Insight into prevalence, etiology, and modalities of pediatric chronic dialysis: a comprehensive nationwide analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of kidney failure (KF) among children below 15 years of age receiving chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia and describe their dialysis modalities. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 8 August 2022, encompassing all 23 pediatric dialysis centers in Saudi Arabia. Data gathered comprised patient demographics, causes of KF, and the dialysis methods employed. Collected data underwent analysis to determine prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis, discern underlying causes of KF, and evaluate distribution of patients across different dialysis modalities. RESULTS: The prevalence of children on chronic dialysis is 77.6 per million children living in Saudi Arabia, equating to 419 children. The predominant underlying cause of KF was congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT), representing a substantial 41% of cases. Following this, others or unknown etiologies accounted for a noteworthy 25% of cases, with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) comprising 13%, glomerulonephritis at 11%, and congenital nephrotic syndrome contributing 10% to etiological distribution. Regarding dialysis modalities employed, 67% of patients were on peritoneal dialysis (PD), while the remaining 33% were on hemodialysis (HD). CONCLUSIONS: This first nationwide study of pediatric chronic dialysis in Saudi Arabia sheds light on the prevalence of children undergoing chronic dialysis and underlying causes of their KF, thereby contributing to our understanding of clinical management considerations. This research serves as a stepping stone for the development of national registries.

Bone Grafts in Dental Implant Management: A Narrative Review.

Successful implant dentistry can be directly related to the quality and quantity of bone at the recipient site of the implant. Over the years, bone grafts have been used for the treatment of various osseous defects. Due to the widespread acceptance of dental implants, interest in bone reconstruction for the oral cavity has increased dramatically over the past decade. Many patients who request implant rehabilitation require ancillary procedures to increase the quantity and quality of the recipient's bone. The internal architecture of the bone is generally described in terms of quality of the bone, which in turn reflects the strength (degree of compactness) of the bone. This is considered a crucial factor about the available bone at the edentulous site while planing about the design of the planned implant, surgical approach, healing time, and the initial progressive bone loading during the prosthetic reconstruction. Atrophy of the alveolar processes is expressed as a reduction of height and width. Databases were electronically searched up to April 2019 to identify human bone graft studies to provide contemporary and comprehensive information about the various bone grafts used in dental implant management.