A simple scoring system to train surgeons in basic laparoscopic skills.

AIM: To develop and validate a scoring system for a training assessment tool using a box trainer which can objectively demonstrate progression in laparoscopic skills. METHOD: 170 assessments were performed over a 5-year period by doctors working in a busy paediatric surgical department. Each participant was scored based on experience and then undertook six laparoscopic tasks in a box trainer in a dry skills lab. The quicker and more accurate the performance, the lower the score. Validity and reliability tests were applied. RESULTS: Pearson correlation coefficient demonstrated that more experienced surgeons performed better than novices with an r of -0.63 (p < 0.001). The mean assessment scores improved (reduced) with increasing experience score [4140 (0-20), 2696 (21-40), 1969 (>40) p < 0.001]. Improvement in score was seen at all experience levels with greatest improvement seen in the less experienced (2315, 1820, 1571 p < 0.001). Cronbach's alpha was 0.70 and the intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.81. CONCLUSION: Construct validity with adequate reliability has been demonstrated for this simple training tool and scoring system. All experience levels demonstrated improvement in their laparoscopic skills by simulation training in a laparoscopic box trainer.

Ascending testis: A congenital predetermined condition.

INTRODUCTION: About 0.8% of boys have undescended testes at 1 year of age. However, the overall rate of orchidopexy is 2.5 times that expected. While studies have shown ascending testes accounting for a proportion of such discrepancy, the aetiology of this ascent remains controversial. In this study, intra-operative findings of patients underwent orchidopexy for ascending testes are evaluated to infer aetiology. METHODS: Patients with confirmed ascending testes from a single paediatric surgery unit over a four-year period from June 2015 till June 2019 were included in this observational study. During orchidopexy procedure, intra-operative findings in terms of gubernacular attachment, and the degree of epididymal attachment to the upper pole of the testicle were primarily evaluated. Secondary findings including the presence and length of patent processus vaginalis (PPV), and the presence of any long looping vas or hydatid of morgangi were also noted. RESULTS: Eighty-three children (median age = 79 months [range 38-149]) were included in this study. Two boys had bilateral ascending testes leading to a total of 85 orchidopexy cases performed. All patients were found to have a gubernacular attachment proximal to the junction between the upper lateral wall of scrotum and the medial part of the thigh. PPV was present in all cases, with its length measured from the deep inguinal ring after retracting the conjoint tendon ranging from 4 to 15 mm 84 cases (98.8%) demonstrated complete or partial separation between the head of epididymis and the upper pole of the testicle. Hydatid of morgagni was present in 82 cases (96.4%), and none of the operated testicles demonstrated looping vas. DISCUSSION: The varying degrees of PPV length demonstrated during orchiodpexy for ascending testes in this study casts a doubt on the role of processus vaginalis in such ascent. Also, there is considerably a wide-range of reported incidence (13-78%) in literature for PPV in ascending testes. In this study, intra-operative findings demonstrated an abnormal gubernaculum attachment in all ascending testes in keeping with previous reports, and support the hypothesis that ascending testis has always been undescended, yet acquired more apparent undescended position with child age and growth. CONCLUSION: Patients with ascending testes seem to share similar intra-operative findings with patients who have true undescended testes. The universal abnormal attachment of the gubernaculum and the omnipresent testicular-epididymal fusion anomalies may indicate that ascending testis is a congenital predetermined condition, and that these testes have always been congenitally undescended, yet obtained a more noticeable position with the child growth.

Role of Wrap-Crural Fixation and Minimal Dissection in Prevention of Transmigration After Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication in Children.

Background: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the gold standard antireflux procedure in pediatric age group. Intrathoracic migration of the fundic wrap is a common cause failure, leading to recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms. Objectives: To investigate the impact of wrap-crural fixation and minimal esophageal dissection in prevention of wrap transmigration after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in children. Methods: Prospective randomized study of 46 pediatric patients with refractory GERD who underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication divided into two equal groups. In Group A, wrap crural fixation was done, whereas in group B no fixation was done. Minimal esophageal dissection with preservation of the phrenoesophageal ligament was done in both groups. Approval of the Ethics Committee of our Faculty was obtained. Results: There was no difference between both groups regarding operative time, intraoperative complications, or length of hospital stay. Two patients in group B without wrap fixation suffered recurrence of GERD symptoms. On contrast study, they both showed intrathoracic wrap migration. One of them was reoperated. Whereas in group A, no recurrence of symptoms and no wrap transmigration were noticed in follow-up. Conclusion: In laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, with minimal esophageal dissection and preservation of the phrenoesophageal ligament, there is no additional benefit from wrap-crural fixation in prevention of wrap transmigration.

