Primary closure of a sternal cleft in the neonatal period.

Sternal cleft is a rare malformation of the midline fusion of the sternal bars; the most common form is the superior partial defect. Surgical correction with primary closure is the gold standard. It is recommended that the procedure be performed before 3 months of age because of the greater compliance and maximal flexibility of the thoracic wall.  These features ensure a safer repair with a low risk of complications and allow for a less extensive procedure that does not require the use of additional techniques. A midline incision is performed in the anterior thoracic wall, and the major pectoralis flaps are raised. The main surgical goal is to change the remaining sternum from a U to a V shape. Transfixing interrupted sutures are placed in the cartilaginous borders for midline closure. Hemodynamics and ventilation are monitored at this time. Closure is performed by layers.

There is an association between disease location and gestational age at birth in newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis / Existe associação entre a localização da doença e a idade gestacional ao nascimento de recém-nascidos operados por enterocolite necrosante

Abstract Objectives To evaluate if there are differences regarding disease location and mortality of necrotizing enterocolitis, according to the gestational age at birth, in newborns submitted to surgery due to enterocolite. Methods A historical cohort study of 198 newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterecolitis in a tertiary hospital, from November 1991 to December 2012. The newborns were divided into different categories according to gestational age (<30 weeks, 30-33 weeks and 6 days, 34-36 weeks and 6 days, and ≥37 weeks), and were followed for 60 days after surgery. The inclusion criterion was the presence of histological findings of necrotizing enterocolitis in the pathology. Patients with single intestinal perforation were excluded. Results The jejunum was the most commonly affected site in extremely premature infants (p = 0.01), whereas the ileum was the most commonly affected site in premature infants (p = 0.002), and the colon in infants born at term (p < 0.001). With the increasing gestational age, it was observed that intestinal involvement decreased for the ileum and the jejunum (decreasing from 45% to 0% and from 5% to 0%, respectively), with a progressive increase in colon involvement (0% to 84%). Total mortality rate was 45.5%, and no statistical difference was observed in the mortality at different gestational ages (p = 0.287). Conclusions In newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis, the disease in extremely preterm infants was more common in the jejunum, whereas in preterm infants, the most affected site was the ileum, and in newborns born close to term, it was the colon. No difference in mortality was observed according to the gestational age at birth.

Resumo Objetivos Avaliar se há diferença de localização e de mortalidade da enterocolite necrosante de acordo com a idade gestacional ao nascimento, em neonatos operados por enterocolite. Métodos Coorte histórica de 198 neonatos operados por enterocolite necrosante em hospital terciário, de novembro de 1991 a dezembro de 2012. Os recém-nascidos operados foram divididos em diferentes categorias de acordo com a idade gestacional (< 30 semanas, 30 a 33 semanas e seis dias, 34 a 36 semanas e seis dias e ≥ 37 semanas) e foram seguidos por 60 dias depois da cirurgia. O critério de inclusão foi a presença de achados histológicos de enterocolite necrosante no anatomopatológico e o de exclusão foi a presença de perfuração intestinal única. Resultados O jejuno foi mais acometido pela ECN nos prematuros extremos (p = 0,01); o íleo mais afetado nos recém-nascidos prematuros (p = 0,002) e o cólon nos recém-nascidos a termo ou próximos ao termo (p < 0,001). Com o aumento da idade gestacional, observam-se redução do acometimento do jejuno e do íleo (regrediu de 45% para 0% e de 5% para 0%, respectivamente) e aumento progressivo do acometimento do cólon (0% para 84%). A mortalidade total das crianças operadas por ECN foi de 45,5%; não existiu diferença estatística na mortalidade nas diferentes idades gestacionais (p = 0,287). Conclusões Em recém-nascidos operados por enterocolite necrosante, a doença no jejuno foi mais comum no prematuro extremo, no íleo no prematuro, e a doença no cólon nos recém-nascidos próximos ao termo. Não foi observada diferença de mortalidade de acordo com a idade gestacional ao nascimento.

There is an association between disease location and gestational age at birth in newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if there are differences regarding disease location and mortality of necrotizing enterocolitis, according to the gestational age at birth, in newborns submitted to surgery due to enterocolite. METHODS: A historical cohort study of 198 newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterecolitis in a tertiary hospital, from November 1991 to December 2012. The newborns were divided into different categories according to gestational age (<30 weeks, 30-33 weeks and 6 days, 34-36 weeks and 6 days, and ≥37 weeks), and were followed for 60 days after surgery. The inclusion criterion was the presence of histological findings of necrotizing enterocolitis in the pathology. Patients with single intestinal perforation were excluded. RESULTS: The jejunum was the most commonly affected site in extremely premature infants (p=0.01), whereas the ileum was the most commonly affected site in premature infants (p=0.002), and the colon in infants born at term (p<0.001). With the increasing gestational age, it was observed that intestinal involvement decreased for the ileum and the jejunum (decreasing from 45% to 0% and from 5% to 0%, respectively), with a progressive increase in colon involvement (0% to 84%). Total mortality rate was 45.5%, and no statistical difference was observed in the mortality at different gestational ages (p=0.287). CONCLUSIONS: In newborns submitted to surgery due to necrotizing enterocolitis, the disease in extremely preterm infants was more common in the jejunum, whereas in preterm infants, the most affected site was the ileum, and in newborns born close to term, it was the colon. No difference in mortality was observed according to the gestational age at birth.

