A retrospective cohort report of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomies in Saudi Arabia: Postoperative outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Introduction: Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become more popular recently. Because it yields shorter hospitalization, less postoperative pain, and better cosmetic outcomes. As it minimizes the number of incisions, it causes less trauma to the anterior abdominal wall and this decreases the operative mortality and morbidity. In this study, our aim is to share our results from the procedure so that surgeons in the field may consider adopting this approach when performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 125 patients that underwent single-incision cholecystectomy. These patients underwent the procedure in a specialized center. We extracted data and surveyed patients who underwent the procedure between 2017 and 2019, and that were performed by the same consultant using the standard tools of laparoscopic surgery. All patients were followed for 12 months. The postoperative survey includes; the cosmetic appearance of the surgical site, pain management after the procedure, and patient satisfaction with this experience. Results: Most of the patients were satisfied with postoperative pain management and their cosmetic appearance. Most of the patients were females diagnosed with cholelithiasis preoperatively. The mean age of the patients was 37.43 ± 10.72 years, the mean BMI of the participants was 29.68 ± 6.51 kg/m2 and the mean operative time was 25.56 ± 10.42 min. Conclusion: Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy has the potential to become the procedure of choice for cholecystectomy.

Prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of epilepsy in arab countries: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of epilepsy in Arab countries. METHODS: In this systematic review, electronic databases including PubMed, ProQuest Public Health and Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant English articles published until April 2020. The search was conducted to cover all 22 Arab countries. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they assessed any of these epidemiological parameters of epilepsy: prevalence, incidence, and/or risk factors and focused on at least one of the Arab countries. The quality of the studies was evaluated using standardized quality assessment tools. RESULTS: Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Out of the 22 Arab countries, only 11 were found to have published studies reporting on the epidemiology of epilepsy. The median lifetime prevalence of epilepsy in Arab countries was found to be 6.9 per 1000. The median incidence is 89.5 per 100000. The most frequently identified risk factors were parental consanguinity, family history of epilepsy, and a history of perinatal infections/insults. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and incidence of epilepsy varies in Arab countries. The most frequently reported risk factor is parental consanguinity. The lack of epidemiological studies on epilepsy in half of the Arab countries calls for more studies on this aspect to identify the burden and risk factors of epilepsy in this region.

Aggressive Thoracic Hemangioma Leading to Secondary Kyphosis with Paraparesis in the Postpartum Period. A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Aggressive vertebral hemangioma is rare, and its management can be very challenging. METHODS: In this report, we present the case of a 30-year-old female with a normal twin pregnancy. She had been complaining of midthoracic pain after the seventh month of pregnancy with no other symptoms. Normal delivery was done under spinal anesthesia, but the patient's back pain worsened after the delivery, and she left the hospital on Day 4 with the onset of an unsteady gait. She was seen in the spinal clinic on Day 14, referred by her gynecologist, with a paraparetic presentation that was rapidly worsening. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done and revealed aggressive hemangioma of T6 with kyphosis and significant cord compression. RESULTS: The patient was admitted and was operated the following morning. Posterior decompression with fixation from T4 to T8 and kyphosis correction was done. Samples from the vertebrae were sent to the lab for pathology analysis, and the results confirmed the diagnosis of vertebral hemangioma. She could walk on Day 1 with progressive neurological recovery, but distal junctional kyphosis in the form of a "chance fracture" of T8 occurred at 2 months and was treated conservatively. She showed a satisfactory clinical and radiological result at 2 years with no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Literature is sparse on the management of vertebral hemangioma in the context of pregnancy and postpartum, with only case reports, and its presentation as a kyphotic fracture is extremely rare. The current case shows how, in the context of delivery, a benign procedure such as spinal anesthesia should be done with extreme caution, as it may play a role in aggravating an undiagnosed aggressive hemangioma; rapid management after the onset of paraparetic symptoms enables a full neurological recovery, but close monitoring later on with regular MRI is mandatory for detection of any recurrence.

Thoracolumbar kyphoscoliotic deformity with neurological impairment secondary to a butterfly vertebra in an adult.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis secondary to a butterfly vertebra in an adult, and its surgical correction technique. BACKGROUND: Kyphoscoliosis secondary to an isolated butterfly vertebra is rare and its management can be very challenging. METHODS: We report the case of a 39-year-old male, complaining of chronic middle and low back pain with unsteady gait and altered sensation of lower extremities. Full spine anteroposterior and lateral X-rays revealed a thoracolumbar kyphosis with an angulation of 60° between T10 and T12, with a short thoracolumbar scoliosis of 32 degrees. CT scan confirmed the presence of a butterfly vertebra at the level of T11 with posterior arch fusion between T10 and T12. MRI showed cord compression at the apex of the kyphosis associated to syringomyelia. RESULTS: The patient underwent a posterior resection of the T11 butterfly vertebra with instrumentation from T8 to L2, and use of a one-sided domino on the convex side and a mesh cage on the concave side for asymmetrical correction and vertebral height preservation. Thoracolumbar kyphosis was corrected to 10°. Scoliosis was corrected to 6°. He could walk on day 2 with a satisfactory clinical and radiological result at 2 years. CONCLUSION: Literature is sparse on the management of thoracolumbar kyphoscoliosis secondary to butterfly vertebra in the context of neurological impairment. The current case described a surgical treatment strategy to correct both deformity planes simultaneously by a vertebral resection performed through a posterior only approach.