Thoracoscopic versus open lobectomy in infants with congenital lung malformations: A multi-institutional propensity score analysis.

PURPOSE: The impact of thoracoscopic surgery on outcomes in children with congenital lung malformations (CLM) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of operative approach on perioperative outcomes in infants undergoing lobectomy for an asymptomatic CLM. METHODS: After IRB approval, a retrospective cohort study was conducted on 506 children with a CLM resected at one of eleven children's hospitals over a seven-year period. Infants undergoing elective lobectomy were identified, and covariates were balanced based on operative approach using propensity scores with full matching. Outcomes were analyzed based on intention to treat with weighted conditional regression. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-five infants met inclusion criteria. There were 67 (38.3%) open, 89 (50.9%) thoracoscopic, and 19 (10.9%) thoracoscopic-converted-to-open lobectomies. Thoracoscopic lobectomy was associated with significantly longer operative times (26 min, 95% CI 6-47 min, p = 0.012) but used less epidural anesthesia (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.004-0.11, p<0.001) when compared to open lobectomy. There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, chest tube duration, or length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopy has become the most common operative approach for elective lobectomy in infants with asymptomatic CLMs. The non-inferiority of thoracoscopic lobectomy in postoperative outcomes supports its continued use as an alternative to open lobectomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Treatment study, Level III.

Operative considerations in pediatric retroperitoneal teratomas--a review.

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal teratomas account for 5% of teratomas and occur predominantly in infants. The resection of these tumors has been variously reported as easy or difficult. This report presents a series of retroperitoneal teratomas and reviews the literature focusing on the relevant operative considerations in this tumor. METHODS: A retrospective chart review from 1996 to 2011 identified five children with retroperitoneal teratomas. Clinical features, radiologic findings, operative details, and outcome were recorded. The literature was reviewed to identify operative complications for these tumors. RESULTS: Out of the five patients, four were infants. The tumor was characterized by dense adhesions in all patients, and resection was complicated by gastric and common bile duct injury. Hiatal hernia repair was required in one and spillage was seen in two patients. One patient had a staged resection after birth with colostomy, vesicostomy, and eventual death on day 12 of life. Inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation was required in one. A total of four patients were well on long-term follow-up. Review of the literature revealed that computed tomography scan while being sufficient for diagnosing a retroperitoneal teratoma is often inadequate in delineating the vascular anatomy, which is usually distorted. The IVC and the mesenteric vessels may be inseparable and require ligation. Renal vessel injury is possible, leading onto ischemia and hypertension. The tumor may be intimately adherent to the viscera in the abdomen, making resection complicated. Adequate resection is possible and necessary for cure, but not always possible with clear resection margins. Late complications include recurrence, adhesions, and hypertension. The perioperative mortality is 0 to 8% and the complication rate is 50 to 100%. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection of retroperitoneal teratomas, while being the mainstay of treatment is challenging in view of its size, adhesions, and vascular distortion.