Volume 01, Issue 01, 2024

A rare presentation of stress cardiomyopathy in a patient with ulcerative colitis

2024-11-06T07:58:20Z

A rare presentation of stress cardiomyopathy in a patient with ulcerative colitis Nimesha, SNH; Jayasena, H Stress cardiomyopathy is a reversible cause of acute left ventricular dysfunction that can cause disease-related complications in the acute phase. Due to overlapping symptoms and investigation findings, stress cardiomyopathy can be misdiagnosed as an acute myocardial infarction. Hence correct identification of the condition is of great importance. It is increasingly being described with several medical conditions, which are associated with increased catecholamine surge like inflammatory bowel disease. Although the disease is reversible, due to the disease-related severe complications it is important to promptly identify and treat accordingly to prevent morbidity and mortality

Successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a high-risk nonagenarian in Sri Lanka

2024-11-06T07:54:59Z

Successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a high-risk nonagenarian in Sri Lanka Athauda-arachchi, PM Severe calcific aortic stenosis with repeated heart failure hospital admissions carries a high mortality and morbidity in the elderly. Despite a calculated high risk of periprocedural complications, Sri Lanka's first transcatheter heart valve replacement in an over 90-year-old patient in such a clinical condition could be performed with no major in-hospital adverse cardiac or cerebral events. Improved quality of life with freedom from repeated hospitalizations is an important clinical achievement in this age group following transcatheter heart valve therapy

Thirty-day outcome of patients who present with chest pain to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital of Sri Lanka

2024-11-06T06:59:55Z

Thirty-day outcome of patients who present with chest pain to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital of Sri Lanka Jayasekera, MMPT; Nawarathna, TND; Wanniarachchi, WKMNU; Navarathne, MB; Bopitiya, AK; Edirisinghe, EMDT; Wijesinghe, RANK Background: Patients present with chest pain causes significant burden to the workload in an emergency department (ED). Quick but thorough attention is needed for life threatening emergencies and to minimize unnecessary admissions. We assess the burden of chest pain and 30-day outcome of patients who present with chest pain to the ED. Methodology: Prospective observational study of all adult patients presented to ED over one month with the primary complain of chest pain were evaluated and followed for 30 days.Results: A total of 661 (20.3% of total admissions) patients (mean age 56.7±1 4.9 years, 51% males) were studied. Common causes for the chest pain included gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) (29%) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (25%). ACS patients included ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (10%), Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (6.7%) and unstable angina (8.3%). Fifty patients (75% of the STEMI patients) were thrombolysed. Primary angioplasty facility was not available in the hospital during the study period. Five patients (3% of the ACS patients) had coronary revascularization during the follow-up period – 2 patients had angioplasty and 3 patients had coronary bypass surgery. In-hospital mortality was 2.7%. Thirty-day mortality was 3.2%. Thirty three percent of them continued to have recurrent chest pain despite thorough investigation and treatment.Conclusions: Chest pain carries a significant burden to the workload of a busy ED. The commonest causes for chest pain were ACS and GORD. A considerable number of patients continued to experienced chest pain despite investigations and treatment.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus 2 infection among commercial sex workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka

2024-11-06T06:49:30Z

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus 2 infection among commercial sex workers in Colombo, Sri Lanka Nakkawita, WMID; Mananwatta, S; Galagoda, GCS Background: Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV2) causes genital herpes,an incurable, lifelong sexually transmitted infection (STI). This study was conducted to describe the seroprevalence and associated factors of HSV2 infection in a cohort of Female Sex Workers (FSWs).Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 136 FSWs who attended the central STD Clinic, in Colombo. They were assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire followed by serum sampling. Serum samples were tested for HSV2 IgG using an enzyme immunoassay specific for glycoprotein gG2 of HSV2.Results: HSV2 seroprevalence of FSW was 66.9% (91/136) of which only 14.3% (13/91) reported a history of genital infection. Age ≥35 years (OR 3.35, 95%CI 1.54-7.31, p=0.002), education ≥ grade 5 (OR 8.35, 95%CI 13.164.7, p<0.001), lifetime sexual partners ≥ 200 (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.3-12.36), p<0.001), duration of sex work ≥1year (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.09-9.65, p<0.001) and history of STI (OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.9-10.78, p<0.001) were statistically significant risk factors for high HSV2 prevalence. Consistent condom use by commercial partners in the last 3 months was not a significant protective factor in preventing HSV2 infection (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.15-1.26, p = 0.12) in this cohort.Conclusions: The seroprevalence of HSV2 is high in this population and most of them did not report any genital infection. Multiple risk factors for higher prevalence were observed. Findings support the need for regular surveillance, monitoring of HSV-2 infection in high-risk populations, and expanding awareness of HSV-2 infection in the country