Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction in women in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic floor dysfunction has a high prevalence among women worldwide. However, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is underreported. Thus, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of pelvic floor dysfunction in women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on literate non-pregnant women aged ⩾18 years who agreed to participate in our survey. We used the validated and translated Australian pelvic floor questionnaire and conducted a multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the risk factors of pelvic floor dysfunction. RESULTS: A total of 824 participants completed the questionnaire. While 60.2% of the participants had pelvic floor dysfunction, 67.7% reported signs of bowel dysfunction. Urinary dysfunction, prolapse, and sexual dysfunction were present in 44.1%, 67.7%, and 55.4% of the participants, respectively. Age, high body mass index, chronic medical illness, heavy weight lifting, and multiparity were found as the risk factors of bladder function problems. Meanwhile, chronic medical illness, heavy weight lifting, and multiparity were found as the risk factors of bowel dysfunction and prolapse. Age group and marital status were the independent factors associated with sexual dysfunction. CONCLUSION: We noted a high rate of pelvic floor dysfunction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which calls for the need to provide holistic approaches for the prevention and management of pelvic floor dysfunction among women.

Attitudes and Preparedness of Non-Frontline Physicians in Saudi Arabia Toward the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the attitudes (willingness) and preparedness of non-frontline physicians across different specialties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) toward the management of hospitalized coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted between April 15, 2020, and May 5, 2020, included 6209 physicians working in KSA. An electronic questionnaire was designed and validated for the assessment of 3 categorical outcome variables, namely, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge levels. Pearson's chi-square test was used for comparing the distribution of the proportions of these 3 categorical variables. RESULTS: Most participants (63.2%) were willing and prepared to treat COVID-19 patients. A significantly large proportion of participants specializing in anesthesiology (78.2%) had higher knowledge levels, followed by those from plastic surgery (71.1%), pediatrics (69.7%), and obstetrics and gynecology (69.1%) (P < 0.0001). Lower confidence levels were found for airway management skills (38.1%), particularly among dermatologists and radiologists. CONCLUSION: Higher knowledge levels about personal protective equipment (PPE) use and confidence in airway management skills were proportionally related to the level of willingness to participate in COVID-19 patient management. There is an urgent need to train doctors from certain specialties on PPE use and airway management to enable their frontline support of severely ill COVID-19 patients.

Resolution of Idiopathic Epidural Lipomatosis after Bariatric Surgery: Case Report and Literature Review.

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is traditionally a rare disorder defined as an abnormal accumulation of unencapsulated epidural fat. SEL can be classified into idiopathic and secondary. We report a 46-year-old obese male with idiopathic epidural lipomatosis with a clinical picture of bilateral L5 and S1 radiculopathy, with an L5 and S1 distribution. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed epidural lipomatosis at L4, L5, and S1. After 2-year of sleeve gastrectomy, his bilateral sciatic radiculopathy disappeared, and updated MRI showed complete resolution of epidural lipomatosis. We present a case of an unusual epidural lipomatosis, resolved completely by bariatric surgery. This case report set out the effect of metabolic surgery on the local and systemic metabolic process.

Simulation-Based Peer-Assisted Learning: Perceptions of Health Science Students.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2010, simulation-based learning has become increasingly popular as a well-recognized method of learning used by medical undergraduates in clinical settings. However, the relatively new concept of simulation-based peer-assisted learning has not yet been widely accepted, so it has not been well documented. Therefore, this study evaluated the perceived advantages of simulation-based peer-assisted learning among health professions students and interns and their acceptance of this new concept of learning from a student-instructor. METHODS: This was a pilot study conducted with 11 students in various health profession fields at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU). The students were given a comprehensive lecture on simulation scenario development and were assigned to four separate interdisciplinary teams for a practical session on simulation scenario writing. Then, they each completed a questionnaire seeking their opinion concerning their experience and concept understanding. RESULTS: The results confirmed the advantages of interprofessional simulation-based peer-assisted learning as it helped in understanding the process as perceived by the study participants. All students expressed their willingness and enthusiasm to use simulation as a technique for peer-assisted learning. CONCLUSION: The study affirms the importance of developing student teachers' teaching skills at an institutional level. The future implementation of simulation-based peer-assisted learning is dependent on the students' awareness of the concept. By exploring a new dimension of medical education, the student teachers could expand their horizon of exposure to holistic case management and interactive learning and equip themselves with practical communication skills to excel in a real-world setting.

