Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Somasundaram

Publications and source records attributed to K Somasundaram.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Liver abscess in the tropics: experience in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur.

We reviewed 204 cases of liver abscess seen between 1970 and 1985. Ninety were found to be amoebic, 24 pyogenic and one tuberculous. The cause of the abscesses in the remaining 89 patients was not established. The patients were predominantly male, Indians, and in the 30-60 age group. The majority of patients presented with fever and right hypochondrial pain. The most common laboratory findings were leucocytosis, hypoalbuminaemia and an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase. Amoebic abscesses were mainly solitary while pyogenic abscesses were mainly multiple. Complications were few in our patients and included rupture into the pleural and peritoneal cavities and septicaemic shock. An overall mortality of 2.9% was recorded. The difficulty in diagnosing the abscess type is highlighted. The single most important test in helping us diagnose amoebic abscess, presumably the most common type of abscess in the tropics, is the Entamoeba histolytica antibody assay. This test should be used more frequently in the tropics.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Ischiopagus tetrapus conjoined twins.

Two sets of ischiopagus conjoined twins were successfully operated on at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur in 1981 and 1982. The anatomy of the organ and system malformations are discussed which determined the technique of reconstruction after surgical separation to obtain optimum cosmetic and functional results. Permanent colostomy was not required in any of the four twins and in only one twin was there a need for urinary diversion.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1986

Gastric mucosal protection during restraint stress: histologically identifiable gastric mucosal glycosaminoglycan content in albino rats.

Male albino rats were subjected to restraint stress for 20 h following 24 h fasting. Tissues from oxyntic and pyloric gland areas of the stomach were processed and stained by the PAS technique to assess the glycosaminoglycan content of the gastric mucosa. The result was compared with that of control rats. A significant reduction in PAS positive materials in both oxyntic and pyloric gland areas of gastric mucosa was observed following 20 h restraint stress. The study indicates the significant role of gastric mucosal glycosaminoglycans in the protection of gastric mucosa against ulcers that develop under restraint stress.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Choledochal cyst--a review of 25 cases.

Twenty-five cases of choledochal cysts operated at the University Hospital between 1969 and 1981 were reviewed. Nineteen of the patients were females. An accurate pre-operative diagnosis of choledochal cyst was made in 10 patients (40%). We have found the 99Tcm-diethyl-IDA (EHIDA) scan to be the safest and most sensitive diagnostic tool. In recent years excision has been performed whenever possible in view of reports of malignancy developing in the cyst wall. It has a lower morbidity and re-operation rate compared to internal drainage. In excision we advise the use of a cuff of the cyst wall for a wider anastomosis. As the biliary tract shrinks and retracts into the porta following excision of the cyst, stricture formation may still occur despite a wide anastomosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Gastric mucosal protection during restraint stress in rats: alteration in gastric adherent mucus and dissolved mucus in gastric secretion.

In order to assess the role of gastric mucus glycoproteins in the protection of gastric mucosa against stress ulceration, albino rats were subjected to restraint stress for 20 h, at the end of which the visible mucus adhering to the gastric mucosa, and the components of non-dialysable mucosubstances --sialic acid, hexoses, fucose and hexosamines were estimated in the gastric secretion. The molar ratio between the carbohydrate components of the dissolved mucus were also calculated. Restraint stress was found to reduce the gastric adherent mucus in oxyntic and pyloric gland areas, to decrease the concentration of sialic acid and hexosamines in gastric secretion and to increase the ratios of hexoses to hexosamines, and fucose to sialic acid. It was concluded that the gastric adherent mucus plays an important role in protecting the gastric mucosa against ulceration, and that this protective force breaks down during restraint stress, as indicated by reduced gastric adherent mucus and a low level of carbohydrate components in the gastric secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Immunochemical studies of a purified antigen from Micropolyspora faeni.

A pure antigen fraction was isolated from the crude culture filtrate of Micropolyspora faeni by gel filtration and affinity chromatography. The isolated antigen has a mol. wt of approximately 16,000 and an isoelectric point of pH 3.8. The major amino acid content of this fraction includes glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. This antigen fraction reacted with the sera of all 15 farmer's lung patients and 20 asymptomatic farmers with circulating anti-M. faeni antibodies. An ELISA method was developed using the purified antigen to detect specific circulating antibodies against M. faeni in farmer's lung patients.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1983

The prevention of postappendicectomy sepsis by metronidazole and cotrimoxazole: a controlled double blind trial.

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was carried out in University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur to study the effect of metronidazole and cotrimoxazole on the incidence of wound infection following appendicectomy from November 1978 to January 1980. Patients were allocated at random into one of four groups: cotrimoxazole injection and placebo suppository, metronidazole suppository and cotrimoxazole injection, metronidazole suppository and placebo injection or placebo suppository and placebo injection. Treatment was started 30 min before operation and continued for 72h. All patients were followed up for 2 weeks and thereafter for one month. A total of 283 patients was finally accepted into the study. Sepsis rates were found to be 27% for the untreated group, 9% for the group receiving metronidazole only, 8% for the group receiving cotrimoxazole injection only and 2.7% for the group receiving both drugs. The study showed that a combination of metronidazole and cotrimoxazole is a regime highly effective for prophylaxis against wound infection following appendicectomy.

Appendectomy↗
PubMed1979

Fogarty catheter extraction of foreign bodies from tracheobronchial trees of small children.

The inhalation of a foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree tree presents a life-threatening situation. A satisfactory outcome requires the timely and atraumatic removal of the offending agent. The morbidity associated with present methods of dealing with this problem is well documented. Four cases are described to illustrate the efficacy and simplicity of a new technique of endoscopic extraction with the aid of a Fogarty embolectomy catheter. The actual technique and anesthetic management are described.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1978

The current practice of paediatric surgery in Malaysia.

This 10-year review of surgical conditions in infants at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, highlights some of the more common problems encountered and outlines their management. Anorectal agenesis and Hirschsprung's disease were seen relatively more frequently than other anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. The management of these two conditions and the operation of colostomy and its complications are singled out and presented in some detail.

Anal Canal↗