Outcome of Colorectal Robotic Surgery in Newly Established Robotic Surgery Center: A Case Series.

Introduction: The robotic platform compared to laparoscopy has proven to have similar postoperative outcomes, however its adoption in the Middle East has been slow and there is limited data regarding outcomes with its use in small newly established robotic colorectal programs. Our aim was to report our experience and outcomes of robotic colorectal surgery performed by fellowship-trained robotic colorectal surgeons and compare them to larger, more experienced centers.

Methods: This is retrospective review of data collected between November 2021 and March 2023 from a tertiary health care referral center.

Outcomes in robotic-assisted compared to laparoscopic-assisted colorectal surgery in a newly established colorectal tertiary center: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

The robotic platform matches or surpasses laparoscopic surgery in postoperative results. However, limited date and slow adoption are noticed in the middle east. We aimed to report outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed by fellowship-trained robotic colorectal surgeons and compare it to larger more experienced centers.

Malignant carotid body tumor: a report of two cases.

Unlabelled: Carotid body tumors (CBT) are neoplasms that originate from chemoreceptors of the carotid body. They are neuroendocrine tumors that are usually benign but may have malignant potential. Malignancy is diagnosed with evidence of lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, or disease recurrence.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Surgeons' and Surgical Residents' Caseload, Surgical Skills, and Mental Health in Kuwait.

Introduction: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in governments implementing new regulations to divert healthcare resources, which in return led to the postponement of elective and semi-elective surgical procedures. Therefore, many surgeons and as well as surgeons in training reported feeling redundant, which eventually resulted in psychological distress. This study aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the psychological impact resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and outline the effect it had on surgical training.

Trans-oral endoscopic endocrine surgery vestibular approach: Pioneering the technique in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries - A case series.

Background: We present our experience with the first five thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomy in Kuwait performed via the transoral endoscopic vestibular approach.

Methods: Retrospective data collection for all trans-oral endoscopic vestibular approach endocrine surgeries performed at a single institution in Kuwait between November 2019 and February 2021. Information on patient demographics, perioperative management and complications were collected and reviewed.

Acute gastric volvulus: A rare case report and literature review.

Introduction And Importance: Gastric volvulus is the abnormal gastric rotation upon itself. It carries a considerable risk for gastric strangulation which may lead to gangrene and perforation, which can be fatal. It commonly presents with non-specific and vague abdominal symptoms making prompt diagnosis and management imperative.

Total Thyroidectomy vs Thyroid Lobectomy for Localized Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Children: A Propensity-Matched Survival Analysis.

Background: Current guidelines recommend total thyroidectomy (TT) and radioablation for most papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in children. These guidelines have been criticized as aggressive, especially for early-stage PTC, as it likely does not influence patient survival and results in life-long thyroid hormone replacement. We sought to study whether the extent of thyroidectomy (TT vs thyroid lobectomy [TL]) influences overall and disease-specific survival in children with localized PTC.

Severe ischemic complications in Covid-19-A case series.

Introduction: Covid-19 has the propensity to result in a wide array of manifestations. Recently, thromboembolic complications of Covid-19 have been denoted in literature. We report 5 cases of Covid-19 positive patients with no significant comorbidities who developed 1 time episodes of either; acute limb ischemia or bowel ischemia.

Amyloid goiter - A rare case report and literature review.

Introduction: Amyloid goiter is a rare presentation of thyroid swelling, which occurs with either primary or secondary amyloidosis. This condition must be differentiated from other types of goiters or malignancies. Even though the thyroid is extensively involved by amyloid, patients are usually euthyroid, but many different presentations and overlaps have been reported.

Patient Eligibility for Transoral Endocrine Surgery Procedures in the United States.

Importance: Transoral endocrine surgery (TES) allows thyroid and parathyroid operations to be performed without leaving any visible scar on the body. Controversy regarding the value of TES remains, in part owing to the common belief that TES is only applicable to a small, select group of patients. Knowledge of the overall applicability of these procedures is essential to understand the operation, as well as to decide the amount of effort and resources that should be allocated to further study the safety, efficacy, and value of these operations.

Keeping primary aldosteronism in mind: Deficiencies in screening at-risk hypertensives.

Background: Primary aldosteronism is a common but underdiagnosed cause of hypertension. Patients with this disorder have worse morbidity compared with those with essential hypertension, but with timely diagnosis and appropriate intervention these patients are potentially cured and may have reversal of target organ damage. The goal of this study was to determine if hypertensive patients considered high risk were checked for primary aldosteronism.

Preoperative calcitriol reduces postoperative intravenous calcium requirements and length of stay in parathyroidectomy for renal-origin hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Patients undergoing subtotal parathyroidectomy for renal-origin hyperparathyroidism often develop postoperative hypocalcemia, requiring calcitriol and intravenous calcium (Postop-IVCa). We hypothesized that in subtotal parathyroidectomy for renal-origin hyperparathyroidism, preoperative calcitriol treatment reduces the use of postoperative administration of intravenous calcium.

Methods: A retrospective chart review compared subtotal parathyroidectomy for renal-origin hyperparathyroidism patients who received preoperative calcitriol treatment with those patietns who did not receive preoperative calcitriol treatment at one institution.

Time to resuscitate a sacred cow...with normal saline.

Normal saline (NS) is not used for trauma resuscitation because of its potential for acidosis. Lactated Ringer's (LR) is preferred instead. However, the two crystalloids have never been compared in trauma patients.

Sticking our neck out: is magnetic resonance imaging needed to clear an obtunded patient's cervical spine?

Background: Evaluating the cervical spine in the obtunded trauma patient is a subject fraught with controversy. Some authors assert that a negative computed tomography (CT) scan is sufficient. Others argue that CT alone misses occult unstable injuries, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will alter treatment.

Identifying pitfalls in chest tube insertion: improving teaching and performance.

Objective: Chest tube thoracostomies are common surgical procedures, but little is known about how practitioners learn the skill. This study evaluates the frequency with which correctly performed tasks are executed by subjects during chest tube thoracostomies.

Design: In this prospective study, we developed a mobile-learning module, containing stepwise multimedia guidance on chest tube insertion.

Knowledge and usability of a trauma training system for general surgery residents.

Background: Resident work-hour restrictions challenge educators to supplement residents' surgical education. We evaluated a computer-based trauma surgery system's ability to increase residents' surgical knowledge.

Methods: Modules on thoracic and abdominal surgical approaches were evaluated.

The impact of caregiver support on mortality following burn injury in the elderly.

Advances in burn care have decreased mortality in the past 20 years, but affecting elderly mortality rates (>65 years) remain challenging. This study evaluates the impact of home caregiver support on elderly burn patients' mortality. The authors retrospectively reviewed patients aged 65 and older admitted to their burn center from July 1995 to October 2004.

Use of mobile learning module improves skills in chest tube insertion.

Background: Just-In-Time Learning is a concept increasingly applied to medical education, and its efficacy must be evaluated.

Materials And Methods: A 3-minute video on chest tube insertion was produced. Consenting participants were assigned to either the video group, which viewed the video on an Apple® iPod Touch immediately before chest tube insertion, or the control group, which received no instruction.