Disability and perceived stress in primary care patients with major depression.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in the Spanish primary care (PC) setting and the leading cause of disability in Spain. The aim of this study was to evaluate several key psychometric properties of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) in patients with or without MDD and varying degrees of symptom severity using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Method: A total of 1,704 PC patients participating in the PsicAP clinical trial completed the SDS and PHQ-9.

Clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic characteristics of patients with chronic right-lower-quadrant abdominal pain that may benefit from appendectomy.

Background: Chronic pains of the right lower quadrant of the abdomen (RLQA) remain a challenging problem worldwide, especially in areas with limited technical background; chronic appendicitis is still a subject of controversy. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and paraclinical data of patients with chronic pains of RLQA who had an appendectomy performed.

Methods: During a period of 4 years, all patients presenting with a chronic pain of the RLQA were selected for our study and underwent clinical assessment and systematic ultrasonography of the abdomen; these served as a basis of selecting candidates for appendectomy.

[Analysis of operative indications and outcomes in 238 re-operations after abdominal surgery in an economically disadvantaged setting].

Aim Of The Study: We analyse aspects of re-operative abdominal surgery in an economically disadvantaged environment with respect to indications, operative findings, treatment modalities, and outcomes.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective chart review over a seven-year period of patients requiring re-operative surgery during the same hospitalization or within 30 days of initial surgery.

Results: During the study period, 7714 laparotomies were performed.

Retained sponge after abdominal surgery: experience from a third world country.

Background: Retained abdominal sponge after surgery is a quite rare condition which can have heavy medico-legal consequences; its frequency is generally underestimated. Few reports of these conditions are available in African environment with specific technical and medico-legal background. We present our local experience of retained sponges after abdominal surgery and review current literature.

[Acute abdomens of parasitic origin: retrospective analysis of 135 cases].

Objective: To assess acute abdomens incidence of parasitic origin at Yaounde (Cameroon) and evaluate their different management modalities.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study from January 1973 to December 2002 of patients managed at Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Yaounde (Cameroon).

Results: Among 3464 acute abdomens managed by laparotomy during this period, 135 patients (3.