New factors affecting wound healing and recurrence after pilonidal sinus surgery in adolescents; seborrheic dermatitis and psychiatric co-occurring conditions.

Postoperative wound healing problems and recurrence remain common for pilonidal sinus disease (PSD). Our study aimed to examine the effect of comorbidities in addition to the classic known factors that may affect wound complications and recurrence after PSD surgery. We retrospectively analysed 282 adolescent patients operated on in our clinic between 2014 and 2021. We gathered the postoperative wound healing patterns of the patients under four groups. With a mean age of 15.49 ± 1.45, 59.9% (n = 169) were male, 40.1% (n = 113) were female and 23.8% (n = 67) had recurrence. When examined according to the wound healing groups, 53.5% (n = 151) had an uneventful wound, 22.6% (n = 64) had prolonged wound care, 17.7% (n = 50) of the postoperative wounds did not close and had a recurrence and 6% (n = 17) had recurrence after the wound was healed. The number of sinuses, abscess presentation and the incidence of comorbid disease in group 1 were found to be statistically significantly lower than all other groups. Seborrheic dermatitis, obesity and psychiatric diagnoses showed high statistical association with group 3 and acne with group 4. In patients with seborrheic dermatitis or psychiatric diagnosis, a significant correlation was found between wound healing according to the type of surgery (p < 0.05). The wound healing patterns of these patients after total excision and primary closure surgeries were included in Group 3 with a statistically significant high rate. As two new factors, the significance of the presence of seborrheic dermatitis and psychiatric comorbidities should be evaluated in these patients whose wounds remain open postoperatively and do not respond to primary wound care and eventually relapse. Further histologic and pathologic investigations are needed for seborrheic dermatitis and PSD relation. Awareness of these diseases may change the decision of the type of surgery, and their treatment within the same time may support wound healing and ultimately reduce recurrence.

Foley catheter technique for the extraction of coins lodged in the upper esophagus of children.

INTRODUCTION: Coins are the most commonly ingested foreign bodies in children. They usually become lodged in the upper oesophagus and should be managed immediately. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with coins lodged in the upper oesophagus, who underwent coin removal using a silicone Foley balloon catheter without fluoroscopy or anaesthesia and evaluate the safety of the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who were admitted from January 2007 to December 2022 for coins lodged in the oesophagus and extracted with silicone Foley balloon catheter without anestehesia were evaluated retrospectively. We focused on the patient characteristics and clinical presentations, and the treatment safety, efficacy, and outcomes. RESULTS: 773 patients (416 male, 357 female), with a mean age of 3.5 years (range 6 months to 16 years), who ingested coin and extracted with Foley catether is included. The majority of patients (n = 728, 94.17%) were successfully managed by silicone Foley balloon catheter extraction. Our overall success was 94.17%, with 88.30% of coins retrieved and 5.9% pushed into the stomach. Patients who were successfully treated with Foley catheter were discharged on the same day except for 7 (0.90%) who had minimal bleeding. Only 45 (5.82%) patients required oesophagoscopy in the operating room and these patients were kept overnight for clinical follow-up, without any further interventions. CONCLUSION: A Foley balloon catheter can be used to safely and effectively remove coins that are lodged in the upper oesophagus avoiding the risk of general anesthesia.

Low-Grade Injury following Testicular Torsion: A Multicenter Study Confirming a Disturbing Possibility.

