Mesenteric Injury in Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Children: Is Early Surgical Intervention Need of the Hour?

Objective: There is an increasing trend of observational, nonsurgical management of abdominal injuries in children. We analyzed the feasibility and outcome of our management protocol in managing cases of the mesenteric injuries in blunt trauma abdomen in pediatric age group. Methods: Single-center retrospective analysis of pediatric trauma case records from July 2018 to March 2020 was performed. Results: Thirty-four cases of blunt abdominal trauma of whom 13 had mesenteric injuries were reviewed. The male-to-female ratio was 2.2:1, and the mean age was 9.11 ± 4.90 years. Mesentery of the small bowel was the most commonly injured segment and treatment consisted of repair of mesenteric tear, resection, and anastomosis with or without stoma formation. Conclusions: Isolated mesenteric injury of all grades should be managed either with diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy irrespective of hemodynamic status.

Gastropleural Fistula in a Child with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Due to Perforated Gastric Ulcer.

Gastropleural fistula (GPF) is a pathological communication between stomach and pleural cavity. GPF is described rarely in adults following bariatric surgery, iatrogenic perforations, complicated empyema thoracis, penetrating chest trauma, perforated malignant gastric ulcers, and invasive tumors. GPF in children is extremely rare. The authors describe a female child with leukemia, who presented with left-sided pneumonia and chylothorax. After a delay of around 3 wk she was diagnosed with GPF, which was due to a perforated gastric ulcer induced by high-dose steroids which she was receiving as chemotherapy. She was managed with repair of GPF and had a favorable outcome.

Common cloaca: An uncommon entity posing diagnostic and management challenges: Our experience with nine cases.

BACKGROUND: Cloacal anomalies are the severest and most complex of all anorectal malformations (ARMs). They require careful evaluation and meticulous surgery tailored to suit each variant. We present our experience in a series of nine cases. METHODS: This includes a retrospective review of 9 cases of cloaca managed at a tertiary care centre between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: Associated anomalies were seen in 44% cases. The definitive surgery was performed at a mean age of 15.2 months (10 months-19 months), the definitive surgery being rectal separation with total urogenital mobilisation. The common channel as measured during panendoscopy was up to 3 cm in 7 patients (78%), and only 2 patients had a common channel of more than 3 cm (22%). Of the 34 procedures that these nine patients underwent, there were four complications (12%). The median follow-up period after stoma closure was 18 months (5-32 months), and the mean age at last follow-up was 38 months (22-48 months). Five children (63%) had spontaneous voiding and remained dry in the intervening period. Three patients (37%) had poor urinary stream with dribbling and high postvoid residue requiring clean intermittent catheterisation. Six patients had faecal soiling (66%); four had daily soiling; and two had occasional soiling. Four patients had constipation (44%). Seven patients (77%) required daily enemas for bowel evacuation and to remain dry. CONCLUSION: Cloacal anomalies are rare and complex ARMs. Satisfactory urinary and bowel continence rates can be achieved even in these complex anomalies.

Growing teratoma syndrome in mixed hepatoblastoma with teratoid features.

Mixed epithelial mesenchymal (MEM) hepatoblastoma with teratoid features is rare histological variant of hepatoblastoma and described in case reports. Growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) is a rare and often unrecognised phenomenon generally associated with less than 5% of germ cell tumour. It is defined by enlarging tumour mass which is generally mature teratoma with normal or significantly decreasing tumour markers during chemotherapy. The treatment outcomes in GTS are dependent on early recognition and complete surgical excision. We describe a rare case of MEM hepatoblastoma with teratoid features with GTS in an infant who had a delay in definitive management due to late diagnosis of GTS.

