BackgroundEstimating intraoperative blood loss can be a difficult task, especially when blood is mostly absorbed by gauze. In this study, we have provided an improved method for estimating blood absorbed by gauze.ObjectivesTo develop a guide to estimate blood absorbed by surgical gauze.Materials and MethodsA clinical experiment was conducted using aspirated blood and common surgical gauze to create a realistic amount of absorbed blood in the gauze. Different percentages of staining were photographed to create an analogue for the amount of blood absorbed by the gauze.ResultsA visual analogue scale was created to aid the estimation of blood absorbed by the gauze. The absorptive capacity of different gauze sizes was determined when the gauze was dripping with blood. The amount of reduction in absorption was also determined when the gauze was wetted with normal saline before use.ConclusionsThe use of a visual analogue may increase the accuracy of blood loss estimation and decrease the consequences related to over or underestimation of blood loss.

Objectives:To identify the epidemiology, pattern, outcome, and impact of infant burns in Eastern Saudi Arabia.Methods:We conducted a retrospective review of admitted infants charts over 4 years (2008-2013) at the Burn Unit of King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The charts were reviewed for age, gender, etiology, site of injury, total body surface area (TBSA), depth of burn, hospital stay, and discharge status.Results:The total number of admissions to the Burn Unit was 510 cases. Out of these cases, 84 were infants, constituting 16.5% of total admissions. Scald burn was the most common etiology affecting 73 infants (86.9%). The highest percentage of total body surface area was between 5-10%, which occurred in 41 infants (48.8%). The average hospital stay was 10 days. No infant mortality was reported during this period.Conclusion:The prevalence of burns among infants in our hospital is high, and preventive measures must be implemented to decrease the occurrence of burns in this age group.

Background:Tongue flap is a good option to close a complicated palatal fistula in cleft patients. Most surgeons advocate a double-layer closure to decrease the recurrence rates. In this study, we have reported our experience with a modified single-layer closure with tongue flap in cleft patients.Method:All cases done by a single surgeon using this modified technique in a period of 10 years were retrospectively reviewed. A thorough description of this technique is also provided in the study.Results:Only 5 cases were operated on using this technique. The success rate of all these cases was 100%, with no recurrence of fistula and few complications.Conclusions:This technique provides a way to avoid nasal layer closure in cases where nasal layer is difficult or impossible to close. It also limits the need for a second flap for nasal layer closure.

Background: The surgeon's aesthetic analysis of the nose is based on scientific measures of its proportions and dimensions. Because the primary aim of rhinoplasty is targeted at the patient's satisfaction with self-image, patients' perception and satisfaction are of paramount importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate surgeon versus patient nasal aesthetic analysis. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 57 primary rhinoplasty consultations during the period June and September 2017 at the Plastic Surgery Clinic in King Fahad Hospital-Hofuf. The surgeon and the patients were handed identical questionnaires before the consultations. The questionnaire has 27 components regarding the nasal appearance. Results: The surgeon's and the patients' perceptions regarding reliability was assessed by Cohen's Kappa and Pearson's correlation coefficient. There was moderate agreement with the overall appearance of the nose (κ = 0.2-0.39). The most agreed-upon components were "dorsal hump" (κ = 0.6, P = 0.001) and "tip drops down" (κ = 0.41, P = 0.002). The columella and the suitability of the front part of the nose had the largest disagreement (κ = -0.06 and κ = −0.09, respectively). The level of agreement among most of the questionnaires' components was slight or nonexistent (κ = 0.004-0.39). Conclusions: The surgeon and patients have a minimum agreement regarding the view of nasal appearance, mostly with the suitability of the front part and the columella. The parts of the nose agreed upon the most were "dorsal hump" and "tip drops down". Exploring the differences between patient and surgeon aesthetic analysis of the nose will aid in addressing the discrepancies and improving surgical outcome and satisfaction.

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