Transhepatic double lumen hemodialysis catheter in exhausted vascular access: Feasibility, functionality, and outcome among hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: Permanent arteriovenous fistula and graft are considered the best options for hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease patients. Temporary access using the internal jugular or femoral veins is the feasible option in acute cases of dialysis and if permanent access is unavailable. Occasionally, however, these access sites are unusable after consecutive blockage of the upper and lower extremities veins.

Intraoperative ventilatory strategies for prevention of pulmonary atelectasis in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Background: Atelectasis occurs regularly after induction of general anesthesia, persists postoperatively, and may contribute to significant postoperative morbidity and additional health care costs. Laparoscopic surgery has been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of postoperative atelectasis. It has been shown that during general anesthesia, obese patients have a greater risk of atelectasis than nonobese patients.

Role of descending venography and endovenous embolization in treatment of females with lower extremity varicose veins, vulvar and posterior thigh varices.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of refluxing pelvic veins among female patients with lower extremity varicose veins and the role of embolization treatment in these cases.

Methods: Of 158 female patients suffering from primary varicose veins of the lower extremities presented to the Venous Disease Clinic at Dhahran Health Center between January 2002 and December 2004, 25 patients (15.8%) were noted to have vulvar or postero-medial thigh varices or both.