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Biomedical subjects

S B Gunatilake

Publications and source records attributed to S B Gunatilake.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Driving and epilepsy in Sri Lanka.

Regulations regarding driving for patients with epilepsy vary from country to country. They are well implemented in developed countries, but this is not the case in countries such as Sri Lanka. The aims of this study were to study characteristics of a cohort of patients with epilepsy who were driving or riding a vehicle at present, and study the attitudes of a representative sample of doctors, patients with epilepsy and the general population regarding aspects of driving by patients with epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy attending the medical clinics at the Colombo North General Hospital, Ragama, who were driving, were given a questionnaire and interviewed in order to assess their seizure characteristics. Another questionnaire was administered to epileptic patients visiting the clinics, a sample from the general population (relatives visiting in-patients at the University Medical Unit selected randomly), doctors working at the General Hospital in Ragama and the Base Hospital in Negombo, and general practitioners in the Gampaha district, where these two hospitals are situated, which was designed to assess their views regarding driving by persons with epilepsy. Of the patients with epilepsy interviewed 24.8% were presently driving a vehicle, of them 51% were riding a motorcycle. The attitudes of the general public and patients to driving by epileptic patients were at opposite ends of the spectrum; 97% of the general public being opposed to driving by persons with epilepsy, while epileptics themselves being of the view that the rules should be lax. Doctors thought that there should be some regulations against driving by epileptic patients. These facts must be considered when setting implementable regulations regarding driving by epileptics in developing countries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Excessive fibrinolysis: the coagulopathy following Merrem's hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites.

In 56 patients with proven hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites, 12 (21.4%) developed continued oozing of blood from the site of the bite and a prolonged clotting time. Further investigations showed low fibrinogen levels and increased fibrinogen degradation products in plamsa. The bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin were normal. The bite of this snake can be complicated with a coagulopathy in which excessive fibrinolysis seems to be the main abnormality.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Use of early aspirin in suspected acute myocardial infarction by General Practitioners in Sri Lanka.

Early low dose aspirin therapy is beneficial in myocardial infarction (MI). This study investigated the use of early aspirin therapy in patients with suspected MI by General Practitioners (GP). Patients with MI who were referred to our unit by GPs were studied to see whether aspirin therapy had been initiated before referral. A questionnaire was sent to GPs to test their attitudes and practices regarding early aspirin therapy in suspected MI. Our results indicate that few patients with MI had been given early aspirin therapy. Only a minority of GPs were aware of the benefits of early aspirin therapy in MI, and very few prescribed it. Even when it was prescribed, the dose and route of administration were wrong in most instances.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Tuberous sclerosis presenting as an intraventricular tumour.

We report a case of tuberous sclerosis in an 8 year old girl presenting for the first time with features of raised intracranial pressure due to a large intraventricular tumour. Occurrence of these tumours in children with tuberous sclerosis justifies cranial computerised tomography as a screening procedure to detect these tumours early.

Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms↗