Comparison of outcomes between 2 week versus 4 week stenting in pediatric pyeloplasty-A single centre observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical outcomes, improvement in renal function and complications between early stent removal (2 weeks) and late stent removal (4 weeks) after pediatric open pyeloplasty. METHODS: A total of 72 open pyeloplasty were included in the study. Forty-three underwent late stent removal (Group 1) and 29 underwent early stent removal (Group 2). Pre-operative and post-operative follow-up data were compared to see the effect of early stent removal on the postoperative drainage pattern at 6 months after surgery and improvement in split function of affected kidney. The complications between the two groups were also compared. RESULTS: Both the groups were matched with respect to age, sex, side and antero-posterior diameter of pelvis. Pre-operative mean split function in Group 1 was 42% (26%-54%) while it was 39% (19%-42%) in Group 2 (p=0.37). Postoperative improvement in drainage pattern was seen in 69 out of 72 (96%) patients, 41 out of 43 (95%) in Group 1 and 28 out of 29 (97%) in Group 2. Improvement in split function occurred in 35 of 38 (97%) in Group 1 and 23 of 26 (88%) patients in Group 2 (p=0.51). Complications were seen in nine out of 72 (12.5%) patients. Incidence of complication in Group 1 was 16% (7/43) and Group 2 was 7% (2/29), and relative risk was 2.36. CONCLUSION: A shorter duration of double J stenting is as effective as a longer stenting period in terms of surgical success outcomes and improvement in split renal function along with a decreased risk of stent related complications.

Influence of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in Congenital Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) has been inconclusive in spite of the numerous studies carried out to find the possible causative factor. The results of different studies have been conflicting and contradictory. It has been postulated that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are the pacemaker cells located in the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) and regulate the peristalsis in this region. Paucity of these cells may be one of the causative factors for congenital UPJO although there is no clear consensus on this issue. Therefore, the present study has been carried out to ascertain the role of ICC as one of the possible etiological factors for congenital UPJO. The aim of this study is to first identify the presence of ICC at UPJ, second to compare the average number of ICC in congenital UPJO with a control population without UPJO, and third to ascertain whether any correlation exists between the number of ICC and postoperative improvement in function of the affected kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 30 patients who underwent dismembered Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty for congenital UPJO between June 2016 and November 2017, were compared with seven controls who underwent nephroureterectomy for various other reasons. The specimen was subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC), and a quantitative comparison was made for the ICC between cases and controls. The preoperative and postoperative function was evaluated by renal diuretic scintigraphy. RESULTS: The disease was more common among males in the ratio of 6.5:1, and there was a predominance of the left-sided involvement. In the studied cases, the average number of ICC seen for every high-power field (hpf) was 4.86 ± 0.76/hpf, whereas in control it was 11.74 ± 0.86/hpf (P = 0.04). The postoperative outcome, as measured by the improvement in split renal function, did not have any correlation with the number of ICC. CONCLUSION: The ICC are present at the UPJ and can be detected by immunohistochemistry due to their CD117 positivity. These cells are significantly low at this site in cases of congenital UPJO when compared to controls without any obstruction. The number of ICC bears no correlation to the postoperative improvement in function.

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome: A rare clinical entity.

Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome(PMDS) is a rare clinical entity in the wide spectrum of disorder of sexual differentiation (DSD), often termed as intersex disorder.

Missing anus: Do not miss it.

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) are commonly encountered in clinical practice, with an incidence of about 1 in 5000 live births. They are diagnosed in early neonatal period when on routine neonatal examination at birth, anal opening is found to be absent or abnormally located. We present a neonate whose ARM was initially missed due to a cursory examination of perineal area. The lesson learnt would be of great value for the clinical examination of a newly born baby.

