A 12 year-old Chinese schoolgirl presented with left-sided scoliosis at the age of 9 years. She has a rare defect in lipid metabolism, which is not known to be associated with spinal deformity. Her scoliotic curve deteriorated despite bracing. We report a rare occurrence of scoliosis in patient with lipodystrophy and the difficulty of using instrumented fusion in treating this condition.
A rare case of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 71 year-old Malay man with no previous history of asbestos or radiation exposure is described. The clinical manifestation was a large abdominal mass. At laparotomy he was found to be in the advanced stage of the disease. The tumour was not resectable and patient was sent home. He gradually deteriorated and died three months after diagnosis was made. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of peritoneal mesothelioma which has not been previously reported are described.
Secondary intraocular lens implantation after cataract surgery done in University Hospital between 1983 to 1993 were reviewed. Thirty three patients (37 eyes) underwent secondary intraocular lens implantation during this period. Twenty four eyes had secondary anterior chamber lens implantation while 13 had posterior chamber lens implantation. There was no case of secondary posterior scleral fixation lens implantation. Visual acuity of 6/9 or better was seen in 25 of 37 eyes (67%) in the series. Eyes seeing as good or better than before secondary implantation procedure were noted in 34 of 37 eyes (92%). Vision of 6/9 or better was seen in 9 of 13 eyes (70%) with posterior chamber implants and 16 of 24 eyes in (67%) with anterior chamber lenses. Complications including bullous keratopathy, uveitis and glaucoma were seen with anterior chamber implants of the rigid type resulting in poorer visual acuity than before the secondary procedure.
Malaysia's workforce presently includes 13% foreigners most coming from the neighboring ASEAN-countries. No data of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders amongst this population is currently available.
An 18-month analysis of 52 percutaneously placed central venous catheters in 48 critically ill children was done. Success rate were 91.7% (33/36) and 93.8% (15/16) for femoral and non-femoral catheters respectively. Presence of hypotension (48.1%) and significant coagulopathy (26.9%) did not affect the success rate significantly. Minor bleeding and venous congestion was seen in 5.5% (2/36) of patients with femoral catheters. Infections were found in 2.7% (1/36) of femoral and 6.6% (1/15) of non-femoral catheters. The low incidence of complications and the relative ease of insertion makes the femoral route the preferred site for trainee medical officers in critically ill children when central access is indicated.
We report a case of a sixteen-month old boy with osteosarcoma of the left humerus. To the best of our knowledge this is the youngest case reported in Malaysia. This case illustrates that osteosarcoma although rare does occur in a very young child. The child died six weeks after presentation due to disseminated disease.
We present a rare case of a patient diagnosed with probable dengue fever sustaining an intracranial haemorrhage after a trivial motor vehicle accident. From the literature reviewed, it was noted that there have been no reports of dengue fever presenting with an intracranial haemorrhage, and the association is more common in patients diagnosed with dengue hemorrhagic fever and/or dengue shock syndrome.
Although survival rates for childhood cancers have improved steadily over the past two decades, the outcome for advanced stage solid tumours remains poor. Many of these tumours are chemosensitive but most chemotherapeutic regimens are limited by their haematological toxicities. Much attention is now focused on mega-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell rescue in the treatment of disseminated neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, germ cell tumour and brain tumours. There is a preferential shift towards peripheral blood stem cell transplantation instead of bone marrow transplantation because of its advantages of faster engraftment, decreased transfusion and antibiotic usage and shortened hospitalisation. This mode of therapy is dependent on technologies including peripheral blood stem cell harvesting, cell cryopreservation and thawing. These technologies were recently made available in Malaysia and we report our early experience.
One hundred and two patients attending the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinic of the Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, were studied retrospectively to determine their survival rates and causes of death. There were 21 deaths. The 1, 5, and 10 year survival rates were 93%, 86% and 70% respectively. There was a bimodal pattern of mortality with more patients dying in the first 2 years or after 5 years of disease. Infection was the direct cause of death in 52% and contributed to a further 19% of deaths. Patients with lupus nephritis had a higher relative risk (RR) of death (RR = 4.34, p < 0.02) although there was no significant increase in risk with any particular histological type on biopsy. Cerebral lupus (RR = 3.08, p < 0.001) and methylprednisolone treatment (RR = 6.24, p < 0.001) were also associated with increased risk of death. Increased awareness of infection and earlier use of antibiotic therapy may improve survival of patients suffering from SLE.
