The outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in diabetic patients: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is considered a risk factor associated with morbidity in patients who undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), in comparison with nondiabetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate this risk factor in Saudi patients and evaluate the outcome LC in diabetic patients with nondiabetics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 968 patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones who underwent an LC between January 2005 and June 2008. Age, sex, operative records, morbidity, and length of hospital stay for each patient were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 175 (18%) diabetic and 793 nondiabetic patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding complication, conversion to open, or operative time. Length of hospital stay was significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: LC in diabetic patients had the same outcome in nondiabetic patients. Careful preoperative preparations, meticulous intraoperative surgical technique, and cautious postoperative care are mandatory to achieve this outcome.

Breast cancer knowledge, risk factors and screening among adult Saudi women in a primary health care setting.

OBJECTIVE: To assess level and determinants of knowledge about risk factors and utilization of screening methods used for breast cancer early detection among adult Saudi women in Al Hassa, KSA. STUDY DESIGN: cross-sectional descriptive. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,315 Saudi adult females were included, selected through a multistage stratified sampling method from ten primary health care centers. No previous history of breast cancer, attendance for routine services or accompanying patients were prerequisites for eligibility. Participants were invited to personal interview with pre-tested validated questionnaire including inquiries regarding knowledge, screening practices including clinical breast examination (CBE), mammography, individual breast cancer risk factors and perceived barriers towards (CBE). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied; logistic regression was conducted to determine the possible correlates of knowledge. RESULTS: Overall level of knowledge regarding risk factors and appropriate screening was low and dependent upon educational and occupational status. Early screening is underutilized among participants due to several perceived barriers. Clinical breast examinations were employed by less than 5% and mammography by only 3% of cases. A positive family history was found in 18% of cases among first and second degree relatives, and 2 % had a prior history of benign breast lesions. CONCLUSION: Included women, irrespective of their educational status, had knowledge deficits regarding breast cancer risk factors and underutilization of the recommended breast cancer screening. Several barriers are contributing to such knowledge deficits and screening behavior.

Histopathological patterns of female breast lesions at secondary level care in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to characterize the histopathological patterns of female breast lesions encountered at a secondary level care centre in Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia, with special emphasis on multiplicity of benign lesions, their proliferative nature and level of risk for progression. METHODS: In this retrospective, hospital record-based descriptive study, all histopathology records of patients attending King Fahd Hospital in Hofuf, Al Hassa between January 2001 and December 2007, were reviewed using a structured compilation form. Nine and hundred-sixty nine histopathology reports were legible and included. Data regarding type of specimens, age, laterality of the lesions and the prominent cellular morphology were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 969 records reviewed, benign lesions accounted for 60.1%, followed by malignancy (21.4%) and inflammatory lesions (18.5%). Multiple benign lesions were found in 51.1% and more than two lesions in 21.1% of cases. Non-proliferative breast lesions with low risk were reported in 81.4%, intermediate risk lesion without hyperplastic atypia in 14.6%, while high risk lesions with atypia were only 4.0%. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the dominant lesion among the latter and 62.1% of cases were diagnosed before the age of 50 years. CONCLUSION: Benign breast lesion multiplicity is frequent among Saudi female patients; with or without atypia these lesions represent a sizable risk of potential progression to breast cancer. Meticulous follow up with frequent screening may be useful for prevention of cancer development and early intervention in affected patients.