INTRODUCTION: There is an ongoing debate whether to perform orchiectomy or orchidopexy following testicular torsion (TT) in cases where the testis seems non-viable. The main problem is lack of objective criteria defining testicular viability. The aim of this study was to investigate the grade of injury in orchiectomy specimens obtained from cases of TT and its association with clinical findings. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study involved double-blinded reassessment of the patient files and the pathological specimens using Mikuz classification to analyze the relation between clinical and pathological findings. RESULTS: A total of 289 patient charts from 14 centers were reviewed and 228 were included in this study. Twenty (8.8%) patients had grade 1 injury which refers to reversible injury. The clinical findings of these 20 patients were compared to 208 patients with higher grades of injury. As expected, there was statistically significant difference regarding duration of symptoms (p < 0.001); however, range was wide in both groups (as long as 96 h for grade 1 and as short as 7 h for higher grades). There was no statistically significant difference in any other variable including age (median 14 for both, p = 0.531), symptoms (pain: 19/20 vs. 189/202, p = 0.801; swelling: 13/19 vs. 168/197, p = 0.094), absence of blood flow in Doppler US (15/19 vs. 164/197, p = 0.635), or degree of torsion (median 720° for both, p = 0.172). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed necessity for better criteria to define viability of testis following TT. Histopathological injury appeared to be reversible even in some patients with more severe perioperative findings, late admission, or high degree of twisting. Our findings support the tendency for testicular fixation instead of orchiectomy as none of the clinical or perioperative findings could be attributed to high-grade injury.

Non­syndromic first case of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma originating from the umbilical left medial ligament: A case report.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children. The present study reports the case of a 2-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and a palpable abdominal mass. Radiological investigations failed to reveal the tissue origin of the mass and a tru-cut biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of embryonal RMS. Surgical excision was performed after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The pelvic end of the mass was observed to continue with the left medial umbilical ligament. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and follow-up imaging showed no evidence of recurrence. Τhe present case report is the first non-syndromic case with left umbilical medial ligament-originated RMS.

Laparoscopic Repair of Morgagni Hernia in Children.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate our patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted transabdominal repair for Morgagni hernia (MH). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair using loop sutures for MH between March 2010 and April 2021. Demographic data, symptoms, operative findings, operation methods, and postoperative complications of the patients were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 22 patients with MH were treated with laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair using loop suture. There were 6 girls (27.2%) and 16 boys (72.7%). Two patients had Down syndrome, and two patients had cardiac defects (secundum atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale). One patient had a V-P shunt due to hydrocephalus. One patient had cerebral palsy. The mean operation time was 45 min (30-86 min). The hernia sac was not removed, and a patch was not used in any of the patients. The mean hospitalization time was 1.7 days (1-5 days). One patient's defect was very large, and another patient's liver was densely attached to the liver sac, causing bleeding during dissection. In total, two patients were converted to open surgery. There was no recurrence during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair is an efficient and safe choice for the repair of MH. Leaving the hernia sac does not increase the recurrence, so there is no need to dissect the sac.

A rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children trichobezoar: How to diagnose?

BACKGROUND: Trichobezoar is a rare clinical condition in children, which is caused by the accumulation of swallowed hair mass in the digestive tract. This condition is most common in young women with psychiatric histories who suffer from trichotillomania (TTM), where they have an irresistible urge to pull out their hair. Diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, which is already extremely rare, and its variable clinical presentations are challenging. The aim of this study was to increase awareness of trichobezoar in the differential diagnosis of signs of intestinal obstruction in children and to evaluate the diagnosis and management of this rare pathology. METHODS: The clinical data of six patients who were treated for trichobezoars in the pediatric surgery department of our hospital between 2009 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Six female patients were treated with the diagnosis of trichobezoar during this period. Patients were diagnosed with the help of anamnesis, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography (USG), and finally, endoscopy. USG can predict the intestinal wall infiltration and the tail extended to the duodenum through pylorus in the series. All patients were evaluated with contrast-enhanced abdominal radiography. Five surgical interventions were performed in four of the cases. In a case who underwent surgery twice, the distal intestinal satellite bezoar was not noticed in the first operation. Two patients were diagnosed to have trichobezoar, but surgery was not required. These patients were younger and had early-onset TTM (before 10 years old). The patients were followed for an average of 10.8 years and no recurrence was detected. CONCLUSION: Trichobezoar is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in children with fatal complications when diagnosed late. Failure to follow an algorithm for the management of the disease causes difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment. Especially in pa-tients with a known psychiatric history, whole abdominal USG and laparoscopy performed with awareness can prevent unnecessary examinations.

