[Does prenatal diagnosis modify neonatal management and early outcome of children with esophageal atresia type III?]. / Le diagnostic anténatal modifie-t-il la prise en charge néonatale et le devenir à 1 an des enfants suivis pour atrésie de l'œsophage de type III ?

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate neonatal management and outcome of neonates with either a prenatal or a post-natal diagnosis of EA type III. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based study using data from the French National Register for EA from 2008 to 2010. We compared children with prenatal versus post-natal diagnosis in regards to prenatal, maternal and neonatal characteristics. We define a composite variable of morbidity (anastomotic esophageal leaks, recurrent fistula, stenosis) and mortality at 1 year. RESULTS: Four hundred and eight live births with EA type III were recorded with a prenatal diagnosis rate of 18.1%. Transfer after birth was lower in prenatal subset (32.4% versus 81.5%, P<0.001). Delay between birth and first intervention was not significantly different. Defect size (2cm vs 1.4cm, P<0.001), gastrostomy (21.6% versus 8.7%, P<0.001) and length in neonatal unit care were higher in prenatal subset (47.9 days versus 33.6 days, P<0.001). The composite variables were higher in prenatal diagnosis subset (38.7% vs 26.1%, P=0.044). CONCLUSION: Despite the excellent survival rate of EA, cases with antenatal detection have a higher morbidity related to the EA type (longer gap). Even if it does not modify neonatal management and 1-year outcome, prenatal diagnosis allows antenatal parental counseling and avoids post-natal transfer.

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.

Postoperative outcome of Crohn's disease in 30 children.

BACKGROUND: Thirty children operated on for Crohn's disease (CD) were reviewed (1975-1994). The aim of the study was to assess their postoperative outcome. PATIENTS: 19 boys and 11 girls, aged 15.3 (2) years (range 11.3-20) at surgery were studied. RESULTS: Surgical indications were acute complications of CD and chronic intestinal illness. Six months after surgery, 11 of 12 patients had been weaned off steroids, and 22 of 23 patients were weaned off nutritional support; 17 patients without recurrence had a mean (SD) weight gain of 2.1 (8) kg and a height gain of 3.36 (3) cm. During 3.1 (2.7) years follow up, 12 patients (40%) had a recurrence of the disease after 19.4 (14) months (means (SD)): supra-anastomotic recurrence (six), severe perianal disease (two), and chronic illness (four). Six of 14 patients who were treated with mesalazine (13) or azathioprine (one) had recurrences. The postoperative recurrence rate was 50% at two years. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment modifies the immediate outcome of severe or complicated CD, but does not prevent recurrence, despite localised resection or prophylactic postoperative treatment. Extension of the disease before surgery seems to be a major risk factor for postoperative recurrence in children.

[First-line vesico-psoas hitch ureteroneocystostomy for primary obstructive megaureter]. / Méga-uretère primitif obstructif: réimplantation sur vessie psoïque de première intention.

Between 1989 and 1997, 23 children with primary obstructive megaureter underwent surgical repair, routinely using a vesico-psoas hitch ureteroneocystostomy. Ten of them had a antenatal diagnosis. Mean postoperative follow-up was 3 years. No postoperative obstruction and no vesicoureteric reflux occurred. Assessment of renal function on the operated side showed improvement in 7 cases and stabilization in all other cases. No bladder dysfunction was observed. Vesicopsoas hitch is an advantageous procedure in this indication. It is almost always unnecessary to perform ureteral tailoring and its specific complications can be avoided. Psoas hitch is easily performed in infants and young children and this technique is particularly appropriate in the subgroup of patients with antenatal diagnosis.

Definitive treatment of Hirschsprung's disease with a laparoscopic Duhamel pull-through procedure in childhood.

The Duhamel abdominoperineal pull-through is the authors' preferred treatment for children with Hirschsprung's disease (HD). Advances in instrumentation and technique now make laparoscopic correction possible. This procedure was successfully performed in six children aged 5 weeks to 6 years. No colostomy was performed before or after the Duhamel procedure. The technique and its potential role in the treatment of HD are discussed.

[A survey of the contralateral inguinal hernial sac in infants less than 1 year of age using laparoscopy with anatomic verification using peritoneal radiography or surgery]. / Recherche du sac herniaire inguinal controlatéral chez le nourrisson de moins de 1 an par laparoscopie avec vérification anatomique par péritonéographie ou chirurgie.

STUDY AIM: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the laparoscopic diagnosis of contralateral patent processus vaginalis in children with unilateral inguinal hernia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between November 1995 and February 1998, 91 consecutive children (78 boys, 13 girls) under the age of 1 year were operated on for a unilateral inguinal hernia. A contralateral hernia was diagnosed by a laparoscopy through the inguinal hernia sac before ligation. Results of this technique were correlated with those of herniography (79 cases) or with inguinal exploration (12 emergency). RESULTS: Laparoscopy was performed in 88 patients. Laparoscopy was impossible in three cases: one inguinal sac too thin, two cases of ectopic testis in the inguinal canal. Sensitivity was 73% and specificity 92%. The only complication arising from the procedure was wound infection in two patients. CONCLUSION: This method is a simple, safe and accurate procedure in order to select children for contralateral surgical exploration.

[Surgical treatment of cholelithiasis in children with sickle-cell anemia]. / Traitement chirurgical de la lithiase biliaire de l'enfant drépanocytaire.

From 1979 to 1990 37 children with sickle cell disease underwent surgery for cholelithiasis. Mean age was 11,3 years. Twenty-four children had a history of recurrent abdominal pain; 8 of them were admitted for an acute gallstone complication. In 9 cases the stones were detected by systematic echography. The incidence of gallstones increasing with age, the rate of complications, the frequent resolution of recurrent abdominal pain after cholecystectomy justify elective surgery at the time of diagnostic of the stones. A transfusion preparation considerably reduces the risk of post-operative complications.