Pleural drainage vs video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement in children affected by pleural empyema.

BACKGROUND: Both thoracic drainage and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) are available treatment for pleural empyema in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study includes pediatric patients affected by pleural empyema treated from 2004 to 2021 at two Italian centers. Patients were divided in G1 (traditional approach) and G2 (VATS). Demographic and recovery data, laboratory tests, imaging, surgical findings, post-operative management and follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: 70 patients with a mean age of 4.8 years were included; 12 (17.1%) in G1 and 58 (82.9%) in G2. Median surgical time was 45 min in G1, 90 in G2 (p < 0.05). Mean duration of thoracic drainage was 7.3 days in G1, 6.2 in G2 (p > 0.05). Patients became afebrile after a mean of 6.4 days G1, 3.9 in G2 (p < 0.05). Mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 27.8 days in G1, 25 in G2 (p < 0.05). Mean duration of postoperative hospital stay was 16 days in G1, 12.1 in G2 (p < 0.05). There were 4 cases (33.3%) of postoperative complications in G1, 17 (29.3%) in G2 (p > 0.05). 2 (16.7%) patients of G1 needed a redosurgery with VATS, 1 (1.7%) in G2. CONCLUSIONS: VATS is an effective and safe procedure in treatment of Pleural Empyema in children: it is associated to reduction of chest tube drainage, duration of fever, hospital stay, time of antibiotic therapy and recurrence rate.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: endotracheal fluid phospholipidic profile following tracheal occlusion in an experimental model.

OBJECTIVE: To compare endotracheal fluid (EF) and amniotic fluid (AF) phospholipidic profile changes following tracheal occlusion (TO) in the congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) fetal lamb model, in order to support the efficacy of TO on lung maturity. METHODS: A diaphragmatic defect was induced at 70 days' gestation, TO was carried out at day 102 and cesarean section at 136 days' gestation. EF and AF samples, collected at delivery, were evaluated using mass spectrometry (the analysis focused on palmitoyloleoyl-phosphatidylcholine [POPC, PC(18:1/16:0)], dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine [DPPC, PC(16:0/16:0)] and sphingomyelins [SMs]). RESULTS: The effects of CDH and TO were different on AF and EF. POPC levels were higher than DPPC levels in AF of healthy lambs. Following induction of the diaphragmatic malformation, an evident decrease in POPC was noted, while a substantial return to normal POPC levels and an increased DPPC peak were prompted by the TO. After CDH induction, a decrease in N-palmitoyl-D-sphingomyelin [SM(d18:1/16:0)] was revealed (P<0.01) and an increased peak in SMs in AF was prompted by the TO (P=0.05). While the most represented phosphatidylcholine (PC) species in EF of healthy lambs was DPPC, CDH induced a decrease in the DPPC peak and treatment with TO induced its partial recovery. SMs were detectable only in healthy EF samples. CONCLUSION: The phospholipid recovery profile following TO suggests the potential role of this therapy in restoring processes involved in surfactant-mediated lung maturation, even though other interactions involved in AF turnover should be considered. Moreover, these metabolites could be used as biomarkers of fetal pulmonary development.

Laparoscopy in children and its impact on brain oxygenation during routine inguinal hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: The systemic impact of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and/or changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) during laparoscopy are not yet well defined. Changes in brain oxygenation have been reported as a possible cause of cerebral hypotension and perfusion. The side effects of anaesthesia could also be involved in these changes, especially in children. To date, no data have been reported on brain oxygenation during routine laparoscopy in paediatric patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Brain and peripheral oxygenation were investigated in 10 children (8 male, 2 female) who underwent elective minimally invasive surgery for inguinal hernia repair. Intraoperative transcranial near-infrared spectroscopy to assess regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2), peripheral oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry and heart rate (HR) were monitored at five surgical intervals: Induction of anaesthesia (baseline T1); before CO2insufflation induced pneumoperitoneum (PP) (T2); CO2PP insufflation (T3); cessation of CO2PP (T4); before extubation (T5). RESULTS: rScO2decreases were recorded immediately after T1 and became significant after insufflation (P = 0.006; rScO2decreased 3.6 ± 0.38%); restoration of rScO2was achieved after PP cessation (P = 0.007). The changes in rScO2were primarily due to IAP increases (P = 0.06). The HR changes were correlated to PP pressure (P < 0.001) and CO2flow rate (P = 0.001). No significant peripheral effects were noted. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in IAP is a critical determinant in cerebral oxygenation stability during laparoscopic procedures. However, the impact of anaesthesia on adaptive changes should not be underestimated. Close monitoring and close collaboration between the members of the multidisciplinary paediatric team are essential to guarantee the patient's safety during minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Fungal Appendicitis in Immunocompromised Children. Indications and Contraindications for Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Report on 2 Successful Cases.

In leukemic patients, appendectomy must be approached with caution because of the increased risk of complications. Fungal appendicitis is rare and only a few cases have been described in the literature, particularly in immunocompromised individuals in whom this infection can be fatal. We present 2 pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia, who developed appendicitis during the postchemotherapy neutropenic phase, while receiving antifungal prophylaxis. Fever was the first sign of infection. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed without postoperative complications. The histologic examination and the culture analysis showed the presence of fungal elements; systemic fungal infection was also excluded. The risk is increased in immunocompromised children with fungal appendicitis and the signs of peritoneal irritation are not always obvious. The histopathologic demonstration of fungal elements and tissue reaction is mandatory for a definitive diagnosis. Laparoscopic appendectomy should be considered as the gold standard procedure to avoid fungal dissemination. Moreover, laparoscopic surgery and its inherent mini-invasive surgical advantages may improve the overall survival without incurring significant complications.

