Digital Commons Network^™

Microbiological Profile And Antibiotic Resistance In Relation To Risk Of Recurrence And Fistula Following Perianal Abscess Drainage: A Retrospective Study, Saleh A. Busbait

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: The practice of obtaining routine intraoperative cultures and administering postoperative antibiotics for perianal abscess treatment continues to be debated, so far, there is no established evidence linking these practices to improved patient outcomes. This study investigated the microbial distribution together with antibiotic resistance and their relationship to abscess recurrence or fistula development. Methods: The study analyzed 242 patients who received their first perianal abscess treatment through incision and drainage procedures at a Saudi Arabian tertiary center from 2019 to 2023. Swab cultures were obtained intraoperatively. A descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and antibiotic resistance were analyzed. Results: The most frequently …

An Investigation Of The Correlation Between Total Intracranial Volume And Body Mass Index, Walaa M. Alsharif, Fahad H. Alhazmi, Ali D. Almutairi, Rahaf M. Alharbi, Lana M. Alsaedi, Razan A. Alharbi, Amirah F. Alsaedi, Abdulaziz A. Qurashi, Adnan A. Alahmadi, Khalid M. Alshamrani, Faisal A. Alrehily, Shrooq T. Aldahery, Osamah M. Abdulaal, Reem M. Elkady

Saudi Medical Journal

\looseness-1 Objective: Total intracranial volume (TICV) is an important covariate in brain volumetric analysis that can vary significantly between participants. This study aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and TICV. Methods: 152 healthy volunteers were recruited. The BMI was calculated, and T1-weighted images were acquired to estimate brain volumetric values. The data were analyzed using volBrain software. Results: Male participants have significantly higher GM, WM, CSF, TICV, cerebellum GM, cortical GM, subcortical GM and cerebrum GM volumes compared to female. There were significant differences in GM, TICV, cerebellum GM, cortical GM, subcortical GM and cerebrum GM …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Overweight, Obesity, And Failure To Thrive In Pediatric Inpatients: Prevalence, Diagnostic Practices, And Management Approaches At A Tertiary Hospital In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim A Al Alwan, Elaf A Alshammari, Ahmed A Alabdulkarim, Abdulaziz A Ajeebi, Afnan A Alhazimi, Nawaf A Alhamied, Deema Y Alasmari

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, diagnostic accuracy, and inpatient management of pediatric weight abnormalities at a tertiary children's hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using a retrospective cohort design. Methods: The study analyzed medical records of pediatric inpatients aged 2–14 years admitted to King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital (KASCH) in 2023. Data collected included anthropometrics, dietary history, physical activity, diagnostic workup, and treatment plans. Overweight and obesity were classified using BMI percentiles, while FTT was identified via weight-for-age and growth percentile criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze diagnostic accuracy and factors influencing missed diagnoses. Results: Of 7,771 …

Mapping Health Research Involving Human Subjects In Saudi Arabia: A Text Mining And Topic Modeling Analysis, Khalid A. Alhussain

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To identify dominant and underrepresented research topics and to classify published studies by design and data sources in health research involving human subjects from Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed PubMed-indexed health articles related to Saudi Arabia from 1959 to March 2025. Text mining was used to identify studies conducted in the country involving human subjects. Eligible articles were classified by study design and data sources. Topic modeling using non-negative matrix factorization was applied to identify topics based on the primary research focus. Results: A total of 36,452 records of studies conducted in Saudi Arabia were initially identified. …

Translational Barriers To Aav And Crispr Gene Therapy In Diabetes, Abdulrahman G. Alharbi

