Tripoli Central Hospital

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no data sets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a major health problem in developing countries because of its high prevalence. H. pylori colonizes the stomach of children and causes local inflammation. Accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure appropriate treatment and reduce the risk of long-term complications. In Libya, limited data are available regarding H. pylori diagnostic methods. The Objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of invasive and non-invasive methods for detecting H. pylori infection among pediatric dyspeptic patients (histopathology method and serology method). A gastric biopsy and a blood sample were collected from 120 dyspeptic children attending the gastroenterology units at Tripoli Children's Hospital. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 84% using the invasive method, and 51% using the non-invasive method. The histopathology-based diagnostic method is the gold standard diagnostic tool for H. pylori detection. However, additional research with a higher number of patients and in other areas of Libya should be conducted in the future to confirm the study's findings.

Orthopaedic burden of firearm injuries in Tripoli Abstract Purpose: Gunshot injuries (GSIs) impose a growing burden on healthcare systems in Libya, particularly orthopaedic services. This study quantifies resource use, direct costs, and injury/demographic profiles of orthopaedic GSI patients in Tripoli. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of 470 patients admitted to orthopaedic departments of three tertiary hospitals in Tripoli between 1 June 2021 and 1 March 2022 with firearm related orthopaedic injuries. Extracted data included demographics, fracture types, surgical interventions (procedures, implants), length of stay, and direct hospital costs (in Libyan Dinars, LD). Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Mean patient age was 28 years (range 13–68); male:female ratio ≈ 8:1. Total fractures numbered 257, predominantly in lower limbs. Surgical intervention was performed in 182 patients (38.7 %), with 196 procedures and 199 implants (mostly external fixators, followed by internal fixation devices). Mean hospital stay was 18.5 days (range 2–35). Mean direct cost per patient was ~ 22,000 LD; extreme cases reached ~ 29,000 LD. Among orthopaedic trauma, GSIs represented the second highest resource burden after road traffic accidents. Conclusions: Gunshot injuries exert substantial strain on orthopaedic services in Tripoli, via prolonged hospitalisation and extensive surgical and implant use. Policymakers should prioritise trauma prevention, dedicated trauma funding, capacity building in orthopaedic trauma care, and hospital system improvements to mitigate this burden.

Early in the pandemic, due to the novelty of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), herd immunity did not exist, placing all populations at risk, with pregnant women at higher risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate previous COVID-19 infection and vaccination status among Libyan pregnant women to inform evidence-based maternal health interventions and public health planning. In this observational cross-sectional study, 840 pregnant women were enrolled at five tertiary hospitals in three major cities in Libya from March 2023 to February 2024. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study. Sociodemographic information, history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination were collected from all participants. Mean age of pregnant women was 31.1 ± 6.2 years. 191 (22.7%) women reported infection with COVID-19, most of them had mild disease (62.3%). Of those, 75 women (39.2%) had repeated COVID-19 infection. 219 women were vaccinated (26.1%), 68 of them had received vaccine booster (31.1%) and 22 vaccinated women (10%) had breakthrough infection. Occupation was an independent predictor of both infection and vaccination status (P-value < 0.001 for both). On the other hand, age and education level were not significant predictors for both infection and vaccination status. In this study, most pregnant women in Libya were unvaccinated against COVID-19. These findings emphasize the need for targeted strategies to increase vaccine uptake in antenatal care settings and to address barriers among this vulnerable population.

Cryptorchidism is a congenital condition characterized by testicles do not descend to the scrotum .This is a prospective study aimed to predict undiagnosed cases of undescended testicles, its prevalence in the community and to findout the risk factors leading to it; as well as the management of this condition. This comprehensive study is carriedout in Alkhadra Hospital, Aljalla Hospital and Zliten Central Hospital over a period from Jan 1 to Dec 31 2013.Included (342) examined cases. Their age ranged between one week to 5 years old; of which 19 cases (5.6%) werefound to have cryptorchidism. The poor mothers' knowledge about this condition was another finding. Every maleinfant should be examined to detect undescended testecls.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children is common in developing countries. There is no data available regarding H. pylori infection in dyspeptic children and associated risk factors in Libya. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among the dyspeptic children and to correlate risk factors associated with H. pylori infection. A gastric biopsy was collected from (120) dyspeptic children attending the gastroenterology units of Tripoli Children Hospital, and a questionnaire covering socio-demographic variables was completed by interview. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 84%. Age (6 to 10 years), place of residence (rural areas), and family members (5 to 7 members) were the most significant risk factors associated with H. pylori. These findings highlighted the importance of screening children with dyspepsia in urban and rural Libyan regions

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause for coronary care unit admissions. It ranges from non-STelevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) including non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstableangina to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) . Our aim was to study the clinical picture,management and outcome of ACS patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) at a tertiary heart centre inTripoli-Libya. A retrospective study was performed on the spectrum of ACS in subjects admitted to the CCU inTajoura National Heart Center from January 2014 to December 2014. Details including coronary risk factors, categories and outcomes were analyzed. A total of 84 patients were included in the study, the majority 64 (76.2%) weremales. their mean age was 58± 14 years, 22(26.1%) were &lt; 50 years, and the most common age group was from 50to 59 years. The majority 60 (71.4%) had STEMI and 24 (28.6%) had NSTEACS. The major coronary disease riskfactors were; diabetes 38 (45.2%), hypertension 38 (33.3%), history of ischemic heart disease 18 (21.4%), chronickidney disease (CKD) 15 (17.9%) and smoking 41 (48.8%). According to GRACE score, 13 (15.5%) were categorized as high risk, 13 (15.5%) intermediate risk and 56 (66.7%) low risk. 30 patients (35.7%) received thrombolytictherapy, 33 (39.3%)underwent percutaneous Coronary intervention (PCI), 6 patients (7.1%) received both forms oftherapy. The mean duration of CCU stay was 4.26 ± 5 days. 11 (13.1%) patients died in the CCU including 6 (10%)with STEMI and 5 (20.8%) with NSTEACS, their. The mortality was more among the older patients (mean age was68.45 years ± 14.6) (P.008) and the likelihood ratio of death was more in; females (2.9), CKD patients (2.5), highgrace score (10.45) (P .008) and in patients who did not undergo PCI (12) (P.004). In this study, the ACS patientswere of relatively younger age, higher prevalence of diabetes and higher GRACE risk score. Compared with theEuropean centers; PCI was less (almost half) performed and fibrinolytic therapy was more used in STEMI, and PCIwas less performed in NSTEACS. The CCU mortality was high and further studies are needed to evaluate it’s theunderlying reasons.

Heart failure (HF) burden and care varies significantly across different countries. We aimed to illustrate the clinical characteristics and HF-related care among cardiology inpatients in Greece. We collected information about all cardiology inpatients on the 3rd of March 2022. The current analysis focuses on acute or chronic HF. Among a total of 923 participants, 280 (30%) concerned cases of acute HF whereas 351 patients (38%), (median age 79 ± 12years, male gender 63.8%) had a history of chronic HF, with their majority presenting with multiple comorbidities and previous HF hospitalizations. 173 (49%) of chronic HF participants had reduced LVEF. Ischemic heart disease was the predominant HF etiology (182, 51.9%). Prior to the index admission, chronic HF cases were receiving diuretics, beta blockers, ACEi/ARBs, ARNI, MRAs, and SGLT2i at 79.8%, 74.4%, 43.3%, 10.8%, 40.7%, and 14%, respectively. Independent predictors of lower prescription rates of Guideline Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) included advanced age (p < 0.001), chronic kidney disease (RASi OR 0.392, p = 0.008, MRA OR 0.523 p = 0.097), and lack of follow-up in dedicated HF clinics (p = 0.006). No regional differences with regards to GDMT were identified. In this nation-wide real-world snapshot study, patients with chronic and acute HF accounted for a significant proportion of cardiology inpatients, while ischemic heart disease was the leading HF cause. GDMT and device therapy can be improved. Follow-up in dedicated HF units was related with increased prescription rates of GDMT, whereas this was not affected by geographical region.