Day care laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a study of feasibility and safety in Qatar

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gall bladder disease amid is one of the most frequently performed operations in Qatar. Day-care laparoscopic cholecystectomy [DCLC] was started in 2003 offering many advantages over conventional laparoscopy including reduced demand for hospital beds. DCLC has been shown to be safe in many centers worldwide but in Qatar its feasibility and safety had not been studied. During the 24 months July 2003-July 2005 fifty-six cases of DCLC were studied. Inclusion criteria were aged less than 60 years, Grade 1 and 2 anesthesia risk according to American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA], living within an hour's drive of the hospital, had telephone access, living with a responsible adult, capable of reaching the hospital with or without depending on emergency medical services [EMS], able to understand discharge instructions, agreeing to participate by informed consent and the presence of symptomatic gall bladder disease. Complicated cases were excluded. The success rate of DCLC [same day discharge] was 48/56[86%], most patients being observed in the Daycare Unit [DCU] for 6-8 hours. Pain, post-operative nausea and vomiting [PONV] were the most common causes of failure. There were no re-admissions within 30 days of surgery. Complications were minor and most patients were highly satisfied with same day discharge from the hospital. We conclude that DCLC is safe, feasible and has potential benefits for the health care system in Qatar .Surgeons performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy should recognize the advantages of DCLC and offer this approach to their patients in uncomplicated cases

Comparison of tonsillectomy by standard dissection/snare technique and KTP laser method: a pilot study

A pilot study compared the post-operative morbidity following tonsillectomy by potassium-titanyl Phosphate laser [KTP/532] and standard dissection/snare methods. Twenty one consecutive patients over the age of 12 years had the tonsil on one side removed by standard dissection and that on the other side by KTP/532 laser. The intra-operative blood loss was greater in male and older patients [p=0.01] and significantly less on the KTP laser side [9.8 +/- 5.2 ml] than the dissection side [40.5 +/- 12.2 ml]; p = 0.001. During the first two days following surgery; 71.4% of patients experienced more pain on the laser side. By the first week 76.2% of patients felt both side of the throat were equally painful. At the end of second week 6 1.9% of patients had more persistent pain on the laser side compared to the dissection side. After four weeks all patients had recovered fully. This pilot study showed KTP/laser tonsillectomy had reduced intra-operative blood loss but there was more pain and increased risk of secondary hemorrhage compared to the side of standard dissection. Based on our initial results, we suggest a larger prospective randomized controlled study to compare both methods of tonsillectomy and to determine the potential to perform laser tonsillectomy as a day care procedure

study of dementia in home care patients in Qatar with the psychosocial burden on caregivers

Dementia is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. It places a burden on caregivers and on society, and has been established as one of the major challenges of the present time. A retrospective study of 350 home care patients in Qatar found 50 with dementia for which it assessed various risk factors, co-morbities and the psychosocial burden on the care givers. It was found that the two major types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and Vascular dementia had equal occurrence amongst home care patients in Qatar, with hypertension and atherosclerosis being the major contributing factors; a family history of dementia played only a minor role. Depression was the main co-morbidity in the patients. The care givers, mostly female, showed no significant psychosocial burden

Rhinosporidiosis in Qatar: a case report and literature review

Rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterised by polypoid lesions of the mucus membranes. The disease is endemic in India but very rare in the Middle East. We report the clinical presentation, management, and histopathology of the first case of rhinosporidiosis in Qatar and review the literature