Arabic translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire in a Saudi population.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The aims of the study were the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of self-administered Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ) on a Saudi population. METHODS: The translation and cultural adaptation was performed in 854 women over 18 and not pregnant who agreed to answer the Arabic version of the questionnaire. The content/face validity, internal consistency (reliability), and construct validity (factor analysis) were assessed. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 24.0 statistical software. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha results were above 0.8 for the questionnaire's overall reliability (bladder function: 0.877, bowel function: 0.834, prolapse symptoms: 0.784, sexual function: 0.762) showing adequate internal consistency reliability and high statistical significance. A statistically significant correlation was observed among the 40 items of the questionnaire. The issue of multicollinearity was not found, and the determinant of the correlation matrix was 0.001. A value of > 0.5 was achieved when the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's tests measured 0.806 and the Bartlett's test of sphericity was statistically significant χ2 (780) = 4150.46 (p < 0.001). The values of loading indicate that all 4 factors (bladder function, bowel function, prolapse symptoms, sexual function) contributed to each of their items. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the Arabic version of the self-administered APFQ as a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating symptom severity and impact of pelvic floor dysfunction on the quality of life of Arabic women. It also will enable the researchers from Arab countries to use this instrument to assess pelvic floor dysfunction prevalence in their settings.

A rare presentation of hydatid cyst in abdominal wall: case report.

Echinococcus species cause hydatidosis, which is a verminosis. Echinococcus vogeli results in polycystic hydatid disease, and wild dogs are the definitive hosts. In fact, wild dogs and rats are the most common hosts. The transit of Echinococcus eggs through the liver and lungs is hypothesized to result in hydatid cyst formation in the subcutaneous tissue. In 1.5 percent of patients with hydatidosis, hydatid cysts of the subcutaneous tissue have been documented. They ranged from 0.6 percent to 2.6 percent. We here report a case of hydatid cyst of the abdominal wall which was surgically treated. A 30-year-old lady had been experiencing pain associated with lump in her right lower abdomen for three months. On clinical examination, an enlargement in the left side measuring 4 x 3 cm was discovered. Imaging was performed preoperatively to rule out other differential diagnoses. Ultrasound was performed, followed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed multilocular cystic mass measuring 9 x 8.5 x 4.7 cm along the right lower anterior abdominal wall muscles (with cysts inside cysts), which suggested hydatid cyst. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst, after the mass was surgically removed. Treatment with albendazole was continued. Hydatid cyst of the subcutaneous tissue is uncommon, with only a few occurrences recorded in the literature. This study describes a case of hydatid cyst in an uncommon place. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis, and the tumour was surgically removed. It ruptured during surgery and was successfully treated with hypertonic saline and albendazole. Then it was adequately managed. Given that subcutaneous hydatid cyst is rare, it's vital to keep in mind that it can be a possible cause of abdominal wall mass. Specific imaging test is essential to correctly locate and remove it. It must be treated with anthelmintic before surgery, in order to reduce the risk of contamination due to cyst rupture during surgery. Subcutaneous hydatid cyst should be considered one of the differential diagnoses for soft tissue masses, in particular in patients living in endemic areas. To rule out alternative possibilities, proper imaging test is essential. The treatment of choice is complete excision.

A Large Lipoma of the Labia Majora.

A 40-year-old woman presented with a huge right labial swelling that had been enlarging gradually for the last four years. A 10-cm labial swelling was revealed on clinical examination. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to rule out other possible diagnoses, such as hernias, vulvar cysts and tumours. When it came to assessing and diagnosing soft tissue swelling, MRI was the method of choice. It determined that the swelling had a bright T1 and T2 signal intensity similar to that of subcutaneous fat, with a decline in signal in fat-saturated sequences, indicating a diagnosis of vulvar lipoma. The mass was surgically excised, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a benign lipoma. Lipomas are considered the most common soft tissue tumours accounting for a prevalence of 1% in the population. Their occurrence in the vulva in premenopausal women is considered rare and only a few cases of vulvar lipomas have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a rare case of a patient with vulvar lipoma and review the available literature.

Wound Care Knowledge and Perception of the Saudi General Population in Riyadh Region.

