Frequency of Hemorrhoidal Complaints in a Real-Life Population and Possible Concomitance between Hemorrhoidal Disease and Chronic Venous Disease: Going Further in Our Understanding of Hemorrhoidal Disease

Introduction: Hemorrhoids, more commonly known as piles, are swollen veins, similar to varicose veins in the lower rectum. Hemorrhoids can develop both inside and outside the rectum, and oftentimes, the cause of hemorrhoids remains unknown. This is an extremely common ailment faced by three out of four adults in their lifetime. Hemorrhoids can cause various kinds of complications, but the most common and serious ones are perianal thrombosis and incarcerated prolapsed internal hemorrhoids with subsequent thrombosis. They are accompanied by severe pain in the perianal region, and possible bleeding. Data on the coexistence of hemorrhoids with other conditions are sparse. Some data are consistent with a common pathophysiological link between straining at stool, constipation, and obstetrical events such as pregnancy and delivery. These events are also involved in the development of Chronic Vein Disease (CVD) or Chronic Vein Insufficiency (CVI). CVI is a condition that occurs when the venous walls or valves in the leg veins stop working properly, causing difficulty in blood returning to the heart from the legs. The present study was conducted with an aim to determine the frequency of complaints in hemorrhoidal patients and to assess the possible concomitance between hemorrhoidal disease and chronic venous disease. Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study that enrolled patients spontaneously consulting for hemorrhoids in 17 different hospitals of different regions of Bangladesh from 1st June 2018 to 31st July 2018. Patients’ demographic and lifestyle characteristics were recorded, information on hemorrhoidal grade and signs of chronic venous disease was collected. Types of prescribed treatments were also recorded by the physicians. Results: A total of 499 patients were enrolled and analyzed. Reported frequencies of hemorrhoidal symptoms were: bleeding (80.8%), pain (66.3%), swelling (51.7%), prolapse (28.9%), itching (37.7%), soiling (12%), fecal incontinence (13.4%). 13.8% of the hemorrhoidal patients presented concomitant chronic venous disease. The Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological (CEAP) classification was used to classify the clinical signs and symptoms of the patients as C0—no visible or palpable signs of venous disease (6.2%), C1—telangiectasias or reticular veins (4.4%), C2—varicose veins (1.4%), C3—edema (2.6%), C4a—pigmentation or eczema (2%), C4b—lipodermatosclerosis or Atrophie Blanche (0.2%), C5 & C6—venous ulcer (0.6%). Commonly prescribed treatments were dietary fiber (89.8%), veno-active drugs (74.7%), topical treatments (63.7%), painkillers (11.2%), and surgical procedures (30.3%). Conclusion: The study provides small-scale data on patient profiles, risk factors, and commonly prescribed treatments in hemorrhoidal patients. The concomitance of chronic venous disease in 13.8% of the hemorrhoidal patients highlights the importance

Confirmed Thromboembolic Venous Disease and Clinical Probability Scores: A Transversal Study about 74 Cases Collected in the Cardiology Department of the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital Center of Dakar

Introduction: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTED), associating deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, represents a major public health issue. The objective of our work is to correlate confirmed VTED with clinical probability scores using elements of interview and clinical examination. Methods: This was a retrospective study from January 1, 2012 to October 27, 2013. Venous thromboembolic disease was diagnosed by lower limb venous Doppler ultrasound for deep vein thrombosis and thoracic CT angiography for pulmonary embolism. Results: Our series included 74 cases of venous thromboembolic disease including 42 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 29 cases of pulmonary embolism. The average age was 48.5 ± 15.9 years. The sex ratio was 0.72. The patients came from the outpatient clinic in 67.57% of cases. The Wells score for pulmonary embolism showed excellent performance in the “Surgery/Cancer” subgroup where the low probability was zero. The revised Geneva score for pulmonary embolism, showing the same proportions of low (14.2%) and intermediate (85.7%) probability, did not discriminate the subgroup of patients with underlying heart disease from the one from a surgical or carcinological environment. Conclusion: Clinical probability scores are more suitable in surgical and oncological settings than in medical settings.

