The Pan African medical journal
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The analgesic effect of clonidine as an adjuvant in dorsal penile nerve block.
Dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB) is a commonly performed regional anesthetic technique for male circumcision. The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic effect of the adjunction of clonidine to bupivacaine 0.5% in this block. ⋯ Clonidine can be used in dorsal penile nerve block to improve and to prolong its analgesic effects after male circumcision.
-
Proteinuria is a common marker of kidney damage. This study aimed at determining predictors of proteinuria in subjects without impaired renal filtration function in Owerri, Nigeria. ⋯ The risk factors of proteinuria in subjects without impaired renal filtration function in Owerri, Nigeria, included 24HUV, SUPCR, 24HUPCR, 24HUPOR, 24HUCOR and SUPOR. Further research should explore the relationship between urine creatinine and urine osmolality, and how this relationship may affect progression of kidney damage, with or without impaired renal filtration function.
-
WHO classifies Kenya as having a high maternal mortality. Regional data on maternal mortality trends is only available in selected areas. This study reviewed health facility maternal mortality trends, causes and distribution in Central Region of Kenya, 2008-2012. ⋯ The region recorded an unsteady declining trend. Direct causes contributed to the majority deaths including hemorrhage, infection and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. We recommend health education on individualized birth plan and mentorship on emergency obstetric care. Further studies are necessary to clarify and expand the findings of this study.
-
Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare disease. It especially affects young adults. The onset is usually sudden, involving chest pain, subcutaneous emphysema and dyspnea. ⋯ The patient presented with acute respiratory failure associated with retrosternal chest pain. Chest X-ray confirmed the diagnosis of pneumomediastinum. The patient evolved favorably within 4 days after exsufflation, oxygen therapy and conventional medical treatment.
-
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disease that is usually complicated by visceral vascular malformations. Patients harboring such malformations are at increased risk of brain abscess formation, which despite advances in diagnostic and surgical methods remains a life threatening medical emergency with high mortality and morbidity rates. In the present report we describe a case of cerebral abscess due to silent pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a young patient previously undiagnosed for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia syndrome (HHT).