Traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia in children: Diagnostic difficulties.

Traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia is rare in children. Its diagnosis can be difficult in the acute phase of trauma because its signs are not specific, especially in a poly trauma context. We report two cases of traumatic right diaphragmatic hernia following a blunt thoraco-abdominal trauma, highlighting some difficulties in establishing an early diagnosis and the need for a high index of suspicion.

[Urological emergencies in paediatric surgery: a survey of 40 cases]. / Les urgences urologiques en chirurgie pediatrique: a propos de 40 cas.

AIMS: The objective of this study is to report our experience on the epidemiology of urological emergencies in pediatric surgery, and to analyze the diagnosis and therapeutic process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a prospective survey which was carried out between January 2010 and June 2011 in the pediatric service of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital (HALD). All the children who came for a urological emergency consultation were included in the study. THE RESULTS: the urological emergencies accounted for forty cases which represented 2.57% of pediatric surgery emergencies. The average age of our patients was 4.5 years with extremes of 10 days and 15 years of age. 29 cases of severe big bursae were observed and among them there were strangulated hernia and ten cases of suspicious spermatic cord torsion. The other admission motives consisted of three cases of urine retention, two pyelonephritis cases, two cases of post circumcision glans sections, two paraphimosis cases, one tight phimosis case, one case of penis traumatism provoked by a game incident. The scrotum ultrasound performed on six patients helped find out a specificity of 66.6%. 60% of strangulated hernia have been reduced through under sedation taxis. In case of confirmed torsion, a detorsion followed by an orchidopexy were performed. Two orchidectomy were performed for a testicular necrosis. CONCLUSION: the painful big bursa is the number one cause for a urology pediatric consultation. It implies a fast and adequate diagnosis and treatment so as not to miss a digestive or testicular pain.

BUTS: Rapporter notre expérience sur l'épidémiologie des urgences urologiques en chirurgie pédiatrique, d'analyser la prise en charge diagnostique et thérapeutique. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES: Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective réalisée dans le service de chirurgie pédiatrique de l'hôpital Aristide Le Dantec de Dakar (HALD), de janvier 2010 à juin 2011. Tous les enfants reçus pour une urgence urologique ont été inclus. RÉSULTATS: Les urgences urologiques représentaient 2,57% des urgences chirurgicales pédiatriques. L'âge moyen des patients était de 4,5 ans avec des extrêmes de 10 jours et de 15 ans. Nous avons noté 29 cas de grosses bourses aigues dont 15 hernies étranglées et 10 suspicions de torsion du cordon spermatique. Les autres motifs d'admission étaient représentés par 3 cas de rétentions aigues d'urine, 2 cas de pyélonéphrites, 2 cas de sections de gland post circoncision, 2 cas de paraphimosis, 1 cas de phimosis serré, 1 cas de traumatisme pénien. L'échographie scrotale réalisée chez 6 patients avait une spécificité de 66,6%. Soixante pour cent des hernies compliquées ont été réduites par taxis sous sédation. Deux orchidectomies ont été effectuées pour nécrose testiculaire. CONCLUSION: la grosse bourse aigue est le 1er motif de consultation en urologie pédiatrique. Elle implique une prise en charge rapide et adéquate pour ne pas passer à coté d'une souffrance testiculaire ou digestive.

[Peritonitis following gastroduodenal ulcer perforation disease in children: report of 4 cases]. / Les péritonites par perforation d'ulcère gastroduodénal chez l'enfant : à propos de 4 observations.

Peritonitis due to gastroduodenal ulcer perforation disease is a rare entity in pediatric surgery. In Senegal, no study has been dedicated to ulcer complications in children. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of perforated peptic ulcer in patients less than 15 years old. This retrospective study was conducted in the Surgical Emergencies and Paediatric Surgery Department at Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital Center in Dakar, Senegal, during a period of 11 years (January 1999 to December 2010). We found 4 children who presented perforated gastroduodenal ulcer: 3 females and 1 male. The average age of these patients was 9 years (range, 7-14 years). No family history was found. We noted 3 cases of perforated duodenal ulcer and one perforated gastric ulcer. The clinical diagnosis was suspected based on a peritoneal irritation syndrome. A plain x-ray of the abdomen was taken in all patients, which objectified a pneumoperitoneum image in 3 cases. The leukocytosis was constant. Treatment in all patients consisted on pre-, intra-, and postoperative intensive care, supra- and infraumbilical midline laparotomy, which allowed us to perform a debridement-suture of the gap followed by epiploplasty and extensive washing with lukewarm physiologic serum. Adjuvant therapy based on anti-ulcer and antibiotic therapy was initiated. Bacteriological examination of peritoneal fluid isolated a polymicrobial flora. Helicobacter pylori was not isolated. Histological examination of the biopsied perforation edges showed a benign ulcer in all cases. The follow-up endoscopy was performed 4 weeks after surgery and showed cicatrization of the ulcer in all patients. After a mean of 2 years, no recurrence was noted. The gastric or duodenal ulcer in children is rare. It is often discovered at the stage of perforation, a complication for which the essential treatment is surgery. Routine screening would certainly help to reduce the risk of this complication.

