These findings are important for the surgeon as the pterion junction is a common extracranial landmark in neurosurgical and surgical approaches.

Background and Objectives Post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are recurring causes of rising morbidity and mortality in surgeries. This study sought to evaluate pre-operative risk factors for PPCs in abdominal surgerypatients in Nigeria. Methodology This was a prospective study in patients booked for surgery in 2014. Biodata, medical his tory, pre-operative respiratory and cardiovascular examination findings, body mass index, serum albumin, serum urea, ventilatory function, chest x-rays and oxygen saturation were obtained. The association between pre-operative variables and PPCs was determined. Results The pre-operative spirometry was predominantly restrictive (62%). Overall, the prevalence of PPCs was 52%. This included non-productive cough (14%), isolated productive cough (10%), productive cough with abnormal chest finding (16%), pneumonia (8%), pleural effusion (5%), ARDS (2%). Percentage predicted FEV1 and FVC were lower in participants with PPCs. (p= 0.03 and p=0.01respectively). Pre-operative cough, shortness of breath and consolidation were associated with PPCs (p< 0.05). Post-operative respiratory rate and pulse rate in participants with PPCs were higher than the values in those without PPCs (p=0.03 and p=0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of PPCs was high in this study. Pre-operative cough, shortness of breath, consolidation, abnormally low percentage predicted FEV1 and FVC were associated with PPCs.

Summary:The effect of occupational exposure to local powdered tobacco (snuff) on pulmonary function was studied. Snuff industry workers in Onitsha and Enugu markets were studied and compared with age-, weight-, and height-matched control not exposed to any known air pollutant. The pulmonary indices studied include; forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and ratio of FEV 1 /FVC as percentage using a vitalograph spirometer and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), using a mini Wright Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. The respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms frequently associated with these workers were also analyzed and dust sampling in both test and control environments was also done. The mean anthropometric parameters, (age, height and body weight) between the two groups were not statistically different. The results obtained showed statistically significant impairment of lung function of workers chronically exposed to snuff. FVC, FEV 1 and PEFR in the exposed (test) subjects were significantly decreased in comparison with the control subjects (P<0.05). However, the mean value of FEV 1 /FVC (%) of the test subjects was 86.8% which was within the normal range and was not significantly different from control. This signified that the test subjects had restrictive pattern of lung function defect. All respiratory symptoms, such as cough, chest tightness had a higher prevalence in test subjects than their control group. The lung function indices of snuff-producing workers proportionately decreased with their length of exposure in the industry. The respirable dust level in the vicinity (indoor) of the snuff-workers (1.11±0.35mg/m 3 ) was significantly higher than in the control environment, [(0.37±0.086mg/m 3 ) (P<0.001)]. Although it was not possible to determine all the factors that may be responsible for lung function impairment, the dust sampling result showed that chronic exposure to Nigerian snuff (powered tobacco) dust impairs lung function and the effect is progressive with time.

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The effect of inhaling mosquito coil smoke on the haematology and histology of rat’s lungs was studied. Mosquito coils while slowly burning emit smoke containing one or more insecticides, each coil burns for several hours and are used in close proximity to persons requiring protection against mosquitoes in order to prevent malaria, a disease of wide distribution. This study is aimed at determining the effects of mosquito coil on lungs of adult wistar rats. A total of 16 adult wistar rats were used in this study weighing 100g – 200g. They were randomly divided into four groups of four rats each. Rats in group 1 served as control and received only food and distilled water; while the experimental groups II – IV were exposed to mosquito coil smoke for 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours respectively for a period of 28 days. At the end of the experimental period, blood was collected from each rat through ocular puncture for blood analysis. The rats were sacrificed with the lungs harvested and fixed in 10% formal saline for routine histological analysis. The body weight of the exposed groups observed showed insignificant decrease when compared with the control group. The organ weight of lungs showed significant increase when compared to the control group. Haematological analysis for blood obtained revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in Hb, PCV, RBC and WBC counts in all exposure groups when compared with the control group. Histological analysis of the lungs showed severe hemorrhage and severe inflammation of the lungs. Results from this study demonstrates that mosquito coil smoke not only challenges the immune system but also affects the blood oxygen regulation level through damage in the lungs.