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Omar Javed Shah

Publications and source records attributed to Omar Javed Shah.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Biliary ascariasis: a review.

Ascariasis, a helminthic infection of humans, is the most common parasitic infestation of the gastrointestinal tract. It infects about 25% of the world's population; around 20 thousand deaths occur per year from an adverse clinical course of the disease. This review is focused on biliary ascariasis, examining in some detail the pathogenesis of the disease with special reference to postcholecystectomy ascariasis and related issues. Although an endemic disease of tropical and subtropical countries, increasing population migration facilitated by fast improving communication facilities demands that clinicians everywhere be familiar with the clinical profile and management of biliary ascariasis.

Ascariasis↗

Management of biliary ascariasis in pregnancy.

Ascariasis is a helminthic infection of humans caused by the nematode Ascaris lumbricoides. Biliary ascariasis is one of the most common and well described entities caused by ascaris. In endemic areas pregnant women are prone to develop biliary ascariasis. Its management poses a great challenge to both the attending surgeon and the endoscopist. Between January 1993 and March 2003, 15 cases of biliary ascariasis were seen in pregnant patients in our institution. Ultrasonography was used as the main investigative tool. Treatment involved management by conservative, endoscopic, and surgical methods, taking due care of both the mother and the fetus. Ten patients (66.6%) were in the third trimester of pregnancy, and 10 (66.6%) patients were in their third pregnancy. Ultrasonography proved to be the best tool for diagnosing and monitoring worms inside the biliary ductal system. Nine (60%) patients responded to the conservative treatment; endoscopic extraction was successful in 4 (66.6%) patients. Surgical treatment was required in 2 (13.3%) patients. One (6.6%) patient had had spontaneous abortion at 12 weeks gestation, and one (6.6%) patient had a premature labor. The remaining patients had normal pregnancies. Management of biliary ascariasis in pregnancy is a challenge for both the attending surgeon and the endoscopist. Safe and effective management requires special attention to the gestational age and accurate recognition of the specific pathology in the patient. The majority of patients respond to conservative treatment, but endoscopic extraction may be needed in nonresponsive cases. Lead shielding of the fetus and limitation of the total fluoroscopic exposure during therapeutic endoscopy can minimize the teratogenic risk of ionizing radiation. Failures of endoscopic extraction may lead to surgical intervention, which carries risks of fetal wastage and premature labor. Routine worming of women in the child-bearing years is recommended in endemic areas of ascariasis. Though ascariasis is a problem in developing countries, because of increased travel and population migration, clinicians elsewhere should be aware of the problems associated with ascariasis.

Adult↗

Anteriorly placed splenic vein: the first reported case.

Surgical treatment of portal hypertension is undertaken to reduce the portal pressure to a level that allows recession of the collateral circulation. For this purpose, surgeons usually carry out anastomosis of the splenic vein with the left renal vein. The splenic vein is a large, nontortuous vessel that runs along the posterior surface of the pancreas but very rarely crosses in front of the gland. It is therefore important that a thorough preoperative study of the anatomical details of the spleno-portal venous axis be made by imaging before attempting surgery. We are presenting herewith the surgical management of a unique case of anteriorly placed splenic vein, which has not yet been described. The embryological basis of such an anomaly is discussed in this article.

Adult↗

A simplified technique of performing splenorenal shunt (Omar's technique).

The splenorenal shunt procedure introduced by Robert Linton in 1947 is still used today in those regions of the world where portal hypertension is a common problem. However, because most surgeons find Linton's shunt procedure technically difficult, we felt that a simpler technique was needed. We present the surgical details and results of 20 splenorenal anastomosis procedures performed within a period of 30 months. Half of the patients (Group I) underwent Linton's conventional technique of splenorenal shunt; the other half (Group II) underwent a newly devised, simplified shunt technique. This new technique involves dissection of the fusion fascia of Toldt. The outcome of the 2 techniques was identical with respect to the reduction of preshunt portal pressure. However, our simplified technique was advantageous in that it significantly reduced the duration of surgery (P <0.001) and the amount of intraoperative blood loss (P <0.003). No patient died after either operation. Although Linton's splenorenal shunt is difficult and technically demanding, it is still routinely performed. The new technique described here, in addition to being simpler, helps achieve good vascular control, permits easier dissection of the splenic vein, enables an ideal anastomosis, decreases intraoperative blood loss, and reduces the duration of surgery. Therefore, we recommend the routine use of this simplified technique (Omar's technique) for the surgical treatment of portal hypertension.

