Browsing by Author "Bhatta, Karuna"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Publication Deciphering Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome: A Clinical Profile Analysis of Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern Nepal(Nepalese Respiratory Society, 2025) Bhatta, Karuna; Ghimire, RamHari; Kayastha, Jyoti; Kumar Mishra, Navin; Shrestha, Saree; Chand, HemaAbstract; Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS) is a common disorder comprising repeated events of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep, thereby disturbing sleep and other physiological events and leading to long-term consequences. The condition is often left underdiagnosed, particularly in regions like Eastern Nepal, where awareness and access to diagnostic tools are limited. Objective: This paper will examine the clinical profile of OSA in the eastern region of Nepal, focusing on its risk factors and associated comorbidities. Methods: This study was conducted as a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study at Nobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital from November 2023 to November 2024. A sample of thirty adults diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography (PSG) according to American Academy of Sleep Medicine diagnostic criteria were included. Patients with untreated OSAS were included; those with respiratory failure, heart failure, shock, and recent ICU admission were excluded. Data regarding demographics, risk factors, co morbidities, spirometry, and PSG data were collected and analyzed with SPSS version 25. Results: A total of 30 OSA patients were enrolled in the study, comprising 20 males (66.7%) and 10 females (33.3%). The mean age was 54.07 years, with the 40–60 age group being the most common. Among the participants, 14 (46.7%) had mild OSA, 11 (36.7%) had moderate OSA, and 5 (16.7%) had severe OSA. Additionally, 7 patients (23.3%) had hypertension, and 4 (13.3%) had diabetes. Regarding spirometry findings, restrictive patterns (46.7%) were predominant among patients, followed by obstructive patterns (20%) and normal findings (33.3%). Conclusion: OSA is a complex, multifactorial disease with distinct phenotypes commonly prevalent among the Nepalese population, which needs early diagnosis and proper treatment. OSA evaluation should comprise both sleep-related complaints and nonspecific symptoms simultaneously.Publication Prevalence of COPD among Patients on Bronchodilator Therapy Presenting to a Tertiary Care Center(Nepalese Respiratory Society, 2025) Mishra, Navin Kumar; Thakuri, HemaChand; Shrestha, Sareen; Rai, Utshav; Dhamala, Rasmita; Nepali, Rohit; Dahal, Suresh; Sha, Parmeshwar; Khadka, Gaurav; Lamichhane, Aayush; Bhatta, KarunaAbstract; Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the most common non-communicable disease in Nepal and the third leading non-communicable disease globally. Despite its significant burden on public health, proper research is limited in local settings. Objective: This study aims to find out the utilization of spirometry in establishing the diagnosis of COPD. Method: A single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study design was conducted that included all patients more than 40 years old on bronchodilator therapy for COPD coming to the Pulmo OPD of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH). COPD was diagnosed by GOLD COPD. Criteria of fixed post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio <0.70. A Chhabra et al. 2014 reference equation from the North Indian population was taken for percentage prediction. Result: A total of 6789 patients visited the pulmo OPD. 877 (12.92%) patients were being treated for COPD at different centers. Out of 877 patients, only 371 cases (42.3%) were properly diagnosed with COPD followed by bronchodilator therapy, and 185 (21.09%) cases were mistakenly treated for COPD, i.e., overdiagnosis, as proven by spirometry later on. Among 692 COPD-confirmed patients, 380 (54.91%) were female and 312 (45.09%) were male. Conclusion: We conclude that a significant proportion of individuals who are on bronchodilators lack spirometry confirmation to diagnose COPD. Moreover, our study also shows a slightly increased prevalence of COPD among females.Publication Role of Bronchoscope Utilization in Sputum AFB & Gene Xpert Negative individuals at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital(Nepalese Respiratory Society, 2024) Mishra, Navin Kumar; Thakuri, Hema Chand; Shrestha, Sareen; Rai, Utshav; Dhamala, Rasmita; Nepali, Rohit; Dahal, Suresh; Sha, Parmeshwar; Khadka, Gaurav; Lamichhane, Aayush; Gupta, Pulkit; Bhatta, KarunaAbstract: Background: Respiratory diseases are among the top most cause of mortality globally as per World Health Organization data with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Lung Cancer, Lower Respiratory tract infection and Tuberculosis (TB) among the top ten causes of mortality. Bronchoscope is still in growing phase in our setting despite its significant utility in establishing diagnosis and treatment of patient. Bronchoscope has pivotal role in various benign (Eosinophilic pneumonia, tuberculosis, Interstitial Lung Disease etc.) as well as Malignant (Lung Cancer) Respiratory diseases etc. Objective: To find out the efficacy of bronchoscope in detecting tuberculosis among sputum smear acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and GeneXpert negative individuals. Method: A single center, prospective, cross sectional study design was conducted which included all patients seen by Pulmonary Medicine department of Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH). Patients were offered bronchoscopy if clinical history, examination, sputum microbiology and imaging findings demanded. Results: A total of 111 cases underwent Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) at our center during the study period for various indications. Out of which 62 (55.86%) were male and 49 (44.14%) were Female. Among a total of 45 cases with strong clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis but sputum AFB and GeneXpert-negative tuberculosis who underwent FOB, a total of 30 (66.67%) individuals were confirmed to have tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) GeneXpert, out of which 17 (56.67%) were male and 13 (43.33%) were female. Conclusion: FOB is very useful in establish diagnosis of Tuberculosis in selected patients with negative Sputum AFB and GeneXpert result.Publication Varicella Pneumonia in an Immunocompetent Middle-aged Adult Male: A Case Report(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Shrestha, Nischal; Bhatta, Karuna; Rai, Anjan; Khatun, SanzidaAbstract Varicella pneumonia is uncommon among adults and can present as potentially life-threatening complications of varicella. Here we report a case of a 43-year-old man with no known history of chronic disease and no allergic history who presented to our hospital emergency department with widespread skin eruptions over the entire body and hemoptysis. Varicella pneumonia was diagnosed based on the patient being in contact with his 6-year-old son who had contracted chickenpox 10 days back, typical cutaneous lesions, pulmonary symptoms and radiographic findings. The patient was treated with oral acyclovir and was admitted to the intensive care unit for monitoring. The patient recovered completely after 10 days of treatment.