tracheal intubation, mouth gag application and removal and incision. Two patients had dysrhythmias in the B group compared to six in the spontaneous breathing (S) group. Six patients in the S group had a rise in endtidal carbon dioxide concentration above 7.8 kPa (60 mmHg). Recovery scores were higher in the B …

Flow Cytometric Analysis Of Childhood Leukemias, R. Z. Yusuf, Shahid Pervez, S. A. Aziz, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To collect demographic data for childhood (less than 15 years) leukemias in Karachi, describe the accuracy of the cell surface markers routinely used in the flow cytometric analysis of leukemic cells and arrive at an ideal panel of antibodies for analyzing leukemic samiples.

Materials and Methods: Data from 62 consecutive cases of childhood leukemias referred to the Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital. (AKUH) between January 1995 and December 1998 was analyzed using Epi Info Version 6. Flow cytometry on all samples was performed using standard protocols.

Results: The mean age of patients was 8.2 years and 49 …

Vestibular Schwannomas: Clinical Presentation, Management And Outcome, M S. Awan, H U. Qureshi, A A. Sheikh, M M. Ali

Section of Neurosurgery

Objective: To review the demographic trends clinical spectrum, diagnosis, management and outcome of patients with vestibular Schwannoma and to identify areas where improvements are needed.
Methods: All patients with vestibular schwannoma admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital over the past 11 years were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: The age range of majority of 22 patients analyzed, was 41-50 years (23%). Hearing loss was the most common presenting symptom (96%). Other clinical features included cranial nerve palsies (59%) and headache (55%). Fifty percent had signs of raised intracranial pressure. Neuroimaging revealed "Stage IV b" (tumor distorting the brainstem and compressing the …

Clinical Presentation And Treatment Outcome In Children With Nephroblastoma In Kenya, F.K. Abdallah, William Macharia

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Objective: To review the clinical presentation and management of children with nephroplastoma and the factors influencing the outcome at Kenyatta National Referral and Teaching Hospital (KNH).

Design: This was a retrospective case series study based on secondary data accumulated between 1990 and 1996.

Setting: The relevant data were extracted from records of all children aged 12 years and below, admitted for cancer at KNH, Nairobi.

Results: Out of 803 children with cancer, 71 (8.8% ) had histologically proven nephroblastoma. At presentation, 1.5% were in stage I, 13.2% stage II, 36.8% stage III, 41.2% stage IV and 7.4% stage V. Eighty …

Sustained Remission In A Case Of Lupus Nephritis With Cyclosporin Therapy, M A. Rabbani, S M. Shah, A Ahmad

Section of Nephrology

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in severe form still presents a major therapeutic challenge. Aggressive treatment of severe renal lesions has improved the prognosis of renal disease over the last decade. However, this benefit is quite frequently offset by the side effects and toxicity of the treatment. Moreover, the disease may appear to be poorly responsive to treatment with steroids and cytotoxic drugs. We report a case of lupus nephritis that relapsed despite having adequate steroid and cytotoxic therapy, but later was successfully treated with cyclosporin. Fifteen months after discontinuing the treatment with cyclosporin, the patient continued to remain in remission.

An Analysis Of Anemia And Child Mortality, B.J. Brabin, Zul Premji, F. Verhoeff

Pathology, East Africa

The relationship of anemia as a risk factor for child mortality was analyzed by using cross-sectional, longitudinal and case-control studies, and randomized trials. Five methods of estimation were adopted: 1) the proportion of child deaths attributable to anemia; 2) the proportion of anemic children who die in hospital studies; 3) the population-attributable risk of child mortality due to anemia; 4) survival analyses of mortality in anemic children; and 5) cause-specific anemia-related child mortality. Most of the data available were hospital based. For children aged 0-5 y the percentage of deaths due to anemia was comparable for reports from highly malarious …

Pneumoperitoneum Following Mechanical Ventilation In A Child, Fazal Hameed Khan, Nadeem Ahmad

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.