The association between laryngeal cleft and tracheoesophageal fistula: myth or reality?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Laryngeal cleft (LC) associated with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) with or without esophageal atresia (EA) has rarely been described. The purpose of this study is to review our experience, clinical features, management, delay in diagnosis, and complications in children with these anomalies. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review at pediatric tertiary referral center. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with LC alone or LC and TEF over a 10-year period were included. Data including demographics, type of TEF and LC, comorbidities, symptoms, management, complications and swallowing outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 161 pediatric patients diagnosed with LC alone and 22 with LC and TEF. In patients with LC and TEF, aspiration was the most common presenting symptom (n = 11, 50%). Seventeen patients (77%, mean age 4 years 7 months) underwent endoscopic repair and five patients (23%) with type I clefts did not require surgery. Two patients required revision surgery. For patients with LC alone, the mean age at repair was 3.70 years (4 months-19.9 years) compared to 4.69 years (8 months-17.83 years) for patients with LC and TEF (P = 0.0187). The postoperative swallowing studies from 15 patients showed no aspiration. Mean follow-up was 4 years and 6 months. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and management of LC in patients with TEF is often delayed. If a child presents with persistent aspiration after TEF repair, a complete airway endoscopy should be performed to evaluate for vocal fold mobility and cleft. Endoscopic repair is the recommended approach for those patients requiring surgical intervention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and associated diseases of achalasia in children and adolescents: a twelve-year single center experience.

PURPOSE: Although achalasia is a rare disorder in children, its symptom may mimic common childhood diseases. This study aimed to assess the diagnosis and management of achalasia in children and adolescents in a Brazilian single center during a 12-year period. METHODS: Patients with achalasia were identified from a database built during the period of January 2000-January 2012 from a Pediatric Gastroenterology reference center. Information regarding demographic data, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up were described. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were studied; median age was 7 (1-14) years. Most frequent symptoms were vomiting (84.6 %) and dysphagia (69.2 %). Weight loss occurred in 46.0 % of patients and chronic cough in 46.1 %. Associated disorders were Down's syndrome, Allgrove syndrome, and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Achalasia was misdiagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Six patients were previously treated as having gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma. Five patients had pneumatic balloon dilation as initial therapy whereas five had esophageal myotomy. Finally, 11 patients had surgical therapy with a favorable follow-up. CONCLUSION: Achalasia symptoms may mimic common diseases in children, and therefore, may delay the diagnosis. This study emphasizes the importance of the clinical symptoms for the diagnosis of achalasia, mainly in those cases with associated disorders.

Induction of pleural empyema in rats by thoracentesis with intrapleural pressure monitoring.

Our objective was to evaluate experimental induction of empyema in rats by intrapleural inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus by means of thoracentesis with pleural pressure monitoring. Forty female albino Wistar rats, anesthetized with droperidol and fentanyl, underwent intrapleural inoculation of a 0.2-ml solution. Group I ( N=25) received 10(10) colony-forming units/ml of Staphylococcus aureus cultivated in brain-heart infusion agar (BHI); group II (N = 15), the control group, received sterile BHI agar. Rats were inoculated after right hemithorax thoracentesis with a needle connected to an oscilloscope for pressure monitoring to confirm that the needle was inside the pleural space. Animals were killed after 3 (groups Ia and IIa) to 5 (groups Ib and IIb) days with sodium pentobarbital. The macroscopic changes, amount of pleural fluid, and anatomopathological aspects of pleura and lungs were recorded, as well as death causes and bacteriological findings of pleural fluid for animals that died before the time established for euthanasia. In group I, three animals died of thoracentesis complications, and five others died in the first 24 h due to septicemia; blood and spleen cultures isolated the bacteria previously inoculated. In group II, there was one death of unknown cause. Of the 17 rats inoculated with bacteria, nine (group Ia) were killed on the 3rd day; all had bacteria in pleural fluid (volume 0.5-3.8 ml). The other eight rats (group Ib) were killed on the 5th day; three (39.5%) had pleural fluid with bacteria (0.5-1.5 ml), and five (60.5%) had no pleural fluid. Rats from group II killed on the 3rd (group IIa) and 5th (group IIb) days had no pleural fluid. Pathologic examination revealed inflammatory infiltrate (93.75%) and fibrin (18.75%) in pleura, and inflammatory interstitial infiltrate (12.5%) in the right lung in group I; no changes were observed in 93.3% of the lungs in group II. Macroscopic examination revealed only turbid and bloody pleural fluid (class I) without pleural adhesions. Pleural inflammatory infiltrate was found in rats that received the bacteria but had no fluid at necropsy (class 0). One control rat, although with no clinical signs of disease or pleural fluid, had signs of pleural and pulmonary infection at necropsy. We conclude that empyema may be induced in rats by the inoculation of Staphylococcus aureus by means of thoracentesis with pleural pressure monitoring. The highest amount of pleural fluid was observed 3 days after bacterial inoculation.

