IntroductionNeuraxial anesthetic techniques are the method of choice for cesarean section (CS) deliveries, and spinal anesthesia (SA) is the preferred technique. Although the use of SA has greatly improved the outcomes of CS deliveries, SA-related complications are still a matter of concern. The study's primary aim is to measure the incidence of SA complications after a CS, specifically hypotension, bradycardia, and prolonged recovery, as well as to identify the risk factors for these complications. MethodThe data of patients who had elective CS using SA from January 2019 to December 2020 was collected from a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study design was a retrospective cohort study. The data collected included age, BMI, gestational age, comorbidities, the SA drug and dosage used, the site of the spinal puncture, and the patient's position during the spinal block. Also, the patient's blood pressure measurements, heart rate, and oxygen saturation levels were collected at baseline and at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. ResultsThe incidence of mild, moderate, and severe hypotension was 31.4%, 23.9%, and 30.1%, respectively. In addition, 15.1% of the patients experienced bradycardia, with 37.4% experiencing a prolonged recovery. Two factors were associated with hypotension, including BMI and the dosage of the SA, with a p-value of 0.008 and a p-value of 0.009, respectively. The site of the SA punctures equal to or lower than L2 was the only factor associated with bradycardia (p-value = 0.043). ConclusionThe present study concludes that BMI and the dose of SA were the factors associated with SA-induced hypotension during a CS, and the site of the SA puncture equal to or lower than L2 was the only risk factor associated with spinal anesthesia-induced bradycardia.

Water homeostasis disorders, such as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), diabetes insipidus (DI), and cerebral salt-wasting syndrome (CSWS), can develop after neurosurgery. Additionally, DI, SIADH, and CSWS have been reported concurrently in association with some neurosurgical conditions, in particular after pituitary gland surgery or as sequelae of post-traumatic brain injury. Therefore, neurosurgeons should expect water homeostasis disorders after the removal of tumors of the sellar/suprasellar region and be prepared to aggressively manage them.

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most important hemoglobinopathies that result in the formation of pigment gallstones. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a safe surgical procedure for gallstones in SCD. Currently, there is no standard or guidelines for the preoperative preparation of these patients. This study aims to estimate the difference in pre-operative length of stay, operative time, postoperative length of stay, and total hospitalization length of stay among patients with and without SCD in a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Such knowledge would aid in establishing a standard for the preoperative preparation of SCD patients for LC. MethodsData from all patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2013 and December 2018 were collected retrospectively with a comparative cross-sectional study design. Data included age, sex, BMI, clinical presentation, mode of admission (elective or emergency), preoperative length of stay, operative time, postoperative length of stay, total hospitalization length of stay, and type of surgery (day or inpatient). JMP 15.2.1 was used for statistical analysis. ResultsFrom 2013 to 2018, 793 patients underwent LC, and of those, 16 (2.018%) were SCD patients. The results showed significant differences in preoperative (p<0.001), postoperative (p<0.001), and total hospitalization stay time (p<0.001) between the SCD patients and non-SCD patients. However, the data show no significant difference in the operative time of LC between the two studied groups. ConclusionSCD is the most common hemoglobinopathy-causing gallstone. Challenges in these patients are mainly in peri-operative management. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to create a standardized approach for peri-operative management of SCD patients to facilitate delivery of the same level of care and shorten total hospitalization time.