Mission impossible, made possible: Two GAP Fellows escape from Afghanistan.

In 2019, the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons (PAPS) invited two Afghan pediatric surgeons to Christchurch to its Annual Meeting as Global Alliance Partnership (GAP) Fellows. During the Annual Meeting and observerships that followed, Rafi Fazli and Dunya Moghul gained scientific knowledge, but they also networked and formed friendships with those whom they met. Two years later, both GAP Fellows found themselves in perilous danger, as the Taliban swiftly gained control of the country. Both were targeted for their academic endeavors, as well as their association with foreigners. PAPS members rallied and used their connections to help rescue them and their families, and Fazli and Moghul are now both safe. Moghul was invited to give the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Lecture during the 2021 virtual PAPS Annual Meeting, whereby she describes her harrowing escape from Afghanistan.

Incidental finding of cardiac hydatid cysts, report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Hydatid is a parasitic infection which can affect any organ of body. In some organs like liver and lung; it can be found regularly while in other organs like heart, it is seen very rarely. Cardiac hydatid cysts comprise less than of 2% of hydatid infection cases and may be detected incidentally. CASE PRESENTATION: Authors report two cases of cardiac hydatid cysts in young adult patients living in rural areas of the country with positive animal contact. Both patients were complained from shortness of breath and cough. Contrast enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) revealed left ventricular wall hydatid cysts in addition to lung and liver hydatid cysts. CONCLUSION: Cardiac hydatid cyst is a rare finding with wide range of signs and symptoms. These may be suspected in patients coming from endemic areas. Echocardiographic follow up of patients with liver or lung hydatid cysts can be helpful.