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Biomedical subjects

P M Carneiro

Publications and source records attributed to P M Carneiro.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Paediatric malignancies in Tanzania.

Using the Tanzania Cancer Registry, the pattern of childhood malignancies up to the age of 15 years over a period of 22 years (1973-1995) was analysed. Lymphomas were most frequent (38.9%) followed by soft tissue sarcomas (13.1%), retinoblastomas (11.1%) and squamous cell carcinoma (6.7%). The frequency of soft tissue sarcomas is relatively high but appears not to be related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection pandemic. The high frequency of squamous cell carcinoma also needs further investigation.

Adolescent↗

Colon interposition for wide gap oesophageal atresia.

A retrospective study covering December 1978 to December 1989 at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, revealed that 12 colon interposition were performed in 11 children to reconstruct their oesophagus. All were for wide-gap oesophageal atresia with or without fistula. One patient underwent colon interposition twice due to ischaemia of the initial transplant. Waterston's transthoracic procedure was used mostly with a modification by Freeman performed in one patient. Main early postoperative complications included proximal anastomosis leak (45.5%) and respiratory infection (36.4%). Late complications were proximal anastomotic stricture (22.2%); gastrointestinal problems (66.7%); and recurrent respiratory infection (11.1%). Although colon redundancy radiologically was noted in two patients, they were well with no dysphagia. Mortality was 18.2%, the two patients dying suddenly two weeks after colon transplant from pulmonary complications. At follow-up (mean: 6.2 years) growth rate had improved slightly, and 11.1% weighed above the 10th percentile. However, 77.8% could swallow satisfactorily within one year of surgery.

Birth Weight↗

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in Dar Es Salaam.

A five-year review revealed that 15 infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis were managed in Muhimbili Medical Centre. All belonged to parents residing within Dar es Salaam city: 12 were African, two Arabs and one was an Indian. the M.F ratio was 6'5:1. The approximate incidence rate was found to be one in 5,500 births. The majority presented with the characteristic clinical picture of the surgical condition and all were managed by the standard Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy. Mortality was 6.7pc.

Birth Order↗

Inguinal herniotomy in children.

This study is a six year retrospective review of 397 herniotomies in 380 children up to the age of 10 years. 373 (98.2%) were boys and only 7 (1.8%) were girls. 75 (19.7%) children presented with incarceration but only 28 required emergency operation while preoperative reduction was achieved in the remaining 47 children. The hernia recurrence rate was low (1.76%), all the 7 recurred cases were initially operated either by a surgeon undergoing training or a specialist with no specific paediatric surgery training. There were no deaths and though complications recorded were minimal, the exact complication rate is difficult to establish due to the limitations of a retrospective study. It is, however, stressed that herniotomy should not be delayed until complications develop. The results of this review are comparable to similar studies done in Britain probably because the hernitomies were performed in a specialised unit with careful training and supervision of junior surgeons.

Child↗

A comparison of topical Phenytoin with Silverex in the treatment of superficial dermal burn wounds.

OBJECTIVE: To compare topical diphenylhydantion (Phenytoin) with silver sulphadiazine/chlorhexidine (Silverex) in terms of rate of wound healing, analgesic and antibacterial properties in small to moderate-sized (< 30% TBSA) superficial dermal (second degree) burn wounds. DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled study. SETTING: Surgical wards, Muhimbili National Hospital from July 2000 to February 2001. SUBJECTS: Sixty four patients with acute burns, 32 in each group. INTERVENTIONS: Study group treated by sprinkling Phenytoin powder and control group by sprinkling Silverex powder on the wounds for 14 days or until the wound epithelialised or was ready for skin grafting. The data collected included demographic characteristics of patients, aetiology of burn injury, circumstances of injury, site and extent of burns, pus discharge and smell from the wound, pain and discomfort from the wound, bacterial cultures of wound swabs, rate of reduction in wound size and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: The study enrolled 33 male and 31 female patients, 69% being children under five years of age. Hot liquids (80%) and open flames (20%) were the only causes of burns. In 97% of patients injury was due to domestic accidents. In half of the patients burns involved the trunk, and 52% of all patients had less than 15% total body surface burnt. Pus discharge was recorded in 59% of Phenytoin-treated and 75% in Silverex-treated patients while foul smell was noted in 19% and 31% of cases respectively. There were more negative bacterial wound cultures in Phenytoin-than Silverex-treated wounds on day five and day 10 of treatment, the difference being statistically significant (p < 0.01 and 0.001 respectively). There was also a statistically significant difference in wound pain in favour of Phenytoin (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of healing in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Phenytoin is a cheap and easy-to-use medicament, effective in suppressing burn wound bacteria and relieving pain thereby promoting healing, and may be advocated for the purpose in resource-scarce environments.

Administration, Topical↗