African Journals Online
Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1 JANUARY - MARCH 2000
Abstracts

Urinary Exertion Of Calcium By Urinary Stone Disease Patients And Normal 
Subjects In Southeast Nigeria And Scotland 

J. C. Orakwe
Department Of Surgery Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital
Nnewi, Nigeria.


ABSTRACT

To compare the urinary excretion of calcium by subjects in a known area of high incidence of urinary stone disease, and a known area of low incidence, 12 adult male patients with idiopathic calcigerous urinary stone disease in south-East Nigeria and 55 similar patients from Scotland, United Kingdom were analyzed thirty-six healthy subjects in Nigeria and 30 in Scotland were also analyses as controls. Twenty-four hour urinary excretion of calcium was higher in patients from Scotland (6.81 +0.48mmols/24 hours). It was also higher in control from Scotland (5.96+0.61 mmol/24 hours), than in controls from Nigeria (2.33+0.21mmols/24 hours), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.001), Calcium excretion was higher in patients than in controls in both centers. (Nig J Surg Res 2000;2:1-5)

KEY WORDS: Calcigerous stone, disease, calcium excretion Nigeria, Scotland. 


An Analysis Of Surgically Treated Cases Of Uterine Fibroid At The University Of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

A.W.O. Olatinwo and*R.A. Offiong
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (Matenrity Wing) Ilorin, Nigeria And *Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja FCT.



ABSTRACT 

A 2½-year review of uterine fibroids management at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital was carried out. It was revealed that uterine fibroids constitute 4.7% of Gyneacological admissions. Nearly 50% of patients were within the 31-40 years age group and 54.1% occurred within the parity of 0 and1. Menstrual disturbances and infertility were the commonest presenting features. A palpable abdominal mass was a feature in 75.5% of the patients although only 43.8% complained of abdominal swelling. 64.3% showed evidence of associated pelvic inflammatory disease. The operative treatments involved either myomectomy (42.8%) or hysterectomy 57.2%. Post operative morbidity due to pyrexia occurred in 60% while anaemia and wound infections were recorded in 11% and 10% respectively. The study revealed that pelvic infections are still very rampant in our environment and this may not be unrelated to ignorance, poverty and dearth of adequate health facilities in the community. (Nig J Surg Res 2000;2:6-11)

KEY WORDS: Uterine fibroid, symptomatology, surgical treatment, post operative morbidity.

The Pattern Of Adult External Abdominal Hernias In Zaria

E.S. Garba 
Department Of Surgery
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna,Nigeria


ABSTRACT

Over a period of 12 years seven thousand, nine hundred and fifty-two (7952) patients with general surgical problems were operated on at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. Of these, patients with external abdominal hernias constituted nine hundred and eighteen (918). Operation for hernias constituted about 12.5% of the operative work-load of the general surgeons in this hospital. The descending order of occurrence of external abdominal hernias were inguinal, femoral and incisional. Right inguinal hernias were commoner than left inguinal hernias with a ratio of 1.7:1. The indirect inguinal hernias accounted for 67.5% of cases of inguinal hernias. There were fifty (50) of cases of bilateral inguinal hernias. Femoral hernias were commoner in the female patient than in the males, though inguinal hernias will still the commonest hernias in the females. Generally speaking, femoral hernias were commoner on the left side than on the right side. Incisional hernias occurred in women following caesarean section for obstructed labour. The commonest mode of presentation in all hernias was a reducible simple hernia. Other modes of presentation included irreducible hernia, intestinal obstruction, intestinal strangulation with peritonitis and occasional giant hernias (fascial deflect diameter greater than 10cm). Femoral hernias obstructed more commonly than inguinal hernias. Modified Bassini repair was the method employed to repair the inguinal hernias, low approach for simple femoral hernias and high approach for complicated femoral hernias. Simple repairs also were employed for incisional hernias with Keel method for moderate-to-giant hernias (facial deflect > 10cm in diameter). Four patients died, three from overwhelming infection following strangulation obstruction of inguino-scrotal hernias and one from severe chest infection following repair for a giant incisional hernia. The follow up was poor. Most patients defaulted after their second visit to surgical out patient department . External abdominal hernias remain a significant surgical problem in our environment. ( Nig J Surg Res 2000; 2:12-15)

