Age-Related Trends of Thyroidectomies in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Understanding the relationship between aging and postoperative complications is critical because it may influence how the condition is managed. The safety of thyroidectomy in the older age group is debated in literature. All previous studies were conducted outside of the Middle East, and there is a scarcity of data in the literature describing the relationship between age and postoperative outcomes after thyroidectomy. This study aimed to compare the clinical trends of patients undergoing thyroidectomy between younger and older age groups. Methodology: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 3 tertiary care centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Our inclusion criteria consisted of patients of all ages of both sexes who underwent thyroidectomy. Patients were divided into 2 age groups, <60 years and ≥60 years. Chi-square test and independent t test were used to evaluate the differences between qualitative and continuous variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed with postoperative complications and length of hospitalization as the dependent variables. Results: A total of 798 patients were included in this study. The <60 years age group was comprised of 81% female patients and 19% male patients, compared to 63.4% female patients and 36.6% male patients in the ≥60 years age group (P < .001). The ≥60 years age group had a statistically significant longer mean postoperative length of hospitalization (5.37 ± 7.21 days) compared to the <60 age group (3.33 ± 4.24 days; P = .003). A total of 14.4% of the patients in the <60 years age group developed at least one postoperative complication compared to 17.9% of the patients in the ≥60 years age group (P = .385). Seroma and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred more commonly in the ≥60 years age group compared to the <60 years age group with a statistically significant difference (P = .003 and P < .001, respectively). In contrast, hypocalcemia occurred more commonly in patients of the <60 years age group with a statistically significant difference (P = .044). These findings were further verified by multivariate logistic regression after adjustment for gender, type of procedure, and type of diagnosis. Conclusion: In our region, the overall risk of developing postoperative complications was not different between the younger and older age groups. However, certain complications were more likely to develop in the older age group which requires vigilance from surgeons performing thyroidectomy. Likewise, the length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the older population. Awareness of complications and challenges of thyroidectomy in the older age group is crucial to improve care.

Real-life experiences and barriers to adjuvant chemotherapy in Saudi patients with advanced stage II and stage III colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the most common malignancy in Saudi males and third most common in females. Patients with locally advanced colon cancer may eventually develop metastatic disease if not treated promptly and according to guidelines. The recent National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline recommends tumor resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III and high-risk stage II tumors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize patients with locally advanced colon cancer and identify factors associated with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and the addition of oxaliplatin in locally advanced colon cancer patients. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with locally advanced colon cancer at National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA) during 2016-2021 were investigated. Patients' characteristics were compared using Chi-square and Fisher exact test, whereas predictors of adjuvant chemotherapy/Oxaliplatin use were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Out of 222 patients diagnosed with locally advanced colon cancer, 133 received adjuvant chemotherapy. Factors associated with adjuvant chemotherapy administration were age and smoking status. In the multivariable analysis, older patients were less likely to receive oxaliplatin than younger patients. Stage III patients diagnosed during 2019-2021 had 5.61 times higher odds of receiving oxaliplatin. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that older patients and smokers are less likely to be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, age as well as diagnosis year were important determinants of oxaliplatin administration in stage III locally advanced colon cancer patients.

The 30-day hospital readmission and mortality after surgery in colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Hospital readmissions in the first weeks following surgery are common, expensive, and associated with increased mortality among colorectal cancer patients. This study is designed to assess the 30-day hospital readmission after colorectal cancer surgery and evaluate the risk factors that affect hospital readmission. METHODS: The study uses data from the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs Cancer Registry. All colorectal cancer patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery between January 1, 2016, and November 31, 2021, were investigated. Factors examined were age, gender, marital status, Body Mass Index, Charlson Comorbidity Index, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, tumor stage, grade, site, surgical approach, length of stay, and discharge location. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to assess survival rates between readmitted and non-readmitted patients, and logistic regressions were performed to assess predictors of readmission. RESULTS: A total of 356 patients underwent tumor resection and 49 patients were readmitted within 30-day of index discharge. The most common reasons for hospital readmissions were gastrointestinal (22.45%), urinary tract infection (16.33%), and surgical site infection (12.24%). In the multivariable analysis, females were 89% more likely to be readmitted compared to males (odds ratio 1.89, 95% confidence intervals 1.00-3.58). Patients with distant metastatic tumors have higher odds of readmission (odds ratio 4.52, 95% confidence intervals 1.39-14.71) compared to patients with localized disease. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal cancer readmission is more common in patients with metastatic disease. Strategies to reduce readmission include planned transition to outpatient care, especially among patients with a high risk of readmission.

