The Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Post-bariatric Surgery Patients at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh

Background Obesity negatively impacts mental and physical health and is a leading cause of disease worldwide. Obesity affects 33% of Saudi adults, with 10% being morbidly obese (body mass index, BMI >40 kg/m²). This study explored the association between bariatric surgery (BS) and a predisposition or exacerbation of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Material and methods A cross-sectional study of patients who underwent bariatric surgery at the King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted between February 2016 and December 2021. The patients were contacted by phone to complete a self-administered questionnaire on demographic information, chronic medical diseases, psychiatric diseases, body mass index, and type of bariatric surgery. In addition, they completed the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and general anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire to screen for patients' depression and anxiety symptoms. Results The findings of the 367 BS patients showed that 20.7% of the patients were considered to have mild anxiety, 11.2% had moderate anxiety, and 8.7% had high anxiety levels. However, regarding depression, 46.9% had extremely low levels of depression, followed by mild depression in 29.4% and moderate depression in 11.2%. Furthermore, another 8.2% of BS patients had moderately high depression levels, and 4.4% had severe depression. The anxiety and depression levels of the patients in this study did not show any statistically significant changes postoperatively in the short, medium, or long term. On the other hand, almost all of the patients 97% who underwent bariatric surgery were satisfied with the outcome of their surgery. Conclusion Few BS patients had high symptoms of depression and anxiety. We recommend pre- and postoperative psychiatric assessment for all bariatric surgery patients as surgical protocol.

Kimura Disease: An Unusual Presentation of Parotid Mass in a Sickle Cell Disease Patient

Kimura disease (KD) is a rare benign chronic inflammatory condition of unknown cause, usually affecting young men of the Asian race. It is frequently associated with nephrotic syndrome. In this report, we present an uncommon case of KD in a 40-year-old Saudi man with sickle cell disease who presented with swelling on the right side of his face. CT scan of the head and neck showed the asymmetrical appearance of both parotid glands: the right side appeared heterogeneously enlarged, with adjacent moderate-to-significant fat stranding. Histologically, hyperplastic changes in lymphoid tissue were observed. The patient underwent superficial parotidectomy and was then followed up till the healing of the surgical site with no complications.

Diagnostic Reliability of Ultrasound Compared to Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Detection of Obstructive Jaundice: A Retrospective Medical Records Review

Background

Challenges in the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice include locating the level of obstruction, knowing the cause of obstruction, and differentiating between benign and malignant causes. Imaging plays a significant role in detecting the causes of obstruction. Radiologists aim to diagnose biliary obstruction, its level, extent, and probable causes to determine the appropriate treatment for each case. 

Methods

Our study is a retrospective medical record review study. It included 150 patients who had ultrasound (US) diagnosis of biliary obstruction and underwent magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah. The patients’ medical records have been reviewed to measure the sensitivity and specificity of US, MRCP, and ERCP. 

Results

Statistical analysis of the data showed that the sensitivity of US in detecting the most common cause of biliary obstruction, common bile duct (CBD) stone, was 26.6%, while the specificity was 100%. Comparing this sensitivity of US in detecting CBD stones to that of MRCP and ERCP, we obtained the following: US, 26.6%; MRCP, 62.9%; and ERCP, 62.4%. Although US was the least sensitive for detecting CBD stones, its specificity in this detection was 100%, while MRCP was 63.6%, and ERCP was 55.2%.

Conclusion 

US is the best initial step for the diagnosis of biliary obstruction. However, MRCP and ERCP are more sensitive in detecting CBD stones compared to US. Also, compared to US, they have shown higher percentages in all aspects of detection: level, cause, and extent of biliary obstruction.

Defining optimal dosing of ciprofloxacin in patients with septic shock

BACKGROUND

Patients with septic shock may undergo extensive physiological alterations that can alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the population pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin in septic shock and to define recommendations for effective ciprofloxacin dosing in these patients.

METHODS

Adult patients with septic shock treated with ciprofloxacin were eligible for inclusion. Concentrations were measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Population pharmacokinetic modelling was performed with Monte Carlo simulations then used to define dosing regimens that optimize the PTA of an AUC/MIC ratio >125 for different MICs and fractional target attainment (FTA) of empirical and targeted therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

RESULTS

We included 48 patients with median Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II of 49 and 90 day mortality of 33%. Ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics was best described by a two-compartment linear model including CLCR and body weight as covariates on CL and central volume respectively. With a dose of 400 mg q8h and CLCR of 80 mL/min, >95% PTA was achieved for bacteria with MICs ≤0.25 mg/L. For empirical treatment of P. aeruginosa, 600 mg q8h only reached a maximum of 68% FTA. For directed therapy against P. aeruginosa, a dose of 600 mg q8h was needed to achieve sufficient AUC/MIC ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with septic shock, standard ciprofloxacin dosing achieved concentrations to successfully treat bacteria with MICs ≤0.25 mg/L and then only in patients with normal or reduced CLCR. To cover pathogens with higher MICs or in patients with augmented renal CL, doses may have to be increased.

Maximally effective dosing regimens of meropenem in patients with septic shock

Objectives

To use a population pharmacokinetic approach to define maximally effective meropenem dosing recommendations for treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in a large cohort of patients with septic shock.

Methods

Adult patients with septic shock and conserved renal function, treated with meropenem, were eligible for inclusion. Seven blood samples were collected during a single dosing interval and meropenem concentrations were measured by a validated HPLC-MS/MS method. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to define optimum dosing regimens for treatment of empirical or targeted therapy of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. EudraCT-no. 2014-002555-26 and NCT02240277.