Saudi Medical Journal

Gene therapy targets diabetes pathophysiology rather than symptoms, yet clinical translation is slower than preclinical success. This review synthesizes 143 registered trials (ClinicalTrials.gov, 2010-2025) identifying systematic implementation barriers. Despite >15 years of development, 83% of trials remain in Phase I-II. Only zimislecel achieved Phase III outcomes (83% insulin independence at 12 months, n=12, requiring immunosuppression). VM202 for diabetic neuropathy failed Phase III despite positive extension results. Three systematic barriers emerged: (1) human transduction efficiency is 6-8.7-fold lower than preclinical models; (2) pre-existing immunity excludes 58-78% of candidates; (3) manufacturing capacity serves <2.5% of target population (40-400 years to treat at maximum capacity). These constraints explain why ex vivo cell therapies advanced to efficacy trials while in vivo gene delivery remains in Phase I despite longer development timelines. Research priorities should emphasize non-viral delivery systems offering scalable manufacturing and universal hypoimmune donor cells to address access barriers.

Semaglutide In Metabolic Medicine: A Review On Clinical Applications And Emerging Therapeutics, Abdulrahman A. Aljabri

Saudi Medical Journal

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus affect over 800 million and 537 million individuals worldwide. Semaglutide, a weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has advanced treatment of pathophysiological processes linked to metabolic dysregulation. This review consolidates evidence on its mechanisms of action, clinical effectiveness across established and emerging applications, safety, and prospects for personalized therapy. Clinical studies have shown that semaglutide sustains glycemic control, promotes substantial weight loss, and provides cardiovascular and renal protection. Recent FDA clearance marks the first therapeutic alternative for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis among the emerging applications. Pharmacogenomic insights facilitate personalized therapy; however, clinical applications remain in experimental …

Rehabilitation Outcomes Of Pediatric Burn Survivors In Saudi Arabia: A Thematic Narrative Review And Policy Implications, Abdulaziz Ghandurah, Mshari Alghadier

Saudi Medical Journal

Pediatric burns in Saudi Arabia are predominantly household scalds in young children, causing long-term disability from scarring, contractures, pain/itch, psychosocial distress, and disrupted schooling. This thematic narrative review (2010–2025) synthesizes global and regional evidence, appraises outcome measures with attention to Arabic availability, and translates findings into Vision 2030–aligned policy actions. Evidence supports early, multidisciplinary care anchored in standardized outcome tracking. Pressure-garment therapy remains inconclusive, whereas virtual reality reduces procedural pain and telerehabilitation serves families distant from tertiary centers. A minimum national outcome set is proposed spanning scar quality (VSS, POSAS), joint range of motion, age-appropriate pain and itch scales (FLACC/FPS-R/NRS), …

Understanding The Cost Consequences Of Pharmacist Roles In Managing Long-Term Illnesses: A Systematic Review, Muhammad Zahid Iqbal

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: This review looked at how different pharmacist-led services influence medication spending and other economic outcomes for people living with long-term illnesses. Methods: To gather the evidence, we followed the PRISMA 2020 approach and a comprehensive search was conducted using multiple sources, including Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, the Directory of Open Access Journals, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. We included studies that examined pharmacist involvement in medication management such as MTM, medication reconciliation, deprescribing efforts, or full medication reviews and that reported some form of cost or economic outcome in chronic disease care. We left out non-English work, conference …

Impact Of Clinical Pharmacist Educational Intervention On Lipid Profile And Its Clinical Outcomes, Saad Saeed Alqahtani

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To assess how clinical pharmacist-led educational interventions affect lipid profile parameters and related clinical outcomes in cardiovascular disease-risk individuals. Methods: This systematic review completed as according to PRISMA 2020 principles. Searches were done on PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Google Scholar, DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies examining impact of the pharmacists' educational initiatives on lipid levels were included. However, case reports, conference proceedings, and studies in other languages not in English, and studies lacking full-text access were excluded from the review. Following screening and eligibility assessment, a total of 33 papers were included out of the 1731 records found. …

Reengineering Cardiac Rehabilitation For Women: From Access To Equity, Juwairia Alali

Saudi Medical Journal

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a corner stone intervention in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease where a multidisciplinary team provides tailored management of lifestyle interventions, exercise and behavioural counselling. Participating in CR resulted in better rates of tobacco cessation, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering and better glycaemic control [1]. CR participation results in significant lower mortality and hospitalizationand improved quality of life. Despite the body of evidence and the robust recommendation by international guidelines it remains underutilized especially by women.