Patterns of self-reported recovery from chemosensory dysfunction following SARS-CoV-2 infection: insights after 1 year of the pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes chemosensory dysfunction. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of chemosensory dysfunction and to identify factors associated with chemosensory complete recovery and time to recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included all patients presenting with chemosensory dysfunction and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from May to August 2020 who underwent telemedicine follow-up after 1 year to assess their chemosensory recovery. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients were included, of which 53.8% were male. The mean age ± SD was 37.45 ± 13.44. The majority experienced combined (olfactory and gustatory) dysfunction (85.7%), and 315 patients (84.7%) had complete loss of chemosensory function. The independent predictors associated with a low likelihood of complete recovery were parosmia (aOR 0.16, p < .001), upper respiratory tract symptoms (aOR 0.28, p = .001), and dyspnoea (aOR 0.21, p < .001), whereas the factors associated with a long recovery period were parosmia (aOR 12.04, p = .002), headache (aOR 7.19, p = .007), and hypertension (aOR 7.76, p = .039). CONCLUSIONS: A full recovery outcome was predominant. The presence of parosmia was linked to both an incomplete recovery and a long time to recovery. SIGNIFICANCE: Parosmia and respiratory symptoms are implicated in the incomplete recuperation of chemosensory function.

Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection for Clinically Node-Negative Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that scrutinized the oncological benefits and postsurgical complications of total thyroidectomy (TT) plus prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) versus TT alone among clinically node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients. METHODS: We screened five databases from inception to September 4, 2021 and evaluated the risk of bias of the eligible studies. We pooled dichotomous outcomes using the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Overall, we included 5 RCTs with low risk of bias comprising 795 patients (TT plus pCND = 410 and TT alone = 385). With regard to efficacy endpoint, the rate of structural loco-regional recurrence did not significantly differ between both groups (n = 4 RCTs, RR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.19, 1.27], P = .14). With regard to safety endpoints, the rates of hypoparathyroidism (n = 5 RCTs, RR = 1.48, 95% CI [0.73, 2.97], P = .27), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (n = 5 RCTs, RR = 1.34, 95% CI [0.59, 3.03], P = .48), and bleeding (n = 3 RCTs, RR = 1.75, 95% CI [0.42, 7.26], P = .44) did not significantly differ between both groups. CONCLUSION: For cN0 PTC patients, there was no significant difference between TT plus pCND and TT alone with regard to the rate of structural loco-regional recurrence or frequency of postsurgical complications. Adaptation of pCND in cN0 PTC patients should be contemplated by taking into consideration the clinical oncological benefits and rate of postsurgical adverse events. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Laryngoscope, 132:1320-1328, 2022.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) and their perceived level of success at Makkah region hospitals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are collaborative efforts to optimize antimicrobial use in healthcare institutions through evidence-based quality improvement strategies. The general administration of pharmaceutical care in the Saudi ministry of health (MOH) is putting outstanding efforts in implementing antimicrobial stewardship in Saudi health care settings. Several surveys have been conducted globally and reported many types of antimicrobial stewardship strategies in health institutions and their effectiveness. This study aims to identify ASPs in Makkah region hospitals and their perceived level of success. We administered a regional survey to explore current progress and issues related to the implementation of ASPs in Makkah region hospitals at the pharmacy level (n = 25). Among responding hospitals, 19 (76%) hospitals, the most commonly reported ASP were as following: formulary restrictions (90%) for broad-spectrum antimicrobials and use of prospective feedback on antimicrobial prescribing (68%), use of clinical guidelines and pathways (100%), and use of automatic stop orders (68%) to limit inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. The study outcomes will also be of pivotal importance to devise policies and strategies for antimicrobial stewardship implementation in other non-MOH settings in the Makkah region. Based on our results, all reported institutions have at least one antimicrobial stewardship program in a process with a high success rate. A multidisciplinary ASP approach, active involvement of drug & therapeutic committee, formulary restrictions, and availability of education & training of pharmacists and physicians on ASP are the primary elements for perceived successful antimicrobial stewardship programs in the Makkah region hospitals.

Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in a Saudi Critical Care Unit: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are collaborative efforts to optimize antimicrobial use in healthcare institutions through evidence-based quality improvement strategies. With regard to critically ill patients, appropriate antimicrobial usage is of significance, and any delay in therapy increases their risk of mortality. Therefore, the implementation of structured multidisciplinary ASPs in critical care settings is of the utmost importance to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials. Methods: This quasi-experimental study evaluating a multidisciplinary ASP in a 20-bed critical care setting was conducted from January 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017. Outcomes were compared nine months before and after ASP implementation. The national antimicrobial stewardship toolkit by Ministry of health was reviewed and the hospital antibiotic prescribing policy was accordingly modified. The antimicrobial stewardship algorithm (Start Smart and Then Focus) and an ASP toolkit were distributed to all intensive care unit staff. Prospective audit and feedback, in addition to prescribing forms for common infectious diseases and education, were the primary antimicrobial strategies. Results: We found that the mean total monthly antimicrobial consumption measured as defined daily dose per 100 bed days was reduced by 25% (742.86 vs. 555.33; p = 0.110) compared to 7% in the control condition (tracer medications) (35.35 vs. 38.10; p = 0.735). Interestingly, there was a negative impact on cost in the post-intervention phase. Interestingly, the use of intravenous ceftriaxone measured as defined daily dose per 100 bed days was decreased by 82% (94.32 vs. 16.68; p = 0.008), whereas oral levofloxacin use was increased by 84% (26.75 vs. 172.29; p = 0.008) in the intensive care unit. Conclusion: Overall, involvement of higher administration in multidisciplinary ASP committees, daily audit and feedback by clinical pharmacists and physicians with infectious disease training, continuous educational activities about antimicrobial use and resistance, use of local antimicrobial prescribing guidelines based on up-to-date antibiogram, and support from the intensive care team can optimize antibiotic use in Saudi healthcare institutions.

Association of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with vitamin D deficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an idiopathic recurrent inner ear illness that is caused most often by an imbalance in the metabolism of calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) inside the semicircular canals, in which the otoconia begin to circulate freely after being dislodged from the basic structure. The underlying etiology of this imbalance has not yet been well established; however, a few recent articles have revealed that vitamin D level abnormality in these patients might play a role. Therefore, we conducted the current systematic review analysis to explore potential associations of vitamin D level with the occurrence as well as the recurrence of BPPV disease. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using different databases to retrieve all of the articles that have evaluated possible associations, irrespective of the study design. Then, we reported different vitamin D3 levels from BPPV groups and control groups to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) between the BPPV and control groups. We also calculated the effect size of each study under the random effects statistical model. RESULTS: Of the 703 studies that we identified, only 37 studies were found to be potential for our analysis, and of these, only seven met our predetermined criteria. Two meta-analyses were conducted with respect to the occurrence and the recurrence of BPPV. When the BPPV cases were compared to the controls (free of BPPV disease), there was an insignificant reduction in vitamin D level among the diseased groups (SMD = - 2.20; 95% CI - 6.66 to 2.26). In contrast, when the recurrent BPPV groups were compared with the non-recurrent BPPV groups, the statistical analysis showed significantly lower level of vitamin D among the recurrence BPPV groups (SMD = - 4.47; 95% CI - 7.55 to - 1.29). CONCLUSION: Although a negative vitamin D imbalance has been reported among some BPPV patients, this review analysis failed to establish a relationship between the occurrence of BPPV and low vitamin D level. However, low vitamin D level was significantly evident among patients with recurrent episodes of BPPV.

Kimura disease: No age or ethnicity limit.

Kimura disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly manifests as a lump in the cervical region. Although the underlying pathophysiology is not clear yet, the diagnosis can be established based on specific histopathological characteristics. The first case of this disease was described in China, as well as the majority of subsequent cases that were also described in the Far East countries made Kimura disease traditionally a disease of adult patients of Asian descent. This report describes the occurrence of Kimura disease in pediatric non-Asian patient with a similar clinicopathologic presentation.