Ensuring radiation safety: Evaluating dose and compliance among medical staff at King Faisal Medical Complex, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Radiation is an integral part of routine medical practice, but it carries a risk to the health of medical staff. Hence, it should be assessed periodically. The study's goal was to quantify the levels of radiation exposure for medical staff at King Faisal Medical Complex (KFMC), Taif City Saudi Arabia, and to assess their radiation protective procedures in practice. METHODS: The study looked at the thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) records of 50 medical professionals who were exposed to radiation while working at KFMC from 2019 to 2020 in Taif city, Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, radiation exposure is read from skin TLDs using Harshaw model 6600 plus detectors. The Excel software was utilized to process the obtained data for calculating effective doses. A questionnaire was also distributed to the medical staff to assess their radiation protection procedures. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 23 was used to analyze the obtained data. RESULTS: The mean annual effective doses of the medical staff in 2019 and 2020 were determined to be 1.14 mSv and 1.4645 mSv, respectively, with no significant difference in effective doses between males and females in either year. The socio-demographic features of the medical personnel were examined, and the findings revealed that the majority of participants were male radiological technologists. The rate of adherence to radiation protection techniques was 68%, with a normally distributed dispersal. The amount of adherence varied significantly depending on nationality, occupation, and academic qualification. CONCLUSION: According to the research, the mean annual effective dosage for medical professionals at KFMC was significantly below the recommended level, indicating satisfactory compliance with the ALARA radiation safety concept.

Results of Modified Stenströms Technique Otoplasty and Patients' Satisfaction at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH).

Background Globally, the prevalence of protruding ears is relatively frequent. Ear deformities manifest due to underdevelopment of the antihelical fold, conchal hypertrophy, and/or an obtuse conchoscaphal angle. The availability of multiple approaches proves that there isn't a single optimal accepted procedure. The Modified Stenström otoplasty technique supports the surgeon in the management of underdeveloped antihelix fold, conchal hypertrophy, and obtuse conchoscaphal angle among other deformities. We are the first to evaluate the clinical effects and measure the satisfaction rate post-otoplasty using the modified Stenström technique with a case series study. Methods Six patients were included in the study with a total of 12 ears operated on between February 2021 and July 2022. Utilizing the modified Stenström technique for bilateral protruding ears. All patients had six postoperative follow-up visits with fixed intervals; one week, three weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and one year. During their one-year postoperative follow-up appointment, all patients completed the satisfaction survey questions. Results Six individuals were studied, three males and three females with a mean age of 23.1 (range, 7-53 years old). There were no complications or recurrences observed. Based on the responses we collected, all patients reported a high satisfaction rate at one-year postoperative follow-up. Conclusion The modified Stenström technique yields good naturally appearing ears. It is an easy and safe technique to apply. It has a short recovery period, and no hospital stay is required. All contribute to a high satisfaction rate among studied patients.

Prevalence of Acute Tonsillitis and Its Association With Oral Hygiene Among the Population of Taif City, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction  Dental surfaces have dense bacterial deposits, and poor oral hygiene can exacerbate bacterial infections, causing acute tonsillitis. The study aims to quantify acute tonsillitis prevalence and assess its association with oral hygiene practices. Methods  A descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of acute tonsillitis and its association with oral hygiene was conducted among adults aged 20 and above in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. Illiterates and those unwilling to participate were excluded. We employed an Arabic online self-administered questionnaire that was disseminated conveniently via Google Forms to social media assessing oral hygiene such as last dental visit, age at starting dental care, number of toothbrushes per day, frequency of toothbrush change, and duration of brushing teeth, and acute tonsillitis characteristics of the participants. Results About 393 participated in the study. Of them, 54% were aged 20-30, 53% were males, and 70% had a university education. The prevalence of acute tonsillitis was 64%. Approximately 28% reported dental clinic visits within three months, and 21% initiated oral hygiene practices at age 20. Among participants, 43% brushed twice daily, with 33% spending one minute and 43% two minutes. About 31% replaced toothbrushes every three months, while 23% acknowledged having bad breath. Experiencing bad breath, changing toothbrushes every three months, and having dental visits within less than three months were associated with having acute tonsillitis (p<0.05). However, regression analysis revealed that experiencing bad breath (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.70) was associated with a higher risk of acute tonsillitis, while less frequent toothbrush changes correlated with a lower risk (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.94). Conclusion  This study revealed a substantial prevalence of acute tonsillitis among adults in Taif City. Oral care practices need improvement. There are significant associations between oral hygiene practices, bad breath, and the occurrence of acute tonsillitis. Addressing oral hygiene practices could be a key focus for preventative measures.

