Ingestion of neodymium magnet spheres: Three case studies.

We report three pediatric cases of two, five, and 12 neodymium magnet spheres ingested simultaneously. In two cases, endoscopic extraction failed because of the strength of the magnetic attraction and a gastrotomy was performed to remove all magnets. In the third case, the magnets were not accessible endoscopically and were removed by laparotomy. We wish to warn consumer groups and pediatricians about the danger of neodymium magnets.

[Abnormalities of the penis in boys]. / Anomalies du pénis chez l'enfant.

Abnormalities of the male genitalia have increased in the last 2 decades in numerous developed countries and remain a frequent reason of consultation in pediatric surgery. The diagnostic spectrum is wide, and surgeons should pay particular attention to these abnormalities because of their potential psychological effect. Anatomically, these abnormalities can affect one of three parts of the penis. First, the foreskin may not be fully retracted. This is normal at birth and can be caused by prepuce adherents that can continue until adolescence. Today, true phimosis is treated with topical corticoids from the age of 3 years. If medical treatment fails, a surgical procedure is required. Second, the urethra can be affected by hypospadia, which is the most frequent abnormality of the urethra. It is associated with ectopic urethral meatus, hypoplastic foreskin, and penis curvature. Its pathogenic background is not clearly understood. Surgery options differ according to the type of hypospadia and according to the surgeon's experience. It is sometimes hard to deal with, especially in a perineal form, where genetic and hormonal studies are recommended. These interventions can lead to complications ranging from stenosis to fistula. Therefore, parents have to be informed of the benefits and risks of the surgical procedures. Epispadias is rare but more serious because of the increasing risk of urinary incontinence. Finally, abnormalities of the corpora cavernosa - often associated with hypospadias - can include penis curvature and micropenis, for which an endocrinological analysis is essential.

Ovarian-sparing surgery for ovarian teratoma in children.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian teratoma (OT) is the most common ovarian neoplasm in children. Oophorectomy has been the standard treatment but may impair fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and outcome of ovarian-sparing surgery (OSS) for OT. PROCEDURE: We retrospectively studied all children treated for OT at a pediatric teaching hospital in Paris, France, between March 1992 and July 2006. OSS was performed when deemed technically feasible in patients who had no lymphadenopathy by preoperative imaging or surgical exploration, normal tumor marker levels, and calcifications on radiographs. RESULTS: We identified 30 patients, including 29 with unilateral OT and 1 with synchronous bilateral OT. Emergent surgery was performed in five patients, among whom four had ovarian torsion requiring oophorectomy and one underwent OSS. Of the 26 OTs in the 25 remaining patients, 10 were managed with OSS and 16 with oophorectomy. Subsequently, ultrasound monitoring detected OT development in the contralateral ovary in 4 (14%) patients, after a median of 3 years (range, 1-14 years); OSS was performed in all four cases. The patient with bilateral synchronous OT, managed by OSS initially, underwent unilateral oophorectomy 3 years later for a recurrence. Overall OSS was performed for 15 (42%) OTs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest recommendations for preserving fertility whenever possible without compromising the oncological prognosis. In particular, OSS should be reserved for patients who meet all criteria for localized mature teratoma. Long-term follow-up is crucial.

[A pediatric case of Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma]. / Sarcome alvéolaire de la langue: un cas pédiatrique.

INTRODUCTION: Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignant tumor arising from skeletal muscles and occurring usually in young adults. It is a solid chemo resistant tumor. At time of diagnosis the disease is usually advanced and lung metastasis are present in 65% of the cases. The translocation (X; 17), producing an ASPL-TFE3 transcript fusion which is detected on tumoral cells wall, is specific of ASPS. The curative treatment is surgical. CLINICAL REPORT: We report the case of a child with an ASPS of the tongue and lung metastasis. DISCUSSION: This report presents two particularities. Firstly this type of sarcoma is very exceptional in a 2-year-old child. Secondly ASPS is not usually susceptible to chemotherapy.

