Comparing characteristics and outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest during the early and late COVID-19 pandemic at an academic institution in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced major changes in the resuscitation practices of cardiac arrest victims. AIM: We aimed to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients who sustained in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) during the early COVID-19 pandemic period (2020) with those during the late COVID-19 pandemic period (2021). METHODS: This was a retrospective review of adult patients sustaining IHCA at a single academic centre. We compared characteristics and outcomes of IHCA for 5 months in 2020 with those experiencing IHCA for 5 months in 2021. RESULTS: Patients sustaining IHCA during the early COVID-19 pandemic period had higher rates of delayed epinephrine administration of more than 5 min (13.4% vs. 1.9%; p < 0.01), more frequent delays in the initiation of chest compressions (55.6% vs. 17.9%; p < 0.01), and were intubated less often (23.0% vs. 59.3%; p < 0.01). In terms of outcomes, both return of spontaneous circulation (35.8% vs. 51.2%; p < 0.01) and survival to hospital discharge rates (13.9% vs. 30.2%; p < 0.01) were lower during the early COVID-19 pandemic period. CONCLUSIONS: The early COVID-19 pandemic period was associated with delays in epinephrine administration and chest compression initiation for IHCA. Moreover, both return of spontaneous circulation and survival to hospital discharge were lower during the early COVID-19 pandemic period.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in different regions around the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 2022 and 2023. The questionnaire was distributed among patients who underwent LSG at different periods, ranging from six months to more than two years. The questionnaire comprised a risk factor assessment and the GERD-Health-Related Quality of Life (GERD-HRQL) questionnaire. Results A total of 387 participants with a mean age of 35.7±10.95 were included. The study included 225 females (58.1%) and 162 males (41.9%). The mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 44.36±8.07 kg/m2, which decreased to 28.78±6.31 kg/m2 postoperatively. Notably, dissatisfaction with general health surged from 17 (24.6%) preoperatively to 165 (42.6%) postoperatively. Despite no significant difference in GERD-HRQL scores in the group who had preoperative symptoms, 282 (72.9%) reported experiencing heartburn, and 289 (74.7%) reported bloating postoperatively. Postoperatively, 203 (52.5%) reported improved quality of life. Moreover, changes in BMI were strongly correlated with heartburn, dysphagia, odynophagia, and bloating. The postoperative prevalence of GERD was 355 (91.7%), with 318 (82.2%) of participants reporting new-onset symptoms. Sex (P=0.013), age (P=0.024), and hypercholesterolemia (P=0.046) were significantly associated with postoperative GERD severity. Conclusions The majority of participants developed GERD symptoms following surgery, with a significant proportion reporting new-onset symptoms. Sex, age, and hypercholesterolemia have emerged as significant factors for postoperative GERD severity.

Measurement of Knowledge and Practice of Saudi Population Towards Hernias and Its Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: A hernia is an aponeurotic defect that allows an organ to protrude from its normal cavity. Despite advancements in hernia care, hernia patients' experiences with care, as well as recurrence and complication rates, are frequently suboptimal. Adequate knowledge of the risk factors of a hernia could lead to a significant reduction in the prevalence of hernia. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the awareness of the risk factors of abdominal hernias among adults in Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: Our study is a cross-sectional analytic study to measure the level of knowledge, awareness, and practice of ventral and inguinal hernias in Saudi Arabia. The data was collected by using a valid pretested structured questionnaire taken from previous studies after getting writing approval. RESULTS: In this study, we were able to collect data from 2611 individuals in different regions of Saudi Arabia, where 68.5% of the participants were females and 60.1% were aged between 18-29 years old. The prevalence of hernia among individuals in the current study was 9.2%, associated with participants older than 40 years old (19.1%), participants of the northern region (16.6%), illiterate individuals (30.0%), married (13.2%), and overweight or obese individuals (10.9% and 12.6%). In general, 53.7 % of the participants had a moderate level of knowledge, while 23.8% had a high level and 22.5% had a low level of knowledge. CONCLUSION: We found a moderate level of knowledge among adult individuals in Saudi Arabia about hernia. The prevalence of hernia was similar to those reported in previous studies; however, there is a higher incidence of risk factors in the current population.