Adolescent↗

Biliary ascariasis as a cause of post-cholecystectomy syndrome in an endemic area.

BACKGROUND: Post-cholecystectomy syndrome encompasses numerous biliary, pancreatic and other entities. Biliary ascariasis is a common cause of adult biliary disease in an endemic area. Post-cholecystectomy biliary ascariasis, a cause of post- cholecystectomy syndrome although not yet defined is frequently seen in this part of the world. METHOD: Between Jan. 1990 and Jan. 2001, 104 cases of post-cholecystectomy biliary ascariasis were seen. Ultrasonography was found to be an excellent tool for diagnosing and monitoring of the worms inside the biliary tract. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography had both diagnostic and therapeutic value. RESULTS: The majority (68.2%) of patients responded to conservative treatment. Surgical treatment was advocated in 18.2%, which included 2 patients with liver abscesses. Endoscopic extraction of worms was successful in 48.2%. CONCLUSION: Post-cholecystectomy biliary ascariasis as a cause of post-cholecystectomy syndrome needs to be included in the list of causes for post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Although the majority of patients respond to conservative treatment but endoscopic extraction or surgical intervention may be needed. Routine deworming of patients undergoing cholecystectomy both preoperatively and postoperatively should be done in all patients in endemic areas of ascariasis. Although this entity is rare in Europe and United States, due to population migration and increased travel, it is necessary for surgeons in these countries to be aware of this condition.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis of adrenal myelolipoma by imaging and guided biopsy.

Adrenal myelolipoma is a rare, benign, endocrinologically inactive, and asymptomatic tumour which is usually found incidentally at imaging or autopsy. Symptomatic tumours are very rare. We describe a case of adrenal myelolipoma where the diagnosis was made on the basis of radiological features and image-guided fine needle biopsy, without resorting to an operation.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Surgical management of splenic hydatidosis.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the surgical management of splenic hydatidosis in an area where the disease is endemic. METHOD: Over a period of 16 years, 26 patients with splenic hydatidosis underwent surgery in our department. Preoperative investigations included plain abdominal X-ray, serology, ultrasonography, and computed tomography. RESULTS: In our series, splenic hydatidosis represented 3.5% of total abdominal hydatidosis. The majority of patients presented with abdominal discomfort and palpable swelling in the left hypochondrium. Twenty-two patients were operated on electively and 4 as emergency cases, including 2 with ruptured hydatids and 2 with infected hydatids of the spleen. Isolated splenic hydatid cysts were present in 21 patients, associated liver hydatid cysts in 4, and diffuse abdominal hydatidosis in 1 patient. All patients underwent splenectomy except for one patient who initially had partial splenectomy for a lower polar cyst. This patient also ended up undergoing a splenectomy for postoperative hemorrhage. One patient died on the sixth postoperative day (mortality rate 3.8%) as a result of multiorgan failure, and 4 developed minor complications (morbidity 15.4%). CONCLUSION: Splenic hydatidosis, although rare, is the third most common type of hydatidosis after liver and lung hydatidosis. This entity should thus be kept in mind when encountering a splenic cyst especially in areas where the disease is endemic. A splenectomy remains the treatment of choice because it demonstrates low morbidity and mortality rates.

Adult↗

Ascariasis-induced empyema of gallbladder: report of a case.

A rare case of a 52-year-old woman with empyema of the gallbladder due to ascariasis causing an obstruction in the cystic duct is presented. She was admitted on September 20, 2000, and on September 23 an emergency cholecystectomy was performed. Ultrasonography is a highly sensitive and specific method for diagnosing gallbladder ascariasis, and a cholecystectomy is considered mandatory for the treatment of empyema of the gallbladder.

Ascariasis↗