Mortality risk factors among critically ill children with MIS-C in PICUs: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. RESULTS: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. IMPACT: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes. Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management. High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality.

The effect of circumcision on the frequency of urinary tract infection, growth and nutrition status in infants with antenatal hydronephrosis.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of circumcision on the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI), growth development, and the nutrition status in infants with antenatal hydronephrosis (AH). The data were collected prospectively between 1998 and 2010. Infants with a fetal pelvis diameter of >5 mm identified with antenatal ultrasound were followed-up. Body height and weight were expressed as HZ scores (observed height - median height/standard deviation) and WZ scores (observed weight - median weight/Standard deviation). The nutritional status was evaluated and the body weight was transformed to a weight-for-height index (WHI = weight/median weight for the height age × 100). The HZ and WZ scores or WHI were calculated for each patient at the first and last visits. The chi-square and Student's t tests were used for statistical analysis. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. The study included 178 (134 males, 44 females) patients. Of these, 29 were diagnosed by vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), 87 by obstructive uropathy, and 54 by normal. Of 134 males, 111 infants were circumcised. The mean monitoring time was 45±24.9 months and the mean age of circumcision was 14 ± 16.06 months. The pre-circumcision UTI frequency (2.97 ± 1.14/y) was significantly higher than post-circumcision period (0.25 ± 0.67/y) (p < 0.05). Also, pre-circumcision UTI frequency (2.97 ± 1.14/y) was significantly higher than the UTI frequency observed in female cases (0.85 ± 0.91/y) and in the overall study group (0.73 ± 0.79/y) (p < 0.05). In all patients, the HZ of the circumcised subjects (0.18 ± 1.01) was statistically higher than uncircumcised subjects (-0.26 ± 0.92) (p < 0.05). Although statistically insignificant, the HZ of the circumcised males (0.13 ± 1.24) with VUR was higher than the uncircumcised patients (0.03 ± 0.55) (p > 0.05). In obstructive uropathy groups, the HZ of the circumcised males (-0.13 ± 0.54) was also found to be higher than uncircumcised males (-0.49 ± 0.66) (p < 0.05). Although nutrition scores were found to be better in circumcised males, no statistically significant effect of circumcision on the nutrition status was detected. In conclusion, postnatal early circumcision of infants with AH seems to prevent frequent UTIs and nutritional disturbances enabling normal growth.

Assessment of the Clinical Course of Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus Infections in Pediatric Intensive Care.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the clinical course of human rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/EV) infections in the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: The study was conducted as a multicenter, prospective observational study from September 2022 to December 2022. Cases with positive polymerase chain reaction testing for HRV/EV of nasopharyngeal swab samples within the first 24 hours of pediatric intensive care unit admission were recorded. There were 2 groups: 1-24 months and >24 months. RESULTS: A total of 75 cases (39 male) were included in the study. The median age for all cases was 21 months. The highest polymerase chain reaction positivity rates were observed in October (37.33%). Among the cases, 32 (42.67%) presented with bronchopneumonia/pneumonia, 24 (32%) presented with acute bronchiolitis/bronchitis and 7 (9.33%) presented with sepsis/septic shock. The frequency of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome was found to be 6.67%. In the age group of 1-24 months, mean lymphocyte and liver enzyme levels were higher, while in the age group of >24 months, mean hemoglobin and mean kidney function test levels were higher ( P ≤ 0.05). Continuous oxygen therapy was provided to 65.3% of the cases, noninvasive ventilation to 33.3%, high-flow nasal cannula-oxygen therapy to 32% and invasive mechanical ventilation to 16%. CONCLUSIONS: HRV/EV infections primarily affect the respiratory system and generally exhibit a clinical course with low mortality rates (1, 1.3%). In cases with underlying chronic diseases, more severe clinical conditions such as pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock may occur.

Evaluation of nutritional status in pediatric intensive care unit patients: the results of a multicenter, prospective study in Turkey.