Can Percutaneous Internal Ring Suturing Procedure Take the Place of Open Method in the Surgical Treatment of Girls with Inguinal Hernia?

Objectives: Percutaneous internal ring suturing (PIRS) method for inguinal hernia (IH) repair in girls is increasingly used in clinics especially experienced in minimal invasive surgery. We aimed to evaluate and compare our results of laparoscopic PIRS and the open procedure for IH repair in girls in our series. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated female patients in our pediatric surgery clinic who underwent IH surgery between 2012 and 2017 and results were assessed statistically. Results: We identified 293 girls operated in our clinic with IH. In 164 of them, PIRS procedure (group 1) was performed; 73 had right, 26 had left, and 65 (39.6%) had bilateral IH. Among these 65 patients, 16 had only right and 11 had only left IH according to preoperative examination, which turned out to be bilateral during laparoscopy. In the open surgery group (Group II), there were 129 patients. Seventy-eight patients had right, 38 had left, and 13 (10%) had bilateral IH. Sliding fallo-pian tubes were present in seven of Group I versus 21 of group II (p<0.001), while sliding ovaries were present in seven of Group I versus 16 of Group II (p=0.015). Recurrence was observed in only one patient in Group I (p>0.05). Conclusion: The higher rate of bilaterality is still the problem for laparoscopic procedures. Despite over-diagnosis, no more complications were not detected due to PIRS. High ratio of sliding tubes and ovaries can be due to traction for preparing the sac in open surgery. Hematoma can be a serious problem to complete PIRS procedure. Preferred technique from the surgeon's point of view is in favor of PIRS procedure. In addition, PIRS pro-cedure can be more protective for internal genitalia, but more studies with higher numbers and longer follow-up period are needed.

The Cause of an Unusual Abdominal Pain in Children: Splenic Torsiyon - Three Case Report.

Splenic torsion is a rare cause of abdominal pain that may develop due to laxity or absence of the ligaments that stabilize the spleen. A torsioned spleen may present with an acute abdomen clinically and may require urgent surgical intervention. We aimed to discuss three pediatric cases who applied to our clinic with acute abdomen symptoms after splenic torsion and their treatment approaches. Case 1: A 10-year-old female patient presented with complaints of progressive abdominal pain and non-bilious vomiting. On examination, there was abdominal tenderness and palpable fullness in the left lower quadrant. Imaging methods were compatible with splenic torsion. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. Case 2: A 4-year-old girl presented with complaints of abdominal pain and non-bilious vomiting. On examination, diffuse tenderness in the abdomen and defense-rebound were positive. Imaging methods were compatible with splenic torsion. On exploration, it was observed that the spleen was torsioned in different directions around the double pedicle. Splenectomy was performed. Case 3: A 5-year-old male patient was operated in another hospital with the complaint of abdominal pain, with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, with open surgery. However, there was no improvement in the patient's symptoms after surgery. The patient was consulted to our clinic on the 5th post-operative day. Imaging methods were found to be compatible with splenic torsion. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. In the pediatric population, splenic torsion can cause acute or chronic abdominal pain of unknown cause. Splenopexy should be the first goal of treatment in torsion, but splenectomy is the only treatment option in complicated cases and laparoscopy can be used safely even in complicated cases.

