Background: Dysphagia basically means difficulty in swallowing. Dysphagia may result from structural or neuromuscular disorders of the esophagus. Endoscopy is the main indication for patients with dysphagia to determine the underlying etiology. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the plethora of disorders leading to dysphagia in this region of Punjab.Methods: The present study was carried out in the department of General Surgery at Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences And Research, Sri Amritsar. Gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed both on the patients admitted and those who presented at outpatient department. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy.Results: The sample consisted of 100 patients presenting with dysphagia. Total number of males were 42% and 58% females. It was found that the most common age group presenting with dysphagia was 41-60 years followed by 61-80 years. It was also observed that the most common cause of dysphagia was growth of esophagus (24%). Lower esophagus was most common site of lesion found in 30 (45%) of the patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was found in 52 (24%) of the patients. Maximum patients (84%) were of lower socioeconomic status. Dysphagia was more common in females as compared to males.Conclusions: It can be concluded that prevalence of dysphagia in Indian settings is more in the middle to the elderly age group with a female preponderance. Endoscopy plays an important role in detecting premalignant conditions leading to dysphagia.

Background: Oesophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common cancer around the world. EC incidence and mortality are affected by geography. Eastern Asia, eastern and southern Africa has the highest rates, whereas Europe and North America show lower rates.Methods: The study was conducted on 30 cases of EC diagnosed in Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Amritsar. The study was carried during period starting from January 2017 to June 2018. Serum C - reactive protein levels measurement was made in addition to the other routine investigations.Results: The sample consisted of 30 patients presenting with EC. Total number of males was 7 (23.33%) and there were 23 (76.66%) females. It was found in present study that the most common age group presenting with oesophageal cancer was 41-60 years followed by 61-80 years. It was also observed in the present study that majority of patients 15 (50%) were housewives. It was also observed that 17 (56.67%) of patients had more than 6 mg/l level of preoperative C-reactive proteins. Among the poorly differentiated histological grade patients 14 (73.68%) had high level of C-reactive proteins. Moreover hospital stay was also more among the patients having high pre-operative levels of C-reactive proteins (CRPs).Conclusions: The prognosis for patients with preoperative serum elevation of CRP was significantly more unfavourable than that for patients without serum CRP elevation.

Background: Various methods of skin incision have been identified in the recent past. Traditional skin incisions were made with stainless steel scalpel but recently electrocautery instruments like harmonic scalpel are also in use. With rise of seropositive cases, we aimed to evaluate whether the electrocautery can replace scalpel in operation theater, to avoid unfortunate injury to surgeons with scalpel. So we compared the usefulness of diathermy skin incision vs. scalpel skin incision in general surgical patients.Methods: This prospective study designed to include 120 patients admitted in the Department of General Surgery, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Vallah, Sri Amritsar and who were undergoing elective abdominal surgical procedures namely cholecystectomy, appendectomy and inguinal hernia repair etc. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 60 patients each. In Group A, incision were made with electrocautery on cut mode and power set to 60-70. In group B, skin incisions were made with scalpel.Results: No statistical difference was found between group A and group B with regard to time of administration of pain killer injection, seroma formation, discharge being noticed from wound in both groups. Moreover the results were statistically non-significant for vascularity, pigmentation and pliability of wound observed.Conclusions: We concluded that electrocautery can effectively and efficiently replace scalpel in operation theater.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a slow growing, locally invasive and most common skin cancer. Its etiology is mostly linked to exposure to U.V. rays in sunlight. Diagnosis is mostly clinical and wide local excision is main treatment modality.Methods: The study was conducted on 50 cases of BCC diagnosed at Sri Guru Ramdas University of Health Sciences during a study period extending from January 2013 to January 2021. In the present study various variables associated with BCC i.e. age, gender, size, site, and histopathology were studies.Results: The present study was conducted on 50 patients of BCC. Total number of males was 32 (64%) and there were 18 (36%) females. Mean age of patients presented with BCC was 65 years and SD=14.054. It was observed that most common site of lesion was infra orbital region 12 (24%). Size of lesion varied from 1 to 3 cm and wide local excision with flap was most commonly performed procedure at our Institute. Nodular sclerosing was observed to be the most common histopathological type accounted for 35 (70%) of total cases.Conclusions: BCC is a common surface malignancy amenable to early detection and potential cure. Infra orbital region is most common site and nodular sclerosing is most common histopathological type. Wide local excision remains the heart of treatment.