Introduction: Malnutrition is defined as a pathological condition arising from deficient or imbalanced intake of nutritional elements. Factors such as increasing metabolic demands during the disease course in the hospitalized patients and inadequate calorie intake increase the risk of malnutrition. The aim of the present study is to evaluate nutritional status of patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) in Turkey, examine the effect of nutrition on the treatment process and draw attention to the need for regulating nutritional support of patients while continuing existing therapies. Material and Method: In this prospective multicenter study, the data was collected over a period of one month from PICUs participating in the PICU Nutrition Study Group in Turkey. Anthropometric data of the patients, calorie intake, 90-day mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay and length of stay in intensive care unit were recorded and the relationship between these parameters was examined. Results: Of the 614 patients included in the study, malnutrition was detected in 45.4% of the patients. Enteral feeding was initiated in 40.6% (n = 249) of the patients at day one upon admission to the intensive care unit. In the first 48 h, 86.82% (n = 533) of the patients achieved the target calorie intake, and 81.65% (n = 307) of the 376 patients remaining in the intensive care unit achieved the target calorie intake at the end of one week. The risk of mortality decreased with increasing upper mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.871/0.894; p = 0.027/0.024). The risk of mortality was 2.723 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h (p = 0.006) and the risk was 3.829 times higher in patients who did not achieve the target calorie intake at the end of one week (p = 0.001). The risk of mortality decreased with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score (OR = 0.894; p = 0.024). Conclusion: Timely and appropriate nutritional support in critically ill patients favorably affects the clinical course. The results of the present study suggest that mortality rate is higher in patients who fail to achieve the target calorie intake at first 48 h and day seven of admission to the intensive care unit. The risk of mortality decreases with increasing triceps skin fold thickness Z-score.

Evaluation of oxidative stress in children with congenital heart defects.

BACKGROUND: A significant cause of death and chronic illness in childhood is caused by cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart disease (CHD). This study aims to investigate the oxidative stress status and to establish its association with CHD in children. METHODS: The study involves measurements of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO), total anti-oxidant capacity, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen and cytokine (interleukin [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-α) levels in 43 children with CHD and 30 healthy age-matched children. RESULTS: MDA, PCO, hs-CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly elevated while total anti-oxidant capacity was significantly declined in patients compared with the controls. MDA was positively correlated with PCO, hs-CRP, Qp/Qs and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. PCO was positively correlated with hs-CRP, fibrinogen, IL-6 and systolic pulmonary artery pressure. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress and its association with other markers in children with CHD was established. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that PCO has been used as a biomarker in CHD and it may be employed as a new diagnostic biomarker in CHD and in the assessment of its severity.

[A retrospective investigation of clinical and laboratory findings in children with acute rheumatic fever, reactivation and compliance with prophylaxis]. / Akut romatizmal atesli çocuklarda klinik ve laboratuvar bulgularin geriye dönük olarak incelenmesi: Reaktivasyon ve koruyucu tedaviye uyumunun arastirilmasi

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to retrospectively investigate the patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) by evaluating their clinic and laboratory properties, echocardiographic findings as well as the reactivation and the compliance to penicillin prophylaxis. STUDY DESIGN: The study involved 255 patients (143 boys, 112 girls; mean age 10.1±2.7 years) with ARF. Their sex, age, clinic and laboratory properties, echocardiographic findings, the reactivation and the compliance to penicillin prophylaxis were recorded. RESULTS: Patients spent 13.3±4.3 days in the hospital, and 94 had a history of ARF. Arthritis was found in 233 patients, carditis in 166, Sydenham's chorea in 14, subcutaneous nodule in 2, and arthritis-carditis in 151 patients. Erythema marjinatum was not found in any patient. Arthralgia (n=15) and fever (n=246) were found in patients. Throat culture was positive in 94 patients and anti-streptolysin-O titers were high in 124 patients. Mitral involvement was found in 205 patients while the combination of mitral and aortic valve involvement were observed in 118 patients. CONCLUSION: ARF still continues to be a major public health problem in our country. A bad prognosis may be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment. The importance of appropriate prophylaxis should also be emphasized.

Clinical characteristics of firearm-related injuries in children in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of children are injured by or die from firearm-related incidents every year, although there is a lack of global data on the number of children admitted to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICU) with firearm injuries. This study is the most comprehensive analysis of firearm injuries sustained by children in Turkey to date. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was conducted between 2010 and 2020 with the contributions of the PEDs, PICUs, intensive care units, and surgery departments of university hospitals and research hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 508 children were admitted to hospital with firearm-related injuries in the research period, although the medical records of only 489 could be obtained. Of the total admissions to hospitals, 55.0% were identified as unintentional, 8.2% as homicide, 4.5% as self-harm, and 32.3% as undetermined. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and ventilation support were found to be the most significant predictors of mortality, while head/neck injury, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant predictors of disability. The overall mortality of firearm-related injuries was 6.3%, and the mortality for children admitted to the PICU was 19.8%. The probability of disability was calculated as 96.0% for children hospitalized with firearm injuries for longer than 75 days. CONCLUSIONS: Head/neck injury, LOS in the hospital, and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant parameters for the prediction of disability. Hospitalization exceeding 6 days was found to be related to disability.

