Getting it right first time: implementation of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy without a learning curve.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic pyloromyotomy is now an accepted procedure for the treatment of pyloric stenosis. However, it is clear that during the implementation period there are significantly higher incidences of mucosal perforation and incomplete pyloromyotomy. We describe how we introduced a new laparoscopic procedure without the complications associated with the learning curve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five consultants tasked one surgeon to pilot and establish laparoscopic pyloromyotomy before mentoring the others until they were performing the procedure independently; all agreed to use exactly the same instruments and operative technique. This involved a 5mm 30-degree infra-umbilical telescope with two 3mm instruments. Data were collected prospectively. RESULTS: Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017, 140 laparoscopic pyloromyotomies were performed (median age 27 days, range 13-133 days, male to female ratio 121:19). Fifty-five per cent of procedures were performed by trainees. Complications were one mucosal perforation and one inadequate pyloromyotomy. There were no injuries to other organs, problems with wound dehiscence or other significant complications. The median time of discharge was one day (range one to six days). CONCLUSION: Our rate of perforation and incomplete pyloromyotomy was 1.4%, which is equivalent to the best published series of either open or laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. We believe that this resulted from the coordinated implementation of the procedure using a single technique to reduce clinical variability, increase mentoring and improve training. This approach appears self-evident but is rarely described in the literature of learning curves. In this age of increased accountability, new technologies should be incorporated into routine practice without an increase in morbidity to patients.

Congenital mesoblastic nephroma: a single-centre series.

BACKGROUND: Congenital mesoblastic nephroma is a rare disease. Treatment is surgical in the first instance. Chemotherapy has traditionally been thought not to have a role. Recent literature suggests a 50% mortality rate for recurrent/metastatic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective case review of prospectively collected data. Demographics, histopathology, treatment, outcomes and follow up were reviewed. RESULTS: Nine patients, 6 male and 3 female, were included. The median age at presentation was one month (range 0-7 months); follow-up was for a median of 21.5 months (range 16-79 months). Two patients had mixed and classical subtypes and the other five had the cellular subtype. Surgery was completed by an open procedure in eight patients and laparoscopically in one. There were three recurrences; two were local and one was pulmonary. Recurrences were treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. One patient with recurrent disease died from acute-on-chronic respiratory failure secondary to lung irradiation but was disease free. The other eight are disease free, alive and well with no sequelae at latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery remains the mainstay of management with chemo- and radiotherapy reserved for unresectable tumours or adjuvant management of recurrent disease. Specimen-positive margins are not an indication for instituting chemotherapy. The tyrosine kinase pathway seems to be a potential target for future chemotherapeutic agents although it is too early to assess how that will impact on the management of congenital mesoblastic nephroma.

Esophageal atresia and malrotation: what association?

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) has an incidence of approximately 1:3,500. The incidence of malrotation is thought to be 1:200-500. We attempted to define the incidence of a combination and discuss the implications. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all patients admitted to a single institution with a diagnosis of EA or EA/TEF or TEF between April 1981 and January 2013. Patients were included if the position of the duodeno-jejunal flexure (DJF) was determined by upper GI contrast study (UGIS), surgery or post-mortem. RESULTS: Case notes were reviewed for 235 patients. In the EA type A group, 3/28 (11 %; 95 % CI 3.7-27.2 %) had malrotation, significantly higher than the reported incidence of malrotation in the general population (p = 0.0008). All three patients in this group were symptomatic with one patient found to have a volvulus at emergency surgery. In the type C group, 6/196 (3 %, 95 % CI 1.4-6.5 %) had malrotation, significantly higher than the incidence reported for the general population (p = 0.0033) but not significantly different to that of the type A group (p = 0.0878). There were no patients with malrotation identified in any other EA/TEF type. In total, 9/235 (3.8 %; 95 % CI 2.0-7.2 %) patients with EA had malrotation, significantly higher than the 5/1,050 (0.48 %) reported for the general population (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of malrotation in patients with pure EA. In the type A group an attempt to identify the DJF position at gastrostomy siting and/or performance of UGIS in the neonatal period should be undertaken. There should also be a low threshold for UGIS in all EA/TEF patients.