Bridging The Gender Gap In Cardiovascular Care: A Framework For Women's Heart Care, Julia Grapsa, Ana G Almeida

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Specificities Of Aortic Stenosis In Women – From Diagnosis To Management, Yasser Harb, Fadi Tohme, Hadi Ossaili, Karim Halabi, Ali Kanso, Elie Chammas, Samer Nasr, Mohammad Tahini, Nicole Karam

Saudi Medical Journal

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease worldwide, with pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management differing widely according to sex. Women demonstrate predominantly fibrotic valve modifications and less calcifications for given hemodynamic severity, with left ventricular concentric hypertrophy and smaller cavity size leading to a higher prevalence of paradoxical low-flow, low-gradient AS. These sex differences are modulated by hormonal changes, inflammatory and metabolic pathways, as well as genetic and epigenetic regulators. Atypical symptoms and hemodynamic specificities on echocardiography all combine to create diagnostic challenges that contribute to delayed recognition and intervention. Multimodality imaging, particularly the use of sex-specific …

Management Of Arrhythmias During Pregnancy In Africa, Mervat Aboulmaaty, Kirellos Mikhail, Bola Sogade

Saudi Medical Journal

Cardiac arrhythmias represent a significant clinical concern that have been always addressed. Moreover, Pregnancy introduces profound hormonal, autonomic, and hemodynamic changes that add more risk to cardiac patients and increase arrhythmia susceptibility. In our continent, Africa, there is an added risk because of the high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and limited access to healthcare, contributing to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This article addresses the epidemics, mechanisms, and management of arrhythmias during pregnancy in African settings, highlighting high-yield real-life cases. We focus on guideline-based management strategies, emphasizing fetal safety, and discuss unique regional challenges, including limited access …

Women’S Cardiovascular Health In 2025: Advancements Achieved, Challenges Ahead, Jamilah S. Alrahimi

Saudi Medical Journal

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women globally. Recognition of sex-specific risk factors, pathophysiology, and clinical presentations has established women's cardiovascular health as a research and clinical priority. Pregnancy complications, premature menopause, and autoimmune disease, are now identified as long-term contributors to cardiovascular risk, while female-predominant syndromes such as ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are increasingly acknowledged. Novel therapies and updated guidelines emphasize psychosocial determinants, reproductive history, and postpartum risk assessment in prevention and management. Despite these advances, women remain underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in clinical trials. Diagnostic delays …

Advancing Research For Women’S Cardiovascular Health: A Clinical & Policy Priority Of The Middle East & Mediterranean Women’S Cardiovascular Research Consortium, Mirvat Alasnag

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

National Heart Center – Saudi Health Council Acute Myocardial Infarction-Related Cardiogenic Shock Consensus Document, Mirvat Alasnag, Abdulrahman Asiri, Hazim Alrahbi, Nhatem Aloui, Ashraf M Anwar, Saad Alhassani, Maryam Mohamed Alqaseer, Ismail Raid Raslan, Ibrahim Albakri, Ahmed Almustafa, Rowa Attar, Faisal Katbi, Feras Khaleil, Alyaa Elhazmi, Adel Tash, Jehad Alburaiki

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: Cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with persistently high mortality and significant variability in management across centers. Methods: A multidisciplinary panel convened by the National Heart Center used the GRADE framework to review evidence and develop consensus recommendations tailored to AMI-related CS. Results: The document emphasizes standardized CS definition and staging, prioritizing the SCAI classification. Key components include early recognition, haemodynamic assessment, lactate monitoring, and the central role of echocardiography. Recommendations support rapid culprit-vessel revascularization, early consideration of mechanical circulatory support, and structured Heart Team activation. The document also highlights the need for …