Conservative use of chest-tube insertion in children with pleural effusion.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of a more conservative use of chest-tube insertion on the short-term and long-term outcome of pleural infection. Sixty-five patients with pleural infection, aged 1 month to 16 years were each treated according to one of the two protocols: classical management with chest-tube insertion (classical group, n = 33), or conservative use of chest-tube insertion (conservative group, n = 32), with drainage indicated only in the case of voluminous pleural effusion defined by a mediastinal shift and respiratory distress and/or an uncontrolled septic situation. The two groups were comparable with regard to age, baseline C-reactive protein (CRP) value and white blood cell counts, pleural thickness, identified bacteria, and antibiotic treatment. Chest-tube insertion was performed in 17 patients (52%) of the classical group compared to eight patients (25%) of the conservative group (P = 0.03). Duration of temperature above 39 degrees C was shorter in the conservative group (10 +/- 1 vs. 14 +/- 1 days, P = 0.01), as was the normalization of CRP (13 +/- 1 vs. 17 +/- 1 days, P = 0.03). Duration of hospitalization and intravenous (IV) antibiotherapy as well as the delay of chest-radiograph normalization was not significantly different between the two groups. A more conservative use of chest-tube insertion did not change short- and long-term outcome of the pleural infection in children. Drainage could be restricted to the most severely affected patients with pleural empyema causing a mediastinal shift and respiratory distress and/or presenting with an uncontrolled septic situation.

[Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of neuroblastoma]. / Neuroblastomes de diagnostic échographique anténatal.

With the progress of foetal ultrasonography, diagnosis of foetal tumors can be made before birth. We report five cases of prenatally detected neuroblastoma of the adrenal glands. Diagnosis was made during the third trimester in all cases. At birth no clinical sign related to the tumor was present, and urinary catecholamines were within normal ranges. On ultrasound scans the tumor was cystic in 1 case, solid in 2 cases and of mixed echogenicity in 2 cases. All children were operated on without pre or postoperative chemotherapy. In each setting the tumor was a stage I neuroblastoma according to the Evans classification. All children are alive and disease-free with a follow-up of 32 months at 14 years.

Esophageal replacement in children by an isoperistaltic gastric tube: a 12-year experience.

The colonic segment is the most frequently used material for replacing the esophagus in children; however, the use of a gastric tube has become a reliable alternative operation. Since 1987, we have used an isoperistaltic gastric tube to replace the esophagus in children, and we present a series of 21 patients. Indications for operation included caustic injury (nine), esophageal atresia (eight), peptic stricture (two), congenital stricture (one), and esophageal duplication (one). There was no death or necrosis of the graft during the early postoperative period. The esophagogastric anastomosis leaked in two cases, but both of them closed spontaneously. A temporary dumping syndrome was encountered in two children. Two patients had strictures of their upper anastomosis responding to dilatations. The two patients who had a pharyngogastric anastomosis developed either intractable stricture or nonfunctioning anastomosis. One of them died 9 months later from aspiration pneumonitis. At follow-up, 16 of 21 patients could accept a normal diet (13 were entirely asymptomatic, and three suffered occasional mild dysphagia). Two patients suffered significant dysphagia (one had a durable dilation of his gastric tube), and three needed a feeding jejunostomy. Acid secretion of the gastric tube was proved in nine cases. Two patients were shown to have cervical Barrett's esophagus above the anastomosis. These findings indicate the need for lifelong endoscopic follow-up for these patients.

[Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell disease: experience of a French pediatric hospital]. / Lithiase biliaire chez l'enfant drépanocytaire: expérience d'un hôpital pédiatrique parisien.

BACKGROUND: Gallstones are frequently encountered in sickle cell disease. Their complications are difficult to distinguish from vaso-occlusive abdominal pain and they can sometimes threaten the patient's life. The aim of this study was to describe our local experience with cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the follow-up records and abdominal sonography results of 185 children with sickle cell anemia, aged zero to 18 years, followed up in Trousseau Children's Hospital (Paris) from 1982 to 1998. RESULTS: Cholelithiasis was detected in 26 patients. The youngest patient was five years old. Cholelithiasis was discovered because of clinical manifestations in 12 patients. Asymptomatic cholelithiasis patients developed clinical manifestations in 28% cases in a maximum delay of two and a half years after its diagnosis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in nine cases and open cholecystectomy in 17 cases. The mean postoperative length of stay was significantly shorter in the group of patients with laparoscopy in comparison with the group with open cholecystectomy. Histologic analysis of the gallbladders noted 85% of acute or chronic cholecystis. CONCLUSION: We suggest that cholelithiasis should be carefully sought in the presence of abdominal manifestations in sickle cell patients. We recommend that annual abdominal sonography be performed in sickle cell patients as early as seven years of age and elective cholecystectomy be performed on patients with cholelithiasis.

