Long-term outcomes and associated factors among intensive care unit survivors in a low-income country: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objective: Post-ICU survivors face higher mortality and often require costly rehabilitation or palliative care, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy and hospice. However, there is a lack of data quantifying the demand for these services, particularly in developing countries like Uganda. Therefore, this prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the 90-day mortality rate, functional status, and mortality risk factors among 121 ICU patients discharged from three tertiary hospital ICUs in Uganda by tracking their vital and physical functional status for three months with follow-ups on days 30, 60, and 90, and identifying risk factors through Cox regression.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to intensive care units in Uganda: a descriptive nationwide multicentre prospective study.

Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rates have decreased over time. However, in low-and lower-middle income countries (LMICs), there remains an excess ICU mortality with limited understanding of patient characteristics, treatments, and outcomes from small single centre studies. We aimed therefore, to describe the characteristics, therapies and outcomes of patients admitted to all intensive care units in Uganda.

Description and analysis of the emergency obstetric interfacility ambulance transfers (IFTs) to Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Uganda.

Introduction: In Uganda, 2% of women die from maternal causes with a mortality rate of 336 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the World Health Organization Uganda is one of the top three contributors to maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda has parallel weak ambulance systems, government, and non-government-owned, that transport obstetric emergencies to higher-level facilities.

Respiratory Support Techniques for COVID-19-Related ARDS in a Sub-Saharan African Country: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Limited data from low-income countries report on respiratory support techniques in COVID-19-associated ARDS.

Research Question: Which respiratory support techniques are used in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS in Uganda?

Study Design And Methods: A multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted at 13 Ugandan hospitals during the pandemic and included adults with COVID-19-associated ARDS. Patient characteristics, clinical and laboratory data, initial and most advanced respiratory support techniques, and 28-day mortality were recorded.

Assessment of the current capacity of intensive care units in Uganda; A descriptive study.

Purpose: To describe the organizational characteristics of functional ICUs in Uganda.

Methods: A descriptive survey of 12 ICUs in Uganda; ICU organisation, structure, staffing, and support facilities. A functional ICU was defined as one that admitted critically ill patients and had the ability to provide mechanical ventilation.

Low dose ketamine versus morphine for acute severe vaso occlusive pain in children: a randomized controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Acute pain episodes associated with sickle cell disease (SCD) are very difficult to manage effectively. Opioid tolerance and side effects have been major roadblocks in our ability to provide these patients with adequate pain relief. Ketamine is cheap, widely safe, readily available drug, with analgesic effects at sub-anesthetic doses and has been used in wide range of surgeries, pediatric burns dressing change and cancer related pain however, literature concerning its use in sickle cell crises is still limited in our setting.

Nosocomial bacterial infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among patients in Ugandan intensive care units: a cross sectional study.

Background: The intensive care unit (ICU) admits critically ill patients requiring advanced airway, respiratory, cardiac and renal support. Despite the highly-specialized interventions, the mortality and morbidity is still high due to a number of reasons including nosocomial infections, which are the most likely complications in hospitalized patients with the rates being highest among ICU patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 111 adult patients admitted to 2 of the ICUs in Uganda, we set out to describe the commonest bacterial infections, their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and factors associated with development of a nosocomial infection.

Clinical Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes of HIV Patients Admitted to an African Intensive Care Unit.

. In high-income countries, improved survival has been documented among intensive care unit (ICU) patients infected with human immune deficiency virus (HIV). There are no data from low-income country ICUs.

A meta-analysis of the efficacy of preoperative surgical safety checklists to improve perioperative outcomes.

Background: Meta-analyses of the implementation of a surgical safety checklist (SSC) in observational studies have shown a significant decrease in mortality and surgical complications.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of the SSC using data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: This meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015017546).

Clinical Characteristics and 30-Day Outcomes of Intermittent Hemodialysis for Acute Kidney Injury in an African Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common occurrence in the intensive care unit (ICU). Studies have looked at outcomes of renal replacement therapy using intermittent haemodialysis (IHD) in ICUs with varying results. Little is known about the outcomes of using IHD in resource-limited settings where continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is limited.

Subcutaneous emphysema, muscular necrosis, and necrotizing fasciitis: an unusual presentation of perforated sigmoid diverticulitis.

With advancing age and the affluent, low-fiber Western diet, the incidence of diverticular disease is increasing. Fortunately, most cases can be managed conservatively without resorting to surgical intervention. Life-threatening complications such as perforation, especially when it is associated with gross fecal contamination, requires urgent aggressive surgical intervention.