Evaluating The Diagnostic Accuracy Of Ultrasound And Clinical Predictors In Pediatric Acute Tip Appendicitis: A Retrospective Study From A Tertiary Center In Saudi Arabia, Abdullah M. Abu Qarnayn, Saud A. Aljadaan, Suliaman M. Alaqeel, Faisal S. Alshehri, Abdullrzak N. Algosear, Waleed A. Alharthi, Munirah A. Alsukait, Kholoud S Alshaya

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To examines the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) and the clinical characteristics of pediatric ATA. Acute tip appendicitis (ATA), a rare form of appendiceal inflammation confined to the distal tip, presents with atypical symptoms and is difficult to diagnose. The Confirmation often relies on imaging and surgical pathology. Methods: A Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2020 to 2024. Among 4,224 pediatric patients with acute appendicitis under 14 years, and our sample size of 59 patients were diagnosed with ATA by US. Firth logistic regression was used to reduce bias in the …

Risk Factors And Clinical Outcomes Of Abnormal Placental Localization: A Comprehensive Retrospective Analysis, Bessy Varghese, Alia Abdulla Abdullatif, Yusuf Khaled Hadi, Noor Ammar Alkhuzaei, Khawla Al Sendy, Marwa Abdulrahman Juma Salem, Youstina Georges, Amala Sunder

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate maternal and neonatal complications associated with various types of placental abnormal localization. Methods: This retrospective study analysed obstetric and neonatal outcomes associated with placental abnormal localization at Bahrain Defence Force Hospital over a 12-month period (January–December 2022). Women were categorized into four groups based on placental localization: placenta previa with accreta, placenta previa with increta, minor previa, and major previa. Maternal demographics, obstetric history, and fetal outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis included Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric variables, and one-way ANOVA for parametric variables. A p-value of Results: A total …

Impact Of Nursing Program Structure On Academic Stress Levels And Self-Concept: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Nursing Students' Experiences With 2- And 3-Semester Academic Calendars, Alaa Ayyadhah Alanazi, Amany Anwar Saeed Alabdullah, Hanan Hamdanalshehri, Abrar M. Almutairi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To investigate undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of their transition from a 2-semester to a 3-semester academic calendar and examine its impact on academic stress and self-concept. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2023 among 185 undergraduate nursing students in Saudi Arabia who had completed at least their foundational year. Participants completed an online questionnaire containing Likert-type scales measuring academic stress and academic self-concept. Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA to explore associations between perceptions and demographic variables. Results: Most students reported low levels of academic stress and maintained a positive academic self-concept. Perceived …

Challenges Of Electronic Medical Record Implementation From The Perspective Of Hospital Leaders In Riyadh, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia's Public Hospitals: A Mixed-Methods Study, Atheer A. Alghamdi, Samiha H. Sayed

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assesses the challenges of implementing electronic medical records (EMR) from the leaders' perspective in public hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and explores their suggestions for improvement. Methods: A concurrent mixed research approach using a purposive sample of all hospital leaders (61) involved in EMR in 5 randomly selected public hospitals utilizing EMR in Riyadh. The researchers deployed a semi-structured interview schedule to collect the data. They used descriptive statistics and ordinal regression analysis for quantitative data, and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: Indicate that 80.3% of the hospital leaders had a good perception of …

Investigating The Use Of Antidepressants In Treating Major Depressive Disorder: Insights From A Retrospective Study In Saudi Arabia, Hassan A Alsaad, Wajd A Alfaraj, Maryam M Alrababi, Ali M Sonbaa, Dalal M Albakr, Ali Saleh Abensaad, Fadhel A Alomar