The incidence of portal hypertension in children with choledochal cyst and the correlation of nitric oxide levels in the peripheral blood with portal pressure and liver histology.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Symptomatic portal hypertension (PHT) as a complication of the choledochal cyst (CDC) is well-known, but the actual incidence of PHT in CDC has not been studied. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of PHT in patients of CDC and correlate portal pressure (PP) with liver histology and blood nitric oxide (NO) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, PP was measured after surgical access but before any mobilization of the cyst by directly cannulating a tributary of portal vein (preoperative PP) and at completion of surgery before closure (postoperative PP). Blood sample for NO and liver function tests (LFTs) was taken before surgery and during subsequent follow-up at 1-month, 3 months, and 6 months. Liver histology was assessed under parenchymal, bile duct, and portal parameters. RESULTS: Measurement of PP and blood levels of NO was done in 20 patients. Mean preoperative PP was 16.45 ± 7.85 mmHg, and the median pressure was 14 mmHg (range 9-43). Mean of the postoperative PP was 14 ± 6.87 mmHg, and median pressure was 11.5 mmHg (range 7-37). The mean level of NO in the preoperative period was 11.85 ± 4.33 µmol/l, and median was 11.605 (range 5.24-22.77) µmol/l. NO levels at the first follow-up (1-month postoperative) were 5.96 ± 4.56 µmol/l and median value of 4.9 (range 1.74-23.56) µmol/l. Likewise, the mean and median values of NO at 3 months were 5.59 ± 7.15 µmol/l and median value of 3.71 (range 1.49-34.74) µmol/l. The mean and median levels of NO at 6 months postoperative were 5.08 ± 2.22 µmol/l and median of 4.59 (range 2.32-12.46) µmol/l. The fall in PP immediately after surgery was consistent and statistically significant (P = 0.001). There was statistically significant fall in the NO levels in the postoperative period as compared to the preoperative levels (P = 0.002). Bile duct proliferation was significantly correlated with PP (P = 0.05). Blood levels of NO closely followed the PP in the preoperative period and fell to baseline in subsequent follow-up. There was no statistically significant correlation between age at presentation, LFT and postoperative complications with either PP or NO levels. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, all patients with CDC had some degree of PHT. Measurement of PP and liver histology should be part of standard management protocol to take timely preventive measures so as to avoid life-threatening manifestations of PHT.

Colonic duplication: Treatment by limited division of common wall.

Colonic duplications are rare congenital anomalies. Treatment of choice is complete resection that in case of a long tubular duplication requires total or subtotal colectomy. A simple surgical technique for treatment of complete colonic duplication is described, which avoids the complications of extensive colonic resection.

Intra thoracic migration of ureteric stent after exstrophy bladder closure: Unusual complication.

Classic bladder exstrophy is a rare malformation of the genitourinary tract requiring surgical intervention either one-staged or staged fashion. Premature stent dislodgement is a well-known reported complication. We are reporting an unusual case of migration of ureteric stent to thoracic cavity leading to the pleural effusion and respiratory distress in early post-operative period.

Oesophageal foreign body in children: 15 years experience in a tertiary care paediatric centre.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to report our experience and outcome in the management of oesophageal foreign body (EFB) in suspected cases of foreign body (FB) ingestion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of children with documented EFB ingestion treated in the Department of Pediatric surgery from January 1997 to December 2012 were analysed. Diagnosis was made on the basis of history, clinical examination and radiological evaluation. Stronger index of suspicion was kept in cases of sudden onset of symptoms with an inappropriate history of FB ingestion. RESULTS: A total of 317 children underwent emergency rigid oesophagoscopy for EFB. Out of these, 206 were males and 111 were females. The most common EFB found was coins in 209 (65.9%) cases, followed by food bolus obstruction in 54 (17%), metallic FB in 29 (9.1%), plastic FB in 21 (6.6%), and button batteries in 14 (4.4%) cases. The most common site of FB impaction was found to be cricopharynx in 291 (92%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: High index of suspicion should be kept for EFB in children who present with unavailable history of FB ingestion. The wait-and-watch policy in cases of FB oesophagus is not always the correct approach, especially when it presents as respiratory distress of sudden onset.

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in an older child: a rare presentation with successful standard surgical management.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a disease of neonatal period usually manifest between the third and fourth weeks of life. Metabolic alkalosis and paradoxical aciduria are two common sequel of this entity. We report an unusual case of an 8-year-old boy who presented with recurrent, long-standing episodes of non-bilious vomiting and poor weight gain without any other metabolic derangement.