Postpneumonectomy syndrome in children: advantages and long-term follow-up of expandable prosthesis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Pneumonectomy in children can be complicated by a severe mediastinal shift, which leads to bronchial stretching resulting in severe respiratory failure. This postpneumonectomy syndrome can be corrected by inserting a prosthesis in the empty side of the chest. METHODS: Forty-two children, from 6 months to 15 years old, underwent a pneumonectomy. Seven of these patients were treated surgically for severe manifestations of postpneumonectomy syndrome. First insertion of an expandable prosthesis was followed up in 5 cases by its replacement with a breast prosthesis in adolescence. The expandable prosthesis was injected periodically with saline solution to maintain the mediastinum in a midline position as the children grew. RESULTS: The mean delay between pneumonectomy and first prosthesis implantation was 5 years (range, 11 months to 8 years). Pulmonary function tests showed a substantial improvement in the obstructive syndrome in all patients except one, in whom the functional improvement was moderate. The mean follow-up after the expandable prosthesis implantation was 6 years (range, 6 months to 10 years) and all patients are doing well. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of an intrathoracic prosthesis can dramatically improve the clinical symptoms and reduce the functional obstructive syndrome. The expandable prosthesis allowed for progressive, well-tolerated recentering of the mediastinum and adjustment for growth.

[Spermatic cord torsion in the newborn: role of surgical exploration]. / Torsion du cordon spermatique chez le nouveau-né: que faut-il attendre de l'exploration chirurgicale?

UNLABELLED: Torsion of the spermatic cord is frequent in neonates suffering from acute scrotal distress. A retrospective study was carried out to determine the viability and the outcome of testis treated by surgical exploration. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: Surgical exploration of 30 neonates presenting acute scrotal distress found: 18 torsions of the spermatic cord, six intrascrotal bleedings or hematoma due to delivery trauma, five tunica vaginalis inflammations and one ischemia without torsion. The torsion occurred in utero in 16 cases and after birth in two cases. The contralateral uninvolved testis was fixed to the scrotum in all cases. The torsion was extravaginal in 17 cases and intravaginal in one case. In all cases of prenatal torsion, there was total necrosis of the testis. One case of postnatal torsion operated on four hours after the beginning of the torsion was saved. CONCLUSION: Although the viability of the torsioned testis is compromised in cases of prenatal torsion, surgical exploration is necessary to confirm diagnosis and to avoid any contralateral torsion because bilateral torsion exists. Only emergency surgical exploration can save a testis that has undergone post-natal torsion as reported in others series.

[Pickrell intervention in children for anal incontinence secondary to anorectal malformation]. / Intervention de Pickrell chez l'enfant pour incontinence anale secondaire à une malformation anorectale.

STUDY AIM: The aim of this study was to report the results of unilateral Pickrell procedure in children with fecal incontinence secondary to anal atresia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty three children were operated between 1975 and 1997. The mean age at the time of the operation was 8.5 years. Functional results were systematically evaluated by Kelly's clinical score and by anal sphincter electromyography and anal manometry for some patients. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. One colostomy was performed for recurrent local sepsis. The functional result with a mean follow-up of 6 years was estimated to be good in 25%, intermediate in 45% and poor in 30%. Clinical improvement of continence was obtained in 70% of cases. CONCLUSION: The improvement of continence after Pickrell procedure essentially depends on the patient selection criteria, pre- and postoperative rehabilitation and regular enemas. In the case of poor results, the authors propose bilateral Pickrell procedure which improved the results in eight out of nine children in this group.

Pleuroperitoneal shunt in the management of chylothorax caused by thoracic lymphatic dysplasia.