Results

Fifty patients were included, 26 male and 24 female, with a median age of 64 years with an all-cause 90 day mortality of 34%. A two-compartment linear model including creatinine clearance (CLCR) as a covariate best described meropenem pharmacokinetics. For empirical treatment of A. baumannii, 2000 mg/6 h was required by intermittent (30 min) or prolonged (3 h) infusion, whereas 6000 mg/day was required with continuous infusion. For P. aeruginosa, 2000 mg/8 h or 1000 mg/6 h was required for both empirical and targeted treatment. In patients with a CLCR of ≤ 100 mL/min, successful concentration targets could be reached with intermittent dosing of 1000 mg/8 h.

Conclusions

In patients with septic shock and possible augmented renal clearance, doses should be increased and/or administration should be performed by prolonged or continuous infusion to increase the likelihood of achieving therapeutic drug concentrations. In patients with normal renal function, however, standard dosing seems to be sufficient.

Tubo-ovarian abscess in non sexually active adolescents

A tubo-ovarian abscess is a rare presentation in non-sexually active adolescents; only 11 cases have been reported in the literature. Variable approaches for diagnosis and management are described. We present a 19-year-old, non-sexually active, medically free girl, who had an abdominopelvic mass with abdominal pain and vomiting followed by fever. She had a confusing presentation of malignancy versus tuberculosis, with the help of imaging, diagnosis and treatment with percutaneous drainage, conservative treatment was achieved. Diagnosis of a tubo-ovarian abscess is difficult in non-sexually active adolescents, a high clinical index of suspicion is important as misdiagnosis may lead to radical and aggressive management, conservative management is possible in many of these patients.

Effect of obesity on the pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials in critically ill patients: A structured review

The increased prevalence of obesity presents challenges for clinicians aiming to provide optimised antimicrobial dosing in the intensive care unit. Obesity is likely to exacerbate the alterations to antimicrobial pharmacokinetics when the chronic diseases associated with obesity exist with the acute pathophysiological changes associated with critical illness. The purpose of this paper is to review the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) changes of antimicrobials in obese critically ill patients and the implications for appropriate dosing. We found that hydrophilic antimicrobials (e.g. β-lactams, vancomycin, daptomycin) were more likely to manifest altered pharmacokinetics in critically ill patients who are obese. In particular for β-lactam antibiotics, obesity is associated with a larger volume of distribution (V(d)). In obese critically ill patients, piperacillin is also associated with a lower drug clearance (CL). For doripenem, these PK changes have been associated with reduced achievement of pharmacodynamic (PD) targets when standard drug doses are used. For vancomycin, increases in Vd are associated with increasing total body weight (TBW), meaning that the loading dose should be based on TBW even in obese patients. For daptomycin, an increased Vd is not considered to be clinically relevant. For antifungals, little data exist in obese critically ill patients; during fluconazole therapy, an obese patient had a lower V(d) and higher CL than non-obese comparators. Overall, most studies suggested that standard dosage regimens of most commonly used antimicrobials are sufficient to achieve PD targets. However, it is likely that larger doses would be required for pathogens with higher minimum inhibitory concentrations.

What is the effect of obesity on piperacillin and meropenem trough concentrations in critically ill patients?

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of obesity on unbound trough concentrations and on the achievement of pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) targets of piperacillin and meropenem in critically ill patients.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analysed therapeutic-drug-monitoring data from ICU databases in Australia, Germany and Spain, as well as from a large PK study. The presence of obesity was defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m(2), and patients were also categorized based on level of renal function. The presence of obesity was compared with unbound piperacillin and meropenem trough concentrations. We also used logistic regression to describe factors associated with the achievement of the PK/PD targets, an unbound concentration maintained above the MIC breakpoint (100% fT>MIC and 100% fT>4×MIC) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

RESULTS

In all, 1400 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. The median age and weight were 67 years (IQR 52-76 years) and 79 kg (69-90 kg), respectively, and 65% of participants were male. Significantly lower median piperacillin trough concentrations [29.4 mg/L (IQR 17.0-58.0 mg/L)] were found in obese patients compared with non-obese patients [42.0 mg/L (21.5-73.5 mg/L)] (P = 0.001). There was no difference for meropenem trough concentrations [obese 10.3 mg/L (IQR 4.8-16.0 mg/L) versus non-obese 11.0 mg/L (4.3-18.5 mg/L); P = 0.296]. Using logistic regression, we found that the presence of obesity was not associated with achievement of 100% fT>MIC, but the use of prolonged infusion, a creatinine clearance ≤100 mL/min, increasing age and female gender were for various PK/PD targets for both piperacillin and meropenem (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This large dataset has shown that the presence of obesity in critically ill patients may affect piperacillin, but not meropenem, unbound trough concentrations.

Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary in a 12-year-old girl

Benign mucinous cystadenomas MCA are rare benign neoplasms in the pediatric age group. Only 19 cases have been described before, and they often present as large abdominal masses. We present a 12-year-old patient that had a huge mass arising from the left ovary causing bilateral hydronephrosis and renal insufficiency. The final pathology revealed a benign MCA. Patients with mucinous tumors usually present late, this may lead to renal insufficiency secondary to urinary outflow obstruction. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is usually sufficient treatment for these cases. The diagnosis of MCA should be considered in children who present with huge pelvi-abdominal masses. Early recognition and intervention are necessary to avoid potential complications.