Female Genital Tuberculosis Revisted, R N. Qureshi, S Samad, R Hamid, S F. Lakha

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Objective: To assess the clinical presentation of genital tuberculosis and to study various modes of diagnosis and treatment.SETTING: The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi.
Method: A retrospective case review of all index female cases of genital tuberculosis, admitted to AKUH over twelve years of period.
Result: A total of 40 cases of genital tuberculosis were reported during this time period. Majority of cases were between 25-45 years. The commonest presenting symptoms were infertility (42.5%) and abdominal pain (42%). Others included fever, ascites, irregular vaginal bleeding, oligomenorrhea, chest pain and pain in the flanks. Main mode of treatment was antituberculous …

Physician Assisted Suicide Perceptions Among Patients Presenting To Family Physicians At A Teaching Hospital In Karachi, Pakistan, Waris Qidwai, H. Qureshi, S. S. Ali, M. Alam, S. I. Azani

Department of Family Medicine

Objective: To study the perceptions on physician assisted suicide, among patients presenting to family physicians, at a teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
Method: The study was carried out at the Community Health Center of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between December 1999 and May 2000. The principal and co-investigators filled a pre-coded and pre­tested questionnaire consisting of important demographic characteristics and bio-medical ethics issues. A system of convenience sampling was used and a written consent was taken from respondents over the age of 16 years, who agreed to participate. The data were managed by using the Epi …

Epidemiological Features Of Aplastic Anaemia In Pakistan, Salman Adil, G. N. Kakepoto, Mohammad Khurshid, I. A. Burney

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To complete the data on the demographic features of patients diagnosed to have aplastic anemia at a single institution over a 7.5 years period. Methods: Demographic information was retrieved from the patients medical records retrospectively as well as prospectively of those patients who presented with features of aplastic anaemia. Their diagnosis was confirmed by performing a complete blood count and bone marrow trephine.
Results: One hundred and forty four patients were diagnosed to have aplastic anemia; there were 106 males and 38 females. Their ages ranged from 2 to 75 years, with a median of 17 years, …

Impaired Splenic Function In Systemic Amyloidosis: Diagnostic Importance Of Peripheral Blood Film, F. Bilwani, Salman Adil, G. N. Kakepoto, Mohammad Khurshid, A. Ahmed

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

We describe case of a 40 year old male, who went on to developed systemic amyloidosis 3 years after the diagnosis of chronic renal failure. The diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis was suspected upon a routine examination of periheral blood film showing features of hyposlenism. We would like to highlight the importance of examination of pheripheral blood film in patients with renal failure for the diagnosis of extensive systemic amyloidosis which occasionally leads to functional hyposplenism, recognized by the presence of abnormal red cell morphology and reduced splenic uptake on isotope scan¹.

Anatomical Variations Of Internal Jugular Vein As Seen By "Site Rite Ii" Ultrasound Machine--An Initial Experience In Pakistani Population, Hameedullah, M. A. Rauf, Fazal Hameed Khan

Department of Anaesthesia

Objective: To determine the anatomical variations of the internal jugular vein (IJV) in Pakistani adult population with the help of Site Rite II ultrasound machine.
Material and Method: The right IJV relation to the carotid artery was visualized at four different landmarks (angle of the mandible, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage, and the supraclavicular area). Size of IJV in comparison to carotid artery was also seen.
Results: In 49 cases the IJV was found in aberrant relation to carotid artery at the angle of the mandible (p value
Conclusion:Care should be taken while cannulating IJV at the angle of the …

Acute Haemolysis In Childhood Falciparum Malaria, H. Ekvall, P. Arese, F. Turrini, K. Ayi, F. Mannu, Zul Premji, A. Bjorkman

Pathology, East Africa

Acute haemolysis associated with clinical episodes of high-level Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia was studied in 20 children from an holoendemic area (coastal Tanzania). The change in blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration ranged from -46 to +5 g/L during the 72-h observation period and was linearly related to maximum parasitaemia. Balance studies between loss of blood Hb, increase in plasma Hb and appearance of Hb in the urine indicated that extravascular clearance of red cells was the predominant mode of erythrocyte clearance. Most subjects, however, showed minor signs of intravascular haemolysis. The plasma Hb was ≪1% of blood Hb and haemoglobinuria was detected …