Study site: SLE clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare clinical illness with a high mortality. There are reported effective treatment and a favourable outcome if diagnosed early. Five cases of childhood non-familial HLH seen over a 3 year period in our hospital are presented. The diagnosis was not suspected in the referring hospitals even after a bone marrow biopsy examination in two cases. Delay in referral was between 2 weeks to 2 months. A viral trigger was detected in only two cases. There were two deaths. Cause of death in both cases were cytomegalovirus pneumonitis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Respond to treatment was better if started earlier. One case spontaneously resolved. Earlier diagnosis will lead to prompt treatment and a better outcome.
The neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a potentially fatal complication of antipsychotic therapy. A retrospective study of nine patients seen over six years at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur (UHKL), is described. The estimated annualised incidence was 1.2 per 1000 in-patients with psychosis. No ethnic difference was detected. Clinical features were similar to experiences elsewhere, with wide variability seen in the severity of illness. The neuroleptic drugs implicated were haloperidol, trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, fluphenazine and clopenthixol. Treatment consisted of withdrawal of offending drugs and supportive measures. Specific therapy was given to five patients. There was one death. At follow-up no deterioration was detected. A different neuroleptic drug was successfully re-introduced in four patients. In view of the wide usage of major tranquillizers, a high degree of clinical awareness of this serious complication is necessary for early diagnosis to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Primary biliary cirrhosis is an uncommon disease amongst Malaysians. Over a 12-year period, between 1979 and 1991, only seven patients with clinical, biochemical and histologic evidence of primary biliary cirrhosis were identified in University Hospital Kuala Lumpur. All were Chinese females between the ages of 30 to 55 years. The presenting complaint was pruritus in 5 patients. All except one patient was jaundiced when the diagnosis was made. These patients were followed up from 1 to 11 years. Three deaths were reported, one from massive hemetemesis and two from liver failure.
This paper analyses maternal mortality as seen in the Obstetric Unit of the University Kebangsaan Malaysia. During the 10 year study period, the maternal mortality rate was 74/100,000 total births. Women who were non-booked, aged above 40 years, gradmultiparous and of India ethnicity were at the highest risk of maternal death. The commonest causes of death were hemorrhage, hypertension, embolism and sepsis. Post-mortem examinations were performed in only 8.2% of women who died.
From March 1986 to June 1992, 100 primary total knee arthroplasties were done in 69 patients. The demographic data and complications were analysed in these 69 patients. The first 50 knees with a minimal follow-up of one year (range 1-6 years) were analysed in more detail according to the International Knee Society Rating System. Detailed radiological evaluation was also carried out to assess positioning of the components. There were 79 knees with osteoarthritis, 20 knees with rheumatoid arthritis and one with Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus (SLE). The knee score was poor in all knees pre-operatively. Post-operatively 78% had good to excellent score and the other 22% had fair knee score. However the functional score remained poor in 50% of the knees. Ideal tibio-femoral alignment was obtained in 68% of the knees. Twenty four percent of the knees had 0.4 degrees of varus and eight percent had 10-12 degrees valgus. Complication rate was low with 1% of infection (one knee). Overall early results were satisfactory.
Study site; University Hospital Kuala Lumpur (University Malaya Medical Centre)
A survey of inhaler technique using a placebo metered dose inhaler was performed among 41 house and medical officers from the Medical and Outpatient departments, Hospital USM. The majority (76%) of them had been taught at one time or another regarding inhaler technique. However, only 18 of them (48.9%) used the metered dose inhaler correctly. Medical officers currently in the Medical Department had the highest percentage of correct technique (75%); followed by medical officers in the Outpatient Department (57.1%). Among house officers, 30.8% demonstrated correct technique. The most common error was failure to hold their breath after inhaling the aerosol (53.7%).
Study site: Medical and Outpatient departments, Hospital USM.