Three cases of intractable chylothorax secondary to thoracic lymphatic dysplasia were treated by pleuroperitoneal shunt insertion. These cases included one with Gorham's syndrome, and one case with a bilateral chylothorax and chylous ascites. Pleuroperitoneal shunts allowed an adequate internal drainage in all cases, alleviating protein and lymphocyte losses caused by recurrent pleural taps. In the third case with chylous ascites, valved shunts were used to avoid reflux between the peritoneal cavity and the pleural space. Such palliative therapy did not change the bad prognosis of these patients with lymphatic disorders but improved the children's quality of life.

Laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis in children under 1 year of age with unilateral inguinal hernia: comparison with herniography.

PURPOSE: The effectiveness of laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis (CPPV) in children with unilateral inguinal hernia was evaluated. METHODS: Ninety-three consecutive children under the age of 1 year were operated on for a unilateral inguinal hernia. A contralateral CPPV was diagnosed by laparoscopy via the inguinal hernia sac before ligation. The laparoscopy results of this technique were correlated with those of herniography or inguinal exploration. RESULTS: Laparoscopy was performed on 88 patients; sensitivity was 71% and specificity 89%. The only complication arising from the procedure was wound infection in two patients. CONCLUSION: This method is a simple, safe, and accurate procedure for selecting children for contralateral surgical exploration.

[Treatment of appendiceal peritonitis in children by video laparoscopic conversion: conversion is not a one-way procedure]. / Traitement de la péritonite appendiculaire de l'enfant par conversion en vidéolaparoscopie: la conversion n'est pas à sens unique.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This method was used in 14 children, seven boys and seven girls, aged from 2.7 to 14 years, with acute appendicitis and peritonitis. RESULTS: Conversion to median laparotomy was necessary in order to perform adhesiolysis in two cases in which small bowel was observed. Postoperative complications occurred in four patients involving three wound infections and one mechanical intestinal obstruction. There was no intra-abdominal abscess. CONCLUSION: This procedure allows appendectomy by an open classical approach to be performed, and subsequently allows the treatment of the generalized peritonitis by video laparoscopy, usually without median laparotomy.

Acute scrotal pain in children: results of 543 surgical explorations.

A total of 543 boys suffering from acute scrotal pain underwent emergency surgery between 1986 and 1996. Of these, 91 had a testicular torsion (TT) (16.8%) and 250 had an appendage torsion (AT) (46%). The cause varied with patient age, with most TTs in newborns and boys of 15 years and most ATs in 10-11-year-olds; 21.5% were operated upon within 6 h of the onset of pain and 69.2% within 24 h. Most stayed in hospital for less than 24 h. Pre-surgical examination identified no criterion for excluding TT. We therefore believe that all children complaining of acute scrotal pain should undergo surgery. As release of an inflamed AT reduces pain, three-fourths of the children benefited directly from surgery.

[Repair of anterior hypospadias with transurethral vesical catheter: comparison of ambulatory surgery with the "between 2 diapers" catheter and traditional hospitalization]. / La cure d'hypospadias antérieur avec une sonde vésicale trans-urétrale: comparaison des hospitalisations ambulatoire avec la sonde "entre 2 couches" et traditionnelle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the morbidity of ambulatory repair of anterior hypospadias with a transurethral vesical catheter (TUVC) draining the urine between 2 diapers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 34 children divided into two comparable groups were operated for anterior hypospadias. Group A comprised 17 children operated by ambulatory surgery, with catheter drainage of urine between 2 diapers. Group B consisted of 17 children operated by a conventional inpatient procedure, with the catheter connected to a urine collector. Postoperative complications and the results of a satisfaction questionnaire sent to the parents of children in group A are reported. RESULTS: In group A, one case of TUVC dysfunction was reported and 13 parents declared to be satisfied. One urethral fistula occurred in group B. CONCLUSION: Ambulatory repair of anterior hypospadias with TUVC draining urine between 2 diapers does not induce a higher complication rate than when repair is performed by conventional hospitalisation with the TUVC connected to a urine collector. Urine drainage by TUVC is not a contraindication to ambulatory surgical repair of anterior hypospadias in children.