The Medical journal of Malaysia
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An anaesthetist-led outpatient pre-operative assessment (OPA) clinic was introduced in our unit in an effort to improve patient care and cost-effectiveness. To assess the efficiency of the clinic, 112 patients who attended the OPA clinic (attendance rate 98%) during the first year were assessed prospectively and compared with 118 patients who did not undergo OPA the year before. ⋯ This has resulted in more efficient utilization of operating theatre, reduced hospital costs and improved patient satisfaction. More extensive use of the pre-admission clinic is recommended and should be explored in other clinical settings.
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Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is a spinal deformity which affects patients' self image and confidence. Surgery is offered when the curve is more than 50 degrees based on its likelihood of progression. Studies on the radiological outcome of scoliosis correction are abundant. ⋯ In conclusion, patients were satisfied with the outcome of their operation. Although pain was common, the intensity of the pain was minimal. The amount of curve correction did not correlate with the quality of life after operation.
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Case Reports
Perforated ileal duplication cyst presenting with right iliac fossa pain mimicking perforated appendicitis.
Enteric duplication is an uncommon malformation of the gastrointestinal tract which is either asymptomatic or presents with vague symptoms mimicking other more common pathology. It is most commonly diagnosed when complications such as bleeding, intestinal obstruction or perforation occurs. This is a case report of a patient with this condition presenting with right iliac fossa pain and localised peritonitis mimicking acute appendicitis.
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Despite the progresses made in the science of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, there is lack of published works on this area in the Malaysian context. This survey was done to look at the outcomes of all cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed in Emergency Department (ED), Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). This is a one year cross-sectional study from March 2005-March 2006. ⋯ However, there was no different in survival to ward admission between shockable and non shockable rhythms groups. The survival after cardiac arrest is still dismally poor. Perhaps we should be more selective in initiating CPR especially for out of hospital cardiac arrest.
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Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder characterized by rapidly progressive muscle weakness. The disease is caused by deletion, duplication or point mutation of the dystrophin gene, located on the X chromosome (Xp21). Deletion accounts for 60% of the mutations within the 79 exons of the dystrophin gene. ⋯ Fourteen patients were found to have deletion of at least one of the seven exons. The remaining six patients did not show any deletion on the tested exons. Deletions of exons 49, 50 and 51 were the most frequent (71.43%) and appear to be the hot spots in our cohort of patients.