Nephrectomy in children with wilms' tumor: 15 years of experience with "Tumor Delivery Technique".

BACKGROUND: The contemporary surgical approach to Wilms' tumors follows that used in adults with renal cell carcinomas, namely, early occlusion of the renal vessels and then removal of the kidney as an intact mass. For years, the surgical approach at our institution has been different, starting with blunt separation of the kidney from the surrounding tissues, followed by its delivery outside the abdominal cavity while it is only attached to the major blood vessels which are subsequently ligated. We aimed to present this "tumor delivery technique" and evaluate its outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of children who underwent nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor using "tumor delivery technique." All procedures were performed by the same team, according to the same surgical principles. RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2015, 36 children were operated. Median age was 31 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 6-45 mo), and median maximal tumor diameter was 10 cm (IQR: 8-13.9 cm). Tumors were located to the right side in 47%, left side in 42%, and bilateral in 11%. Twelve children have received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Capsular disruption and tumor spillage were documented in 4 cases (11%). CONCLUSIONS: "Tumor delivery technique" is an easy and safe approach which might reduce the overall complication rates and the incidence of intraoperative tumor spillage.

[Trends in surgery--evolution or revolution?].

BACKGROUND: In recent years surgical procedures have developed enormously outpacing the rapid growth in medicine. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to highlight the trends in surgical treatment over the past decade in comparison with reports in the scientific literature. METHODS: We reviewed the surgical trends in the Pediatric Surgical Department at the Sheba Medical Center between the years 1995-2006. The main parameters implemented in the assessment were: laparoscopic approach vs. traditional open surgery, elective vs. emergency operations and the extent of congenital abnormalities treated over the years. RESULTS: This study showed a decline in the number of open surgeries performed as opposed to a statistically significant increase in laparoscopic procedures and a decrease in elective surgery performed in tertiary medical centers, while the number of congenital abnormalities treated remained constant. CONCLUSION: The literature review revealed that similar changes in surgical management were found in other countries, confirming our study results. These trends, including clinical, professional and fiscal developments, require preparedness on a national level.

Torsion of the cryptorchid testis--can it be salvaged?

PURPOSE: The literature concerning undescended testis mainly concentrates on the increased risks of infertility and development of germ cell tumors. Yet the UDT also appears to be at higher risk for torsion compared to the normally descended testis, and this issue is relatively poorly addressed. We reviewed all cases of torsion of UDTs operated on at our hospital during the last 20 years in an attempt to characterize better this condition and its salvageability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective clinical study we reviewed and analyzed all cases of testicular torsion involving UDT operated on at our hospital between 1984 and 2004. RESULTS: A total of 11 children were operated on at our hospital for torsion of undescended testis between 1984 and 2004. Patient age ranged from 1 month to 18 years (median 7.5 months). In all cases unilateral torsion of undescended testis was diagnosed, with 73% of cases involving the left side. Clinical symptoms included inguinal swelling and erythema associated with a tender, firm mass palpated in the groin area and an empty ipsilateral hemiscrotum. Doppler ultrasound examination was routinely performed in the last 7 patients to confirm the diagnosis. During inguinoscrotal exploration severe ischemia or overt necrosis of the testis was found in 5 of 11 cases. Three of these 5 cases were managed by orchiectomy, while in the other 2 cases the testis subsequently vanished. In the 6 patients who exhibited some improvement following detorsion and warming of the tissue the testes were preserved and orchiopexy was performed. Followup was available in only 5 patients, with vanishing of the torsed testis observed in 4 and a normal testicle detected 21 years postoperatively in 1 patient who was diagnosed early. CONCLUSIONS: This series clearly demonstrates poor rates of surgical salvage, which we mainly attribute to delays in parental response and in primary physician referral to the hospital. Parents, who have a pivotal role in early diagnosis, were usually unaware of this urological emergency, and some were surprisingly unaware of the presence of cryptorchidism. By increasing the awareness regarding this entity among members of the medical community and parents, we hope that torsion of the cryptorchid testis (literally, "hidden testis") will no longer necessarily be synonymous with "crypt-torsion" ("hidden torsion").

Prenatal identification of esophageal atresia: the role of ultrasonography for evaluation of functional anatomy.

OBJECTIVE: To suggest a new ultrasonographic approach for prenatal diagnosis of esophageal atresia (EA). METHODS: Since 1995, whenever EA is suspected, we perform a systematic multiplanar ultrasonographic scanning of the fetal upper body in order to demonstrate an esophageal pouch. This includes three image plans of the neck and upper chest: coronal, sagittal and axial views in the cephalic direction. The scan time is 20-30 min. RESULTS: Twenty-five pregnant patients were referred during the period under study for prenatal examinations due to polyhydramnios and/or absent or small stomach. In six fetuses an esophageal pouch was demonstrated at ultrasonography in utero, thus a definitive diagnosis of EA was obtained. All six were confirmed with EA postpartum. In 19 fetuses an esophageal pouch was not demonstrated and all delivered normal neonates. During the same period two additional newborns, who were not included in the referred patients because amniotic fluid volume and stomach size were normal, were diagnosed postpartum with EA. The earliest gestational age of pouch visualization was at 23 weeks. The sagittal view was the best for visualizing a low-level pouch, and the coronal view was optimal for revealing a high pouch. CONCLUSIONS: Our three-sectional view of the neck and upper chest is useful for in utero detection of esophageal pouch that may enhance the prenatal diagnosis of EA. The positive predictive value for prenatal ultrasound for detecting EA is 100% with a sensitivity of 80%.