Increased Severe Cases and New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Among Children Presenting With Diabetic Ketoacidosis During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic in Turkey.

Introduction: There have been some significant changes regarding healthcare utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of the reports about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes care are from the first wave of the pandemic. We aim to evaluate the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and new onset Type 1 diabetes presenting with DKA, and also evaluate children with DKA and acute COVID-19 infection. Methods: This is a retrospective multi-center study among 997 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who were admitted with DKA to 27 pediatric intensive care units in Turkey between the first year of pandemic and pre-pandemic year. Results: The percentage of children with new-onset Type 1 diabetes presenting with DKA was higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.0001). The incidence of severe DKA was also higher during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.0001) and also higher among children with new onset Type 1 diabetes (p < 0.0001). HbA1c levels, duration of insulin infusion, and length of PICU stay were significantly higher/longer during the pandemic period. Eleven patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, eight were positive for new onset Type 1 diabetes, and nine tested positive for severe DKA at admission. Discussion: The frequency of new onset of Type 1 diabetes and severe cases among children with DKA during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the cause of the increased severe presentation might be related to restrictions related to the pandemic; however, need to evaluate the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the increased percentage of new onset Type 1 diabetes.

A Retrospective Analysis of Children and Adolescents With Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Intensive Care Unit: Is It Significant that the Blood Ketone Level Becomes Negative in Diabetic Ketoacidosis?

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most common cause of acute morbidity and mortality in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Because DKA management is associated with complications, endocrine communities have published guidelines and attempted to set standards for DKA diagnosis and management worldwide. In this study, for the patients followed up in the intensive care unit who have been treated according to DKA protocols, clinical and laboratory characteristics, differences between new and old diagnosed patients, and results of treatment were evaluated. METHODS: The records of 67 patients hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit for the past two years were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were grouped as newly diagnosed and old diagnosed diabetics. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 8.66 ± 5.0 years (3 months to 17.9 years) and 39 (58.2%) were male. Forty-five patients (67.1%) presented with mild DKA and 22 (33.9%) with severe DKA. Fourteen (63.6%) of the severe DKA cases were newly diagnosed with T1DM. Six patients had hyponatremia (corrected serum Na level <135 mmol/L) and five had hypernatremia (serum Na level >145 mmol/L). Only one of the hyponatremic patients had severe acidosis, while four of the hypernatremic patients had severe acidosis. At the 14th hour, blood glucose levels were below 200 mg/dl, blood ketones became negative in 5.8 hours, and at 9.1 hours, blood pH and/or HCO3 levels were normalized, recovery criteria were completed, and subcutaneous (SC) insulin injection was started. Of the patients, 38 (56.7) were newly diagnosed with T1DM. The mean age of newly diagnosed T1DM patients was smaller (7.40 ± 4.96) than those with old diagnosis, respiratory rates (RRs) were higher and pCO2 levels were lower on admission. Blood glucose, blood ketone negativity, acidosis, and Glasgow coma score (GCS) scores of the newly diagnosed T1DM patients improved later than the previous diagnoses. Only one patient under two years of age with a pH of 6.89 was given HCO3. None of the patients had symptomatic brain edema and death. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, DKA is an acute and serious complication of diabetes, whose results are promising when managed only with minimal individual changes according to guidelines. Bicarbonate administration is not needed except in patients with very severe acidosis. Bedside blood ketone monitoring seems to be important because it allows for early enteral feeding.

Does endoluminal brushing eliminate the need for catheter removal in peritoneal dialysis patients with persistent peritonitis?

Recurrent and persistent peritonitis episodes are exhausting problems in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) and can lead to discontinuation of treatment. In the present report, we describe our clinical experience with endoluminal brushing (EB) in 3 pediatric patients with refractory peritonitis episodes maintained on chronic PD. The EB was performed on 4 occasions in 3 patients. Peritonitis resolved in 2 of the patients. The remaining patient required removal of the PD catheter. No adverse events have since been observed. Endoluminal brushing should be considered an option for the management of persistent peritonitis before catheter removal.

Unusual cause of hyperammonemia in two cases with short-term and long-term valproate therapy successfully treated by single dose carglumic acid.

Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug which is used in the treatment of various seizure disorders including tonic-clonic, myoclonic, absence, partial seizures and psychiatric disorders. VPA is usually well tolerated, but severe adverse effects may occur. Hyperammonaemic encephalopathy (HE) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of VPA treatment. The mechanism by which valproate induces hyperammonemia remains incompletely understood but is likely to relate to the urea cycle. Herein we present two cases with valproate-induced hyperammonemia at therapeutic valproate levels without signs of liver failure and were successfully treated by a single dose of carglumic acid.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Children in Endemic Areas of Turkey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major worldwide public health problems. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the seroprevalence and epidemiological profile of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, to determine the impact of the national vaccination programme against hepatitis B on the prevalence of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier and the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) occurrence rate among 0-14 year-old children in southeast Turkey. METHODS: The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers was evaluated retrospectively in a group of 10,391 children who were admitted to a tertiary hospital, the Diyarbakir Education and Research Hospital, from January 2005 to December 2008, in order to obtain a better understanding of the regional hepatitis seroprevalence. Children were divided into three different age groups: pre-education period (0-6 years), primary school period (7-12 years) and secondary school period (13-14 years). Samples were analyzed for HBsAg, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe), anti-HBs positive/antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) positive, isolated anti-HBs and antibodies to Hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The mean age of all participants was 8.5± 2 years (range, 0-14). The overall percentages for the prevalence of HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HCV were 8.1%, 2.1%, 5.9% and 0.5%, respectively. HBsAg seroprevalence differed significantly by age and gender (P < 0.001). HBeAg seroprevalence was high in the earliest years (P < 0.01). The overall prevalence of anti-HCV did not differ significantly by age (P > 0.5) but differed by gender (P < 0.001). The overall percentages for the prevalence of isolated anti-HBs and anti-HBs positive/anti-HBc positive were 34.2% and 56.9%,respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study sheds new light on hepatitis seroprevalence in southeastern Turkey. For example, 1) The seroprevalence of hepatitis B in southeast Turkey is still at its highest rate, according to the averages reported in other studies conducted in the same and different regions of Turkey; and it has not decreased, as reported previously. 2) HBeAg seroprevalence in the earliest years of childhood is high in our study; this is evidence for early acquisition of the infection.3) Isolated anti-HBs positive and anti-HBs positive/anti-HBc positive prevalence is high; given these features, it is obvious that despite the high incidence of vaccinated children, the prevalence of hepatitis B is increasing; and children acquire these viruses in their earliest years. 4) We found the overall prevalence of HCV infection unchanged. Our region has a low endemicity for HCV.

Significance of Postnatal Follow-up of Infants with Vesicoureteral Reflux Having Antenatal Hydronephrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and degree of renal parenchymal damage as well as the parameters of growth, development and nutritional status in antenatal hydronephrosis cases with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). METHODS: Infants, whose antenatal ultrasonography (US) showed a fetal renal pelvic diameter of 5 mm or greater were investigated. Of the 277 infants with antenatal HN, 36 [56 renal units (RUs)] were diagnosed with VUR. All cases with VUR were evaluated in terms of the frequency of UTIs, scars appearing on (99m)Technetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA), growth and development [height and weight standard deviation scores (HSDS and WSDS)], and nutritional status [relative weight (RW)]. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Chi-squared test. FINDINGS: Of these 36 patients with VUR, 25 (69.4%) were males and 11 (30.6%) females. Of the 56 RUs, 48 (85.7%) had severe VUR (≥ Grade III). The mean duration of postnatal follow-up was 37.8±24.50 months. The annual UTI frequency was found to be 1.25±0.83 episodes/year. Of these 36 infants, 32 (88.8%) recovered from VUR following either medical (17 patients, 47.2%) or surgical (15 patients, 41.6%) treatment. The initial DMSA showed parenchymal defects in 16 (44.4%) RUs, and 4 RUs showed recovery in the final DMSA. Although statistically insignificant (P>0.05), initial growth and development (HSDS: -0.17±0.86; WSDS: 0.00±0.14) and nutritional status (RW: 98.19±8.81) values gradually improved (0.05±1.06, 0.06±1.071 and 101.97±14.85, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postnatal early diagnosis and appropriate management of VUR in infants with antenatal hydronephrosis can prevent the occurrence of frequent UTIs, renal scarring and malnutrition, enabling normal growth and development.

Postnatal assessment of growth, nutrition, and urinary tract infections of infants with antenatally detected hydronephrosis.

