[Laparoscopic assisted percutaneous treatment of inguinal hernia in infants]. / Tratamiento percutáneo asistido por laparoscopia de la hernia inguinal infantil.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to the generalization of minimally invasive surgery in pediatric patients some classic techniques are being replaced. Inguinal hernia repair may be an example. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present the technique and our first results in 10 patients treated by percutaneous laparoscopic assisted herniotomy. For this purpose we used an umbilical port, for a 5 mm camera and an optional 2 mm grasper. By laparoscopic guidance we make two inguinal punctures with a 20G needle that introduces a non absorbable suture that crosses the whole inguinal defect and allows it closure by extracorporeal knot tying. RESULTS: The ages ranged between 1 month and 8 years with a median age of 10 months. 50% of the patients were boys. 50% of the patients had previous diagnosis of inguinal bilateral hernia. 30% of patients presented a postoperatory diagnosis different from the previous one. The average time of intervention was 32 minutes in bilateral hernias, and 19 in the unilateral ones. Follow-up time was 6 months without complications. The aesthetic result was ideal. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous laparoscopic assisted herniotomy is an effective, simple and feasible option for inguinal hernia in chidren without a high rate of complications.

[Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in Wilms tumor]. / Nefroureterectomía laparoscópica en el tumor de Wilms.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive surgery (CMI) for the treatment of malignant tumors in children begins to have a role for selected cases and reaches similar results than open surgery. We show our first two cases of Wilms tumor treated by laparoscopy describing patients and technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three-year-old girl with macroscopic hematuria is diagnosed of 8 cm mass in the left kidney suggesting Wilms tumor. After 4 weeks of chemotherapy she went under laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. The histological result was Wilms tumor. Chemotherapy was completed seven more months. Five-year-old patient with abdominal pain is diagnosed of renal right mass suggesting Wilms tumor. After 4 weeks of chemotherapy the laparoscopic nephroureterectomy was performed. The histological result was Wilms tumor. Treatment was completes with postoperatory chemotherapy. RESULTS: After 1 year follow-up both patients have clinical and radiological absence of disease. CONCLUSION: The CMI in selected cases of Wilms tumor fulfills successfully the aims of the surgical treatment.

Carotid glomus in childhood: presentation of a clinical case. / Glomus carotídeo en la infancia. Presentación de un caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: Carotid glomus is an exceptional extra-adrenal paraganglioma in childhood originating at the carotid body. Only 3% of paragangliomas occur in the head and the neck. Familial forms, associated with Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) gene mutations, account for 10% of cases, the proportion being higher in childhood. They are benign in 95% of patients, but they can extend to both carotids. Treatment is surgical with or without previous embolization. Metastasis is rare and associated with malignant cases, which are limited. CLINICAL CASE: 8-year-old patient with a cervical mass originating 4 months ago and normal serum levels. Regarding family history, she had an aunt who underwent cervical surgery. Ultrasound examination demonstrated a greatly vascularized hypoechoic mass most likely related to carotid glomus. Full surgical resection without embolization was decided upon, which proved uneventful. The genetic study was positive for SDH gene mutation. CONCLUSION: Carotid glomus in childhood should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cervical masses. Surgical treatment without previous embolization represents a safe therapeutic option in selected cases.

INTRODUCCION: El glomus carotídeo es un paraganglioma extraadrenal, excepcional en la infancia, cuyo origen es el cuerpo carotídeo. Solo el 3% de los paragangliomas se presentan en cabeza y cuello. Existe un 10% de formas familiares asociadas a mutaciones en el gen de la succinato deshidrogenasa (SDH), porcentaje que es mayor en la infancia. Son tumores benignos en un 95% de los pacientes, pero pueden afectar por extensión a ambas carótidas. Su tratamiento es quirúrgico con o sin embolización previa. Las metástasis son raras y están asociadas a los escasos casos de malignidad. CASO CLINICO: Paciente de 8 años de edad con masa cervical de 4 meses de evolución, serologías normales. Como antecedente destaca una tía sometida a cirugía cervical. Ecográficamente se objetiva masa hipoecoica muy vascularizada en probable relación con glomus carotídeo. Se decide resección quirúrgica sin embolización que resulta completa y sin incidencias. Estudio genético positivo para la mutación en el gen de la SDH. CONCLUSION: El glomus carotídeo en la infancia ha de ser tenido en cuenta como diagnóstico diferencial en masas cervicales. El tratamiento quirúrgico sin embolización previa es una opción terapéutica segura en casos seleccionados.

[Multilayer repair of palatal fistula with an interpositional collagen matrix]. / Reparación multicapa de la fístula palatina con interposición de matriz de colágeno.

OBJECTIVE: Palatal fistula after the repair of cleft palate appears in 7.7-35% of patients. We present two cases of palatal fistula, detailing a multi-layer repair with an interpositional collagen graft. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient 1: girl with a cleft palate operated using a Furlow technique. A reintervention was performed due to a Pittsburgh type III fistula. Patient 2: male with cleft palate operated using a Furlow technique. A reintervention was performed due to a type V fistula. RESULTS: We used a multilayer repair with a local rotational flap and the interposition of a collagen matrix between the nasal and oral layers. The suture was reinforced with a fibrin hemostatic adhesive. No recurrence of the fistula after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: The three-layer closure is simple, safe, effective and avoids refistulizations. Interpositional grafts of a resorbable collagen membrane provide a "scaffold" for tissue growth, revascularization and epithelialization of the mucosa.