Hemoglobin Concentration In Children In A Malaria Holoendemic Area Is Determined By Cumulated Plasmodium Falciparum Parasite Densities, H. Ekvall, Zul Premji, S. Bennett, A. Bjorkman

Pathology, East Africa

In malaria holoendemic areas children are anemic, but the exact influence of falciparum malaria on hemoglobin (Hb) concentration remains largely unsettled. Prospective data were therefore collected in children < 24 months of age during five months in a Tanzanian village. Children with mean asymptomatic parasitemia ≥ 400/μl had lower median Hb levels during the study than those with mean density < 400/μl. The difference was 9.7 g/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8-17). In children with one or more clinical malaria episodes, the median Hb was 8.3 g/L (95% CI 0.9-16) lower than those without episode. If early treatment failure was recorded, the immediate effect on Hb was particularly important with a mean drop of 17 g/L. Interestingly, at study-end the Hb concentration represented a function of the area under the parasitemia curve (AUPC) during the previous five months, adjusting for age. In conclusion, stepwise deterioration in median Hb levels was found by asymptomatic parasitemia, clinical malaria episode, and most significantly, treatment failure.

A Low-Cost Intervention For Cleaner Drinking Water In Karachi, Pakistan, S Luby, M Agboatwalla, A Raza, J Sobel, E Mintz, K Baier, M Rahbar, S Qureshi, Rumina Hassan, F Ghouri

Community Health Sciences

Objective: To pilot test an inexpensive, home-based water decontamination and storage system in a low-income neighborhood of Karachi.Methods: Fifty households received a 20-L plastic water storage vessel with a high-quality spout and a regular supply of diluted hypochlorite solution. Twenty-five control households were recruited. Water samples were collected at baseline and during unannounced follow-up visits 1, 3, 6, and 10 weeks later.Results: Baseline drinking water samples among intervention households were contaminated with a mean 9397 colony-forming units (cfu)/100 mL of thermotolerant coliforms compared with a mean 10,990 cfu/100 mL from controls. After intervention the mean concentration of thermotolerant coliforms decreased …

Development And Testing Of An Assessment Tool For Integrated Learning, Z. Naqvi, R. Ahmed, Bushra Jamil

Department of Medicine

Objective: Development of integrated questions for undergraduate medical students and assessing students’ capability to retain and apply basic concepts in an integrated way.
Method: Multiple choice questions, attempting to probe understanding and application of different concepts, affiliated with different subjects and topics, were developed. As a pilot these were administered to the students of third year and final year at the end of their certifying examinations as a mock test. The following year these questions were introduced in the continuous assessments and subsequently the certifying examinations (in third year) as 33% of the whole examination. Difficult indices, item analysis and …

Foreign Body Granuloma After Craniotomy For Tumor: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Ashfaq A. Razzaq, M. K. N. Chishti

Section of Neurosurgery

No abstract provided.

Histological Pattern Of Ovarian Neoplasma., Zubair Ahmad, Naila Kayani, Sheema H. Hasan, Suhail Muzaffar, Muhammad Shafiq Gill

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

Objective: To see the morphological pattern of benign and malignant ovarian neoplasms. Method: Retrospective study of all consecutive cases of ovarian neoplasms diagnosed at Aga Khan University Hospital between 1st January 1993 and 30th September 1998. Setting: The Section of Histopathology, AKUH, Karachi. Observation: Of 855 ovarian tumours 506 (59.18%) were benign and 349(40.81%) malignant. Surface epithelial - stromal tumours comprised 63.50% of all tumours. Benign cystic teratoma was the commonest benign tumour (35.17% of all benign tumours) and serous cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant tumour (33.33% of all malignant tumours). Mucinous cystadenocarcinomas are more common in our population …