Our treatment approaches in recurrent chronic intussusceptions.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction between 6 months and 36 months of age. There is no defined etiology in at least 75-90% of patients. Recurrent intussusception occurs in 5-16% of all intussusceptions and the treatment strategy is controversial in this patient group. The treatment of continued recurrent intussusception is a challenging problem when no lead point is revealed despite recurrence. METHODS: We aimed to review our 10 years of experience in recurrent intussusception and describe a new operative technique for recurrent intussusception cases without any lead points. RESULTS: We, retrospectively, reviewed the data of patients with recurrent intussusception in our referral pediatric surgery clinic between 2007 and 2017. Ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (UGHR) was performed on all patients. Surgery was performed on those patients who had findings of acute abdomen and complete intestinal obstruction or two failed attempts of UGHR for diagnostic purposes if a pathologic lead point was suspected based on patient findings and age. Laparoscopy or laparotomy was performed according to surgeon preference and experience. A total of 87 UGHRs were performed. Thirty-three patients were admitted to our clinic due to recurrent intussusception. The mean age was 12.75±14.14 (6-84) months, and 19 were male and 14 were female. Abdominal pain, agitation, and vomiting were common symptoms. UGHR was performed on all 33 patients on at least two different occasions. The time between the first and second UGHR treatments was 42.6±186.19 (0-899) days. The success rate of the second UGHR was 27 out of 33 patients (81.8%). Surgery was performed on six patients. Laparoscopy-assisted ileal folding and fixation to the cecal wall was performed on one patient with recurrent intussusceptions. Appendectomy was performed first, and then, ileal folding with cecal fixation was performed using 4/0 polyglactin sutures. The sutures were placed between the serosal layers of the adjacent terminal ileal loops and the cecal wall. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should try to find permanent solutions for patients with multiple recurrent intussusceptions that are resistant to treatment. Surgical excision of the lead point will help prevent recurrent intussusception. Satisfactory results can also be obtained by UGHR even in patients with recurrences. Laparoscopy is helpful in diagnosis, detection of lead points, and treatment of irreducible intussusception. This new operative technique can be satisfactory for recurrent intussusceptions without any lead points.

Late Intraluminal Stent Application in Strictures due to Corrosive Esophagitis: Our Preliminary Experiences.

OBJECTIVES: Household chemicals result in corrosive esophageal burns in the developing third world countries, and most of them cause esophageal strictures. There is no standard treatment for esophageal strictures. Here, we present our preliminary experience with intraluminal esophageal stents for stricture treatment. METHODS: The files of the patients who had stenosis due to corrosive esophagitis in our clinic were evaluated retrospectively. Stricture lengths were between 30 and 130 mm. Stents were self-expandable, made of nitinol alloy that was covered with silicone, and they were cylindrical in shape with a conical tip. The lengths varied between 60 and 170 mm and the diameters were between 10-20 mm. The stent application was made under general anaesthesia. RESULTS: There were seven patients (four girls and three boys). After stent application, all patients experienced constant or temporary pain, vomiting, and difficulty in swallowing. Bleeding occurred in one patient. Sudden death occurred in one patient, probably as a complication of chest infection. All stents had to be removed in mean 38 days because of embedding of the stent, development of granulation tissue and intolerance. CONCLUSION: More research is needed to determine the type, length and diameter of the stent, the timing and the duration of the application, the length and level of the stricture suitable for stent application and medications during treatment.

Our Experience with Laparoscopic Pyloromyotomy in Patients with Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aim to discuss our experience with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy in patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) and skills development throughout our learning curve. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from 15 patients with IHPS who underwent laparoscopic pyloromyotomy between 2016 and 2019 in our clinic. Evolution in operation techniques, peroperative and postoperative surgical complications were analysed. RESULTS: In this research, 15 patients (male-to-female ratio:2.7/1) were studied. The median age at presentation was 36.5 days (25-100 days). Non-bilious projectile vomiting was seen in all of the patients, and in eight cases, marked failure to thrive was seen. Situs inversus totalis was seen in one of the cases as an associated anomaly, no other anomalies were noted. A palpable olive-shaped mass was found in only 33% of infants (five cases). A patient was detected to have no IHPS peroperatively. One of the cases was converted to open technique due to peroperative technical difficulties. A patient underwent 2nd operation due to incomplete pyloromyotomy. The duration of the first and last cases was 110 mins and 35 mins, respectively. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach in patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis can result in good postoperative outcomes and satisfying surgery in the hands of surgeons who perform minimally invasive surgery routinely.

