Introduction: Performance score evaluation is a tool for assessment of patients prior to cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. It has also been used to modify and personalize the dosage, route and types of the various chemotherapeutic agents. Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating the use of performance status as assessment tool for patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Study Design: This study is a questionnaire survey involving all doctors in the Department of Surgery of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. The returned questionnaires were individually inspected for clarity of responses and collated. The data was entered into excel sheets. Forms which were incomplete, poorly filled or not returned were not included in the study. All the data entered into the spreadsheets were analysed using the SPSS 20 package. Results: A total of 64 (70%) doctors where enlisted in the study. Though 73.4% had knowledge about the use of performance status in the as...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess our use of OSCE from the perception of final year medical students. Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional survey of final year medical students undergoing the final examination in Surgery. All 102 medical students in the class were given the self-administered questionnaire to fill. The data were collated into excel spreadsheets and analysed using the SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 79 completed questionnaires were retrieved (return rate of 78%). All the students knew about and had participated previously in OSCE, 94.9% accorded the OSCE fair. 76(93.2%) wanted the examination as the main method of clinical assessment, 38(46.6%) had adequate preparation. In terms of the OSCE stations not mirroring real clinical scenarios, 38(48.1%) disagreed, and 26(20.5%) strongly disagreed. 34(43%) disagreeing that the logistics was poor. The students rating of the OSCE, on a scale of 1 - 10, gave a mean score of >8 for spread of t...

Introduction: Performance score evaluation is a tool for assessment of patients prior to cytotoxic chemotherapy administration. It has also been used to modify and personalize the dosage, route and types of the various chemotherapeutic agents. Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating the use of performance status as assessment tool for patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Study Design: This study is a questionnaire survey involving all doctors in the Department of Surgery of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. The returned questionnaires were individually inspected for clarity of responses and collated. The data was entered into excel sheets. Forms which were incomplete, poorly filled or not returned were not included in the study. All the data entered into the spreadsheets were analysed using the SPSS 20 package. Results: A total of 64 (70%) doctors where enlisted in the study. Though 73.4% had knowledge about the use of performance status in the as...

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess our use of OSCE from the perception of final year medical students. Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional survey of final year medical students undergoing the final examination in Surgery. All 102 medical students in the class were given the self-administered questionnaire to fill. The data were collated into excel spreadsheets and analysed using the SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 79 completed questionnaires were retrieved (return rate of 78%). All the students knew about and had participated previously in OSCE, 94.9% accorded the OSCE fair. 76(93.2%) wanted the examination as the main method of clinical assessment, 38(46.6%) had adequate preparation. In terms of the OSCE stations not mirroring real clinical scenarios, 38(48.1%) disagreed, and 26(20.5%) strongly disagreed. 34(43%) disagreeing that the logistics was poor. The students rating of the OSCE, on a scale of 1 - 10, gave a mean score of >8 for spread of t...

SummarySARS‐CoV‐2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri‐operative or prior SARS‐CoV‐2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub‐study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis was defined as peri‐operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1–6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre‐operative anti‐coagulation for baseline comorbidities was no...

SummaryPeri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30‐day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30‐day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30‐day mortality in patients without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4–1.5). In patients with a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery wi...

Africa was the last continent to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the discourse on Africa's response captured in scientific journals revolves around nations, public health agencies and organizations, but little is documented about how individual healthcare facilities have fared. This article reports the challenges faced in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, including space constraints, diagnostic challenges, shortages in personal protective equipment and health worker infections. The opportunities and strengths that aided the response are also highlighted. The lessons learned will be useful to similar facilities. More information about health facility response at various levels is needed to comprehensively assess Africa's response to the pandemic.

Introduction: malignant pleural effusion occurs as a consequence of a primary or metastatic malignant process involving the pleura. The aim of pleurodesis is to prevent re-accumulation of the effusion and avoid the need for repeated hospitalization. Povidone iodine has been used in other climes for pleurodesis with good results. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of povidone iodine in producing pleurodesis as compared to tetracycline. Methods: the study is a prospective experimental study. The patients are randomized into two groups A (tetracyclinecontrol) and B (povidone iodine). All patients are assessed with chest X-ray after 1 week and 1