[Bronchoscopic removal of foreign body from airway through tracheotomy or tracheostomy]. / Remoção de corpo estranho da via aérea de criança por broncoscopia através de traqueotomia ou traqueostomia.

OBJECTIVE: Most foreign bodies in the airway are removed by respiratory endoscopy. Rarely, the removal of the foreign body has to be performed through endoscopic control by tracheotomy or tracheostomy. This article reports three cases of foreign body removal in children performed by tracheal opening. DESCRIPTION: Retrospective review of records with report of three cases of children who aspirated foreign bodies into the airway. In the first case, there was rupture of the tracheostomy tube, with aspiration of its distal portion. Endoscopic removal was performed by tracheostomy. The second child aspirated a pen cap. It could not be removed by endoscopy because it would not pass through the subglottic region. Cervical tracheotomy was performed and the foreign body was removed with endoscopic control. In the last case, the foreign body was in the left main bronchus. It was removed by bronchoscopy through tracheostomy opening. All children presented good outcome after the endoscopic procedure. The trachea of the patient submitted to tracheotomy was sutured after the foreign body removal. Tracheostomy was not necessary. In the children with previous tracheostomy, the tube was put back after the foreign body removal. COMMENTS: Most foreign bodies in the airway of children can be removed by endoscopy. When the foreign body is too large to pass through the subglottic region, or so sharp that it can injure the airway, the use of tracheotomy or tracheostomy is indicated.

Remoçäo de corpo estranho da via aérea de criança por broncoscopia através de traqueotomia ou traqueostomia / Bronchoscopic removal of foreign body from airway through tracheotomy or tracheostomy

OBJETIVO: a maioria dos corpos estranhos aspirados para a via aérea é removida através de endoscopia respiratória. Em situações raras, a retirada deste material tem que ser realizada sob controle endoscópico, através de traqueotomia ou traqueostomia. A seguir, relatamos casos de crianças cuja remoçäo de corpos estranhos aspirados para a via aérea foi realizada por abertura traqueal. DESCRIÇÄO: revisäo retrospectiva de prontuários, com relato de três crianças que aspiraram corpos estranhos para a via aérea. A primeira apresentou ruptura da cânula de traqueostomia, com aspiraçäo da porçäo distal da mesma. Foi realizada remoçäo endoscópica através do traqueostoma. A segunda aspirou tampa de caneta, que näo conseguia ser removida endoscopicamente, pois a mesma trancava e näo passava na regiäo subglótica. Foi realizado, entäo, traqueotomia cervical e remoçäo do corpo estranho sob controle endoscópico. A terceira apresentou corpo estranho aspirado para o brônquio principal esquerdo (palito de madeira), que foi removido através de broncoscopia, realizada pelo orifício da traqueostomia. Todas as crianças toleraram o procedimento endoscópico, com remoçäo do corpo estranho. No paciente em que foi realizada traqueotomia, a traquéia foi suturada após retirada do corpo estranho, näo havendo necessidade de realizaçäo de traqueostomia. Nas crianças com traqueostomia prévia, a mesma foi recolocada após a retirada do corpo estranho. COMENTARIOS: uma minoria dos corpos estranhos aspirados para a via aérea de criança näo pode ser removido somente por endoscopia. Quando o corpo estranho é demasiadamente largo que näo passa na regiäo subglótica, ou pontiagudo que possa traumatizar a via aérea, a remoçäo pode ser realizada por endoscopia, através de traqueotomia ou traqueostomia.

