Complications and Management of Totally Implantable Central Venous Access Ports in Cancer Patients at a University Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: Totally implantable central venous access ports (port-a-caths) are increasingly used for the safe administration of chemotherapy; however, their use is associated with complications. This study reviews patterns of complications, reasons for premature removal and the duration of the use of port-a-caths in patients receiving cancer treatment at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and compares the infection rate with the literature and the researchers' experiences.

Methods: This retrospective follow-up study included patients who had received cancer treatment through a port-a-cath and were admitted to SQUH between January 2007 and April 2019.

Paediatric Blunt Torso Trauma: Injury mechanisms, patterns and outcomes among children requiring hospitalisation at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman.

Objectives: Trauma is the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in paediatric/adolescent populations worldwide. This study aimed to describe trauma mechanisms, patterns and outcomes among children with blunt torso trauma admitted to the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman.

Methods: This retrospective single-centre study involved all children ≤12 years old with blunt torso trauma admitted for paediatric surgical care at SQUH between January 2009 and December 2013.

Spontaneous Arachnoid Cyst Rupture with Subdural Hygroma in a Child.

Arachnoid cyst of the brain is common in children but its association with spontaneous subdural hygroma is rare. A case of a nine-year-old boy, without any preceding history of trauma, is presented here who came to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital with complaints of headache, nausea, and vomiting for the last two weeks but more for the last two days. Examination showed a young, fully conscious oriented boy with positive Cushing's reflex and papilledema of left eye.

Safety and Complications of Double-Lumen Tunnelled Cuffed Central Venous Dialysis Catheters: Clinical and radiological perspective from a tertiary centre in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the technical success, safety and immediate and delayed complications of double-lumen tunnelled cuffed central venous catheters (TVCs) at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman.

Methods: This retrospective study took place between January 2012 and October 2013. The clinical records and radiological data of all patients who underwent ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided TVC placement at SQUH during the study period were reviewed.

Primary Extradural Meningioma Presenting as Frontal Sinusitis with Extensive Bony Changes: Case report.

Primary extradural meningiomas are rare tumours and calvarial meningiomas with extensive bony changes and frontal sinusitis are rarer still. We report a 40-year-old female patient who presented to the otorhinolaryngologist at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, Oman, in October 2013 with headaches and frontal swelling. She was diagnosed with frontal sinusitis complicated by osteomyelitis.

Inter-observer variability in diagnosing radiological features of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage; a preliminary single centre study comparing observers from different specialties and levels of training.

Background: A noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan remains the initial radiological investigation of choice for a patient with suspected aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This initial scan may be used to derive key information about the underlying aneurysm which may aid in further management. The interpretation, however, is subject to the skill and experience of the interpreting individual.

Squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal lacking epidermal growth factor receptor protein overexpression, in an elderly Omani with oculocutaneous albinism treated with palliative radiotherapy.

We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal in an Omani man with oculocutaneous albinism. The disease mimicked inflammatory process revealing positive cultures for various microorganisms during the course of his illness. He was eventually biopsied to rule out atypical infective process or presence of malignancy.

Supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma in a child.

A young child presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital with on and off headache, focal seizures involving the left side of the body, weakness of left upper and lower limbs and vomiting for 2 weeks. Examination showed an alert child with grade 4/5 powers in left upper and lower limbs. Blood investigations were normal.

Observer variation in MRI evaluation of patients with suspected lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression: comparison of neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon's interpretations.

Objective: To analyse inter-observer variation between a neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon in the MRI diagnosis of lumbar nerve root compression. Although lumbar MFI is primarily analyzed and reported by a radiologist, neurosurgeons often analyse it independently as they have sufficient clinical background as well as radiological expertise to diagnose most spinal pathologies on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Methods: Retrospective analysis was carried out for images of 54 patients who underwent MRI between March and July 2010 of lumbar spine with suspected lumbar disc herniation and nerve root compression, at Aga Khan Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

An institutional review of transarterial embolization in haemorrhagic urological emergencies.

Objective: To review the effectiveness of therapeutic transarterial embolization in controlling phagic urological emergencies irrespective of the cause of emergencies.

Methods: Thirty-seven vascular angiographies were performed in 32 patients (19 males and 13 females, age range 19-70 years) who were referred with haemorrhagic urological emergencies to Aga Khan University Hospital's angiography suite from July 2005 to June 2010. Embolization was performed with coils, polyvinyl alcohol particles, N-Butyl cyanoacrylate glue and gel foam according to the clinical indication.

Functional evaluation of the urinary tract by duplex Doppler ultrasonography in patients with acute renal colic.

Purpose: To determine the role of duplex Doppler ultrasonography (DDU) in patients with acute unilateral renal obstruction.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 161 patients with suspected renal colic due to urolithiasis were evaluated by DDU followed by intravenous urography (IVU). The mean intra-arterial resistive index (RI) and the difference of mean resistive index between both kidneys (delta RI) were determined for each person.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS); review of initial experience at Aga Khan University Hospital.

Objective: To retrospectively assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of transjugular intrahepafic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with portal hypertension related complications.

Methods: Over a period of 7.5 years 19 patients (10 males and 9 females, age range 25-69 years) were referred for TIPS at our radiology department.

Post traumatic avulsion of lumbar artery: a rare cause of retroperitoneal haemorrhage treated by glue embolization.

Lumbar arterial injury after trauma is a rare cause of significant retroperitoneal haemorrhage. Early diagnosis followed by endovascular transcatheter embolization is a very effective treatment to control bleeding in patients who do not respond to conservative management. We present a case of post traumatic avulsion of left fourth lumbar artery which was successfully treated with percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization with glue.