Stroke in sickle cell disease in association with bilateral absence of the internal carotid arteries. Case report.

BACKGROUND: Congenital absence of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a highly infrequent congenital incidence and occurs in less than 0.01% of the population; bilateral absence is exceedingly rare, diagnosed below 10% of the unilateral absence of the ICA. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious disorder and carries a high risk of stroke. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a five-year-old child with SCD who experienced an ischemic stroke episode with epileptic seizures. Neuroimaging revealed the agenesis of both ICAs. The frequency, embryology, and collateral pathway of the vascular anomaly as the clinical presentation, of this rare hematologic disease, are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Sickle cell disease (SCD) carries a high risk of stroke. Congenital absence of ICA occurs in less than 0.01% of the population; bilateral absence is diagnosed below 10% of the unilateral absence of the ICA.

Percutaneous Ultrasound-guided Pigtail Catheter for Pleural Effusions: Efficacy and Safety.

OBJECTIVES: Small-bore pigtail catheters are now being used more frequently for draining pleural effusions. This study aimed to measure the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of these devices in different clinical conditions. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 141 patients with pleural effusions of various etiologies who underwent ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter insertion at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. RESULTS: The majority 109 (77.3%) of patients had exudates. The mean age was 50.0±18.6 years in patients with exudates and 67.3±15.5 in patients with transudates (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference (p = 0.232) in the median drainage duration between exudates (6.0 days) and transudates (4.5 days). The incidence of pain requiring regular analgesics, pneumothorax, and blockage were 36.2% (n = 51), 2.8% (n = 4), and 0.7% (n = 1), respectively. The overall success rate of pleural effusion drainage was 90.1%. Among the 109 cases of exudative pleural effusion, 89.0% were successful compared to a 93.8% success rate among patients with transudative effusion (p = 0.737). Short-term success rates were high in all causes of effusions: lung cancer (100%), metastasis (90.0%), pleural infections (83.3%), cardiac failure (94.7%), renal disease (85.7%), and liver disease (100%). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided pigtail catheter insertion is an effective, comfortable, and safe method of draining pleural fluid. It should be considered as the first intervention if drainage of a pleural effusion is clinically indicated.

Different Strokes: A management dilemma.

Stroke is a common medical emergency resulting from numerous pathophysiological mechanisms and with varied clinical manifestations; as such, the diagnosis of stroke requires diligent clinical assessment. When different stroke syndromes occur in the same patient, it may cause a dilemma in terms of diagnosis and management. This continuing medical education article describes an interesting patient with recurrent neurological events, highlighting the complex pathophysiological processes associated with cerebrovascular syndromes. It offers readers the opportunity to apply their own basic neuroscience knowledge and clinical skills to solve the challenges encountered during the course of diagnosing and treating this patient. Specifically, the article aims to familiarise readers with an approach to diagnosing brainstem strokes and the diverse manifestations of a common stroke syndrome.

Hepatic or Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysms Following a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Literature review of aetiopathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis and management.

Pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) of the hepatic and/or cystic artery are a rare complication following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Generally, PSA cases present with haemobilia several weeks following the procedure. Transarterial embolisation (TAE) is considered the optimal management approach. We report a 70-year-old woman who presented to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, in 2016 with massive hemoperitoneum two weeks after undergoing a LC procedure in another hospital. She was successfully managed using coil TAE. An extensive literature review revealed 101 cases of hepatic or cystic artery PSAs following a LC procedure. Haemobilia was the main presentation (85.1%) and the mean time of postoperative presentation was 36 days. The hepatic artery was involved in most cases (88.1%), followed by the cystic artery (7.9%) and a combination of both (4.0%). Most cases were managed with TAE (72.3%), with a 94.5% success rate. The overall mortality rate was 2.0%.