OBJETIVO: La fístula palatina tras la reparación del paladar fisurado aparece en un 7,7-35% de pacientes. Presentamos dos casos de fístula palatina, detallando la técnica de reparación multicapa con injerto interposicional de colágeno. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Paciente 1: niña con fisura de paladar blando, operada mediante técnica de Furlow. Se programa reintervención por fístula secundaria tipo III de Pittsburgh. Paciente 2: varón con fisura de paladar blando, operado mediante técnica de Furlow. Se programa reintervención por fístula secundaria tipo V. RESULTADOS: Reparación multicapa mediante flap rotacional y matriz de colágeno entre las capas nasal y oral. Refuerzo con adhesivo hemostático de fibrina. Ausencia de recidiva tras 2 años de seguimiento. CONCLUSIONES: El cierre en tres capas es sencillo y efectivo a la hora de evitar refistulizaciones. Los injertos interposicionales de membrana reabsorbible de colágeno proporcionan un "andamio" para el crecimiento de los tejidos, revascularización y epitelialización de la mucosa.

[Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation associated with pulmonary sequestration]. / Malformación adenomatoidea quística congénita asociada a secuestro pulmonar. Presentación de dos casos clínicos.

The association of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation with pulmonary sequestration is infrequent. Has been reported less than 60 cases. We describe two patients with this association. One of this with extralobar pulmonary sequestration, and the other with an intralobar one.

[Management of choledochal cyst: laparotomy or endoscopic]. / Tratamiento del quiste de colédoco: cirugía abierta o endoscópica?

The most generally accepted therapy of choledochal cyst is cystectomy and biliar derivation by laparotomy. Last years, endoscopic papilotomy by ERCP has been a valuable therapeutic alternative, no only a diagnostic method. In this study, we reviewed five pediatric patients operated in our Deparment in last five years for choledochal cyst. The initial therapy was laparotomy (n=4) and endoscopic papilotomy by ERCP (n=1) This one was made in other Hospital. Follow-up has been between one and five years. All patients are living. Four patients who were operated by laparotomy are asyntomatic. Patient who was treated by ERCP needed a new ERCP in first posoperative month. Five years ago, she had a seriuos acute pancreatitis and we decided laparotomy and biliar derivation. Since laparotomy, she had two new episodes of acute pancreatitis and she has needed a new endoscopic dilatation with ballon by ERCP. She has been asyntomatic for four months. In conclusion, we think laparotomy with biliar derivation is safer than ERCP in management of children with choledochal cyst. ERCP must be reserved to emergency situations before laparotomy or after postoperative complications, never as exclusive therapy.

[Nostril retainers in the primary cleft rhinoplasty]. / Conformadores nasales en la rinoplastia primaria del paciente fisurado.

INTRODUCTION: The nasal cleft cartilage tends to depression after primary rhinoplasty. Nasal stents are probe to be useful in the management of these patients in order to maintain the new morphology. AIM: The purpose of this paper is to present our experience with the use of postoperative nasal splinting in the management of cleft lip nasal deformity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A nostril retainer was placed in 18 cleft patients (4 bilateral, 14 unilateral) during primary repair of the cleft lip nasal deformity from 2001 to 2004. The nasal morphology in the postoperative period was compared with that of 10 control patients who were operated on without nasal stenting in a previous period. Nostril retainers were left in place after the rhinoplasty using 4/0 poliglecaprone absorbable. Those sutures fixed the stent in place during three weeks after surgery. Results. Average follow-up was 18.5 months. Retention of the splint was 3.5 months mean time (range 4 weeks to 6 months). The methods employed for retention were multiple based upon parental preferences. Photogrammetric analysis showed relevant asymmetry of the nostrils in 10% of the splinted group as compared with 48% for controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of nasal stents has been found effective postoperatively after cleft primary rhinoplasty, avoiding relapse of the nasal reconstruction and drop of the nasal ala. Retainers also allows airway patent and avoid surgical adhesions due to nasal secretions and scarring. Parental collaboration is needed.

Ectopic adrenal tissue in the spermatic cord in pediatric patients: surgical implications.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and relevance of ectopic adrenal tissue in pediatric patients who underwent groin surgical explorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 1120 patients with groin surgical explorations during a period of 8 consecutive years. Patients' clinical data and histological findings were analyzed. RESULTS: We found ectopic adrenal tissue in 13 patients in 1120 groin surgical exploration (1.16%). Of the 13 cases, 5 were diagnosed as having undescended testes, 6 inguinal hernia and 2 communicating hydrocele. Median age at diagnosis was 5.6 years. Histological sections showed adrenal cortical tissue with no medulla present. CONCLUSION: Based on the clinical implications of those adrenal rests it is mandatory the removal of this ectopic tissue whenever encountered during surgical interventions in the groin region in children.

Ectopic adrenal tissue in the spermatic cord in pediatric patients: surgical implications

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence and relevance of ectopic adrenal tissue in pediatric patients who underwent groin surgical explorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 1120 patients with groin surgical explorations during a period of 8 consecutive years. PatientsÆ clinical data and histological findings were analyzed. RESULTS: We found ectopic adrenal tissue in 13 patients in 1120 groin surgical exploration (1.16 percent). Of the 13 cases, 5 were diagnosed as having undescended testes, 6 inguinal hernia and 2 communicating hydrocele. Median age at diagnosis was 5.6 years. Histological sections showed adrenal cortical tissue with no medulla present. CONCLUSION: Based on the clinical implications of those adrenal rests it is mandatory the removal of this ectopic tissue whenever encountered during surgical interventions in the groin region in children.