Journal Issue:
Volume: 20, No 3, Issue 83, JULY-SEPTEMBER, 2023

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Volume

Number

Issue Date

2023

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

1812-2027

Journal Volume

Journal Volume
Volume: 20

Articles

Publication
Dengue in Nepal: Challenges and Charting a Path Forward
(Kathmandu University, 2023) Chataut, J
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Publication
Simple Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer in a University Hospital
(Kathmandu University, 2023) Khanal, S; Singh, N; Singh, YP
ABSTRACT Background The principle of oncoplastic surgery is the removal of tumors with negative margins as well as maintaining the contour of the breast. The goals are to achieve local control and best cosmesis. Objective The objective of this study was to assess patients’ satisfaction with different techniques of simple oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (BCS) for early breast cancer. Method This was a retrospective study of early breast cancer cases operated during the period 2009 to 2017. All the patients were under regular follow up for at least five years after surgery. Original Harvard/NSABP/RTOG scale was used to evaluate cosmesis at one year after surgery. Result Median age of the patients was 43 years with median size of tumor being 2.5 cm. All of the patients had good to excellent cosmetic outcome. One patient (4.5%) had margin positivity. All patients were disease free and happy with the cosmesis at five years although one patient did not have whole breast radiotherapy. Conclusion Simple oncoplastic breast conserving surgery techniques in upper part of breast are simple, feasible and improve cosmetic outcome with low margin positivity and good disease-free five-year survival. KEY WORDS Breast cancer, Breast conserving surgery, Mammaplasty
Publication
Does Choice of Different Surgical Intervention Play a Role in the Recurrence of Pterygium?
(Kathmandu University, 2023) Yadav, R; Das, SS; Gupta, S; Agrawal, N
ABSTRACT Background There are a wide range of pterygium excision techniques in practice. However, choosing the best possible option is an important factor to prevent its recurrence. Objective To compare the recurrence rate of different excision techniques and understand if a surgeon can alter the recurrence rate. Method A retrospective data of pterygium surgeries operated by a surgeon at Sagarmatha Choudhary Eye Hospital, Nepal from the year 2016 to 2018 was investigated for recurrence. The recurrence was measured by an independent Optometrist with the help of clinical photo and slit-lamp examination. A telephonic directory was maintained for every patient’s follow up reminder. Result Altogether 916 individuals with mean age 56.20 years had undergone pterygium excision. Bare Sclera 280 (30.56%), Pterygium Extended Conjunctival Transplantation (PERFECT) 305 (33.29%), Conjunctival auto graft (CAG) 262 (28.60%), Simple Pterygium excision 60 (6.55%) and Amniotic Membrane Graft (AMG) 9 (0.98%), jointly formed the total study sample and surgical techniques. Recurrence for Bare sclera was 172 (61.42%), simple pterygium excision 34 (56.66%), Pterygium extended conjunctival transplantation 0 (0%), and conjunctival auto graft 2 (0.76%). Compared conjunctival auto graft with pterygium extended conjunctival transplantation and simple pterygium with bare sclera revealed similar recurrence rate comparatively. The p-value obtained were p = 0.2148 and p = 0.8152 (p > 0.05, 95% CI) respectively. Conclusion The loss of limbal stem cells in Bare sclera technique acts as stimulant for pterygium recurrence, in addition the remains of pterygial matter in simple pterygium excision acts as precursor for recurrence. Pterygium extended conjunctival transplantation indeed acts as barrier but needs fine surgical skills to perform. Conjunctival auto graft can be opted as an alternative technique for minimal recurrence as compared to Pterygium extended conjunctival transplantation. KEY WORDS Bare sclera, Conjunctival auto graft, Pterygium surgery, Recurrence
Publication
Ultrasound Guided Estimation of Skin to Subarachnoid Space Depth in Patients Scheduled for Elective Surgeries under Subarachnoid Block
(Kathmandu University, 2023) Devkota, S; Baral, BK; Poudel, PR
ABSTRACT Background Subarachnoid block is one of the commonly used techniques of regional anesthesia and accurate placement of spinal needle is crucial. A conventional spinal needle may be too long for a lean patient or too short in obese patients leading to multiple attempts, inadvertent nerve injuries and patient discomfort. So a pre-procedural estimation of the skin to subarachnoid space depth may be beneficial. Objective To estimate the skin to subarachnoid space depth using ultrasound and correlate it with the length of spinal needle to be inserted during subarachnoid block. Method This was a prospective, observational study conducted at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu in patients undergoing elective surgeries under subarachnoid block. A pre-procedural ultrasound of lumbo-sacral spine using 2-5 Hz curvilinear probe was done to measure skin to subarachnoid space depth (SSD) at the level of L3-L4 interspace. Then under all aseptic precautions, subarachnoid block was performed and the length of spinal needle outside the skin was measured and that length was subtracted from the standard length of needle to get the inserted length of spinal needle. These two measurements were compared. Result In the fifty patients included in the study, ultrasound estimated skin to subarachnoid space depth was found to be 4.24 ± 0.48 cm and the inserted length of spinal needle was 4.24 ± 0.46 cm. A significant correlation r=0.96 (p < 0.05) was found between the two measurements in the study population. Conclusion Ultrasound estimated skin to subarachnoid depth in the study population was found to be 4.24 ± 0.48 cm which correlated with the inserted length of spinal needle. So, use of ultrasound can be very helpful in performing subarachnoid block. KEY WORDS Skin to subarachnoid space depth, Spinal needle, Subarachnoid block, Ultrasound
Publication
Outcomes of Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction after Major Head and Neck Ablative Surgery at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital in Eastern Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2023) Sah, BP; Paudel, D; Sarraf, DP
ABSTRACT Background Reconstruction with free flaps has significantly changed the outcome of patients with head and neck cancer. Microsurgery is still considered a specialized procedure and is not routinely performed in the resource-constrained environment of developing country like Nepal. Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients who underwent different microvascular free flap reconstructions of head and neck defects after major ablative surgery. Method A retrospective study was conducted to review and analyze the data of patients with head and neck cancer who underwent microvascular free flap reconstruction after major ablative surgery from November 2017 to April 2021. The descriptive statistics were calculated using Microsoft Excel 2010. Result Out of 207 patients, 129 (62.32%) were males. Mean age was of 55.17±13.44 years. About 133 (64.25%) tumors were on gingivobuccal complex. Anterolateral thigh flap was the most common flap 112, (54.11%) used for the reconstruction. Facial artery was used in 174 (84.06%) patients for anastomosis. The overall success rate was 97.5%. Re-exploration was done in 22 (10.63%) cases out of which 11 (50%) cases were having flap compromise. Delayed flap failure occurred in 5 cases (2.5%) and salvage surgery was done with pectoralis major myocutanuos flap with a salvage rate of 54%. Minor complications were observed in 39 cases (18.84%) out of which donor site graft loss was observed in 19 (9.18%) patients. Conclusion In spite of advanced set up, with trained dedicated manpower the microvascular free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects is safe with high success rate even in resource constrained country like Nepal. KEY WORDS Free flap, Head and neck cancer, Microsurgery, Reconstruction

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