Continuous spinal anaesthesia using the incremental technique was used in nineteen high risk patients with multiple medical problems, seventeen of whom were elderly, for lower limb orthopaedic and pelvic surgery. An intrathecal catheter (18G/28G) was inserted under local anaesthesia via the lumbar interspinous space. Spinal anaesthesia was induced with small incremental doses of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride through the intrathecal catheter to achieve the level of analgesia required for surgery. The duration of surgery ranged from 45 to 300 minutes (mean + S.D 100 + 37 min). The initial volume of 0.5% bupivacaine required for surgery ranged from 0.8 ml-2.0 ml (1.2 + 0.7 ml) and the total volume ranged from 0.9 ml to 3.1 ml (mean + S.D 1.4 + 0.7 ml). Haemodynamic stability was well maintained perioperatively. Only two patients required 6 mg of ephedrine and 1 mg of aramine respectively for a greater than 25% reduction in systolic blood pressure with induction of spinal anaesthesia. Intrathecal morphine 0.1-0.3 mg was administered to 15 patients at the end of surgery for postoperative pain relief with good effect. One patient developed late respiratory depression from an inadvertent overdose of intrathecal morphine. No neurological sequelae were noted and no patient developed a postdural puncture headache. The use of the microcatheter was discontinued in the U.S.A and Australia following four case reports of cauda equina syndrome with this technique. Current opinion, however, is that the reported cauda equina syndrome was due to the neurotoxic effects of lignocaine 5% that was used and not due to the microcatheter per se. Continuous spinal anaesthesia is now used widely in Europe when cardiovascular stability is desired in poor risk patients undergoing lower limb and lower abdominal surgery.
Acute infective sacro-iliitis is a rare condition. Though gonococcal arthritis is not uncommon, this organism does not appear to have been isolated from the sacro-iliac joint. The first proven case of gonococcal sacro-iliitis is reported here. Difficulties in correct diagnosis of infective sacro-iliitis are highlighted. Management of gonococcal sacro-iliitis is described. With the increase in number of gonococcal infections, a case can be made for routine culture of joint material N. Gonorrhoeae in cases of septic arthritis in patients at high risk.
This prospective, randomised, controlled trial was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in decreasing the infectious morbidity following elective caesarean section. Two hundred women undergoing elective caesarean section were randomly assigned to receive either 1.2 g of Augmentin intravenously, or no treatment, just before the start of their caesarean section. The two groups of women were comparable in terms of patient characteristics and operation variables. The overall postoperative morbidity rate was 19% in the Augmentin treated group versus 38% in the group that received no prophylaxis (p < 0.01). The incidence of wound sepsis was 3% in the Augmentin group versus 13% in the control group (p < 0.01). The incidence of febrile morbidity with no identifiable cause was 8% in the Augmentin group versus 18% in the control group (p < 0.05). The duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Augmentin group (p < 0.05). A single-dose of prophylactic Augmentin significantly reduced the postoperative morbidity and duration of hospital stay in women who underwent elective caesarean sections.
A prospective study of temperature drop in 141 normal term newborn infants delivered vaginally at the labour ward, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur were studied. The effect of various manoeuvres on the temperature drop were also studied. They were randomized into 3 study groups, 63 cases where the babies were wiped with dry cloth alone, 37 cases where the babies were put into a plastic bag immediately after birth and lastly 41 cases where the babies were wiped with dry cloth and then inserted into a plastic bag. There was significant temperature drop in all the 3 groups maximum in the first 15 minutes and the fall continued for 1 hour after delivery (p less than 0.001). This shows that in an air-conditioned labour ward in a tropical country the temperature fall in newborn infants can be significant. This study also showed that plastic is a poor insulator against significant temperature drop.
A 25 year old female presented with hypothyroidism which was followed by the development of hyperthyroidism about 1 1/2 years later. This uncommon phenomenon is postulated to result from changes in the relative amounts of stimulatory and inhibitory TSH receptor antibodies. This case illustrates the possible continuum between Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis within the broad spectrum of autoimmune thyroid disease.
Study site: Primary care clinic. University Malaya Medical Cengtre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia