Surgical Management of Wilms Tumors with Intravenous Extension: A Multicenter Analysis of Clinical Management with Technical Insights.

BACKGROUND: About 5% of Wilms tumors present with vascular extension, which sometimes extends to the right atrium. Vascular extension does not affect the prognosis, but impacts the surgical strategy, which is complex and not fully standardized. Our goal is to identify elements of successful surgical management of Wilms tumors with vascular extensions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of pediatric Wilms tumors treated at three sites (January 1999-June 2019) was conducted. The inclusion criterion was the presence of a renal vein and vena cava thrombus at diagnosis. Tumor stage, pre and postoperative treatment, preoperative imaging, operative report, pathology, operative complications, and follow-up data were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 696 pediatric patients with Wilms tumors, 69 (9.9%) met the inclusion criterion. In total, 24 patients (37.5%) had a right atrial extension and two presented with Budd-Chiari syndrome at diagnosis. Two died at diagnosis owing to pulmonary embolism. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and thrombus regressed in 35.6% of cases. Overall, 14 patients had persistent intra-atrial thrombus extension (58%) and underwent cardiopulmonary bypass. Most thrombi (72%) were removed intact with nephrectomy. Massive intraoperative bleeding occurred during three procedures. Postoperative renal insufficiency was identified as a risk factor for patient survival (p = 0.01). With a median follow-up of 9 years (range: 0.5-20 years), overall survival was 89% and event-free survival was 78%. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with proper surgical strategy resulted in a survival rate comparable to that of children with Wilms tumors without intravascular extension. Clinicians should be aware that postoperative renal insufficiency is associated with worse survival outcomes.

Development of a template for operative reporting of pediatric cancer surgery in limited-resource settings by using a modified Delphi method.

PURPOSE: A comprehensive operative report for cancer surgery is crucial for accurate disease staging, risk stratification, and therapy escalation/de-escalation, which affects the outcome. Narrative operative reports may fail to include some critical findings. Furthermore, standardized operative reports can form the basis of a local registry, which is often lacking in limited-resource settings (LRSs). In adult literature, synoptic operative reports (SOR) contain more key findings than narrative operative reports. In the LRSs, where the capacity of diagnostic pathology services is typically suboptimal, the value of a thorough operative report is even greater. The aim of this study was to develop a SOR template to help standardize childhood cancer surgery reporting in LRSs. METHODS: Twenty-three experts in pediatric cancer with extensive experience practicing in LRSs were invited to participate in a modified Delphi procedure. SOR domains for pediatric oncology surgery were drafted based on a literature search and then modified based on experts' opinions. The experts anonymously answered multiple rounds of online questionnaires until all domains and subdomains reached a consensus, which was predefined as 70% agreement. RESULTS: Sixteen experts participated in the study, and two rounds of the survey were completed. Twenty-one domains were considered relevant, including demographics, diagnosis, primary site, preoperative disease stage, previous tumor biopsy or surgery, preoperative tumor rupture, neoadjuvant therapy, surgical access, type of resection, completeness of resection, tumor margin assessment, locoregional tumor extension, organ resection, intraoperative tumor spillage, vascular involvement, lymph node sampling, estimated blood loss, intraoperative complications and interventions to address them, specimen names, and specimen orientation. CONCLUSION: We developed a SOR template for pediatric oncology surgery in LRSs. Consensus for all 21 domains and associated subdomains was achieved using a modified Delphi procedure.

Surgically Amenable Childhood Cancers: An Overview of the Burden and Challenges of Management in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

The World Health Organization's Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer was launched to decrease the disparities in childhood cancer outcomes and improve treatments for childhood cancer in resource-limited settings. Low-grade glioma, retinoblastoma, and Wilms tumors are among the index cancers included in this global initiative, as these cancers represent a large percentage of childhood tumors and are curable with cost-effective, evidence-based interventions. Herein, we discuss the global childhood tumor burden, the status of pediatric cancer surgery capacity and services around the world, and the strategic considerations for building pediatric surgical oncology capacity.

Evidence-based surgical guidelines for treating children with Wilms tumor in low-resource settings.

BACKGROUND: Survival of Wilms tumor (WT) is > 90% in high-resource settings but < 30% in low-resource settings. Adapting a standardized surgical approach to WT is challenging in low-resource settings, but a local control strategy is crucial to improving outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Provide resource-sensitive recommendations for the surgical management of WT. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of PubMed and EMBASE through July 7, 2020, and used the GRADE approach to assess evidence and recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Initiation of treatment should be expedited, and surgery should be done in a high-volume setting. Cross-sectional imaging should be done to optimize preoperative planning. For patients with typical clinical features of WT, biopsy should not be done before chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy should precede surgical resection. Also, resection should include a large transperitoneal laparotomy, adequate lymph node sampling, and documentation of staging findings. For WT with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be given before en bloc resection of the tumor and thrombus and evaluation for viable tumor thrombus. For those with bilateral WT, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be given for 6-12 weeks. Neither routine use of complex hilar control techniques during nephron-sparing surgery nor nephron-sparing resection for unilateral WT with a normal contralateral kidney is recommended. When indicated, postoperative radiotherapy should be administered within 14 days of surgery. Post-chemotherapy pulmonary oligometastasis should be resected when feasible, if local protocols allow omission of whole-lung irradiation in patients with nonanaplastic histology stage IV WT with pulmonary metastasis without evidence of extrapulmonary metastasis. CONCLUSION: We provide evidence-based recommendations for the surgical management of WT, considering the benefits/risks associated with limited-resource settings.

Estimates of Treatable Deaths Within the First 20 Years of Life from Scaling Up Surgical Care at First-Level Hospitals in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

BACKGROUND: Surgical care is an important, yet often neglected component of child health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examines the potential impact of scaling up surgical care at first-level hospitals in LMICs within the first 20 years of life. METHODS: Epidemiological data from the global burden of disease 2019 Study and a counterfactual method developed for the disease control priorities; 3rd Edition were used to estimate the number of treatable deaths in the under 20 year age group if surgical care could be scaled up at first-level hospitals. Our model included three digestive diseases, four maternal and neonatal conditions, and seven common traumatic injuries. RESULTS: An estimated 314,609 (95% UI, 239,619-402,005) deaths per year in the under 20 year age group could be averted if surgical care were scaled up at first-level hospitals in LMICs. Most of the treatable deaths are in the under-5 year age group (80.9%) and relates to improved obstetrical care and its effect on reducing neonatal encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia and trauma. Injuries are the leading cause of treatable deaths after age 5 years. Sixty-one percent of the treatable deaths occur in lower middle-income countries. Overall, scaling up surgical care at first-level hospitals could avert 5·1% of the total deaths in children and adolescents under 20 years of age in LMICs per year. CONCLUSIONS: Improving the capacity of surgical services at first-level hospitals in LMICs has the potential to avert many deaths within the first 20 years of life.

Lessons Learned From Treating 114 Inferior Vena Cava Injuries at a Limited Resources Environment - A Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: The inferior vena cava is the most frequently injured vascular structure in penetrating abdominal trauma. We aimed to review inferior vena cava injury cases treated at a limited resources facility and to discuss the surgical management for such injures. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with inferior vena cava injuries who were treated at a single center between January 2011 and January 2020. Data pertaining to the following were assessed: demographic parameters, hypovolemic shock at admission, the distance that the patient had to be transported to reach the hospital, affected anatomical segment, treatment, concomitant injuries, complications, and mortality. Non-parametric data were analyzed using Fisher's exact, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, or Kruskal-Wallis test, as applicable. The Student's t-test was used to assess parametric data. Moreover, multiple logistic regression analyses (including data of possible death-related variables) were performed. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. RESULTS: Among 114 patients with inferior vena cava injuries, 90.4% were male, and the majority were aged 20-29 years. Penetrating injuries accounted for 98.2% of the injuries, and the infrarenal segment was affected in 52.7% of the patients. Suturing was perfomed in 69.5% and cava ligation in 29.5% of the patients, and 1 patient with retrohepatic vena cava injury was managed non-operatively. The overall mortality was 52.6% with no case of compartment syndrome in the limbs. A total of 7.9% of the patients died during surgery. CONCLUSION: The inferior vena cava is often injured by penetrating mechanisms, and the most frequently affected segment was the infrarenal segment. A higher probability of death was not associated with injury to a specific anatomical segment. Additionally, cava ligation was not related to an increased probability of compartment syndrome in the leg; therefore, prophylactic fasciotomy was not supported.

Prognostic factors in treatment of traumatic femoropopliteal arterial injuries at a Brazilian trauma center.

Background: Despite significant improvements in outcomes, traumatic arterial limb injuries remain a significant cause of limb loss and mortality. Objectives: This study sought to identify predictors of mortality and major amputation in patients undergoing revascularization after femoropopliteal arterial trauma. Methods: This was a retrospective review of a trauma registry from an urban trauma center in Brazil. All patients admitted to our hospital with a femoropopliteal arterial injury from November 2012 to December 2017 who underwent vascular reconstruction were included. Univariate analyses and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors independently associated with the primary outcome of amputation and the secondary outcome of mortality. Results: Ninety-six patients were included. Eleven patients (11.5%) had an amputation and 14 (14.6%) died. In the logistic regression model for amputation, patients with ischemia duration greater than 6 hours were approximately 10 times more likely to undergo an amputation compared to those with ischemia duration less than or equal to 6 hours (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 9.6 [1.2-79.9]). The logistic regression model for mortality revealed that patients with ischemia duration greater than 6 hours were approximately 6 times more likely to die compared to those with ischemia duration less than or equal to 6 hours (AOR [95% CI]: 5.6 [1.3 to 24.7). Conclusions: Ischemia duration remains the most important factor independently associated with limb loss and mortality for patients undergoing femoropopliteal arterial revascularization after traumatic injuries. Physiological status on admission and trauma scores are also important.

Contexto: As lesões arteriais traumáticas de membros ainda permanecem uma causa significativa de perda de membros e mortalidade, apesar de melhorias significativas observadas nos resultados após a ocorrências dessas lesões. Objetivos: Este estudo buscou identificar preditores de mortalidade e amputações em pacientes submetidos à revascularização após trauma arterial femoropoplíteo. Métodos: Esta é uma revisão de um Registro de Trauma Vascular. Todos os pacientes com lesão arterial femoropoplítea internados em nosso hospital de novembro de 2012 a dezembro de 2017 e submetidos a reconstrução vascular foram incluídos. Análises univariadas, seguidas de análises de regressão logística, foram realizadas para identificar fatores independentemente associados com os resultados primários de amputação e mortalidade. Resultados: Foram incluídos 96 pacientes, com média de 27 anos. O Revised Trauma Score (RTS) foi, em média, 7,152; já o Injury Severity Score (ISS) foi, em média, 15. Onze pacientes (11,5%) tiveram amputação, e 14 pacientes (14,6%) morreram. Observou-se que pacientes com o tempo de isquemia maior que 6 horas apresentaram aproximadamente 10 vezes mais chance de amputação do que aqueles com tempo igual ou menor que 6 horas (intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 1,2 a 79,9). O tempo de isquemia maior que 6 horas aumentou em aproximadamente 6 vezes a chance de mortalidade (IC95%: 1,26 a 24,77). A instabilidade hemodinâmica aumentou em 9 vezes a chance de mortalidade (IC95%: 2,36 a 36,67). Conclusões: O tempo de isquemia continua sendo o fator mais importante independentemente associado a amputação e óbito em pacientes submetidos à revascularização arterial femoropoplítea após traumas. O estado fisiológico e os escores de trauma são importantes.

Implementation of a checklist to improve pediatric trauma assessment quality in a Brazilian hospital.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in Brazil. Measurement of quality of care is important, as well as interventions that will help optimize treatment. We aimed to evaluate adherence to standardized trauma care following the introduction of a checklist in one of the busiest Latin American trauma centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, non-randomized interventional trial was conducted. Assessment of children younger than age 15 was performed before and after the introduction of a checklist for trauma primary survey assessment. Over the study period, each trauma primary survey was observed and adherence to each step of a standardized primary assessment protocol was recorded. Clinical outcomes including mortality, admission to pediatric intensive-care units, use of blood products, mechanical ventilation, and number of CT scans in the first 24 h were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were observed (39 pre-intervention and 41 post-intervention). No statistically significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-intervention groups in regard to adherence to checklist by specialty (57.7% versus 50.5%, p = 0.115) and outcomes. No mortality was observed. CONCLUSION: In our trauma center, the quality of the adherence to standardized trauma assessment protocols is poor among both surgical and non-surgical providers. The quality of this assessment did not improve after the introduction of a checklist. Further work aimed at organizing the approach to pediatric trauma including triage and trauma education specifically for pediatric providers is needed.

Comparative angiotomographic study of swine vascular anatomy: contributions to research and training models in vascular and endovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Medium and large animal models allow researchers to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cardiovascular procedures in systems that resemble human anatomy and can be used to simulate scenarios for training purposes. Although porcine models have been used extensively, many physiological and anatomical features remain unknown or only superficially described. OBJECTIVES: To describe the normal porcine vascular anatomy on computed tomography scans, compare it to human vascular anatomy, and discuss the application of porcine models for open and endovascular procedures. METHODS: Three male Landrace pigs underwent computed tomography. The vascular anatomy of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and limbs was analyzed and described; relevant similarities and differences between porcine and human vascular anatomies and the implications for vascular procedures in pigs are highlighted. RESULTS: The carotid territory, aortic arch, and terminal aorta branches all show marked differences in pigs compared to their human counterparts. Compressions of both left renal and common iliac veins were detected, analogous to those seen in human Nutcracker and May-Thurner syndromes. Vascular measurements (diameters, lengths, and angles) of several different porcine territories are presented. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented should be useful for planning preclinical trials and basic research and for refining surgical training using porcine models in vascular fields.

Venous Shunt Versus Venous Ligation for Vascular Damage Control: The Immunohistochemical Evidence.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the expression of immunohistochemical markers of tissue ischemia (iNOS, eNOS, and HSP70) in a vascular damage control experimental model to determine if a venous temporary vascular shunt insertion leads to a better limb perfusion when compared with the ligature of the injured vein. METHODS: Experimental study in male Sus Scrofa weighting 40 Kg. Animals were distributed into 5 groups: group 1 animals were submitted to right external iliac artery (EIA) shunting and right external iliac vein (EIV) ligation; group 2 animals were submitted to right EIA shunting and right EIV shunting; group 3 animals were submitted to right EIV ligation; group 4 animals were submitted to right EIV shunting; group 5 animals were not submitted to vascular shunting or venous ligation. Transonic Systems flowmeters were used to measure vascular flow on right and left external iliac vessels, and i-STAT (Abbot) portable blood analyzer was used for EIVs blood biochemical analysis. An initial baseline register of invasive arterial pressure, iliac vessels flow, and venous blood analysis was performed. Arterial pressure and iliac vessels flow were taken immediately after right iliac vessels shunting or ligation. Then, hemorrhagic shock was induced by continuous 20 mL/min blood withdraw from the external right jugular vein whereas arterial blood pressure and iliac vessels flow registers were taken every 10 min, and blood samples from EIVs were obtained every 30 min until the vascular flow through right EIA (or through the shunt inserted into the right EIV for group 4 animals) became inexistent or until the animal's death. After the end of the experiments, bilateral hind limb's biopsies were obtained for immunohistochemical analysis. Using image editing and analysis software, the expression of iNOS, eNOS, and HSP70 (3 well-known ischemic associated immunohistochemical markers) was assessed. The mean expression of each marker in the right hind limb was compared between groups. For statistical analysis, Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and BioEstat 5.0 (2007) were used. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed no difference regarding the iNOS expression; nevertheless, both eNOS and HSP70 expression were statistically more intense (P < 0.05) on group 1 (eNOS = 1.32; HSP70 = 15.05) than on group 2 (eNOS = 0.018; HSP70 = 8.56). CONCLUSIONS: The higher expression of eNOS and HSP70 in the right hind limbs of group 1 animals (arterial shunt and venous ligature) than group 2 animals (arterial shunt and venous shunt) suggests that venous ligation is associated with more intense ischemic histological findings than venous shunting.

To shunt or not to shunt? An experimental study comparing temporary vascular shunts and venous ligation as damage control techniques for vascular trauma.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate vascular flow through temporary vascular shunts inserted into peripheral arteries and veins and the repercussion, on the arterial perfusion, of venous ligation and venous shunt insertion in an experimental model for damage control. METHODS: Experimental study in pigs. Animals were distributed in 5 groups: group 1, right external iliac artery (EIA) shunting and right external iliac vein (EIV) ligation; group 2, right EIA shunting and right EIV shunting; group 3, right EIV ligation; group 4, right EIV shunting; group 5, no vascular shunting and no venous ligation. Flowmeters were used to measure vascular flow on right and left external iliac vessels, and blood samples were collected from the EIVs for biochemical analysis. A right anterior limb biopsy was performed before shock. Hemorrhagic shock was induced through the external right jugular vein, until the vascular flow through right iliac external artery shunt or right iliac external vein shunt (group 4) ceased or until the animal's death. After the end of the experiments, biopsies of bilateral hind limb were obtained for histologic analysis. For statistical analysis, Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and BioEstat 5.0 (2007) were used. RESULTS: In the absence of hemorrhagic shock, venous ligation (group 1) was associated with a 38.8% reduction (P < 0.05) and venous shunting with a 28.4% reduction on the vascular flow through the arterial shunt. When associated with hemorrhagic shock, the mean vascular flow on the right EIA was 13 mL/min and on the left EIA was 41.2 mL/min; on group 2, the right EIA flow was 8.5 mL/min and the left EIA flow was 8.1 mL/min. When associated with hemorrhagic shock, the pO2 was 25.8 mm Hg on right EIV and 33.8 mm Hg on the left EIV for group 1 (P < 0.05), whereas for group 2, the pO2 was 22.6 mm Hg on right EIV and 22.8 mm Hg on the left EIV. On group 1, serum potassium was 3.84 mEq/L on the right EIV and 3.96 mEq/L on the left EIV, whereas on group 2, it was 7.1 mEq/L on the right EIV and 5.88 mEq/L on the left EIV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the developed experimental model, venous shunting, when compared with venous ligation, offered less resistance to vascular flow through the arterial shunt and allowed a more efficient limb venous drainage than simple vein ligature.

Global Initiative for Children's Surgery (GICS) Pediatric Trauma Care Initiative: A Call for a Comprehensive Approach to a Global Problem.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma is a major problem which has a significant health, social, and economic impact. Particularly, pediatric trauma carries substantial mortality and morbidity. This is a great concern for subspecialized general and pediatric surgeons. Therefore, a global initiative for pediatric trauma care is warranted and should be initiated. AIM: The international association "Global Initiative for Children's Surgery" (GICS) would like to propose and organize a children's trauma care (CTC) initiative. This initiative should comprehensively address pediatric trauma management globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The initiative seeks to achieve a structured cooperation and collaboration with respective sister organizations and local stakeholders. METHODS: The initiative will address these relevant aspects: 1. first aid; 2. prehospital primary trauma care; 3. hospital primary trauma care; 4. advanced care (ATLS); 5. diagnostic facilities; 6. operation room (OR) equipment; 7. specialized surgical services; 8. rehabilitation; 9. registry, research, and auditing; 10. specialization in pediatric trauma; 11. capacity and confidence building in pediatric trauma; 12. PREVENTION: The GICS CTC provided activities have been recorded and evaluated in a structured manner. This statement paper is based on data of a narrative review as well as expert opinions. RESULTS: The Trauma Working Group of GICS provided specialized trauma prevention leaflets available for translation to different languages. A one-day children's primary trauma course has been designed to be delivered at the physical GICS meetings. Exercising advocacy, the group addressed several meetings on prevention of pediatric trauma, which included the 75th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) (2020), GICS IVth meeting in Johannesburg (2020), Norwich (UK) Joint SPRINT Symposium on Pediatric Surgery for Pediatricians (2021), the second online Pan African Pediatric Surgical Association (PAPSA) meeting (2021), the seventh World Congress of the World Federation of Associations of Pediatric Surgeons (WOFAPS) in Prague (2022), and GICS pediatric trauma webinar (2023). Additionally, the working group participated in the preparations of a pediatric trauma module for the World Health Organization (WHO) and published several related studies. The contents of the selected articles added relevant information to the categories stated above. CONCLUSIONS: The CTC initiative of GICS is proposed as a mean to address pediatric trauma comprehensively through a process of collaboration and advocacy with existing organizations to achieve awareness, health education, prevention, health, and training. Further, it will support the provision of suitable facilities to health institutions. The establishment of a specialization in pediatric trauma is encouraged. GICS CTC initiative aims to improve pediatric trauma care in LMICs by developing injury prevention strategies; optimizing the use of locally available resources; obtaining commitment by LMICs governments; improvement in all fields of hospital care; improvements in infrastructure, education and training, and attention to data registry and research.

The importance of pediatric trauma prevention: The work of Criança Segura - Safe Kids Brazil.

Trauma is the leading cause of death in children and adolescents less than 14 years of age worldwide. Although there have been advances regarding treatment in the last decades, it is still complex to assemble well-trained teams and proper hospitals to care for traumatized children. The most effective vaccine and the less expensive tool to deal with such a burden is prevention. The aim of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Criança Segura - Safe Kids Brazil is to work with child and adolescent trauma prevention through three pillars: mobilization, communication, and public policy. Nationwide actions, campaigns, education material, events, research, and proposing laws resulted in a 53% decrease of trauma deaths in Brazil in a 20-year period. The strategy contributes to build the culture of prevention in Brazil with the involvement of every sector of society. Childhood trauma prevention is effective in decreasing trauma deaths. Criança Segura is now part of Children's Villages, an international organization that will be able to multiply the model through different countries. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Review article.

Barriers and challenges to achieving equity in global children's surgery: A call to action.

CHALLENGES: A Call to Action.

Direct transport versus inter-hospital transfer of trauma victims in the Brazilian Emergency Medical System.

Introduction: The Brazilian medical emergency services presented a significant development due to the investment in emergency care units, increasing the expansion of the services. However, there was a surge in need for secondary patient transfers, which served as the common link in a wide web of tertiary hospital access. This study aimed to assess the outcome of trauma patients who required secondary transfer. Patients and methods: This prospective observational cross-sectional study included 2302 patients (565 from the study group and 1737 from the control group) and compared the outcome of patients hospitalized for trauma referred by secondary transfer or those who directly visited the Emergency Unit of the municipality with a Brazilian medical emergency system. Results: As for the trauma mechanism, there was a predominance of blunt trauma (93.32 %), 34.5 % were elderly, 12.45 % suffered severe traumatic brain injury, and 18.44 % had severe trauma rate (injury severity score > 15). The outcome of death did not present a significant difference between the groups, even when evaluated considering possible risk factors, such as the elderly age (over 65 years of age) and trauma index. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in terms of the outcome of death in patients who underwent secondary transfer and those with direct access to medical emergency services. However, patients who underwent secondary transfer had an increase in the length of hospital stay.

Trauma and sexual abuse in children-Epidemiology, challenges, management strategies and prevention in lower- and middle-income countries.

Trauma is rising as a cause of morbidity and mortality in lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This article describes the Epidemiology, Challenges, Management strategies and prevention of pediatric trauma in lower- and middle-income countries. The top five etiologies for non-intentional injuries leading to death are falls, road traffic injuries, burns, drowning and poisoning. The mortality rate in LMICs is twice that of High-Income Countries (HICs) irrespective of injury severity adjustment. The reasons for inadequate care include lack of facilities, transportation problems, lack of prehospital care, lack of resources and trained manpower to handle pediatric trauma. To overcome these challenges, attention to protocolized care and treatment adaptation based on resource availability is critical. Training in management of trauma helps to reduce the mortality and morbidity in pediatric polytrauma cases. There is also a need for more collaborative research to develop preventative measures to childhood trauma.