Thoracoscopic Resection in the Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the patients with primer spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) who were treated with thoracoscopic resection. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of the patients with a spontaneous pneumothorax who were operated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) between 2010 and 2016. RESULTS: During the study period, 10 patients applied to our hospital with spontaneous pneumothorax. Five children (three boys, two girls) with a mean age of 16.6 (16-17) were selected with VATS. Three of the patients had bleb, one of the patients had Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM) type 2, and the last one had chronic emphysematous tissue on pathological analyses. Post-operative follow-up time was 2.2 (1-4) years without any complication. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a disease especially seen in puberty. The main reasons are apical segment bullae formation and blebs. VATS is especially advantageous to reach apical segments and for easy resections. Blebs, CCAM and emphysematous lung tissue may cause spontaneous pneumothorax.

Assessment of Patients with Hirschsprung Disease and the Use of Laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate patients who were diagnosed and treated due to Hirschsprung disease (HD) in our clinic. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the demographic and clinical findings of the patients with HD, who were operated in our clinic between January 2010 and December 2015. RESULTS: During study period, 28 patients (19 male 9 female) were found to be operated due to HD in our clinic. Mean age was 16.8 months (1-168). "Transanal Endorectal Pull-through (TERPT)" was performed to 20 of them, Duhamell procedure to five and Soave procedure to three of them. TERPT was applied as laparoscopy assisted in four of them and biopsies were taken laparoscopically preoperatively from one of the patients from each group. Soave procedure was performed in three patients; one had anal stenosis and history of recurrent enterocolitis after TERPT procedure and pathologic analysis revealed neuronal intestinal dysplasia and the other one had total colonic HD and performed Soave procedure with colonic patch. Seven (25%) patients had enterocolitis. Frequencies of enterocolitis were three in two patients, two in two patients and one in three patients. Broad spectrum anibiotics and rectal washouts were supplied to these patients. Five of the seven patients with enterocolitis were operated with TERPT; two patients were operated with Duhamell procedure. Only one of them had total colonic HD. Three patients had total colonic HD diagnosis. Two of them were operated with Duhamell-Martin procedure and one was with Soave procedure with colonic patch according to Kimura technique. Anal stenosis developed in two patients after TERPT and treated with dilatations. Soiling rate was 3% (1/28) and this single patient was treated with laxatives and toilet training. Mean duration of hospitalization was 8.75 (2-14) days. Mean length of the removed intestinal segment was 23.6 (5-38) cm. Mean follow-up was for 35.5 (2-56) months. Neither of the patients was followed in the intensive care unit postoperatively nor died. CONCLUSION: TERPT procedure win priority in HD, but other procedures keep importance. Recently, laparoscopy-assisted TERPT is preferred in our clinic in HD therapy due to easy biopsy, full exposure to the transitional zone, the advantage of meso preparation of colon and prevention of strained anastomosis.

Evaluation of Neurotoxicity of Multiple Anesthesia in Children Using Visual Evoked Potentials.

OBJECTIVES: Anesthetic applications may cause increased neuronal damage in infants and children. Commonly cognitive or learning disability tests were used to investigate the neurological progress in children. Visual Evoked Potential is a gross electrical signal generated by the occipital regions of the cerebral cortex in response to visual stimulation and an objective assessment of brain function. In this study, to acquire more objective results, Visual Evoked Potential responses of children who had multiple exposures to anesthesia during the treatment of corrosive esophagitis were compared to children who have never received anesthesia before. METHODS: In this prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled study, 25 children, who were admitted to our pediatric surgery clinic because of corrosive esophagitis and who received general anesthesia more than 15 times composed Group-P; 25 children, who admitted to our well-child-clinic and who had never received anesthesia before consisted Group-C. The flash and pattern VEP responses of both groups were measured at the electrophysiology laboratory without any anesthetic drug application. The VEP responses of children in Group-P were recorded at least three days after the last exposure to anesthesia. RESULTS: Latencies and amplitudes of the N2 and P2 components of the pattern and flash VEP responses were statistically significantly different between the two groups (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: This study shows that in children who had repeated anesthetic applications VEP parameters are significantly altered. We believe that VEP responses may be a reliable objective criterion for the evaluation of anesthesia neurotoxicity.