Safety and Complications of Double-Lumen Tunnelled Cuffed Central Venous Dialysis Catheters: Clinical and radiological perspective from a tertiary centre in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the technical success, safety and immediate and delayed complications of double-lumen tunnelled cuffed central venous catheters (TVCs) at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman. METHODS: This retrospective study took place between January 2012 and October 2013. The clinical records and radiological data of all patients who underwent ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided TVC placement at SQUH during the study period were reviewed. Demographic data and information regarding catheter placement, technical success and peri- and post-procedure complications (such as catheter-related infections or thrombosis) were collected. RESULTS: A total of 204 TVCs were placed in 161 patients. Of these, 68 were female (42.2%) and 93 were male (57.8%). The mean age of the patients was 54.4 ± 17.3 years. The most common reason for catheter placement was the initiation of dialysis (63.4%). A total of 203 procedures were technically successful (99.5%). The right internal jugular vein was the most common site of catheter placement (74.9%). Mild haemorrhage which resolved spontaneously occurred in 11 cases (5.4%). No other complications were observed. Subsequent follow-up data was available for 132 catheters (65.0%); of these, thrombosis-related catheter malfunction was observed in 22 cases (16.7%) and catheter-related infection in 29 cases (22.0%). CONCLUSION: Radiological-guided placement of tunnelled haemodialysis catheters can be performed safely with excellent technical success. The success rate of catheter insertion at SQUH was favourable in comparison with other studies reported in the literature.

Ruptured Rudimentary Horn Pregnancy Diagnosed by Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Resulting in Fetal Salvage.

Pregnancy in a rudimentary horn is very rare. The rupture of the horn during pregnancy is an obstetric emergency which can be life-threatening for both the mother and fetus. Preoperative diagnosis of such pregnancies can be challenging and they are usually diagnosed intraoperatively. We report a unique case of a 31-year-old multiparous woman who presented to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, in January 2013 at 32 gestational weeks with abdominal pain. Ultrasonography was inconclusive. A rudimentary horn pregnancy was subsequently diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An emergency laparotomy revealed haemoperitoneum and a ruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy. A live baby with an Apgar score of 2 at one minute and 7 at five minutes was delivered. The rudimentary horn with the placenta in situ was excised and a left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful. The authors recommend MRI as an excellent diagnostic modality to confirm rudimentary horn pregnancies and to expedite appropriate management.

Computed tomography in management of patients with non-localizing headache.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of a computed tomography scan in patients with non-localized headache. METHODS: One-hundred and forty-two patients with non-localized headache were included in a retrospective study after reviewing the medical records of 896 patients at the Radiology Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Patients with neurological deficits, head injury, previous intracranial intervention, or malignancy were excluded. Radiological findings of all patients were reviewed and results were divided into 3 groups: 1) no intracranial abnormality; 2) with clinically significant intracranial abnormality; and 3) positive without clinical significance or with extracranial abnormality. All patient history records were reviewed for a period of six months following their initial computed tomography scan to assess their clinical outcomes. The cost of computed tomography examination and patient radiation dose were calculated. RESULTS: Of the 142 patients, 64% were females and 36% males (7% pediatric) with an age range of 4-87 years (mean: 36.2 years). Among the patients, 70% demonstrated negative computed tomography findings (grade 1), only 4% showed clinically significant findings (grade 2), and 26% demonstrated incidental positive findings with no clinical significance (grade 3). The average cost of computed tomography head examination was approximately 60 Omani Riyal ($156). The clinically significant positive cases were fewer than expected. The average estimated radiation dose for these patients was calculated and found to be around 5 times the radiation from computed tomography of the sinuses (approximately 1.84 mSv). CONCLUSION: Computed tomography head imaging in patients with non-localized headache has a low likelihood for any significant intracranial lesion. Therefore, it is essential to develop local standard operating procedures to promote better utilization of this type of imaging service.

Imaging in neuro-ophthalmology: An overview.

Advances in neuroimaging and interventional techniques have revolutionized the early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neuro-ophthalmic disorders. These techniques include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT and MR angiographic techniques, catheter digital subtraction angiography, functional MRI, positron emission tomography, and single photon emission computed tomography. In this review, the value of current techniques in the diagnosis, localization, and treatment of various neuro-ophthalmic disorders is described.

Marjolin's Ulcer: Radiographic and magnetic resonance appearances in two cases.

Marjolin's ulcers are malignancies that arise in chronic venous ulcers, scars, burns, long standing wounds or sinuses. Radiography provides important information regarding bone destruction and periosteal reaction, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides excellent soft tissue detail, like tumour extent, depth, margins, any underlying bone cortical or marrow involvement, or involvement of adjacent neuro-vascular structures. We report two cases of Marjolin's ulcer and describe their radiographic and MR appearances.

Ovarian Vein Thrombophlebitis: An unusual cause of postpartum fever and abdominal pain.

Ovarian vein thrombophlebitis is an uncommon, but potentially serious, complication of complicated deliveries. Prolonged rupture of membranes prior to delivery is a pre-disposing factor. We report a case of a patient with prolonged ruptured membranes, who developed right ovarian vein thrombophlebitis. The patient was managed medically and responded favourably to treatment.