Limitations of using the DATASUS database as a primary source of data in surgical research: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: DATASUS is the Brazilian Public Unified Health System (SUS) department responsible for providing health data that are used as a primary source of data in several studies on surgery and surgical specialties although its main limitations have not been previously reviewed. The objective of this work is to synthesize information from studies on surgery that used DATASUS systems as a data source and to identify the main gaps in this platform. METHODS: a scoping review was conducted according to the PRISMA-ScR method to identify papers on surgery, and other surgical specialties, that used the DATASUS platform as a primary data source. No restrictions were imposed regarding the type of study or year of publication. Grounded Theory was used to analyze the content of the articles. RESULTS: 248 works were initially analyzed and 47 were included in the final analysis of this study. The original articles included were published between 2009 and 2022 and the majority (12.76%, n=6) were published in the Journal of the Brazilian College of Surgeons. Retrospective studies (40.43%, n=19) were the most common type of study found. Content analysis of the articles identified four predominant domains in the scientific literature about the limitations of using DATASUS in surgical research: lack of data, reliability, precision and data integration. CONCLUSION: the information systems available in DATASUS are the largest source of information about the SUS, but the scientific literature on the quality of data available in these systems remains scarce and studies aimed at measuring this metric are necessary.

Surgery in Bilateral Wilms Tumor-A Single-Center Experience.

The treatment of bilateral Wilms tumors (BWT) involves curing the cancer, preserving long-term renal function, and maintaining a good quality of life. Established methods for achieving these goals include preoperative chemotherapy and nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). This study aimed to evaluate the experience of a single institution in treating patients with BWT. We analyzed cases of BWT treated at the Pediatric Oncology Institute-GRAACC-Federal University of São Paulo over a period of 35 years. Bleeding control was performed with manual compression of the renal parenchyma. Thirty-three patients were included in the study. Thirty cases were synchronous tumors. The mean age at diagnosis was 30.4 months (±22 m) and 66.7% were girls. The median follow-up period was 83 months. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was the primary approach in most patients (87.9%), with a simultaneous upfront surgical approach performed in 84.8%. Most patients underwent bilateral NSS (70.4%). There were no early complications in this series, but 39.4% had clinical complications. The five-year survival rate was 76%. Therefore, it is clear that the surgical approach to BWT plays a crucial role in achieving good outcomes. However, it is difficult to standardize surgical techniques and technology may have the potential to enhance safety.

Long-term complications in totally implantable venous access devices: randomized study comparing subclavian and internal jugular vein puncture.

BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized study evaluated complications related to long-term totally implantable catheters in oncologic children and adolescents by comparing venopunction performed either in the jugular or subclavian vein. METHODS: A total of 83 catheters were implanted from January 2004 to April 2006 and followed-up until March 2008. Patients were randomly allocated to the subclavian or jugular vein group. The endpoint was complications that led to catheter revision or catheter removal. RESULTS: Six patients were excluded, 43 had the catheter implanted in the subclavian and 34 in the jugular vein. Subclavian catheters were used for up to 12.6 months, while jugular catheters were kept in place for up to 14.8 months (P = 0.38). No statistical differences were found between the groups concerning age, sex, leukocyte count, platelet count, type of admission (in or outpatient), or previous chemotherapy regimens. When analyzed individually, long-term complications did not present statistically significant differences either. Infection occurred in 20 and 11% (P = 0.44), while catheter embolism took place in 23 and 8% (P = 0.11) of patients with subclavian and jugular catheters, respectively. A statistical difference was seen in the total number of complications, which occurred in 48 and 23% (P = 0.02) of patients in the subclavian and in the jugular groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Catheters implanted by puncture in the subclavian vein were more prone to late complications than those implanted in the jugular vein.