Cοngenital diaphragmatic hernia in dakar, senegal.

BACKGROUND: Congential diaphragmatic herniae pose serious challenges in their management in this environment.Aim & Objective: To determine the pattern, as well as the diagnostic and management challenges of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in Dakar, Senegal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 14 children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) managed within eleven years in Dakar, Senegal. RESULTS: There were nine boys and five girls with the age range of one day to 22 months and a mean of 5 months. Respiratory signs (respiratory distress, cough, current pulmonary infection) were found in 13 patients and gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, Difficulty sucking, anorexia) in 6 patients. The thoracic-abdominal radiography was performed in all patients and revealed a Bochdalek hernia on the left in 10(71%) cases and 4(29%) were Morgagni hernia. Treatment was by repair of the diaphragmatic defect with non-absorbable sutures. The postoperative course was uneventful in 13 children while one patient died on the first postoperative day one. CONCLUSION: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia presents mainly with postnatal respiratory features in this setting. Thoracic-abdominal radiography allows for early diagnosis, prompt and effective treatment with good outcome. KEYWORDS: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Respiratory insufficiency, Radiological features, Good surgical outcome.

Osteogenesis imperfecta in a pediatric surgical center in dakar, senegal: clinical and radiological aspects.

INTRODUCTION: Osteogenesis imperfecta presents with a set of constitutional disorders of varying severity, genetically determined and characterized by an abnormal production of collagen and matrix of the bone leading to bone fragility responsible for multiple fractures and many skeletal deformities. The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical and radiological aspects of the pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 10 cases of children with osteogenesis imperfecta who consulted the Pediatric Surgery Unit of the University Center Aristide Le Dantec Hospital over a period of 6 years. The parameters analyzed were the reasons for consultation, physical examination findings and findings on standard radiographs. After collecting all the data, children were divided according to the classification of Silence and Glorieux. RESULTS: Pain was the reason for consultation in eight children. The saber blade deformity of the legs was found in nine children. Physical examination found tenderness in 80% of cases. Blue sclera was found in one child. The teeth were normal in eight patients. Standard radiographs showed an osteopenic skeleton with multiple fractures (3.7 fractures on the average) associated with vicious callus formation and deformity. According to the classification of Silence and Glorieux, six children were type VI, two children type IV, a child type III and one type I. CONCLUSION: Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare disease. In our environment, the diagnosis is made late - a stage associated with deformity. Of these, the occurrence of sabber deformity of the lower limbs is the most common. Radiological aspects are dominated by vicious callus formation, deformed bones and osteopenia. Moderate forms are predominant. Parents need to be educated about the risk of repeat fractures and the need to present deformed children to hospital early.

Aphallia: a case report and literature review.

Aphallia is a complex urogenital malformation. It is rarely described in literature. Treatment calls upon feminising genitoplasty in most cases. Authors describe a case in a neonate, insisting on the sociocultural realities which guided their indications.

[Risk factors for neonatal mortality. The pediatric surgery service, Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital, Dakar]. / Facteurs de mortalite neonatale dans le service de Chirurgie Pediatrique du Chu Aristide le Dantec de Dakar.

OBJECTIVES: To determine neonatal mortality factors at the paediatric surgeon service in Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective study of 245 cases collected between January 1997 and December 2006 at the paediatric surgeon service, the surgery emergency and intensive care unit of Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital. We studied the age, sex, geographical origins, consultation time, weight at birth, evacuation means to the reference medical structure, consultation motives, clinical diagnosis, associated malformations, treatment methods, surgery follow ups and death causes. RESULTS: The neonatal death rate at the paediatric surgery service was 36.7 %. Our patients' average age was eight days. A masculine predominance was observed with a 1.57 sex ratio. The average admission time was 08 days. Sixty-five per cent (65%) of our patients came from suburbs. Thirty-eight per cent were transported by an ambulance from a health centre. Fifty-three per cent (53%) weighed less than 2,500 grams at birth. The occlusive syndrome was the commonest reason for consultation (38.5 %). The most frequently observed pathology was the ano-rectal malformations. Associated malformations were observed in 12% of the cases. The majority of the patients (52%) died before the surgical operation after an average duration of 5 days. The commonest causes of death are the digestive malformations (66%). CONCLUSION: Male newborn babies, aged less than 8 days are the most vulnerable age group. The lack of hospital transportation means, the weak weight at birth, the caring time and the digestive pathologies are other factors of wrong diagnosis. A multidisciplinary collaboration, the improvement of the technical capacity and of the available emergency therapeutic means and the creation of an intensive paediatric care unit would certainly contribute to lower the mortality rate.