Electrocardiographic findings in Nigerian athletes with the sickle cell trait.

Background: In spite of the high prevalence of the sickle cell trait (SCT) in Nigeria, the electrocardiographic characteristics of SCT athletes remain unknown.

Objective: To compare the electrocardiographic findings in athletes of the University of Port Harcourt based on hemoglobin genotype.

Methods: 76 athletes (41 males, 35 females) were recruited.

Giant pseudocyst of the pancreas: A report of three cases.

Background: A Pancreatic pseudocyst is usually a complication of pancreatitis but may follow abdominal trauma in children. Giant pseudocysts are rare and usually complicate chronic pancreatitis.

Aim: To report 3 cases of giant pseudocysts of the pancreas managed in our Centre within a three-month-period.

Laparoscopic retrieval of sharp foreign body: An innovative approach.

Background: Laparoscopy is a relatively new surgical approach in developing countries. Migrated foreign bodies into the body cavities could be very distressing to patients, relations and caregivers. There are paucity of migrated Steinmann pin and laparoscopic retrieval methods in literature.

Strangulated sliding spigelian hernia: A case report.

Introduction: Spigelian hernia is uncommon and frequently presents with features of intestinal obstruction. Clinical diagnosis is difficult in patients without obvious abdominal mass and a computed tomography scan is very helpful in making diagnosis. We report a patient who presented with a strangulated sliding left sided spigelian hernia who was pre-operatively diagnosed and successfully managed surgically.

Spring active drain using bladder (50-60ml) syringe (De Adotey's drain).

Introduction: Closed active drainage system with a syringe is an accepted way to let out fluid in a surgical wound. We present a simple spring active (negative suction) drainage (SAD) system using locally improvised metallic spring and 60ml (bladder syringe); SAD of Adotey, a newly designed compression-expansion spring mechanism which serves especially in situations where an active drainage system is of utmost importance.

Conclusion: De Adotey's drain is a 60ml bladder syringe with spring mechanism which is used to provide a negative pressure as an active drain.

Ileosigmoid knotting in patients under 25 years of age: A report of two cases.

Introduction: Ileosigmoid knotting is a rare cause of acute abdomen with high morbidity and mortality. Its diagnosis is infrequently made before surgery because of its varying ways of presentation and rarity.

Presentation Of Case: The first was a 21-year-old male who presented with a history of sudden generalized abdominal pain and progressive abdominal distension.

Pattern, outcome and challenges of neonatal surgical cases in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Background: Globally, the major causes of neonatal deaths are birth asphyxia, prematurity and severe infections. Little attention is paid to deaths contributed by surgically amenable conditions. This study was undertaken to determine the burden and types of surgical problems encountered in the neonatal period, their outcome and challenges encountered.

Neurologic infections in a Nigerian university teaching hospital.

Background: Neurologic infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality especially worldwide but much more in the African continent. The frequency of the different types of neurologic infections and their mortality in this part of Nigeria is not known.

Objectives: To review cases admitted into the main tertiary referral center in Rivers State of Nigeria with neurologic infections over a 10-year period and to determine the types of infections, their frequency and the mortality.

Anthropometric indices in singleton term neonates and their possible value in predicting some metabolic problems: a preliminary study.

We studied possible sources of variations in selected anthropometric indices and their relationship to neonatal metabolic problems in seventy-four singleton neonates born at an approximate gestation of 40 weeks, by selected anthropometry. There were significant differences particularly in values obtained for birth weight, mid upper arm circumference, chest circumference and the Ponderal Index. At the moment it is not possible to set discriminant values on any of the anthropometric indices as this will require a much larger sample size, however the authors believe that the use of anthropometry in predicting metabolic problems in neonates has some potential and serial measurements of particularly chest circumference, mid upper arm circumference and the Ponderal Index could form the basis of future studies.