Vaginal malformations: a proposed classification based on embryological, anatomical and clinical criteria and their surgical management (an analysis of 167 cases).

BACKGROUND: Although it is virtually impossible to formulate a scheme that can satisfactorily collect all different types of vaginal malformations, a simple classification would be of a considerable value and would permit logical operative decisions. Many classifications of anomalies of uterus and vagina have been proposed: we find them unsatisfactory and confusing, being either too simple or too complex. We propose a new classification, focused only on vagina and based on embryological, anatomical, clinical and surgical criteria. METHODS: In over 30 years, 167 females with vaginal malformations have been observed in our department. Intersex cases were excluded. The encountered anomalies have been divided into six types and ten subtypes: type I vaginal agenesis (IA associated with uterine agenesis/17 Pts, IB isolated/1 Pt); type II vaginal atresia (IIA proximal/1 Pt, IIB distal/4 Pts); type III vaginal atresia with urethrovaginal fistula-urogenital sinus (IIIA proximal fistula-high sinus/42 Pts, IIIB distal fistula-low sinus/55 Pts); type IV vaginal atresia with transverse septum (IVA transverse septum/6 Pts, IVB imperforate hymen/17 Pts); type V disorders of müllerian ducts fusion (VA vaginal duplication/4 Pts, VB longitudinal septum/4 Pts); type VI cloaca/16 Pts. Of each type and subgroup of malformation the appropriate surgical correction is reported. Types of malformation and surgical treatment are analysed: IA vaginal reconstruction using a sigmoid conduit, IB vaginal reconstruction using a sigmoid conduit, atresic cervical resection and uterus-new vagina anastomosis according to Schmid; II perineal vaginal pull-through; IIIA anterior sagittal transanorectal vaginal pull-through, IIIB perineal flap vaginoplasty; IVA excision with abdominovaginal approach, IVB hymen incision; VA tubularization, VB septectomy via perineal approach; VI posterior sagittal anorectal-vaginal-urethroplasty. RESULTS: Most of the patients had good aesthetic and functional results. Type III showed relatively more complications: four redo operations (IIIA), four revisions of the vaginoplasty (IIIB). One patient is still waiting for definitive surgical correction. CONCLUSIONS: An early diagnosis is desirable to correct adequately vaginal malformations, which becomes mostly evident around puberty. The better timing for surgery is early age, to obtain better results and to avoid many of the psychological problems that arise at a later age.

Pediatric Laparoscopy and Adaptive Oxygenation and Hemodynamic Changes.

Adaptive changes in oxygenation and hemodynamics are evaluated during pediatric laparoscopy. The children underwent laparoscopy (LAP Group, n=20) or open surgery (Open Group, n=10). Regional cerebral (rScO2) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate (HR), diastolic (DP) and systolic pressure (SP) were monitored at different intervals: basal (T0); anesthesia induction (T1); CO2PP insufflation (T2); surgery (T3); CO2PP cessation (T4); before extubation (T5). At T1, in both the LAP and Open groups significant changes in rScO2, DP and SP were recorded compared with T0; a decrease in SatO2 was also observed at T5. In the LAP group, at T2, changes in HR related to CO2PP pressure and in DP and SP related to IAP were noted; at T4, a SP change associated with CO2PP desufflation was recorded. Open group, at T3 and T5 showed lower rScO2 values compared with T1. Pneuperitoneum and anesthesia are influent to induce hemodynamics changes during laparoscopy.

Nutritional status and metabolic profile in neurologically impaired pediatric surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is reported in pediatric neuromotor disability and impacts the child's health. We described the nutritional and metabolic status in neurologically impaired (NI) children undergoing surgery. METHODS: Anthropometry, body composition, hormonal and nutritional evaluations were performed in 44 NI subjects (13.7±8.0 years). Energy needs were calculated by Krick's formula. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined applying the following criteria (≥3 defined MS): fasting blood glucose >100 mg/dL and/or homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) >97.5th percentile, trygliceride level >95th percentile, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level <5th percentile, systolic/diastolic pressure >95th percentile; whilebody mass index - standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) <2 and biochemical malnutrition markers (≥2) defined undernutrition. RESULTS: Energy intake was not adequate in 73.8% of the patients; no correlation between energy intake and BMI was noted. Undernutrition was noted in 34.1% of patients and MS in 11.36% of subjects. Fifty percent of the patients presented with insulin resistance, which was not related to BMI, body composition or other MS components. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional and metabolic monitoring of disabled children and young adults is recommended to prevent adverse outcomes associated with malnutrition.

Plunging Ranula in Children: Case Report and Literature Review.

Few cases of plunging ranulas (PRs) occur during childhood and the lesions are frequently misdiagnosed. Here, a PR in a child is reported along with a literature review. A seven-year-old female complaining of swelling in the midline neck, left-submandibular region, was evaluated. No oral cavity or major salivary glands abnormalities were detected. On palpation, a soft, painless, and fluid-containing mass was observed. The suspicion PR was performed by ultrasound. The diagnosis was confirmed with a histopathological examination. The lesion was removed with a cervical approach, without recurrence. PR is an uncommon condition in children under 10 years of age. Differential diagnosis depends on clinical examination and ultrasonography. A computed tomography-scan and magnetic resonance imaging can be performed if the diagnosis remains uncertain. In pediatrics, the key to success of the treatment may rely on the radical excision of the cyst and sublingual gland, via an intraoral or submandibular approach.