[Laparoscopic phelps approach in children with inguinal hernia: a retrospective comparative study]. / Primenenie laparoskopicheskogo metoda phelps u detei s pakhovoi gryzhei.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new method of inguinal hernia repair in children (PHELPS) first proposed by the authors compared to another laparoscopic method (SEAL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study demonstrated the results of laparoscopic treatment of 729 patients with inguinal hernias. Of these, 255 patients underwent PHELPS procedure. Other 474 patients underwent SEAL procedure. The difference between both methods is that hernial ligature is passed around the hernial sac in case of PHELPS. SEAL procedure implies capture of tissues of anterior abdominal wall (muscles and aponeurosis) into this knot. We analyzed whether this factor can lead to less incidence of recurrence and hydrocele. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable by age, body weight and gender. Median of surgery time including correction of unilateral and bilateral hernia was similar (20.0 [10.0; 20.0] min versus 15.0 [15.0; 20.0] min; p=0.666). We found faster patient recovery after PHELPS procedure for inguinal hernia including much less doses of postoperative analgesia (1.0 [1.0; 1.0] versus 1.0 [1.0; 2.0]; p<0.001) and shorter hospital-stay (8.0 [8.0; 8.0] hours versus 8.0 [8.0; 9.0] hours; p=0.010). There were no significant differences in the incidence of postoperative hydrocele (0 versus 6; p=0.097). Nevertheless, recurrence rate differed significantly (0 versus 17; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: PHELPS procedure is characterized by lower incidence of recurrence and accelerated postoperative recovery compared to SEAL technique.

[Multiple-center study of laparoscopic and open treatment of duodenal atresia]. / Mul'titsentrovoe issledovanie laparoskopicheskogo i otkrytogo lecheniya duodenal'noi atrezii.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize data of a multiple-center study of the treatment of duodenal atresia in 3 children's hospitals of the Siberian Federal District. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed postoperative outcomes in 211 patients with duodenal atresia. All patients underwent surgery at various hospitals of the Siberian Federal District: Ivano-Matreninsky Children's Clinical Hospital in Irkutsk (expert hospital) - 120 patients; Center for Maternal and Child Welfare in Krasnoyarsk (learning hospital No. 1) - 51 patients; Kemerovo Regional Children's Clinical Hospital (learning hospital No. 2) - 40 patients. The study has been carried out for 15 years (from January 2005 and to December 2019). Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: group I - 88 patients (laparoscopic formation of duodenal anastomosis); group II - 123 patients (surgery via laparotomy). Demographic data, intra- and postoperative parameters and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative parameters were similar in both groups. Significant between-group differences were found for surgery time (70 vs. 90 min; p<0.001). Initiation of feeding and complete enteral nutrition occurred significantly earlier after laparoscopy (3 vs. 7 days, p<0.001 and 8 vs. 12 days, p<0.001). Incidence of anastomotic leakage significantly differed in both groups (1 patient after laparoscopy and 9 patients after laparotomy, p=0.038). Mortality was absent in the laparoscopy group. In the laparotomy group, this value was 4.9% (p=0.036) and caused by concomitant conditions (prematurity, sepsis, heart defects). Late postoperative complications (adhesive intestinal obstruction, ventral hernias) were absent after laparoscopy and occurred in 5.7% of patients after laparotomy (p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic correction of duodenal atresia can be safely performed by experienced endoscopic surgeons from different centers united by the same ideology of endoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy ensures less duration of surgery, faster postoperative recovery, less mortality, incidence of early and late postoperative complications.

Necrosis of the epididymis in a premature infant with patent ductus arteriosus and diastolic aortic steal: ischemia or torsion?

UNLABELLED: We describe a case of isolated ischemic necrosis of the epididymis in a premature newborn with aortic steal syndrome, secondary to a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Neither this finding nor the possible underlying pathogenesis has been previously described. CONCLUSION: In this report our knowledge of the potential complications of PDA in the premature neonate is extended.

Granular cell tumor (myoblastoma) of the labia major: a rare benign tumor in childhood.

The clinical presentation, surgical findings, and histology of a granular cell tumor (myoblastoma) of the vulva in a 9-year-old girl are presented. Although rare, this benign lesion must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the labia major masses, such as Bartholin's duct cyst, lipoma, papilloma, hydradenoma, and fibroma.

[Is there justification for limited percutaneous surgical drainage in severe neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in low birth weight premature infants?].

The usual treatment of complicated neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is resection of the necrotic bowel, lavage of the peritoneal cavity and diversion enterostomy. Low-birth-weight premature neonates with this condition are in special danger if general anesthesia and full exploratory surgery is contemplated. A relatively simple alternate procedure is percutaneous insertion under local anesthesia of a soft abdominal drain, most often in the right lower quadrant. The procedure is done in the neonatal intensive care unit without moving the whole set-up to the operating room. 4 such cases have been treated within the past year. 3 were discharged home as they did not require additional surgical treatment, not having developed intestinal stenosis or obstruction. 1 recovered from the acute episode, but succumbed to a severe intraventricular hemorrhage and respiratory failure 7 days after the procedure. Our limited but most gratifying experience, in addition to similar experience of others, encourages us to recommend this simple surgical approach in the very sick low-birth-weight premature with fulminant NEC.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy for non-palpable testis--3.5 years of experience at Soroko Medical Center].

From January 1994 to July 1997, 20 boys 1.5-13 years of age underwent laparoscopic examination and treatment for non-palpable testis. In 1 there was bilateral nonpalpable testis. Only 3 had intra-abdominal testes viable for orchiopexy. In 8 atrophic testicles were removed and in 9 laparoscopic examination revealed intra-abdominal blind ending of the spermatic cord and no testicular tissue. We conclude that laparoscopy is a useful and safe technique for accurate diagnosis and may avoid additional intervention in treating non-palpable testes. Furthermore, intra-abdominal testes may be managed laparoscopically under the same anesthetic.

Tracheal rupture after blunt chest trauma in a child.

Blunt traumatic tracheal rupture is a life-threatening injury. The authors report on a 14-year-old boy who suffered such an injury in a road accident, underwent surgery immediately, and survived. The relevant literature is reviewed.