Venous Thromboembolic Disease in the Cardiology Department of the Nianakoro Fomba Hospital in Segou (HNF)

Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a nosological group that consists mainly of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The objective of our study was to determine the hospital prevalence of VTE in this Nianakoro Fomba Regional Hospital (HNF) in Ségou, Mali, to describe the sociodemographic aspects of these patients and the therapeutic possibilities in this locality. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective descriptive study from June 2019 to June 2020 in the cardiology department of the HNF of Ségou. All patients of all ages and both sexes who had VTE on clinical and paraclinical criteria (pulmonary Angio scan and/or venous Doppler echo) during the study period were included. Result: 31 patients were included out of 366 hospitalized patients, with a hospital prevalence of 8.47%. The 41-60 and 61 - 80 age groups were both dominant with 35.48% of cases each. The female sex was the most represented with 58.06% of cases and a sex ratio of 0.97. High blood pressure (hypertension) was the preeminent cardiovascular risk factor in 32.2% of cases and predisposing factors for VTE were dominated by immobilization (41.94%), peripartum (16.13%) and heart failure (16.13%). Dyspnea and chest pain were the frequent reasons for consultation with 93.54% and 83.87% of cases respectively and 6 patients (19.35%) had calf pain. More than 3/4 of the patients had tachypnea or 90.32% and tachycardia in nearly 74.19%. The clinical probability of VTE was intermediate at 51.61% according to the Wells score. D-Dimers were elevated in 38.70%, or all 12 patients who performed it. The electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded a sinus rhythm in 93.54% of cases, a right branch block and atrial fibrillation (AF) in 35.48% and 6.45% of cases, respectively. Dilation of the right ventricle was present in 64.51% of cases with PAH in 61.29% on cardiac Doppler ultrasound. In the majority of cases (82.15%) it was a massive bilateral proximal and distal pulmonary embolism. Treatment was based on low molecular weight heparin (HPBM) and antivitamin K (AVK) in all patients (100%). No bleeding incidents;the average hospital stay was 10 days and an intra-hospital mortality rate of 29%.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Patterns of Venous Thromboembolic Disease in Cancer Patients Followed up in Two Reference Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: Cancer increases the incidence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE), which represents a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in cancer patients. Objective: We aimed to describe the epidemiologic, clinical, and therapeutic pattern of VTE in cancer patients followed-up in two reference hospitals in Cameroon over the past ten years. Methods: This was a cross-sectional retrospective study conducted in the oncology department of the General hospitals of Yaoundé and Douala. We included the medical records of all patients aged 18 years and above who had active cancer with a confirmed diagnosis of VTE from 2010 to 2021. Results: We analysed 408 patients’ medical records. The prevalence of VTE was 7.6%. All those having VTE had solid tumours. There were twenty (64.5%) cases of deep venous thrombosis, five (16.1%) cases of pulmonary embolism, and three (9.7%) cases of both. Poor performance status and chemotherapy were independently associated with the development of VTE. Most of the patients were treated with compression stockings and low molecular weight heparin. Conclusion: VTE prevalence is high among cancer patients in Cameroon. It is most frequent in solid tumours originating from the genitourinary system, the lung, the pancreas, and the brain.

Venous Thromboembolic Disease and Thrombolysis at the YaoundéEmergency Center during the Past Five Years, Cameroon

Background: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) is a clinical entity whose two clinical manifestations are deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a frequent and severe disease in Cameroon, thus constituting a significant public health problem. We aimed to describe VTE management in the Yaoundé Emergency Center, in particular the use of thrombolysis. Methods: This was a retrospective study on patients hospitalized at the Yaoundé Emergency Center for DVT and/or PE from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020. We collected clinical signs, paraclinical signs, risk factors of VTE, and management methods from each patient. Results: We recruited 106 participants. Dyspnea was the most frequent symptom;PE was the most common form of VTE in eight patients on 10. Obesity and high blood pressure were the main cardiovascular risk factors. The main clinical signs were oedema and pain in the limb for DVT, dyspnea, and tachycardia for PE. Heparinotherapy was the most commonly used management modality. Thrombolysis was performed in 7.5% of participants, especially in the case of hypotension or massive PE. Conclusion: In VTE management, thrombolysis remains the least used therapeutic modality in our context. Heparinotherapy remains the basis of the therapy.

