No abstract

Background: Foam injection sclerotherapy for treating varicose veins is a newly emerging and minimally invasive technique. Its safety profile needs to be investigated. Objective: We documented the adverse effects associated with foam injection sclerotherapy occurring in the first 24 hours and then at 2 and 4 weeks of follow up visits. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Surgery in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi from 1st July 2021 till 30th June 2022; on 50 patients of varicose veins. A duplex ultrasound was done in all patients. Varicose veins were classified using the CEAP system. Patients having C1 and/or C2 varicose disease with isolated GSV incompetence on duplex ultrasound were included. Results: Only minor complications were encountered and no serious complication was seen. The minor side effects included nausea, hyperpigmentation, matting, headache, vomiting, pruritus around injection site, vomiting and shortness of breath. Serious complications like anaphylactic shock, stroke, TIA, deep venous thrombosis, superficial venous thrombosis, tissue necrosis and skin necrosis were not encountered in any patient. Conclusion: Injection sclerotherapy with sodium tetra decyl sulphate in the foam form for the treatment of varicose veins is a safe modality; since only minor complications were encountered and no serious complication was seen. Keywords: Varicose veins; Foam sclerotherapy; Duplex ultrasound; Complications; Side effects

Objective: To compare the length of hospital stay, duration of chest tube drainage use, conversion to open thoracotomy and post-injury chest infections between the Early VATS and Late VATS groups. Study Design: Cross-sectional comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of surgery Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Oct 2020 till Sep 2022. Methodology: Sixty-two patients undergoing VATs for acute chest injury were divided into two groups; early VATs within first 5 days of chest injury and late VATs after 5th day of chest injury. Outcome variables compared between the two groups were length of hospital stay, duration of chest tube drainage, conversion to open thoracotomy and chest infection rate. Numericaldata were compared using the independent sample T-test and categorical variables were compared using the Chi square test. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In our study the Early VATS group had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay, lesser days on ventilator, shorter total duration of chest tube drainage as compared to Late VATS group. However, duration of post VATS tube drainage, requirement for secondary VATS and conversion rate to open thoracotomy were similar in both groups. Moreover, infection rate was significantly lower in the Early VATS group. Conclusion: Early VATS in chest injury is associated with better clinical outcome.