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Objective: To assess the pattern of unnatural deaths in Faisalabad during the last five years, to determine the gender and age group mostly affected and to explore the increasing trend if any. Study Design: Retrospective Cross-sectional Descriptive study. Setting: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Period: January 2018 to December 2022. Methods: Subjects of the study were victims of unnatural death in areas covered by Police stations where the postmortem was performed in the Mortuary of Punjab Medical College / Faisalabad Medical University. Data was collected from respective official Police records, FIRs and Postmortem reports and recorded on pre-structured proformas. It was categorized on the basis of manner of death, type of weapon involved, age groups involved and gender. Results: Out of a total of 1340 autopsies conducted, 1024(76.4%) were males and 316(23.6%) were females. The male to female ratio was 3.2:1. Majority of the victims belonged to the 30-39-year age group i.e. 338 (25.2%) followed by the 20-29-year age group with 333 (24.8%) cases. The manner of death was homicidal in 896(67%) cases followed by 320(24%) accidental and 77(6%) of suicide. Firearm was the most commonly used weapon claiming 490 (36.6%) lives followed by RTA with 254 (19%) cases. September was the month in which maximum cases were reported (140,10.4%). Conclusion: Males are the major victims of unnatural deaths, with firearm weapons claiming the majority of lives. There is a rising trend in the number of unnatural deaths as the years go by and strict measures need to be implemented to keep a check and balance on the availability and easy access to firearms and strict traffic rules should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the perspectives of post graduate residents working on emergency floor about the need of dedicated emergency department in healthcare department. Study Design: Qualitative Exploratory study. Setting: Allied Hospital, Faisalabad (AHF), Pakistan A Tertiary Care Public Sector Hospital in Punjab. Period: January 10, 2024, to January 30th, 2024. Methods: Post-graduate residents of surgery and medicine department were included in study and interviews were conducted after taking their consent till the data saturation. Total 18 interviews were recorded and then transcribed. Thematic narrative analysis was performed. Results: Out of 18 participants, 14 (77.7%) were males while 4(22.2%) were females. From surgical floor, 8 Residents participated in the study out of which 1 (12.5%) was female and 7 (87.5%) were males while 10 residents participated from medical floor out of which 3 (30%) were females and 7(70%) were males. Theme 1: The problems faced on the emergency floor: All the participants agreed that the working condition of emergency floor is quite hectic and stressful. With sub themes (1a) Over-burdened emergency of tertiary care centers: 1b) Faulty Referral system: (1c) Patient interactions: (1d) Lack of facilities: (1e) Guidance & facilitation center: Theme 2: Dedicated Emergency Department: The Participants when asked about their suggestions regarding improvement of working condition at emergency floor, they all had a clear idea of establishment of a dedicated emergency department with specially trained and recruited staff for this purpose. With subthemes (2a) Filtration clinics: (2b) Rotational Duties: (2c) Proper Training: (2d) Public Awareness. Conclusion: The emergency departments in tertiary hospitals should be a separate department with dedicated staff, proper triage system and adequate facilities to deal with the critical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of catheter drainage with incision and drainage in children having soft tissue abscess. Study Design: Randomized Control Trial. Setting: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Allied Hospital Faisalabad. Period: January 2016 to June 2017. Material & Methods: After taking approval from the hospital ethical committee, 160 patients coming through OPD of the department who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled, and informed consent was taken from them. The patients were randomly divided into two groups using a computer-generated random number table. In group A, patients underwent catheter drainage method, and in group B, patients underwent incision and drainage method. Results: Out of 160 cases (80 in each group), 60% (n=48) in Group-A and 67.5% (n=54) in Group-B were between 1-6 years while 40% (n=32) in Group-A and 32.5% (n=26) in Group-B were 7-12 years of age. 70% (n=56) in Group-A and 67.5% (n=54) in Group-B were males. On efficacy comparison, it was shown that 73.75% (n=59) in Group-A and 47.5% (n=38) in Group-B had efficacy; the p-value was calculated as 0.0007, showing a significant difference. Conclusion: We concluded that catheter drainage is better than incision and drainage in children having soft tissue abscess in terms of length of hospital stay < 24 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choanal atresia (CA) is a rare, congenital malformation resulting as a failure in communication between the posterior nasal cavity and the nasopharynx. The clinical course is often asymptomatic in unilateral CA leading to higher rates of misdiagnosis, in comparison to bilateral CA, which manifests itself as a surgical emergency at birth. Most cases present as isolated malformations, but it may also be associated with other congenital anomalies in 20-50% of cases. Currently, the most important diagnostic tool for CA is computerized tomography (CT) and confirmatory diagnosis is usually achieved with the help of nasoendoscopic examination. Although, different surgical approaches have been used in the past, transnasal endoscopic repair is currently preferred over others. Herein, we describe our experience of three cases and share our simple stentless endoscopic technique, to facilitate physicians working in low facility units for a timely diagnosis and prompt treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]