Stroke services in the Middle East and adjacent region: A survey of 34 hospital-based stroke services.

Background: Acute stroke care is complex and requires multidisciplinary networking. There are insufficient data on stroke care in the Middle East and adjacent regions in Asia and Africa. Objective: Evaluate the state of readiness of stroke programs in the Middle East North Africa and surrounding regions (MENA+) to treat acute stroke. Method: Online questionnaire survey on the evaluation of stroke care across hospitals of MENA+ region between April 2021 and January 2022. Results: The survey was completed by 34/50 (68%) hospitals. The median population serviced by participating hospitals was 2 million. The median admission of patients with stroke/year was 600 (250-1,100). The median length of stay at the stroke units was 5 days. 34/34 (100%) of these hospitals have 24/7 CT head available. 17/34 (50%) have emergency guidelines for prehospital acute stroke care. Mechanical thrombectomy with/without IVT was available in 24/34 (70.6%). 51% was the median (IQR; 15-75%) of patients treated with IVT within 60 min from arrival. Thirty-five minutes were the median time to reverse warfarin-associated ICH. Conclusion: This is the first large study on the availability of resources for the management of acute stroke in the MENA+ region. We noted the disparity in stroke care between high-income and low-income countries. Concerted efforts are required to improve stroke care in low-income countries. Accreditation of stroke programs in the region will be helpful.

Surgical management outcome of cerebral schistosomiasis: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection that commonly affects the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Cerebral schistosomiasis is rare, and few operative cases have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis is usually challenging due to the similarity of the lesion to many other brain conditions. Treatment usually requires surgical resection combined with the use of antiparasitic agents, which often results in good outcomes and excellent prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old, previously healthy Afro-asiatic man presented to our neurosurgical outpatient clinic complaining of headache and an attack of convulsions. On examination, he had bilateral lower limb weakness more on the right side. Laboratory investigations including stool and urine general test results were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed and showed an intra-axial left parietal mass; a granulomatous lesion was suggested in the differential diagnoses. The patient underwent craniotomy and total resection of the lesion. Histopathology confirmed the presence of active cerebral Schistosoma mansoni infection. Orally administered praziquantel was initiated at a dose of 20 mg/kg twice a day for a total of 3 days along with oral administration of corticosteroids for 2 weeks. The patient improved postoperatively without residual weakness and with no further convulsions. CONCLUSION: Cerebral schistosomiasis is a rare but important consideration in the list of differential diagnoses of cerebral space-occupying lesions. This is of particular importance in in endemic areas like Sudan. In order to reach a diagnosis, careful social and occupational history need to be obtained and correlated with the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings. Surgical resection along with the use of proper antiparasitic agents usually provides the best clinical outcomes.

Mobilization of the outer cavernous membrane decreases bleeding and improves resection in spheno-clinoidal meningiomas without cavernous sinus extension: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether adding mobilization of the outer cavernous sinus membrane as a part of the approach, in large spheno-clinoidal meningiomas without cavernous sinus extension, would reduce bleeding and increase the extent of resection. METHODS:: This prospective randomized controlled trial was held between February 2016 and April 2017 at Cairo University Hospitals. The study recruited 94 patients with spheno-clinoidal meningiomas without cavernous sinus involvement. Patients were randomly assigned (by a computer based randomization system) into two groups; the treatment group, in which the patients received mobilization of the outer layer of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, prior to opening of the dura; and, the control group, in which the patients were operated by a direct opening of the dura without cavernous sinus dissection. The primary outcome of this study was the difference in the amount of blood lost during surgery between both groups of patients. The secondary outcome variables were the estimated blood loss (EBL) calculated according to Mercurelli's formula, the extent of tumor resection and the amount of blood transfused. RESULTS:: The amount of blood loss and estimated blood loss (EBL) were significantly less in the "with mobilization group" with the P value being 0.00 and 0.013, respectively. Additionally, the amount of residual tumor was compared between both the groups and it showed that the group of patients who have received mobilization of the outer cavernous sinus membrane had a higher rate of radical resection as expressed by a lower volume of residual tumor (P value 0.005). CONCLUSION:: In large spheno-clinoidal meningiomas without cavernous sinus involvement, routine mobilization of the outer cavernous sinus membrane reduces bleeding. This helps in a better visualization of cranial nerves in a relatively avascular field as it enables the performance of neurovascular dissection in an earlier phase of surgery. It also enables a more radical resection.

Posterior cranial fossa tumours in children at National Cancer Institute, Sudan: a single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Posterior cranial fossa tumours (PCF) comprise 54-70% of childhood brain tumours. The clinical profile and outcomes of these tumours differ in area of the world. The aim of this study is to describe clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of posterior cranial fossa tumours in Sudan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study of children diagnosed with posterior cranial fossa tumours and treated between January 1998 and December 2015 at National Cancer Institute, Sudan. RESULTS: A total of 31 paediatric patients with a posterior cranial fossa brain tumour were identified over the study period. The mean age was 7.9 years (standard deviation (SD) = 3.37). Females were slightly more affected (51%) than males (49%), and the majority of patients were from rural areas (71%). Brainstem tumours were the most frequent tumour type (48%) followed by medulloblastoma (36%). The mean pre-diagnostic symptomatic interval was 3.6 months (SD = 3.95). Overall survival rate of our total study population at 1, 2 and 5 years was 23, 19 and 13%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study draws attention to the situation of paediatric brain tumours in Sudan. Late presentation, misdiagnosis and limited diagnostic and treatment resources are challenges that may contribute to poor outcome in these patients.