The widespread utilization of prenatal ultrasonography and the detection of antenatal hydronephrosis (AH) have raised the importance of postnatal follow-up of these infants. In this study, we aimed to determine the importance of an early diagnosis for the treatment of urinary tract malformations (UTM) as well as the postnatal evaluation of growth and nutrition status and the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants with AH. We evaluated 246 infants (183 boys, 63 girls) whose routine antenatal scans showed an anterior-posterior pelvic diameter (APPD) ≥5 mm. Of the 246 patients, 175 (71.1%) were found to be pathological and 71 were evaluated as normal after the follow-up period. The median follow-up periods of normal and abnormal cases were 45.7 and 43.4 months, respectively. All cases with or without UTM were evaluated in terms of UTI, scars on DMSA, growth [Height Z score (HZ), Weight Z score (WZ)] and nutrition [Weight height index (WHI)] status. The annual UTI frequency was higher in cases with UTM (1.32 ± 1.66 episode/year) than in cases without abnormality (0.27 ± 0.67 episode/year) (P < 0.001). The postnatal evaluation of growth and nutritional status in children with UTM (mean WHI, HZ, and WZ scores: 96.82 ± 10.21, 0.03 ± 0.54 and 0.04 ± 0.61, respectively) was found to be significantly worse than in cases without abnormality (102.25 ± 9.84, 0.14 ± 0.64 and 0.24 ± 0.76, respectively), (P < 0.05). In abnormal patients, the mean WHI, HZ, and WZ were significantly improved to 101.63 ± 9.75, 0.26 ± 1.07, and 0.28 ± 0.98, respectively, and HZ or WZ scores were found to be similar when compared to normals. In conclusion, postnatal early management of infants with AH seems to prevent frequent UTIs and nutritional disturbances enabling normal growth.

Percutaneous nephrostomy in children: diagnostic and therapeutic importance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) in terms of diagnostic and therapeutic approach in children with urological problems. PN was performed on 39 kidneys in 28 patients (12 girls, 16 boys) aged 4.5 months to 13 years (average 5.38+/-3.41 years) during the period from January 1996 to December 2003. Underlying abnormalities were ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in 14 patients (17 kidneys), ureterovesical junction obstruction (UVJO) in six patients (eight kidneys), supravesical obstruction due to tumour or hydatid cyst or ureteral stone in three patients (five kidneys), and severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) with/without neurogenic bladder associated with pyonephrotic kidneys in five patients (nine kidneys). The duration of catheter insertion was between 2 and 160 days (average 80+/-65.01 days). The complications were haematuria (six cases), infection (five cases) and displacement of catheter (four cases). Radical surgical management was performed in 25 patients (33 kidneys): pyeloplasty in eight cases (ten kidneys), UVJO correction in six cases (eight kidneys), nephrectomy in five cases (five kidneys), ureteroneocystostomy in four cases (seven kidneys), hydatid cyst operation in one case (two kidneys) and stone extraction in one case (one kidney). PN is an easy, safe and efficient diagnostic and therapeutic procedure with few complications in childhood.

Postnatal management of infants with antenatally detected hydronephrosis.

With the increasing use of antenatal sonography, fetal hydronephrosis has been reported more frequently. Because of the lack of consensus regarding treatment of these infants, the postnatal approach toward fetal renal pelvis enlargement remains controversial. The aim of this prospective study is to demonstrate the postnatal investigation, treatment, and outcome of infants with prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis. Infants whose antenatal ultrasound scan showed a fetal renal pelvis of 5 mm or greater were investigated postnatally using ultrasound (US) and voiding cystourethrography. When indicated, isotope studies and intravenous urograms were also performed. We followed prospectively neonates with antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis and recommended management guidelines on the basis of our findings. In 156 neonates (193 kidney units) that were found to have hydronephrosis, the average gestational age at which the diagnosis was made was 32.94+/-5.10 weeks. The mean duration of postnatal follow-up was 26.3+/-13.56 months (range 3-60 months). The mean APPD of the fetal renal pelvis was 10.35+/-3.24 mm (5-9 mm in 84 kidneys, 10-14 mm in 96 kidneys and > or =15 mm in 13 kidneys). Of the 193 kidney units, 145 units were found to be pathological. The most common detected underlying abnormalities were ureteropelvic junction obstruction (in 91 kidneys; 62.7%) and vesicoureteral reflux (in 24 kidneys; 16.6%). Postnatally, 23 (45%) of 51 patients whose first US was normal were diagnosed postnatally as having urinary tract abnormality. There was a negative correlation between APPD and the rate of spontaneous resolution and positive correlation between APPD and the rate of surgery (P<0.01). In conclusion, because it is not possible to determine an upper limit of normal for the antenatal renal pelvis, any baby with AH should not be considered clinically insignificant. Infants with antenatal renal pelvis measurements > or =5 mm should be investigated postnatally. A normal postnatal ultrasound scan does not preclude the presence of urinary tract abnormality.