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INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is autosomal recessive disorder common in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This is first study in KSA, and middle-east revealing characteristics of pediatric SCD patients admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: Retrospective review of SCD patients admitted to PICU over 6-years-period (2013–2019). Data collected using patient's files and PICU book. Descriptive analysis and percentages presented in tabulated and graphical form. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients admitted 93 times to PICU, (4.5% of total PICU admission). Most admissions were from station and emergency room (38, 33 admissions respectively). Admissions categorized into emergency and elective (59, 34 admissions respectively). Average length of stay was 1.9 days. Acute chest syndrome (ACS) (n = 28) represented 30% of admissions, followed by cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (18.2%). Five patients (5.37%) admitted for other neurological causes. Twenty-five (26.8%) admitted electively for stroke prevention, 9 (9.6%) admitted postoperatively. Considerable number of exchange transfusion in 65 (69.8%) admissions. Three needed inotropes, five invasive ventilation. Thirteen/58 (22.4%) had previous stroke, 20 (34.4%) had previous ACS, whereas significant number (n = 37, 63.8%) had frequent vaso-occlusive crisis. Mean white blood cell was 18.37 × 103/μl (emergency group), and 10.4 × 103/μl (elective group). Mean hemoglobin 7.8 g/dl and 9.67 g/dl in emergency and elective groups, respectively. Seventy percent of patients prescribed hydroxyurea and 27% of patients were on regular transfusion. Mortality rate of SCD in PICU was low (n = 2, 3.4%). CONCLUSION: PICU is one of the essential components of comprehensive health-care services for patients with SCD. Cooperation between intensivists, hematologists, and other health-care providers in addition to the early referral of critically ill SCD patients to PICU leads to better disease outcomes.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common upper gastrointestinal disorders that develop when a retrograde flow of stomach contents occurs leading to GERD symptoms or complications. The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of GERD and heartburn as well as their main characteristics and risk factors among the Saudi population, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of the general population of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period from 1 January to 16 June 2019, using a pre-designed questionnaire for data collection. Results: The study included 1734 participants; the majorities (76.8%) of the participants were females. The study reported that 17.8% of the Saudi population had GERD. There was a significant correlation between GERD and gender, age, BMI group, marital status, region and family history of GERD (P>0.05) but, there was no relation with average family income. It was more prevalent among females by 73.1% and among the age group 31-40 years by 32 %. Further, 38.8% of cases were with average weight, and more than half were married (57.6%). Conclusion: The study concluded that 17.8% of the Saudi population had GERD. There was a significant correlation between GERD and gender, age, obesity, marital status, region, and family history of GERD.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, risk factor and mechanism of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury among Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. Design and Setting: A survey reviews the prevalence and the mechanisms of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. We used a multiple questionnaire, carry out a 266 from the population were interviewed about the events surrounding their ACL injury. Results: The most common injury of ACL was sport (n = 181). ACL injury occurred due to a sudden increase in running (n=18) and due to stop running suddenly ( n=20) .four-teen of them did not report whether their injury occurred in a practice or in a game. Sixteen were listed as road traffic accident and 14 as related to their work. Noncontact mechanisms were classified as sudden deceleration prior to a change of direction or landing motion. here was the rate of anterior cruciate ligament injury higher in men in compare to the women during the study period. Men\'s football is a high-risk sport for anterior cruciate ligament injury. Unlike running, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics, The level of allowed contact in pivoting sports may be a factor in determining sport-specific anterior cruciate ligament risk. Conclusions: We though that ACL tear is not uncommon in Makkah city population, although ACL still more common in male and in contact injury specially in football player. however protein diet and rehabilitation after surgery shown significance improvement in compare with patient not follow diet and rehabilitation.

Background Impalpable testes may be caused by atrophy, congenital dysgenesis/agenesis, or the presence of testes at unusual sites. Early intervention can improve patient outcomes. The recommended age for surgery ranges from 6 to 18 months. Objective To investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of impalpable testes and sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography to diagnose impalpable testes at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital (KSAFH), Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Methods We conducted a retrospective study to review cases of impalpable testes admitted to KSAFH, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia from January 1, 2015 to May 20, 2019. Fifty patients diagnosed with impalpable testes were treated surgically in our center during the period. Patients’ data were tabulated, and statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS, version 22; IBM, Armonk, NY). Results We included 50 patients in our study, with a total number of 66 impalpable testes. The median age at diagnosis was 7 months, while the median age at surgery was 17.5 months. The median interval between diagnosis and surgery was 8.5 months, with 44% of cases undergoing surgery after the age of 1.5 years. Two-thirds of the cases were unilateral. The most common site was intracanalicular (57.6%) followed by intra-abdominal (34.8%). The testicular size was average in 36.4%, small in 42.4%, and atrophic in 21.2% of the evaluated cases. Conclusions The overall sensitivity of ultrasonography was 56.1% (it correctly detected the location of 37 out of 66 impalpable testes). The sensitivity of ultrasonography for the detection of intra-abdominal testes was 43.5%, while that of intracanalicular testes was 71.1%.