Functional Outcomes of Patients with Primary Brain Tumors Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation at a Tertiary Care Rehabilitation Facility in Saudi Arabia.

Rehabilitation services play a crucial role in improving the functionality and quality of life of individuals with a brain tumor; however, outcomes of inpatient rehabilitation based on tumor characteristics are not well known in the literature. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of tumor characteristics on functional outcomes. A retrospective chart review was conducted for all adults with a diagnosis of primary brain tumor admitted for IPR between January 2014 and December 2019. Information was collected regarding demographics, characteristics of primary brain tumors, length of stay (LOS) and Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) scores. There were 46 patients, with the majority being male. The most common brain tumors were glioblastoma multiforme and meningioma. The mean LOS was 47.93 ± 26.40 days and the mean FIM gain was 78 ± 14. The type, grade and location of primary brain tumors did not show a significant correlation with the length of stay and functional gains during inpatient rehabilitation. There was a positive correlation between the FIM at admission and discharge, and a significant inverse correlation between the FIM score at admission and LOS. In-patient rehabilitation improved the functional outcomes in adult patients with primary brain tumors. Strategies to incorporate IPR in the care continuum of patients with brain tumors need to be adapted to improve regional services.

Severe acute reentry high altitude pulmonary edema in pediatric patients: report of three cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a fatal form of severe high-altitude illness. It is a form of noncardiogenic, noninfectious pulmonary edema secondary to alveolar hypoxia. The exact incidence of HAPE in children is unknown; however, most literature reports an incidence between 0.5-15%. There are three proposed HAPE types including classic HAPE, reentry HAPE, and high-altitude resident pulmonary edema (HARPE). CASE: We present three pediatric patients who were diagnosed with re-entry high altitude pulmonary edema and did not have any underlying cardiac abnormalities. All patients reside in areas of high altitude with a history of travelling to places of lower altitude. They had respiratory infections prior to the manifestation of HAPE. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first reported cases of children with reentry HAPE in Saudi Arabia. Reentry HAPE can occur in otherwise healthy children. Rapid ascent to high altitude and recent respiratory infections are the most commonly reported triggers. Prognosis is very favorable with a very rapid response to oxygen therapy. Education about HAPE is mandatory for families and health care workers working in high altitude areas.