Factors affecting patient satisfaction at a plastic surgery outpatient department at a tertiary centre in South Africa.

Background: The main purpose of a medical facility is to improve the welfare of patients, and user satisfaction is one of its primary goals. This study aimed to identify variables influencing patient satisfaction at the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Department of Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Gauteng, South Africa. By identifying factors affecting patient satisfaction, the services provided to patients may be improved.

Building a national hernia registry in South Africa: initial ventral hernia repair results from a diverse healthcare sector.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to introduce a new registry in a developing country by describing the demographics, management and 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the public and private healthcare sectors of South Africa.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained hernia registry from the 1st of February 2019 to 29th of February 2020.

Results: 353 ventral hernia repair cases were recorded of which 47% were incisional hernias and the remainder were primary hernias.

The deltopectoral flap in the management of tracheostomal stenosis post laryngectomy and radiotherapy.

Background: Tracheostomal stenosis is a distressing complication with a high incidence rate post laryngectomy. We aimed to assess the deltopectoral flap (DPF) for tracheostomal stenosis correction in irradiated patients.

Methods: Six patients with tracheostomal stenosis, 3 of whom developed restenosis after prior use of local flaps, were managed using a DPF to reconstruct the defect following a vertical incision release of the stenotic band down to the inferior tracheal cartilaginous ring.

Seasonal Variation of Orofacial Clefts.

Background: Orofacial clefts represent the most common craniofacial malformation diagnosed at birth and may be divided into isolated cleft lip (CL), cleft lip and palate (CL/P), or isolated cleft palate (CP). The causes of orofacial clefts have long been understood to be multifactorial; however, research into the genetic and environmental factors underpinning these disorders in African populations is scant. Seasonal variation in the occurrence of orofacial clefts was investigated.

A delayed presentation of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma in an African patient.

A 24-year-old womanpresented with ameloblastic fibrosarcoma arising from ameloblastic fibroma. The delayed presentation accounted for the extensive destruction of the mandible and complete occlusion of her oral cavity. This resulted in an inability to eat and maintain oral hygiene.

Thyroid Crisis in a Patient With Burn Injury.

Thyroid crisis is an exacerbation of hyperthyroidism that results in severe systemic disturbances and could be fatal. Similarly, severe burn injury also has a hypermetabolic response as part of its presentation. When these two conditions are present concurrently, one must be cognizant that the patient requires urgent optimization of their hyperthyroid status before surgery, and continuous monitoring in an intensive care unit setting.

Outcomes of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at a bariatric unit in South Africa.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has gained popularity over the years as a standalone procedure. In 2014, it was the most rapidly growing bariatric procedure. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of LSG at a single bariatric unit in Johannesburg, South Africa, using the Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) standardised scoring.

Metastatic trichilemmal carcinoma in a patient with breast cancer.

Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is described as a very rare cancer of the skin adnexa. Ninety per cent of the lesions present on the scalp. Prognostic factors in TC are limited to lymph node status and surgical margins, with no statistical significance observed for age or gender of the patient, size of tumour or locoregional recurrence.

Pathological findings in reduction mammoplasty specimens: A South African perspective.

Background: Preoperative, intraoperative and follow-up guidelines for managing occult carcinoma in reduction mammoplasty specimens are scant

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the records and pathology reports of 200 patients who had undergone reduction mammoplasty at two major public hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa, during 2009-2014. Demographic data, their history of breast cancer and preoperative screening, the surgical techniques used and pathological reports were included. In all cases preoperative screening for breast cancer had been negative.

Temporal arteritis presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms in a middle aged man.

Giant cell arteritis, also known as temporal arteritis, is a vasculitis of unknown etiology that classically involves the wall of the large to medium size. We are reporting a case of a young onset temporal arteritis presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms. The patient was a 48-year-old male who presented with a 2-week history of fever, diffuse abdominal pain, and malaise.

Corneal thickness and visual field damage in glaucoma patients.

Purpose: To verify whether there was a significant correlation between central corneal thickness (CCT) and visual field damage in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: A total of 99 eyes with POAG were consecutively recruited. Patients were classified as glaucomatous based on visual field and optic nerve head damage.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair by an intraperitoneal onlay mesh technique using expanded PTFE: a prospective study.

This prospective trial was initiated to assess laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs by an intraabdominal intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) technique. An IPOM method utilizing 10 x 7.5-cm expanded polytef (PTFE) patches was used to repair 52 inguinal hernias in 50 patients.

Selective surgical management of zone II gunshot injuries of the neck: a prospective study.

Background: The management of penetrating neck trauma remains controversial, with many studies supporting either mandatory exploration or selective conservatism.

Methods And Results: This is a prospective study of 75 patients with gunshot injuries to zone II of the neck. Forty patients (53.

Diaphragmatic herniation after penetrating trauma.

A study was made of 45 patients with diaphragmatic herniation after penetrating trauma. In 29 the diagnosis was established during the first admission (early presentation) and in 16 during a subsequent admission (delayed presentation). The mortality rate in the early presentation group was 3 per cent compared with 25 per cent in the delayed presentation group.

Arterial gunshot injuries of the extremities: a South African experience.

This is a retrospective study of 173 patients with gunshot injuries of the major arteries of the extremities. A selective policy for the use of angiography was followed. The arterial repair was achieved by various means: primary end-to-end anastomosis, vein interposition graft, and polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) interposition grafts.

Penetrating trauma audit--TRISS analysis.

Quality assurance in trauma care is of major importance in assessing the efficacy of a trauma service and in identifying areas for improvement. Trauma scores and the TRISS methodology are at present the most accurate tools for quality assurance purposes. In this prospective study, the TRISS methodology was used to analyse the results in a group of 629 patients with penetrating trauma.

The effect of hypovolaemia on healing of the right and the left colon. An experimental study.

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effect of a period of hypovolaemia prior to surgery on healing of the right and left colon of the baboon. Colonic healing was assessed in three ways: in terms of (i) anastomotic leakage, (ii) hydroxyproline concentrations and (iii) breaking strength. The results suggest that hypovolaemia before surgery affects the right and left colon similarly.

Short-course antibiotic prophylaxis in penetrating abdominal injuries: ceftriaxone versus cefoxitin.

This was a prospective, randomized study of 123 patients with penetrating abdominal injuries. The patients received ceftriaxone or cefoxitin for 24 h (in the presence of colonic injury, 48 h). The overall incidence of abdominal sepsis was 7.

Gastric mucormycosis.

A case of gastric mucormycosis proven on culture and histologic examination and successfully treated with resectional surgery and Amphotericin B is described.

Carotid artery injuries: experience with 124 cases.

This is a retrospective study of 124 patients with carotid injuries. The common carotid artery was injured in 84% of the patients. Associated trauma to the internal jugular vein was present in 26%.

Angiosarcoma of the breast. A case report.

A case of angiosarcoma of the breast in a 39-year-old black woman is described and the presentation, management and clinical course of this rare tumour are discussed.

Healing of the right and left colon. An experimental study.

An experimental study investigated the relative healing properties of the unprepared right and left colon of the baboon. Colonic healing was assessed in three ways: anastomostic leakage, hydroxyproline concentration and breaking strength. The results suggest that healing on the two sides of the colon is similar.

The management of penetrating injuries of the back. A prospective study of 230 patients.

This is a prospective study of 230 patients with penetrating injuries of the back. The decision to operate or observe was taken exclusively on the abdominal physical findings. One hundred ninety-five patients (85%) did not require operation, 30 (13%) underwent a therapeutic laparotomy, four (1.