KEY WORDS: External abdominal hernia, Adults, Morbidity, Mortality 


A Review Of Pectoralis Major Musculocutaneous Island Flap In Head And Neck Reconstruction In Ibadan

O.M. Oluwatosin, F.O. Abikoye,V.O. Adegboye , A. I. Brimmo and J.T. Arotiba 
Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Like microvascular free flaps, pectoralis major flaps can be transferred in a single stage and have largely replaced deltepectoral (Bakanjiam) flap in head and neck reconstruction. This retrospective study was carried out to highlight the usefulness of this flap in different situations. Ten patients, aged six to 55 years operated on in a six year period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan are presented. Indications for surgery were gun short trauma (2), pharomgocutaneous fistula (2), oesophageal stricture (2) and tumours (4). There was a 100% success rate. Neck web rate was 30% and these were revised at a second stage. Our modification to suit three-layer coverage is discussed. The pectoralis major muscle flap is a simple and reliable flap useful in head and neck reconstructions (Nig J Surg Res 2000;2:16-20) 

KEY WORDS: Pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap, osseomusculocutaneous flap; head and neck reconstruction

Oral Tumours In Zaria

A. H. Rafindadi and G. I. Ayuba 
Department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria



ABSTRACT

Oral tumours are common worldwide and are attributed to factors like tobacco smoke, ill-fitting dentures, alcohol, and syphilis. Viruses like HPV and HIV play an important role in some premalignant conditions like leukoplakia. This is a retrospective analysis of 210 oral tumours see at the Pathology department of the ABUTH, Zaria from 1987 - 1996. There were 54 benign and 156 malignant tumours. The benign oral tumours were made up of 12 squamous cell papillomas; 11 haemangiomas; 7 fibromas; 6 myxomas; 5 lipomas; 4 neurofibromas; and 11 unclassified lesions. The M:F ratio was 1:1.1 for benign tumours. The malignant tumours were made up of 115 squamous cell carcinomas; 6 fibrosarcomas; 4 malignant melanomas; 2 heamangiopericytomas; and 27 unclassified malignant lesions. The M:F ratio was 2.3:1 for malignant tumours. It is concluded that squamous cell carcinoma is the commonest oral neoplasm seen in Zaria and it occurs at a younger age than is seen in more developed western countries (Nig J Surg Res 2000;2:21-25)

KEY WORDS: Oral tumours; Squamous cell carcinoma; Fibrosarcoma; Papilloma; Heamangioma; Human papilloma virus


Impacted Vesical Calculus: An unusual cause of failed urethral dilatation

N. H. Mbibu and L. M. Khalid
Urology Unit, Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
(Nig J Surg Res 2000; 2: 26 - 27)


Chronic Subdural Haematoma Presenting as Meningitis: A Case Report

B. B. Shehu and N. J. Ismail
Neurosurgical Unit, Department of Surgery, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria


ABSTRACT

A 28-year-old man presented to the medical ward with an acute onset of headache, fever, convulsion and deteriorating level of consciousness. Cerebrospinal meningitis was suspected for which adequate treatment was given without improvement. Neurosurgical evaluation elicited a history of trauma 4 months earlier and Computed Tomography Scan of the brain showed a subdural haematoma. The patient made rapid recovery following burr hole and drainage of the haematoma. Chronic subdural haematoma may mimick several neurological diseases and should be suspected in patients with whose neurological symptoms fail to improve on medical treatment ( Nig J Surg Res 2000;2:30-32)

KEY  WORDS: Chronic Subdural Haematoma, Medical Presentation, Suspicion

Urethrocystoscopy Without Fibre Optic Light Source

N. H. Mbibu
Urology Unit , Department Of Surgery ,Ahmadu Bello Univrsity Teaching Hospital, Zaria 
(Nig J surg Res 2000; 2: 30 - 32)



Difficult Tracheal Intubation: Causes, Predictive Tests And Management

S.A. Eguma, E.O. Ogboli And I.I. Lawal
Department Of Anaesthesia, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria 
(Nig J Surg Res 2000; 2: 33 - 37)