A Case of Pure Matrix Ureteral Stone: A rare type of urinary calculi that may be overlooked.

Matrix stones are a rare form of urinary calculi with a low mineral content. We report a 63-year-old female patient who presented to the Sohar Hospital, Sohar, Oman, in 2018 with unexplained left flank pain and constipation. She had a history of chronic renal failure (CRF) and had previously undergone haemodialysis (HD). Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) did not show any renal or urinary stones. However, a left-sided ureteroscopy revealed a yellow-coloured stone that was soft in consistency occupying the proximal 5 cm section of the ureter. Many attempts at forceps extraction were required for complete clearance. A global quantitative composition analysis revealed the extracted stone to be composed entirely of protein-matrix material. Matrix stones require a high index of suspicion as they are sometimes radiolucent and cannot be visualised on CT scans. Risk factors include being female and a history of urinary tract infections, CRF and HD.

The Burden of Surgical Cancellations and No-Shows: Quality management study from a large regional hospital in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: The operating theatre (OT) is a vital facility that utilises a considerable portion of the hospital's budget; thus proper OT utilisation is essential. Surgical cancellation is a leading cause of OT underutilisation. This study aimed to report the rate and reasons for surgical cancellations and no-shows in a large regional hospital in Oman. METHODS: This study took place as part of a retrospective quality management project at the Ibri Regional Hospital, Ibri, Oman. All elective surgical procedures scheduled between January and December 2014 were included. Cancelled procedures were reviewed to determine the reasons for cancellation. RESULTS: A total of 4,814 elective procedures were scheduled during the study period; of these, 1,235 (26%) were cancelled. Patient no-shows were the most prevalent reason for surgical cancellation (63%), followed by surgical reasons (17%); in contrast, OT-associated reasons were responsible for only 2% of cancellations. According to speciality, general surgery had the highest percentage of total cancellations (65%), while ear, nose and throat had the highest rate of surgical cancellations among their scheduled cases (42%). CONCLUSION: Ibri Regional Hospital had a higher surgical cancellation rate due to no-shows than those reported in the literature. Regular audits, quality management projects and the appointment of a dedicated procedure booking coordinator may enhance proper utilisation of the OT, potentially saving funds, conserving resources and alleviating the burden of cancellations.

Heterotopic pregnancy with natural conception; a rare event that is still being misdiagnosed: a case report.

Simultaneous presence of intra- and extra-uterine pregnancies have been known as heterotopic pregnancy (HP); the condition which is extremely rare with natural conception. Our aim is to increase the obstetrician's awareness to increase the level of positive outcome in such rare events.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder: A case series among more than 2,000 urinary bladder tumor cases.

"Inflammatory pseudotumor" (IPT) has infrequently been reported in the medical journals. A retrospective analysis was conducted among more than 2,000 bladder tumor cases from January 1999 to December 2012 looking for patients with IPT in the final diagnosis. Six patients were found with median tumor size of 3.5 cm (range: 3-8 cm); computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging was used to diagnose the tumor. All patients had complete resection of the tumors. On a median follow-up of 6 years (range: 2-10 years), no recurrences for IPT have been observed in all patients. We concluded that IPT is a rare disease of the urinary bladder and should be regarded with a high degree of suspicion. Although an extensive workup may be needed for definite diagnosis, it is worth to avoid unnecessary chemoradiotherapy or radical surgeries.

Stone culture retrieved during percutaneous nephrolithotomy: is it clinically relevant?

Stone culture has been frequently investigated following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) in the last decade. We aimed to crucially define the clinical role of stone culture in modifying the treatment plan in patients with postoperative sepsis. Between June 2012 and April 2013, a total of 79 consecutive PNL procedures were included. Perioperative data were prospectively maintained. Preoperative urine sample, retrieved stone fragments and postoperative nephrostomy tube urine sample were cultured and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed. The occurrence of at least two of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) events during their inpatient stay was diagnostic of SIRS. The antibiotic regimen utilized and its modifications were reported. The preoperative culture was positive in 26 patients (32.9 %). The culture of stone fragments showed significant bacterial growth in 23 (29.1 %) cases. Significant growth on stone culture was significantly associated with the presence of preoperative urinary catheters and positive preoperative urine culture (P = 0.001, 0.006 respectively). Postoperative culture was positive in only six patients (7.6 %). SIRS was diagnosed in the first postoperative day in 12 patients (15.2 %). Leukocytosis was the only predictor of SIRS. Neither preoperative culture, stone culture nor postoperative culture was predictor of SIRS. Stone culture was positive in four patients with SIRS. Stone culture changed the treatment plan in only one patient. Our data do not support the routine implementation of stone culture in the PNL workup, as it did not indicate a change of antibiotic regimen in most of the cases.