Phlebosclerosis: An overlooked complication of varicose veins that affects clinical outcome: A case report

BACKGROUND Phlebosclerosis is a common age-related fibrotic degeneration of the venous wall.It is a disorder rather than a disease,which may cause venous dysfunction and even venous thrombosis.It is rarely reported in patients with varicose veins.CASE SUMMARY The present report describes the case of a 70-year-old man with varicose veins,vitiligo,and phlebosclerosis.Venous angiography revealed blood reflux in the superficial and deep veins.The patient underwent surgery to remove the saphe-nous veins.During the operation,a calcified vein resembling a wooden stick was found,which was surprisingly extracted from the thickened venous wall.A cross-section of this wooden stick-like vein revealed venous fibrosis and calcification,obvious thickening of the venous wall,extensive collagen deposition on the venous wall,hyaline degeneration,and venous sclerosis causing closure of the venous lumen.CONCLUSION This is probably the first report of a wooden stick-like structure being found in the venous wall in patients with varicose veins and venous ulcers.Phlebosclerosis can be observed in the late stage of varicose veins complicated by frequent infections and worse clinical outcomes.Therefore,it is important to be aware of this condition and address it rather than overlook it.

Real-world outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinal vascular vein occlusion in Tibet,China

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) agents for patients with retinal vein occlusion(RVO) related-macular edema(ME) in Tibetan.METHODS: A retrospective, observational, single-center study. The demographic and clinical data of 90 RVO Tibetan patients(93 eyes) treated with either ranibizumab or conbercept in Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital from Jan 2018 to December 2019 were collected.RESULTS: The mean patient age was 56.8±10.6y, 45(50%) of them were female. The mean living altitude was 3867.8±567.9 m. At the last visit, the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA) significantly increased(52.2±21.8 letters) in comparison with the baseline(38.2±24.1 letters, P<0.001);while the central retinal thickness(CRT) significantly reduced(245.5±147.6 μm) in comparison with the baseline(504.1±165.2 μm, P<0.001). The 43.0% of the eyes gained≥15 letters, 60.2% of the eyes gained ≥10 letters, and 78.5% of the eyes gained ≥5 letters. No vision loss was noted in 92.5% of the eyes, 4 eyes lost more than 10 letters during follow-up period. The mean number of injections was 2.4±1.8. No severe ocular or systemic adverse events related to either the drug or injection were noted.CONCLUSION: Anti-VEGF therapy is effective and safe in Tibetan patients for the treatment of RVO related ME.

Safety and Efficacy of Low Dosage of Urokinase for Catheter-directed Thrombolysis of Deep Venous Thrombosis

Background： Catheter-directed thrombolysis （CDT） has been a mainstay in treating deep venous thrombosis （DVT）. However, the optimal dosage ofa thrombolytic agent is still controversial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low dosage urokinase with CDT for DVT. Methods： A retrospective analysis was perfornaed using data from a total of 427 patients with DVT treated with CDT in our single center between July 2009 and December 2012. Early efficacy of thrombolysis was assessed with a thrombus score based on daily venography. The therapeutic safety was evahmted by adverse events. A venography or duplex ultrasound was performed to assess the outcome at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years postoperatively. Results： The mean total dose of 3.34 （standard deviation [SD] 1.38） million units of urokinase was administered during a mean of 5.18 （SD 2.28） days. Prior to discharge, Grade Ⅲ （complete lysis） was achieved in 154 （36%） patients; Grade II （50-99% lysis） in 222 （52%）： and Grade I （50%~ lysis） in 51 （12%）. The major complications included one intracranial hemorrhage, one henaatochezia, five gross hematuria, and one pulmonary embolism. Moreover, no death occurred in the study. Conclusions： Treatment of low-dose catheter-directed thrombosis is an efficacious and safe therapeutic approach in patients with DVT offering good long-term outcomes and minimal complications.