PRE-OPERATIVE SCREENING FOR HEPATITIS B & C IN GENERAL SURGICAL POPULATION AND THEIR RISK FACTORS

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Objectives:

To determine prevalence of hepatitis B and C Viral infections and risk factors in patients undergoing general surgery.

Methods:

This descriptive case series was carried out in 436 patients who attended out-door patient and emergency departments and undergoing general surgery at West Surgical Ward, Mayo Hospital Lahore using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Data for demographic variables for frequencies and associations between variables were analyzed on SPSS version 12.0.  Significance level was p<0.05.

Results:

Out of total 436 respondents, 117 (26.8%) were positive for HCV and 46 (10.55%) for HBV infections. Out of 117, 64 (54.7%) respondents were males and 53 (45.3%) were females. Mean age of respondents was 33.3 ± 3.8 with the highest number (30.3%) were in the age group between 30 to 40 years of age.(Table 1) The seropositivity for HCV differ by gender, is more in males(p<0.004).

Conclusion:

Prevalence of Anti-HCV is more common than HBsAg in our study population. Shaving faces and armpits from barber, previous history of transfusion and surgery, nose/ear piercing were observed as common risk factors among anti-HCV and HBsAg positive patient in General surgical procedure.

Key words:

HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen), ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbant assay), Anti-HCV, Cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma.