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ag¶Ä²© Hematology Department
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HOD Message

Welcome to the Hematology Department!


As the head of the department, I am honored to lead a team of experienced and
compassionate healthcare professionals committed to providing the highest quality of
care to our patients. Our department offers a broad range of diagnostic, treatment, and
management services for various blood disorders and cancers, including leukemia,
lymphoma, anemias, and related conditions.
We employ state-of-the-art technologies, and evidence-based treatment plans to ensure
our patients receive personalized care that meets their needs. Our bone marrow
transplant program is a unique offering that provides hope for patients with severe blood
disorders or cancers. We offer comprehensive treatment plans to provide the best
possible outcomes, including pre-transplant evaluations, transplant procedures, and
aftercare.
At the Hematology Department, we also place a great emphasis on teaching and
training healthcare professionals and researchers in the field. Our faculty members are
dedicated to providing innovative, evidence-based education and training to
undergraduate and postgraduate students and residents and aiding in teaching and
training biomedical scientists.

Murtadha K. Al-Khabori, MD,
Associate Professor (ag¶Ä²©), Senior Consultant (ag¶Ä²©H),
HOD, Hematology Department, COM&HS

TEACHING PROGRAM

 

Biomedical Science 

The hematology department is involved in teaching some components of the following courses to students of the B.Sc in the Biomedical Science Program including hematology and blood bank rotations, introduction to laboratory sciences, instrumentation and student projects.

Undergraduate Program

The department participates and coordinates the various courses in Phase I and Phase II of the new curriculum, in particular in the integrated modules I, II and III. It provided lectures for Introduction to Human Physiology in Phase I. It coordinates the Pre-Clerkship Respiratory course and participates in the Junior Clerkship training with seminars and bedside teaching as well as a practical demonstration on techniques. The department staff also participates in Research Modules I, II and III.

The Department also developed and conducted Senior Clerkship Phase III teaching, which involves seminars, tutorials and clinical attachments for two weeks in each group, in collaboration with the Department of Child Health as well as developing and conducting laboratory rotations for these students.

In the Intercalated Medicine course, the department assists the Allied Biomedical Science Department with the hematology laboratory rotation course.

Postgraduate Program

The department has developed and taught the Hematopathology course along with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Royal Hospital which is affiliated with the OMSB. The department participates gives lectures to OMSB residents in Hematopathology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

 

CME Activities

The department have regular CME activities including

- Weekly Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings every Monday from 8-9 am

- Monthly journal club presentations

- Monthly presentations for the laboratory staff

The department staff also participate and conduct meetings in association with Oman Society of Hematology (OSH) and many other organizations.

Clinical Services

The clinical hematology services include different programs in order to provide comprehensive diagnostic care and management for patient with benign and malignant hematological disorders. Clinical programs include:

 

Bone Marrow Transplantation

The BMT program, established in the department since 1995, serves the entire country and continues to provide curative treatment for patients with hematological malignancy, bone marrow failure and potentially fatal genetic diseases. On an average every year between 20-24 allogeneic transplants are performed making a total of 425 transplants since 1995. While Autologus transplants started in 2004. Average number is 5 to 8 transplants per year making a total of 96 transplants. The results of this transplant center are comparable with those of the best centers worldwide. The Adult BMT services are managed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni, Dr. Murtadha Al Khabori and Dr. Thuraya AlBusaidi.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) treatment was launched for the first time in Oman at ag¶Ä²©H on 15th January 2023, it is a medical treatment for BMT patients with graft versus host disease (GVHD).

 

Sickle Cell

The department looks after a large number of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), providing acute medical care as well as genetic counselling and preventive programs (vis-à-vis cord blood and premarital testing) and guiding patients and the medical community regarding SCD care. The involvement of our department is highlighted through the community outreach programs via the Hereditary Blood Disorders Society. Several patients with severe SCD have now benefited from the department’s active role in transplanting these patients from sibling donors with good success. The Sickle cell services are managed by Prof. Salam Alkindi with Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni and Dr. Hammad khan.

 

Lymphoma and Myeloma

The department is now an important tertiary care center for most referrals for adult hematological malignancies, particularly lymphomas and myelomas. Patients are able to receive state-of-the-art care in terms of both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, including allogeneic and autologous BMT and the advanced molecular diagnostics needed for proper workup and follow-up. The Lymphoma/Myeloma services are managed by Dr. Khalil Alfarsi.