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To investigate patterns of antidepressant prescribing and continuation rates among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Saudi Arabia and to identify factors associated with treatment persistence. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at King Fahad Hospital of the University between May 2023 and February 2025. Data on patients' demographic characteristics, diagnostic information, and prescribed medications were collected. Initial antidepressant therapy and treatment continuation were evaluated, and potential influencing factors were analyzed. Results: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) accounted for most first-line prescriptions (71%), followed by SSRI/atypical combinations (11%) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (5%). Of the 220 patients …

Prognostic Significance Of Lymphovascular Invasion In Breast Cancer: Insights From A Retrospective Analysis At A Tertiary Care Center, Nora Trabulsi, Shayma Alotaibi, Mohammed Bahabri, Hussain A. Alkhalifah, Ghady D. Alshehri, Sultan K. Alshali, Ali Farsi, Marwan Alhajeili, Hassan Al-Turki, Salma Sait, Alaa Shabkah, Rana Ajaboor, Hessa Aljhdali

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To explore the relationship between lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and outcomes across different histopathological subtypes, tumor grades, clinical stages, hormone receptor profiles, and treatment modalities. Lymphovascular invasion is a well-recognized histopathological feature associated with tumor dissemination in breast cancer. However, its prognostic weight is under-reported in Middle Eastern cohorts. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 828 women treated for invasive breast carcinoma at King Abdulaziz University Hospital from 2010 to 2020. Clinicopathologic variables, treatments, and outcomes were extracted. Overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were estimated and tested using Kaplan–Meier curves; independent predictors were identified with stepwise Cox models. …

Growing Evidence For Distinct Clinical Features And Early Diagnostic Age Of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma In Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study In A Tertiary Care Center, Abdulhadi Jfri, Renad Fayez Alharthy, Mariya Yahya Ashqan, Hassan Omar Bogari, Al-Anoud Yousef Alkhashan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To examine trends in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) disease presentation in the Western Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) have heterogeneous clinical presentation, and disease characteristics can vary between regions and ethnic groups. Methods: We conducted a local observational study at the Princess Noorah Oncology Center and King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, with CTCL patients referred to and treated in the Saudi Arabian National Guard facilities from January 2017 to December 2023. Medical records of included patients were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures were demographics and clinical characteristics. Results: The cohort comprised 69 …

Incidence And Risk Factors For Post-Thyroidectomy Hypocalcemia: A National Study From Saudi Arabia, Saad M. Alqahtani, Bader E. Alsharari, Abdulaziz H. Al-Shahrani, Shehata F. Shehata, Moneer E. Almadani, Yousef S. Alalawi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: Post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia is the leading cause of post-thyroidectomy hospitalization, adversely affecting patient quality of life. The current study sought to determine the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia, identify risk factors and their clinical significance, and provide an overview of the incidence in different Saudi Arabian cities. Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients who underwent thyroidectomies at King Salman Armed Forces Hospital Northwestern Region, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia between 2015 and 2021 and had available pre- and post-operative calcium levels and clinical, surgical, and pathological data. Various risk factors were evaluated using binary logistic regression to determine their impact on the …

Evaluation Of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio And Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio As Biomarkers In Missed Abortions, Ayse Yigit Sonmez, Defne Ay Tuncel

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To evaluate the usability and clinical significance. Missed abortion, a common complication in early pregnancy. Diagnosis typically relies on ultrasonographic findings and clinical criteria. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio have attracted considerable interest. Methods: A total of 120 women participated, with 60 diagnosed with missed abortion and 60 with healthy intrauterine pregnancy. This is a retrospective case-control study. Information for the study was gathered from patient file records. Mann-Whitney U Test was used. Logistic regression analysis assessed the magnitude and direction of the relationships between the variables. Results: The youngest participant was 23, while the oldest was 42. …

An Examination Of The Effect On Health Protective Behaviour Of Diabetes And Obesity Awareness And Personal Characteristics In Adults: Structural Equation Modeling, Ayşe Soylu, Pinar Şahin