Medical therapy options for endometriosis related pain, which is better? A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Our objective was to assess and rank different pharmacological interventions for relieving endometriosis-related pain. We conducted an online bibliographic search in different databases from their inception until March 2019. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed different medical therapies in the management of endometriosis-related pain. We applied this network meta-analysis (NMA) based on the frequentist approach using statistical package "netmeta" (version 1.0-1) in R software. Our main outcomes were the change in severity of pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea score, non-menstrual pelvic pain score, and dyspareunia score. Overall, 36 RCTs were included in this study (patients no. = 7942). Dienogest (0.94), combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) (0.782), and elagolix (0.38) were the highest-ranked interventions for reducing the severity of pelvic pain at three months, while at six months, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (0.75), levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) (0.73), and dienogest (0.65) were linked to more reduction in pelvic pain. The ranking p-score showed that GnRH analogues was the highest-ranked treatment for reducing dysmenorrhea at 3 months (1.00), while CHCs were the highest-ranked treatment at 6 months (0.97), followed by GnRH analogues (0.89). GnRH analogues (0.63) and elagolix (0.54) at three months while desogestrel (0.94) and CHCs (0.91) at six months were the highest-ranked treatment to reduce non-menstrual pelvic pain. GnRH analogues and elagolix were the highest-ranked pharmacologic therapies for reducing dyspareunia. In conclusion, CHCs, GnRH analogues, progesterone, and elagolix were the best approaches in reducing the pain of endometriosis.

Impact of crystalline form changing on behavior of microcapsules prepared from three-component gel system.

In this paper, the effect of anhydrous-monohydrate process-induced transformation of theophylline was examined in microcapsules produced by in situ gelation method using sodium alginate, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and hydroxyethylcellulose. Films produced from gel were applied to characterize the changes by NIR spectroscopy, X-ray, DSC method and stereomicroscopy because it is easier to study that in films in the case of gel systems used in situ gelation process. The properties of end-product are influenced by the swelling ability, equilibrium water uptake, release profile and encapsulation efficiency. Water penetration and drug release were evaluated by Davidson-Peppas and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. The ex tempore formed monohydrate crystals were smaller and built into the matrix structure in a greater extent. Increased drug release, matrix erosion and diffuse reflectance values at 1470 and 1950 nm were observed added theophylline later into the gel because of developing a denser structure.

Unusual ureteric duplication abnormality in a child with pelvoureteric junction obstruction.

A 5-year-old girl underwent an elective left pyeloplasty for pelvoureteric junction obstruction (PUJO). At laparoscopy, two ureters were seen to be draining a left duplex kidney, with a PUJO of the lower moiety. Interestingly, however, the upper moiety ureter was bifurcating to drain both upper and lower moiety as well. All the preoperative investigations were suggestive of a single system. The ureteric bifurcation of this type has not been reported so far. It is of paramount importance to demonstrate anatomy clearly at an operation to prevent risk to the less defined ureters.

Pseudopancreatic Cyst Extending into the Mediastinum in a 7-Year-Old Child.

Mediastinal pseudopancreatic cyst (MPP) is the extension of a pancreatic pseudocyst through esophageal or aortic hiatus into the posterior mediastinum. It can produce a range of manifestations caused by compression by the cyst, for instance, odynophagia, dysphagia, pericardial, or pleural effusion. Here we report a case of MPP in a 7-year-old child who was presented with repeated chest infections and left pleural effusion. It was successfully drained by cystogastrostomy.

