ABSTRACT
Background and objective There has been a significant increase in rhinoplasty procedures in Saudi Arabia recently. Cultural factors, societal pressure, and a desire for beauty and self-improvement contribute to the growing interest in cosmetic procedures among the Saudi population. However, limited research has been conducted specifically focusing on the interest in rhinoplasty and the awareness of postoperative complications among female high school students. This study aimed to investigate the interest in rhinoplasty and awareness of postoperative complications among female high school students in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methodology A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among female high school students through January and February 2024 using a validated questionnaire comprising sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes toward rhinoplasty, and the females' familiarity with the postoperative complications of rhinoplasty. Results The study was conducted among 737 female high school students. About half of the females (N = 376, 51%) were 18 years old, and the other half were under 18 years old (N = 361, 49%). Out of the total females, only 19 (2.6%) underwent cosmetic surgery, with 6 (60%) opting for rhinoplasty. The study found that 152 (20.6%) females were interested in rhinoplasty, and about a quarter of them (N = 99, 13.4%) did not feel happy about their noses. The most common rhinoplasty complications reported by the respondents were a mismatch of the new nose with the rest of the face (N = 471, 63.9%), headache (N = 459, 62.3%), breathing disorders (N = 458, 62.1%), dissatisfaction with the new nose (N = 437, 59.3%), and nose blockage (N = 427, 57.9%). It was found that interest in rhinoplasty was significantly more common among participants having relatives or friends who underwent rhinoplasty than others (N = 51, 25.8% vs. N = 85, 17.2%, respectively; P = 0.010). Moreover, it was revealed that interest in rhinoplasty was significantly more common among participants who were not happy with their nose (N = 78, 78.8%) than those who were happy with their nose (N = 41, 8.3%) and those who did not care (N = 33, 22.9%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions The study revealed that a significant percentage of participants expressed interest in rhinoplasty, indicating a desire for nose reshaping. Counseling services should be available to support students in developing positive body image and self-acceptance. Furthermore, it is important to establish guidelines for media and advertising to guarantee accurate information from surgeons and psychiatrists, ensuring that the public receives balanced and reliable information.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Appendicitis is defined as the appendix's inflammation, which requires an appendectomy for treatment. Obesity is one of the risk factors for post-surgical complications in appendicitis. This study aimed to explore obesity's influence on hospital length of stay among patients with appendicitis in Taif, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: The study subjects consisted of both children and adults with appendicitis who were admitted to the hospital during 2021 and 2022. The patients were divided into three groups according to body mass index (BMI) following the WHO criteria: normal weight (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI = 25-29.9 kg/m2), and obesity (BMI ≥10 kg/m2). Data collection was conducted retrospectively by reviewing the medical records of patients diagnosed with appendicitis. The data collection included demographic characteristics of the patients, clinical presentation data, examination data, findings of the diagnostic approaches, management data, and complications after surgery (mainly intra-abdominal abscess formation). Prior to conducting the study, ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Saudi Ministry of Health. RESULTS: The study included 238 patients who were diagnosed with appendicitis with an age range from 4 to 74 years and a mean (SD) age of 20.24 years (12.69). Based on BMI categories, 174 patients (73.1%) were classified as non-obese (BMI < 25), 53 patients (22.3%) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), and 11 patients (4.6%) were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Most patients were presented with fever (51.7%), anorexia (72.7%), and pain in the right lower quadrant (70.2%). According to blood pressure, the mean (SD) of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 117.8 (14.14) and 71.03 (9.89), respectively. All cases underwent abdominal ultrasound; non-visualization of the appendix was the most common finding observed (80.3%). Appendicitis was managed among most patients with appendectomy (89.5%), and open appendectomy was the most frequent surgery performed (73.2%). The mean of hospital length of stay was 1.64 (0.73) days. There was no significant correlation between patients' BMI and hospital length of stay (p = 0.429). The mean hospital length of stay of females (1.76) was higher than that of males (1.53) (p = 0.003). Moreover, a statistically significant mean difference was observed in hospital length of stay between patients managed conservatively (1.96) and those who underwent operative management (1.60 days) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the effect of obesity on patients with appendicitis who underwent an appendectomy in Taif, Saudi Arabia. The study found that obesity was not a risk factor for a prolonged hospital length of stay after appendectomy. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to explore other factors that may influence the outcomes of appendectomy in patients with appendicitis, such as the impact of obesity on long-term complications and recurrence rates.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of death and serious disability, with risks that extend beyond the acute phase. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, high mortality rates remain a persistent problem. AIM: The current study aimed to investigate PE prognosis and its determinants among native highlanders in Taif City, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study where data was collected from the medical records of native high-altitude PE patients in Taif, Saudi Arabia, from 2017 to 2022. RESULTS: The study included 154 native high-altitude PE patients with a mean age of 54±19 years. Most were females and nonsmokers (51.3% (n=79) and 89% (n=137), respectively). Of them, 28.6% (n=44) had undergone a previous surgery, and 61.4% (n=27) of these surgeries were within 1-3 weeks before hospital admission. The majority of patients had sub-massive PE (59.1% (n=91)), followed by non-massive PE (24% (n=37)) and massive PE (16.9% (n=26)). After management, 98 (63.6%) patients were improved, and 56 (36.4%) patients were not improved at the time of data collection. In terms of improvement after PE, patients who had undergone a previous surgery were less than those who had not, with no significant difference (56.8% (n=25) and 66.4% (n=73), respectively, p=0.266). All patients with heart rates (HRs) less than 70 bpm improved after PE compared to those with higher HRs (p=0.003). The thrombus location had no statistically significant association with patient outcomes (p=0.058). CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into patient outcomes at high altitudes after PE and the prognostic factors influencing these outcomes. It was identified that a low HR was associated with positive outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background Burn injuries can be highly traumatic and harmful, leading to significant mortality rates, extended hospital stays, deformity, and incapacity. In the long term, they may also result in rejection, social stigma, and psychiatric issues. This study aimed to estimate the awareness and practices related to burn injury first aid among the general public in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Methods This is an online cross-sectional survey in Taif, Saudi Arabia. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the adult population, comprising individuals aged 18 years and older, of both genders, from June 2023 to August 2023. The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions divided into demographics and first aid for burns. The Scientific Research Ethics Committee at Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia, obtained the ethical approval for the study. Results A total of 531 individuals were included in the study. About half were male (58.4%) and in the age group of 22-29 years (52%). Out of that number, 24.1% were medical field students. About one-third of the respondents had participated in a burn training course (33.7%), and 73.8% reported experiencing a burn injury before, either to themselves or their family. Most respondents chose to treat the burn area using honey, and only 15.6% knew that they should administer water to a burn injury for 10 to 15 or >15 minutes. Most of the participants reported an excellent knowledge level (62.9%). Only 8.7% had an excellent practice level. The total knowledge and practice score was significantly associated with participation in the burn training course (P-value < 0.001 and 0.015, respectively). The work nature and prior experience with a burn injury were significantly associated with the knowledge scores (P-value=0.003, for both). Monthly income and the work nature also correlated with the practice total score (P-value=0.023 and <0.001, respectively). Conclusion Most participants had an excellent knowledge level, however, most of them reported poor or acceptable practice scores. It highlights the need for training sessions, awareness campaigns, and dissemination of evidence-based information to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.
