Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to B M Gali.
We retrospectively studied 27 histologically diagnosed cases of schistosomiasis of the appendix at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between January 1994 and December 2003. Of 1183 cases of appendices histologically examined, schistosomiasis was seen in 27 (2.3%).
Urolithiasis is a common disorder in Maiduguri and constitutes a significant proportion of surgical diseases in Nigerian Hospitals today. Although, the analysis of the stones is an integral part of the assessment of stone formers, earlier report in Maiduguri did not dwell well on it. We therefore, carry out this study to report on the composition of urinary tract calculi removed during surgery at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and to find out if stone composition in the area changes with time. Fourty-nine urinary tract calculi removed in the surgery unit of the Hospital in 2003 were chemically analyzed in the Department of Chemical Pathology of the same Hospital. We also retrieved results of stones analyzed in 1989 (41) and 1999 (21) and compared the results with the 49 analyzed in 2003. The results showed a male preponderance with male: female ratio 12:1, and the calculi occurred more in the upper part of the tract (70.9%) than the lower part of the tract (29.1%). Calcium containing stones constituted the majority; 76.9%, uric acid/urate was associated with 16.3% of the stones while struvite constitutes 4.3%, xanthine 1.7% and cystine 0.9%. There was subsequent reduction of struvite stones with time. Urinary tract stone is common in Maiduguri. There is need for identification of risk factors of calculi formation in the environment to enable the health care providers plan preventive measures in order to reduce the high incidence in the area.
This study was conducted to verify the status of patients with negative appendicectomies in our practice and thus assess possible ways of reducing it. Of a total of 554 appendicectomies done in UMTH from January 1997 to December 2001, 27 (4.9 %) of these appendices were reported at histology as normal. 21 (77.8 %) were females and 6 (22.2 %) were males giving a female to male ratio of 3.5 to 1. The age range of the female patients was between 18 and 47 years with a mean 28.8 (SD) of (8.2) years. The age range of the male patients was between 11 and 47 years with a mean 31.5 (SD) of (12.6) years. The diagnostic alternatives depict the common scenario: Gynaecological conditions, urinary problems, peptic ulcer disease and non specific abdominal pain which are some of the major known differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Therefore careful clinical assessment of the patient should be depended upon for the diagnosis of appendicitis especially in our environment where sophisticated aids to diagnosis remains scarce.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to highlight the importance of tissue biopsy for histopathological diagnosis. METHOD: A report of a 46-year-old farmer with post-thyroidectomy metastatic thyroid cancer. RESULT: A post-thyroidectomy patient presenting with extensive skull and lumbar spine metastasis, paraparesis, huge occipital swelling and good healed scar without tumour residue. The thyroidectomy specimen was not subjected to histopathological diagnosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the occipital swelling revealed metastatic follicular carcinoma. Patient was placed on thyroxine 0.5mg daily with great improvement of lower limb muscle power. CONCLUSION: These bony metastases could have been reduced if proper investigation was done. There is need for continuous medical education for all clinical medical personnel.
In a review of sixty-four (64) cases of gastric outlet obstruction (G.O.O.) seen at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between 1991 and 1996, cicatrising chronic duodenal ulcer accounted for 65.7% of cases, followed by antral carcinoma of the stomach 15%, congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis 9.4%, carcinoma of the head of pancreas 6% and congenital bands 3%. The usual presentations were forceful vomiting in a patient with background history of dyspepsia of varying duration depending on cause, visible persistalsis, weight loss, abdominal masses and electrolyte imbalances. Diagnoses was easy clinically and confirmed by barium studies and/or gastroduodenoscopy. Treatment offered depended on the cause of gastric outlet obstruction.
BACKGROUND: Burns is a global problem and has its toll especially in a developing region like ours where poverty and ignorance are still rife. Previous studies in the sub-region have lumped children and adults together. We retrospectively studied the factors that lead to burns in children and the peculiarities in managing them. METHODS: All case notes of burns injury in children managed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between 1991-2000 were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: A total of 219 children were studied. Children of age below 5 years were affected more than children above 5 years (168 vs. 51) with toddlers 1-2 years constituting a significant proportion of those below 5 years (71 vs. 168). The male to female ratio was 1.6:1 with a preponderance of male children below 10 years and the females between 11-15 years of age. The commonest cause of burns was scald (64.4%) in the household, which is usually accidental, but 3 were suicide attempts by teenage pregnant females 11-15 years protesting forced marriages, a cultural problem in our environment. Flame burns ranked second (27.4%) and results mainly from careless storage, adulteration and hawking of petroleum products. More than 50% of the patients sustained major burns resulting in high morbidity and mortality rate of 16%. CONCLUSION: Burn is a major public health problem and will require public/school health education campaign on childhood household safety. Appropriate legislation and enforcement on the sale of petroleum products would help to reduce the scourge.
BACKGROUND: We present two patients to highlight an emerging trend of suicide attempts presenting to the surgeons with penetrating abdominal injuries found to be HIV/AIDS related. METHODS: The two patients were managed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in the year 2003. Both patients presented as emergencies with penetrating abdominal injuries and were resuscitated followed by clinical evaluation and laparotomy. RESULTS: Both patients had visceral injuries that were repaired at laparotomy and were both confirmed HIV positive. CONCLUSION: There is an emerging trend of suicide attempts in HIV/AIDS patients and the need to determine the suicide pattern that will enable all stakeholders workout a formidable HIV/AIDS and suicide prevention programmes.