Phacotrabeculectomy Versus Conventional Combined Technique in Coexisting Glaucoma and Cataract.

Background: To evaluate and compare efficacy and outcome after single site phacotrabeculectomy and conventional combined surgery in cases of coexisting primary open angle glaucoma and cataract.

Methods: This prospective study on fifty patients of concurrent primary open angle glaucoma and cataract, who had undergone combined surgery as single site phacotrabeculectomy or conventional single site trabeculectomy with extracapsular lens extraction with IOL implantation in 25 cases each. Evaluation was based on operative and postoperative complications, control of IOP and visual outcome.

Techniques in Cardiology : PDA Closure in Children.

Background: Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with various devices has been evaluated worldwide and in selected cases can be performed successfully, thus avoiding the morbidity associated with surgical closure.

Methods And Results: A 2 year old female child presented with PDA and aortic angiography showed large PDA (tubular). This defect can be closed nonsurgically by coils and devices.

The Challenge of Enterocutaneous Fistulae.

During a period of six years, 17 cases of enterocutaneous fistulae arising from the small intestine were managed. Majority of the fistulae, (76%) resulted from surgical complications. There were 6 females and 11 male patients.

Early Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection by p24 Antigen Detection.

p24 antigen was estimated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sero-negative individuals attending various sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinics and also in sero-negative voluntary blood donors. A total of 300 STD cases and 500 voluntary blood donors, who also acted as controls, were included in this study. Antibody to HIV was detected by ELISA and was confirmed by western blot.

Conventional B-mode Ultrasonography for Evaluation of Retinal Disorders.

Sonographic study of 164 patients (328 eyes) in the present series highlights the advantages of ocular ultra sonography (B-mode) in the evaluation of retinal disorders especially in patients with opaque ocular media. B-mode sonography of the eye is a rapid, cheap, safe and reliable investigation for the eye. The sensitivity and specificity of this modality in detecting ocular pathologies has been recorded as extremely high and is of great value to the eye surgeon for a preoperative assessment of the posterior segment when fundoscopy is not possible due to opaque ocular media from various causes.

Missile Injuries of Brain - an Experience in Northern Sector.

During a period of one year, from Jan 99 to Dec 99, 60 cases of missile injuries were treated at our centre. 59 were males and one was a female and their average age was 25 years. 43 patients had suffered splinter injuries, 12 had gunshot wounds and 5 had suffered injuries by improvised explosive devices.

Serum Ornithine Carbamoyl Transferase as a Surrogate Marker in Malaria.

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity and other liver function tests were studied in a total of 50 patients of clinical malaria and 15 controls. They were grouped as group I (positive for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear, n=18), group II (negative for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear (PBS) but responded to antimalarials, n=17) and group III (peripheral blood smear negative and did not respond to antimalarial therapy, n=15). The mean OCT levels were significantly raised in group I (6.

NEED FOR PRECISE PROTOCOL IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE POST OPERATIVE SPINE.

Gadolinium enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of the post operative lumbo-sacral spine is a sensitive and specific imaging technique. A need for establishing a specific protocol for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) for use in the service hospitals is highlighted for convenience of patient management and preservation of active manpower. The MR scan of 50 patients performed over a span of six months, who complained of persistent low backache even after surgery, were retrospectively analysed.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome due to carbamazepine.

Two patients with psychotic disorders who developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome while on treatment with carbamazepine is reported due to its rarity. Dermatological side-effects of carbamazepine may be more common in psychiatric as compared to neurological patients.

Primary brainstem injury: benign course and improved survival.

Primary brainstem injury following head injury is a rare event. The victims often have features of supratentorial injury, and a primary isolated injury to the brainstem occurring due to shearing stresses or to injury from the tentorial edge is extremely rare. In the presence of supratentorial injury, these patients may have altered sensorium.