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: The World Health Organization has reported that obesity-related diabetes cases are increasing rapidly. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on health protective behaviour of diabetes and obesity awareness and personal characteristics in adults. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 1241 participants. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Diabetes and Obesity Awareness Scale and Health Protective Behaviour Scale. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS vn.23 and IBM AMOS vn.24 software. STROBE was used in reporting. Results: Of the total participants, 45.4% had no diabete and obesity awareness and in …

Clinical Significance Of Ikbkb Mutations: A Focus On Ikbkb-Related Immunodeficiency, Alhomidi Almotiri

Saudi Medical Journal

Inhibitory kappa B kinase beta (IKBKB, IKK2, or IKKβ ) acts as an activator of the nuclear factor (NF)-κ B signaling cascade that is involved in regulating normal physiological processes and is dysregulated in several pathological processes including immunological disorders. Mutations in IKBKB have been found to cause immune deficiency syndromes. Inherited loss-of-function mutations in IKBKB lead to severe or lethal immune deficiency. In this review, the clinical significance of IKBKB mutations will be reviewed in the context of immune deficiency syndromes. All published clinical cases of IKBKB mutations relevant to immune deficiency, either caused by loss- or gain-of-function mutations …

Brief Geriatric Assessment (Bga): An Evidence-Based Tool For Improving Care Of Older Adults, Assim M. Alabdulkader

Saudi Medical Journal

The Brief Geriatric Assessment is an approach for rapidly identifying high-risk older adults and guiding timely interventions in busy clinical settings. Unlike the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, albeit the gold standard, which is resource-intensive, the Brief Geriatric Assessment offers a scalable alternative by using validated, time-efficient tools to screen for common geriatric syndromes. This narrative state-of-the-art review synthesizes the evidence and best practices regarding the concept, structure, and clinical application of the Brief Geriatric Assessment. It compares the Brief Geriatric Assessment and Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment from theoretical and practical perspectives and outlines how the former can be integrated into healthcare settings, …

Sleep Disorder Phenotypes And The Risk Of Incident Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis With Mendelian Randomization Validation, Fang Yan, Lihua Fan, Yunhu Chen

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To quantify how specific sleep-disorder phenotypes are related to incident heart failure (HF) using a meta-analysis of cohort data and to probe causal relevance via 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: Fourteen cohorts comprised of participants without HF at baseline were pooled (49,501 exposed; 337,317 controls). A random effects meta-analysis produced pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A bidirectional two-sample MR was used to evaluate the causal effects of sleep phenotypes on HF. Results: Overall, sleep disorders were linked to a higher incidence of HF (pooled HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.30–1.63; pp < 0.001), whereas insomnia was not independently associated with HF (pooled HR 1.11; 95% CI 0.75–1.62; p = 0.609). The …

National Heart Center Perfusion Guidelines, Fareed A. Khouqeer, Abdulaziz S. Albaradei, Ahmed A. Jamjoom, Husain H. Jabbad, Khalid A. Iskander, Omar M. Zainalabdeen, Yasser A. Alheraish, Ebtesam M. Alanazi, Abdulrahman F. Alhumiany, Areej S. Al Buraiki, Muhammad W. Rana, Muhamad I. Jelaldin, Zainab A. Zainaldeen, Bander A. Zamzami, Budoor S. Al Aujan, Ahmed M. Galal Elsherbeny

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To establish the[-28pc]AU: Add abbreviated academic degree for authors Fareed A. Khouqeer and Yasser A. Alheraish. first national standards and guidelines for best practice in perfusion for patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery in Saudi Arabia. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) enables complex cardiac surgeries; however, it poses risks of potential complications.

Methods: We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to develop these guidelines and assess the certainty of evidence through a collaborative process. A panel of 16 Cardiovascu- lar perfusion experts across Saudi Arabia formulated 22 key clinical questions relevant to local practice. PubMed, Scopus, and Embase …