Objective: Proper wound care and management are essential in health care facilities to prevent complications. There are many statistical studies on wound management both globally and in the Middle East. However, patient perception and knowledge regarding wound care have not been assessed in depth. Therefore, this study explored patient perception, attitude, and knowledge of wound care as well as the factors influencing patient perception among the Saudi population. Approach: This cross-sectional study included 414 individuals (mean age, 34 years; females, 64%) from varied social backgrounds who met the inclusion criteria. It was conducted in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from June to December 2019. Data were obtained from the participants using a pretested, validated self-administered questionnaire. Results: Of the participants, 78.0% completed a bachelor's degree or higher. The majority (71.7%) had an average level of knowledge regarding wound care. Most of the participants sought medical information from nonmedical resources-from social media (42.8%) and from relatives and friends (40.6%). Moreover, most of them (73.3%) used home remedies, 77.1% Vaseline, 71% butter, 70.2% coffee beans, 71.5% toothpaste, and 83.1% Zamzam water for their wounds. Innovation: This study is the first study to address the beliefs of the Saudi nonhealth care community toward wound care. Conclusion: Our findings revealed a gap between the level of education and knowledge and beliefs of our population, which could negatively affect clinical outcomes. To address this issue, there is a need to develop an awareness program on wound care and management for patients and providers.

Safety measures for COVID-19: a review of surgical preparedness at four major medical centres in Saudi Arabia.

In view of the worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospitals need contingency planning. This planning should include preparation for an unexpected patient surge. This measure is evolving concomitantly with the implementation of the needed infection control rules. Here, we present our experience in contingency planning at four large tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia during this global pandemic, with a focus on dealing with COVID-19 patients who need to undergo surgery. The planning covers response measures required in the operating room and supporting units, including the administrative department, intensive care unit, and different sections of the surgical department. Furthermore, it covers the role of education and simulation in preparing health care providers and ensuring smooth workflow between all sections. We additionally discuss the guidelines and policies implemented in different surgical specialties. These measures are necessary to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system should develop a comprehensive pandemic plan and set guidelines addressing the management of urgent and malignant cases. The guidelines should be in concordance with internal guidelines.

Giant Retrorectal Epidermoid Cyst Masquerading as a Perianal Swelling.

A retrorectal epidermoid cyst is an uncommon congenital lesion that arises from the remnants of the embryonic tissues. This type of cyst is difficult to diagnose before surgery. In this study, we report a rare case of a giant retrorectal epidermoid cyst in a 30-year-old woman. Initially, the condition was diagnosed as a perianal abscess and treated with incision and drainage. Since the abscess recurred, a pelvic magnetic resonance imaging was ordered, which revealed an 8.2 cm perianal cyst with appearance not compatible with an abscess. Postsurgical histologic analysis confirmed a retrorectal epidermoid cyst. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the woman was discharged on postoperative day 3. She was doing well at 4 months of follow-up. This report suggests that retrorectal cysts should be considered in cases of recurrent perianal swellings/abscesses.

Anisakiasis in a Canadian patient with incarcerated epigastric hernia.

Anisakiasis is human zoonotic parasitic infection caused by a nematode parasite called Anisakis. This infection is usually reported in Asian countries where consumption of raw seafood is common. Very few cases have been reported in North America. We present the case of a female Canadian patient with an Anisakis larvae in an incarcerated ventral hernia. Cases of Anisakis infections are exceedingly rare in western countries, with very few previous reports describing extra-gastrointestinal cases. Diagnosis is often difficult since the symptoms of anisakiasis are not pathognomonic. As the larvae cannot survive in the body, conservative treatment might be effective in intestinal anisakiasis and surgery is usually performed when complications are encountered. Preventive measures are crucial and include educating the public about the risks of raw fish consumption and the importance of visually inspecting consumed fish and freezing it before ingestion to kill the larvae and prevent the infection.

A Rare Case of Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Paraduodenal Hernia.

BACKGROUND Paraduodenal hernia, or mesocolic hernia, is a rare congenital form of internal abdominal hernia, and is classified into right and left, with left paraduodenal hernia being more common than right. Patients can have non-specific symptoms and signs, which make the diagnosis challenging. However, patients may present with obstruction or ischemia requiring emergency surgery. This report is of a case of left paraduodenal hernia in a 24-year-old woman who presented with acute abdominal pain at two-weeks post-partum and who was managed with open surgery with good clinical outcome. CASE REPORT A 24-year-old Saudi woman presented with recurrent chronic abdominal pain that was managed conservatively for the previous six years. At two-weeks post-partum, she presented with acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed a left paraduodenal hernia. The patient underwent timely open laparotomy due to the presence of bowel dilatation. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS Although rare, this case has shown that paraduodenal hernia can cause intestinal obstruction. CT imaging increases the chance of early diagnosis and timely surgery. Although laparoscopic surgical repair may be preferable in some cases, this patient underwent successful open repair.