Percutaneous nephrolithotomy in children: a preliminary report

The recurrence of pediatric nephrolithiasis, the morbidity of repeated open surgical treatment as well as our experience in percutaneous nephrolithotomy [PNL] in adult patients, all derived us to shift to PNL for managing renal stones >1.5 cm in pediatric patients. Our aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PNL in pediatric patients. During the period of the month between May 2011 and April 2013, 38 children [47 renal units] underwent PNL for renal stones 1.5-5 cm in length. Patient demographics, stone characteristics, and clinical outcome were prospectively studied. Data of those who underwent conventional and tubeless PNL were compared. Median follow-up period was 12 months [range: 6-24]. The median age at presentation was 8-year [range: 3-12]. The operative time ranged from 30 to 120 min [median [0]. Overall stone clearance rate was [1.5% after single PNL. The median hospital stay was 3 days. Auxiliary procedures were successful for the remaining 4 patients [nephroscopic clearance in one and shockwave lithotripsy in 3]. Tubeless PNL was performed in 17 renal units with a comparable outcome to conventional ones. The perioperative complications were noted in 5/47 [10.6%] of all procedures [Clavien Grade II in 4 and Clavien Grade IIIa in 1] and were managed conservatively. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy for renal stones in pediatric patients is safe and feasible if performed by a well-experienced endourologist. Tubeless PNL is a better choice for children

reading habits of medical students at medical college King Saud University

Understanding the reading habits of medical students provide insights and opportunities for medical educators to evaluate the learning needs of the students and improve the teaching methods. The purpose of the present study was to describe the reading habits of King Saud medical students in a fifth year clinical rotation, which previously have not been described. A questionnaire was administered to 96 medical students rotating through their fifth year at the King Saud University College of Medicine during 2008-2009 academic years. The questionnaire focused on issues related to the reading habits. Seventy three of 96 [76%] medical students in a fifth year clinical rotation completed the questionnaire. Students reported reading for an average of 4.3[SD 5] [median three hours per week, range zero to 35 hours per week]. The most commonly used and useful reading resource were pocket books and medical text books. Approximately 90% of students reported problems in reading about their patients. Students spend sufficient amount of time reading medical pocket books and lecture handouts with less time spend on online sources. The majority of students reported problems in reading that medical educators need to address

Acceptance and compliance of clean intermittent catheterization among Saudi patients

To determine the applicability, acceptance, and compliance of the option of clean intermittent catheterization [CIC] when needed by patients in our society. We retrospectively reviewed the files of all patients for whom CIC was conducted at King Khalid University Hospital and Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 1998, and 2006. We considered primary pathology, indication of CIC, age at CIC initiation, and who administered the CIC. We also documented the acceptance and compliance levels of the procedure by the patient over time. We included 280 patients, of which 118 [42%] were female and 162 [58%] were male in this study. The main pathology was myelodysplasia in 196 [70%] patients, posterior urethral valve in 52 [18.6%] patients, and non-neuropathic bladder sphincter dysfunction in 32 [11.4%] patients. The mean age was 6.49 +/- 4.25 years. Two hundred and fifty-seven [91.7%] families and their children accepted the idea of CIC, and 248 [88.6%] continued with the CIC program. Mothers were responsible for carrying out the procedure in 204 [72.9%] patients. However, in 76 [27.1%] cases, the patient was doing the procedure independently and the average age for a child to master the technique was 8 years. During the last 3 years, an urotherapist took over the educational services and performed outpatient education instead of our previous inpatient education. Clean intermittent catheterization is an appropriate method of treatment for our group of patients. They showed excellent acceptance of and compliance with the procedure, however, we suggest that for complete success, proper education, teaching, and follow-up should be conducted

Students' perception of one year experience with the clinical skills laboratory at King Saud University Medical College

The clinical skills laboratory is an educational facility where clinical skills could be obtained and practiced in a protected safe environment. The present study evaluated one year experience with the new clinical skills laboratory that was opened at the college of Medicine, King Saud University in 2004. We surveyed 123 students in their clinical years at the end of the surgery course for evaluation of one year experience at the clinical skills laboratory at King Saud University Medical College. More than two thirds of the students [n=102, 82.26%] found the skills lab useful for the course and think that learning in the clinical skills lab is more useful before dealing with real students [n= 112, 90.32%]. While only 11 students [8.87%] think that it is more useful after. Around two thirds of the students [n= 101, 82.11%] considered the instructors to be friendly and helpful. More than half of the students [n=73, 58.9%] found the duration of the sessions not enough and more than two thirds of the students [n=102, 82.3%] think that more sessions are needed. Although the clinical skills lab was started in a temporary location, 86 students [69.4%] found the location of the skills lab to be appropriate. Despite the short experience, more than half of the students [n=79, 64.23%] found the organization of the sessions appropriate. These findings suggest that the clinical skills lab is providing a satisfactory and useful way of learning for the medical students in their clinical years after one year of being opened