Multiple preoperative risk factors in a patient with a large goitre may be useful in predicting the need for planned tracheostomy following thyroidectomy.

The clinical and hematological features and response to therapy in 17 Sudanese patients with visceral leishmaniasis are described. The clinical features in our cases were similar to those described from Ethiopia and East Africa. Fever, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were common findings. An unusual feature is the relatively high frequency of hepatic dysfunction. One patient died of cerebral hemorrhage and another of gastrointestinal bleeding. Hemorrhagic manifestations were attributed to immune complex vasculitis and thrombocytopenia. The response to sodium stibogluconate was good.