High prevalence of obesity among infants presenting with intussusception: Findings in an Egyptian cohort.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Intussusception is a life-threatening illness, with incompletely understood aetiology, although some predisposing factors are known. Intussusception frequently occurs in well-nourished chubby infants. We aimed to determine whether patients presenting with intussusception have a high prevalence of obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted in 100 infants presenting with intussusception aged ≤2 years at the Paediatric Surgery Department. Anthropometric measures, history of recent upper respiratory tract infection, timing and type of intervention were recorded. A near median split divided the population into younger (aged < 8 months, N = 47) and older (8-24 months, N = 53) groups. Obesity was defined as having a body weight for length ≥ 97.7th centile on WHO growth charts. RESULTS: The study comprised 58 boys and 42 girls, 31% of whom had upper respiratory infection in the preceding month. Obesity was present in 18% of patients, based on WHO growth charts. There was a trend towards higher percentage of obese infants within the younger (25%) compared to older age groups (12%, P = 0.085), but no gender difference. Obesity did not influence the rate of success of hydrostatic reduction. Based on Egypt-specific growth charts, the percentage of infants with a weight-for-age centile ≥ 85th was 42%, of whom 7% were ≥ 97.7th centile. The corresponding percentages for the weight-for-length were 29% and 15% of patients respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of obesity in infants presenting with intussusception, particularly under 8 months of age. The mechanistic link between obesity and the pathogenesis of intussusception deserves investigation.

Pattern and risk factors of congenital anomalies in a pediatric university hospital, Alexandria, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: Congenital anomalies (CAs) are structural, functional, or metabolic anomalies that originate during intrauterine life and can interfere with the body functions. In Egypt, the prevalence of CAs is increasing. The study aimed to estimate the frequency, describe the types, and identify the possible risk factors of CAs among infants attending the Pediatric University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. METHODS: A retrospective case series and a case-control study were conducted. Patients' records for the years 2010-2015 were reviewed, and a sample of 200 infants (100 cases and 100 controls) was taken from infants presented to Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, and Genetics Clinics of the hospital. Data were collected using a record review checklist and a predesigned interviewing questionnaire. RESULTS: The study revealed that congenital anomalies of the digestive system (38.0%), musculoskeletal system (32.9%), and circulatory system (11.0%) were the most common types of CAs. Males were more affected with CAs than females (63% versus 37%). The major risk factors for CAs were old-aged parents, complications during pregnancy, unprescribed medications and excessive vitamin A intake during pregnancy, exposure to chemicals and pesticides during pregnancy, and living near mobile strengthening stations. CONCLUSION: Congenital malformations of the digestive, musculoskeletal, and circulatory systems were the most common types of CAs in the Pediatric Hospital. To prevent CAs, there is a need to restrict the prescription of medications that may have a teratogenic effect.

Cystourethroscopy versus contrast studies in urogenital sinus and cloacal anomalies in children.

BACKGROUND: Cloacal malformation is a spectrum of diseases affecting females, resulting in abnormal confluence of the urinary system, genital system, and/or gastrointestinal system. Proper reconstruction depends mainly on accurate preoperative illustration of the abnormal anatomy. Among the various modalities to delineate the urogenital sinus and the distances to confluence, lies the radiological contrast study, as well as the preoperative diagnostic cystourethroscopy. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the contrast study and diagnostic cystourethroscopy in the demonstration of the exact changes in anatomy resulting from urogenital sinus / cloacal abnormalities. METHODS: Sixteen girls with median age 21 (11-27) months were studied. They included 4 girls with complete cloacal anomalies and 12 girls with persistent urogenital sinus secondary to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Contrast studies and diagnostic cystourethroscopy were applied to all cases. Accuracy of both methods in delineating the abnormal anatomy was evaluated by comparison against intraoperative findings. Data are presented as median (range) or %. RESULTS: Contrast studies accurately delineated the abnormal anatomy in 12 (75%), cases with 50% and 85% accuracy in cases of cloacal anomalies and persistent urogenital sinus, respectively. Cystourethroscopy was overall accurate in 15 cases (94%), with accuracy of 75% in cloacal anomalies and 100% in persistent urogenital sinus. CONCLUSION: Although the presented series is small, it suggests that cystourethroscopy is superior to contrast studies in preoperative illustration of the abnormal anatomy in cases of cloacal malformations. These findings warrant confirmation in larger series. TYPE OF STUDY: Diagnostic study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

A sternotomy too far.

Median sternotomy has been used for a long time as a standard approach for many cardiothoracic procedures in children. Many complications have been reported to result from this approach with different incidences. Iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia has not been reported as a definite complication of such approach. This paper presents a case report for a 14-month-old boy with iatrogenic diaphragmatic hernia following median sternotomy.