 

 Leukemia

This unit was established at the beginning of 2014 and caters to referrals of patients with leukemia from ag¶Ä²©H as well as other hospitals in the country and abroad. These patients receive world-class state-of-the art diagnostic as well as therapeutic interventions with different updates chemotherapy, including allogeneic BMT as needed. The Adult Leukemia services are managed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Hunieni, Dr. Murtadha Al Khabori and dr Thuraya Al Busaidi

 

Thalassemia

The department has been managing approximately 144 patients with thalassemia, delivering comprehensive care including blood transfusions, chelation therapy and regular meticulous monitoring for the side-effects and complications of the disease and its treatment. The unit is a center of excellence in the region with extensive involvement in care and research, including participation in an international clinical trials. The availability of the latest state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging MRI T2* equipment at the Radiology & Molecular Imaging Department has improved the monitoring of the cardiac and liver iron overload status of these patients. The thalassemia services is managed by Dr. Hammad khan.

 

Hemostasis/Thrombosis

The department provides diagnostic and care to bleeding and thrombotic disorders including thrombosis, von willebrand disease, haemophilia and platelet disorders. The hemostasis/thrombosis services are managed by Dr. Bader ALRawahi,  Dr Murtadha Al Khabori and Dr. Zainab Al Hosni.

 

Ambulatory services

1- Outpatient services (OPD)

Sunday

(Hematology)

Tuesday

(Hematology)

Wednesday

(Hematology + BMT)

Prof. Salam al Kindi

Dr.  Murtadha Al khabori

Dr . Khalil alfarsi

Dr. Mohammed Al Hunaini

Dr . Bader Al Rawahi

Dr. Thuraya Al Busaidi

Dr. Murtadha Al khabori

Dr. Mohammed Al Hunaini

 

Dr. Hamad khan

 

Timing: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday  from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm

Ext. 24144575

Each specialist clinic is run by a team who will be able to provide medical and social assessment, counseling service, treatment and procedures to different cases.

2- Day care services (DCU):

The haematology daycare provides facilities for a number of procedures including bone marrows test/ lumber puncture,  blood product transfusion, chemotherapy, and intravenous iron/ other short IV therapy.

Ext. 241447308- 24144721

 

In patient services:

Patient requiring comprehensive diagnosis process, initiation of chemotherapy/ blood product transfusion/ special procedure requiring observation per and post therapy.

 

 


Laboratory services

The hematology laboratory provides comprehensive diagnostic tests in different section including the following:

 

General Haematology Laboratory

General haematology lab provides a 24/7 service including public holidays. The services provided by the laboratory include full blood count, reticulocytes count, sickle cell screening, G6PD testing, infectious mononucleosis testing and malaria parasite screening and identification. Morphological examination of blood films, bone marrow aspirates and different body fluids is also part of routine daily work.

 

Haemostasis and HPLC Laboratories

Haemostasis and HPLC laboratories provide a 24/7 service including public holidays. The services provided during and after working hours include coagulation profile (PT, APTT, TT and Fibrinogen), D-dimer and haemoglobin variant analysis. Other assays are tested during working hours and within a timed schedule. These assays include thrombophilia workup, anti-thrombin, proteins C and S, coagulation factors (II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII), prekalikrein, HMW kininogen, inhibitor assays, lupus anticoagulant, platelet aggregation, platelet function assay, von willebrand workup, Anti-Xa, haemoglobin electrophoresis gels.

 

Molecular Laboratory

Molecular laboratory provides services during working hours mainly. The tests include testing for gene mutations for CML, AML, ALL, APML and MPNs. Post-transplant chimerisim and perforin gene mutations are also tested.

 

Flow Cytometry Laboratory

Flow cytometry laboratory provides services during working hours. The tests tested by the lab include immunophenotyping using acute panel; LPD panel; plasma cell panel and selective markers on all types of samples (PB, BMA, CSF, other body fluids and biopsies). Other tests run by flow cytometry lab include B-ALL remission check, PNH clone detection, perforin, hereditary spherocytosis, detection of platelet glycoproteins, lymphocyte subsets, CD34+ enumeration and CD3+ count for donor lymphocyte infusion.

 

Blood Bank

Blood bank at ag¶Ä²©H provides a 24/7 service, including on public holidays. The services include patient blood grouping, antibody screening and identification, DAT, cross-matching and issuing compatible blood products (PRBC, platelets, FFP and cryoprecipitate).

Donor blood units are processed, group checked, screened for antibodies and Rhesus phenotyped. Other routine tests that are provided by the blood bank include anti-A and anti-B titers, extended RBC phenotyping and Kleihauer test for fetomaternal hemorrhage estimation.

 

A detailed list of all the tests, sample requirements and turnaround time is listed in the link: (Lab test manual).

 

Department of Hematology

College of Medicine and Health Science 

Sultan Qaboos University 

PO Box : 35, Alkoudh.123 Sultanate of Oman

Phone:  (+968) 2414 4915 

Email: hematology@squ.edu.om

 

 

ag¶Ä²©H Blood Bank Donation

Phone: (+968) 2414 4987

Email: bloodbank@squ.edu.om