Supraglotoplastia endoscópica em crianças com laringomalacia grave com e sem doença neurológica associada / Endoscopic supraglottoplasty in children with severe laryngomalacia with and without neurological impairment

Objetivo: Descrever as indicações e resultados da supraglotoplastia endoscópica em crianças com e sem lesão neurológica que apresentavam laringomalacia grave. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo de 8 crianças com laringomalacia grave submetidas a supraglotoplastia endoscópica com material de microcirurgia. Quatro crianças tinham paralisia cerebral (todas masculinas, idade média 6 anos) e 4 eram crianças sem doença neurológica (3 femininas, idade média de 11,5 meses). As indicações da cirurgia foram dificuldade respiratória em repouso e/ou esforço, dificuldade de deglutiçào, deficiência de crescimento e baixa saturação transcutânea de oxigênio. Estudo polissonográfico realizado nas últimas duas crianças mostrou dessaturação na oximetria, apnéia e hipoventilação durante o sono. As crianças receberam corticóide e antibiótico no pré-operatório. Resultados: todas as crianças sem doença neurológica apresentaram melhora significativa do estridor e da obstrução ventilatória. Das crianças com paralisia cerebral, uma necessitou traqueostomia logo após a cirurgia por edema e tecido de granulação supraglótico. As outras três apresentaram melhora clínica inicial, mas pioraram progressivamente, apesar da realização de outros procedimentos: uma necessitou nova supraglotoplastia após 6 meses; outra necessitou traqueostomia após 7 meses. Aquelas sem traqueostomias persistem com obstrução ventilatória grave. Não foi observada complicação do procedimento cirúrgico. Conclusões: 1) a supraglotoplastia é bem tolerada e sem complicações na criança; 2) a supraglotoplastia, neste estudo, mostrou-se eficaz no tratamento da laringomalacia grave em crianças sem paralisia cerebral; entretanto, a supraglotoplastia não melhorou a obstrução ventilatória de crianças com paralisia cerebral e laringomalacia grave

Pleuroscopia com mediastinoscópio em crianças com derrame parapneumônico complicado / Thoracoscopy with mediastinoscope in pediatric complicated parapneumonic effusion

Objetivo: Avaliar nossa experiência com a pleroscopia com mediastinoscópio em crianças com derrame parapneumônico complicado. Métodos: Foi realizada revisão retrospectiva de prontuário de sete crianças submetidas à pleuroscopia no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, no período de Julho/1995 a Junho/1997. O procedimento foi realizado com mediastinoscópio especialmente contruído para uso em crianças. Resultados: Foram estudados seis meninos e uma menina. O procedimento foi realizado sob anestesia geral, sem intubação seletiva. Seis crianças tinham sido previamente submetidas à drenagem torácica fechada; uma realizou pleuroscopia como procedimento inicial. Não foi observada nenhuma complicação cirúrgica da pleuroroscopia. Após o procedimento, duas crianças apresentaram recorrência do derrame pleural e febre persistente, tendo sido necessária a realização de drenagem torácica aberta (pleurostomia); duas outras apresentaram pequeno derrame pleural residual assintomático, que não necessitou tratamento. Conclusão: A Pleuroscopia com mediastinoscópico é segura, eficaz e sem complicações graves, sendo útil para remoção do líquido e das septações pleurais em derrames parapneumônicos compliçoes em fase fibrinopurulenta, permitindo a expansão completa do pulmão

Urethral lengthening with anterior bladder wall flap for urinary incontinence: a new approach

Urethral irregularity (impending catheterization) and failure to achieve continence are common complications in surgery for urinary incontinence. We describe a surgical technique using an anterior bladder wall flap that is sutured to the posterior wall in an onlay fashion creating a flap valve mechanism. Experimental work in dogs demonstrated a significant increase in the leak point pressure in the surgical group when compared to controls (p= 0.019). Voiding cystourethrography and bladder inspection demonstrated an anterior flap valve with no fistula formation in all animals. Histological examination showed a viable anterior bladder wall flap in all cases. This technique was then applied to 6 patients with neurogenic bladder and low urethral resistance that failed to resolve with medical treatment. Urinary continence was achieved in 4 patients. In 1 patient a vesicourethral fistula developed 3 months postoperatively, since the mother failed to catheterize for 12 hours. This technique is a useful alternative in the treatment of urinary incontinence

Linfangioma abdominal na criança: apresentaçäo de um caso / Intraabdominal cystic lymphangioma in children: a case report

Linfangiomas säo lesöes císticas originadas de uma malformaçäo primária do sistema linfático, na qual os canais eferentes estäo obstruídos, com dilataçäo dos canais proximais. A lesäo é mais comum na cabeça, pescoço e axila; sua ocorrência no abdômen é rara. Os autores descrevem um caso de linfangioma cístico abdominal num menino de 4,5 anos de idade, enfatizando a importância de ecografia para o diagnóstico e da realizaäo de cirurgia mais conservadora possível no tratamento destas lesöes