Preconception counselling in women with epilepsy.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are potentially high-risk periods for women with epilepsy and their babies. All women with epilepsy should have the opportunity for preconception counselling with the aim of reducing risk, optimising outcomes for the potentially developing fetus and enabling informed decision-making. This article provides an evidence-based framework for preconception counselling discussion, including the review of diagnosis and of current antiseizure medication, the risk to the fetus in relation to antiseizure medication and maternal seizures, maternal morbidity, SUDEP risk, folic acid supplements, contraception, breastfeeding and safety advice.

The Current State of Poison Control Centers in Pakistan and the Need for Capacity Building.

Background: Chemical exposure is a major health problem globally. Poison control centers (PCCs) play a leading role both in developed and developing countries in the prevention and control of poisonous chemical exposures. In this study, we aimed to assess the current state of PCCs in Pakistan and highlight capacity building needs in these centers.

Mortality associated with burn injury - a cross sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Burn injuries are a major cause of medico legal deaths in Pakistan. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the mortality rate related to different types of burns injuries.

Findings: This was an observational prospective cross sectional study conducted in Burns Ward of Civil Hospital, Karachi during a period of two years from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2011.

Rising threat of terrorist bomb blasts in Karachi--a 5-year study.

Objective: This study aims to determine the frequency of injuries and fatalities associated with terrorist bomb explosions in the city of Karachi from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. Moreover, this study is aimed to determine age and sex vulnerability among the victims of blast explosion.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted.

An autopsy-based study of death due to road traffic accidents in metropolis of Karachi.

Objective: To study the demographic distribution of the victims of road traffic accidents that were presented for medico-legal autopsy in Karachi, identify fatal injuries, the identity of road users autopsied and the month-wise variation in performing autopsies.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of autopsies conducted at the mortuaries of Civil Hospital Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital between March 1,2008 and February 28, 2009. Bodies brought in by police for partial/external autopsy were excluded.

Audit of custodial deaths in Karachi--an autopsy-based study.

Objective: To assess the causes and manner of custodial deaths in Karachi, and to determine the factor of negligence on the part of the custodians behind such deaths.

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved the deaths in custody undergoing autopsy at Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2005 to December 2010. Autopsy was followed by histological examination, X-ray or CT scan wherever required.

Exhumation - Nuisance to the dead, justified?

Objective: Exhumation stands as a very significant feature of forensic investigations. The legal excavation of dead bodies for ascertainment of the cause of death has always aided the law enforcement agencies to comprehend the anonymity of any suspicious case and further convict the criminal in cases of homicides. This study analyses the different aspects of the exhumations which were carried out and were autopsied in Karachi during the study period.

Audit of sharp weapon deaths in metropolis of Karachi--an autopsy based study.

Background: Sharp weapons are one of the most violent and abhorrent means of deaths. This study assesses the frequency of sharp weapon deaths in Karachi.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study, and involves the deaths by sharp weapons autopsied in Karachi during Mar 2008-Feb 2009.

Postmortem computed tomography for diagnosis of cause of death in male prisoners.

Objective: To determine the utility of postmortem CT (PMCT) examination in establishing the cause of death among male prisoners dying in Karachi jails.

Methods: A descriptive study was carried out from February 2006 to September 2007, CT Scan section, Civil Hospital Karachi and the Mortuary, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. Adult male prisoners dying in the Karachi central prison and referred to the study setting for determining the cause of death for medico legal purpose were included.

Entrapment: thrombus within a patent foramen ovale.

A 61-year-old gentleman presented to our institute with increasing dyspnoea. He had a previous diagnosis of a deep vein thrombus and was maintained on coumarin therapy. Investigations to evaluate the cause of his dyspnoea included a chest computed tomography (CT) scan and a bronchoscopy.

Anterior sagittal approach for anorectal malformations in female children: early results.

Objective: To determine the technical applicability and early postoperative outcome of anterior sagittal approach for anorectal malformations in female children.

Study Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Surgical Unit B of National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, from April to November 2007.

A study of ovarian lesions in pre-menarche girls.

Objective: To analyze various clinical presentations and the surgical management of ovarian pathologies in pre-menarche girls.

Design: Case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Surgical Unit B, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, from September 2002 to August 2004.

Correlation of the size of undescended testis with its locations in vatrious age groups.

Objective: To assess the correlation of the size of undescended testis with its location in children of various age groups, per-operatively.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Surgical Unit B, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi from February 2004 - November 2005.

Complications of inguinal hernia surgery in children.

Objective: To determine the postoperative complications of elective inguinal hernia surgery in children

Design: Descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Surgical Unit B, National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, from February 2004 to November 2005.

Patients And Methods: Children with inguinal hernia, admitted electively through surgical outpatient, were included.

Sirenomelia (Mermaid baby).

Sirenomelia is a rare anomaly that rarely occurs as an isolated lesion. Several theories have been proposed regarding the etiopathogenesis. In this communication, we report a case of sirenomelia.

Congenital pyloric atresia: isolated and associated with aplasia cutis congenita.

Two cases of congenital pyloric atresia (CPA) are, hereby, reported. One was suspected on antenatal ultrasound and turned out to be an isolated anomaly. Other patient had a rare association of aplasia cutis congenita with congenital pyloric atresia.

Management of simultaneously ingested and aspirated foreign bodies in an infant.

This report describes the management of a 7-month-old baby who aspirated one and ingested two paper pins at a time. Bronchoscopic removal was done for aspirated pin and ingested pins were observed for spontaneous passage in stool, which occurred in 48 hours without any untoward incidence.

Meckel's diverticulum causing exsanguinating haemorrhage.

A seven month old male baby presented to emergency room in shock. Patient had 3 hours history of massive fresh bleeding per rectum. Emergency laparotomy revealed Meckel's diverticulum (MD) with large vitello-intestinal artery responsible for massive bleeding.