Patients' Radiation Shielding in Interventional Radiology Settings: A Systematic Review.

As a result of the increasing risk of developing radiation-related complications, many approaches aimed at reducing this risk and enhancing the outcomes of the patient, doctor or device operator have been developed. In this systematic review, we aim to discuss previous investigations that studied patient shielding or protection within the context of selected interventional radiology procedures. We included original studies that used Ka,r, and PKA for the assessment of the outcomes of two procedures: transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation (TIPS) and hepatic arterial chemoembolization (HAE). A thorough search strategy was conducted on relevant databases to identify all relevant studies. We included 13 investigations, including 12 cross-sectional studies and one randomized controlled trial. Significant diversity was found among all these studies in terms of the used modalities, which made them hard to compare. However, almost all studies agreed that using novel imaging and interventional modalities is useful when obtaining better outcomes and reducing patient radiation exposure. The use of ultrasound-guided procedures and providing adequate lead curtains has also been recommended by the identified studies in order to minimize the frequency of radiation exposure. The reported Ka,r, and PKA were also variable between studies and were discussed within this study. Our findings indicate that unified guidelines for patient radiation shielding should be urgently investigated.

Knowledge and attitude towards hydrocephalus among healthcare providers and the general population in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Hydrocephalus is a worldwide disorder characterized by abnormal flow or rarely excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid, leading to the widening of the cerebral ventricles system due to the accumulation of the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Previous researches have shown that knowledge about the disorder is limited among healthcare providers and the population, affecting attitudes toward patients, as well as patient outcomes. AIM: To investigate healthcare providers and population's knowledge and attitudes towards hydrocephalus in Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through an electronic questionnaire. The survey was self-constructed in Arabic and English by the research team and inspired by other awareness questionnaires and validated before use by three experts. RESULTS: There were 444 participants in this study, aged between 17 and 73 years with a mean age of 32.60 ± 10.98. Most of the participants were from the general population (74.8%). More than half of the participants had a bachelor's degree (60.1%). 38.4% of healthcare providers had negative knowledge while 61.6% had positive knowledge. In addition, 82.5% of the general population had negative knowledge, although 17.5% had positive knowledge. Moreover, it was observed that 17.0% of the healthcare providers had a bad attitude while 83.0% had a good attitude. In addition, 60.2% of the general population had a bad attitude, whereas 39.8% had a good attitude. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the level of knowledge and attitude towards hydrocephalus among healthcare providers was good on both aspects, while it was poor among the general population.

Spontaneous subgaleal hematoma in a patient with sickle cell disease: A case report and literature review.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common hemoglobin disorder with variable clinical manifestations. Spontaneous subgaleal hematoma is rare, with sporadic cases reported in patients with SCD. Most cases resolve with conservative measures. Skull bone infarction should be considered a possible cause of severe acute headache in patients with SCD.

Incidentally discovered huge retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma with successful laparoscopic management: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Retroperitoneal cystic lesions are uncommon heterogeneous clinical entities with no definite incidence. Their clinical presentations are different and their diagnosis is challenging. The management necessitates complete surgical excision, usually via laparotomy. Recently, laparoscopic approach is being increasingly used. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old female patient was referred for an incidentally-discovered huge retroperitoneal cyst. Imaging studies revealed a retroperitoneal cyst, measuring 13 * 11 cm. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed a retroperitoneal cyst displacing the small bowel and the right colon to the left side. The peritoneal covering was dissected from the cyst with caution not to cause cyst rupture. The cyst was removed partially using Endobag, then aspiration of its content to facilitate its delivery. The patient had a smooth uneventful postoperative course. DISCUSSION: The retroperitoneal space is large, expandable space which enables retroperitoneal cystic lesions to grow asymptomatic. CT scan remains the best imaging modality. Aspiration of its content is not routinely done as its sensitivity and specificity has been reported low. Moreover, it carries the risk of leakage of the cyst content into the peritoneal space. Open surgical complete excision is the traditional management and remains of choice. However, laparoscopic management can be tried with caution not to cause content spillage. Intraoperatively, controlled aspiration of the cyst helps in its retrieval. CONCLUSION: Primary retoperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma is a rare clinical entity that is usually incidentally discovered. Laparoscopic excision is safe and feasible if done by an expert laparoscopic surgeon. Care should always be taken not to cause spillage of its content.