Left Amyand's hernia associated with omphalocele. / Hernia de Amyand izquierda asociada a onfalocele.

INTRODUCTION: Amyand's hernia is defined as the presence of the cecal appendix inside the hernia sac. It is usually located on the right side, but left-sided cases due to intestinal malrotation have also been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: 3-month-old male infant diagnosed with omphalocele at the 12th week of gestation undergoing surgery 48 hours post-birth. Bilateral inguinal hernia was diagnosed during follow-up, so scheduled bilateral herniotomy was performed. During surgery, the cecal appendix was identified inside the left herniary sac, so prophylactic appendectomy was carried out. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of Amyand's hernia ranges from 0.4 to 1% - three times higher in pediatric patients. Left-sided hernias are often associated with intestinal rotation disorders. Treatment of right Amyand's hernia is described in Losanoff-Basson's classification. In left-sided hernias, prophylactic appendectomy is recommended to avoid diagnostic confusion in case of appendicitis.

INTRODUCCION: La hernia de Amyand consiste en la presencia del apéndice cecal en el saco herniario, generalmente en localización derecha, aunque se recogen casos de localización izquierda debido a malrotación intestinal. EXPOSICION DEL CASO: Lactante varón de 3 meses de edad, con onfalocele diagnosticado en la 12ª semana de gestación e intervenido a las 48 horas del nacimiento. Durante el seguimiento se diagnostica de hernia inguinal bilateral, realizando herniotomía bilateral programada. En la intervención se encuentra el apéndice cecal en el saco herniario izquierdo, procediendo a una apendicectomía profiláctica. COMENTARIOS: La incidencia de la hernia de Amyand es del 0,4-1% (3 veces más frecuente en población pediátrica). La localización izquierda suele asociarse a alteraciones en la rotación intestinal. El tratamiento de las hernias de Amyand derechas se recoge en la clasificación de Losanoff-Basson. En las izquierdas, se recomienda realizar apendicectomía profiláctica para evitar confusiones diagnósticas en caso de apendicitis.

[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.

[Dog bite-related injuries treated in a pediatric surgery department:analysis of 654 cases in 10 years]. / Mordeduras de perro. Análisis de 654 casos en 10 años.

BACKGROUND: Dog bites to children have increasingly come to the forefront of public attention in recent years, especially attacks by certain breeds classified as aggressive. Dog bites account for approximately 1 % of all emergency pediatric department visits and 75 % of these bites occur in children. Although these lesions are rarely serious, 20-45 % of children under the age of 15 years have been bitten. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reality of this problem in our population in order to determine the ideal prehospital preventive measures that would reduce the incidence of dog bites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of children with dog bites who received emergency treatment in the Hospital Infantil Teresa Herrera of the Complejo Hospitalario Juan Canalejo in La Coruña, Spain, between 1991 and 2000 was undertaken. A register of patients was created that included data on age and sex of the children, the race of the dog, the relationship between the child and the animal, characteristics of the injuries, circumstances of the attack, probable sequelae, need for hospital admission and complications during treatment. Nonparametric data were analyzed using Pearson's 2 test. The Ox ratio was estimated with a 95 % confidence interval (0.05). RESULTS: In the 10-year period between January 1991 and December 2000, 654 patients under the age of 14 years were treated for dog bite-related injuries. The mean age was 5.09 years. A greater number of boys had been bitten than girls (2.75/1). In 79 % of the cases the dogs were known (family, friends, neighbors). Thirty-eight percent of the attacks were made by German Shepherds and 35 % by crossed breeds. Sixty-five percent of the bites were located on the head, face and neck, especially in patients aged less than 4 years. Five percent of the lesions were severe. Thirteen patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and 98 patients required hospitalization due to the characteristics of the injuries. The mean hospital stay was 6 days. Infectious complications occurred in 32 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although dog bite-related injuries to children in our community are rarely serious, they can produce important facial cosmetic sequelae. The high incidence of these lesions indicates the need for preventive measures and public policy strategies.

[Treatment of pyeloureteral duplication associated with ureterocele or ectopic ureter]. / Tratamiento de las duplicidades pieloureterales asociadas a ureterocele o a uréter ectópico.

INTRODUCTION: Pyeloureteral duplication is often associated to ureterocele and ectopic ureter. Therapeutic approach of ureterocele is actually a debated subject because of the differences treatments. There is controversy about the classic heminefrectomy with ureterocele aspiration and the minimal invasive endoscopic approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We made a retrospective study about 34 children with pyeloureteral duplication associated with ureterocele (26) or with ectopic ureter (8). The election of treatment was mainly based on renal function, showed on gammagraphy. It was performed heminephrectomy and ureterocele aspiration in patients with hypofunctioning upperpole, and surgery saving the kidney when the renal function was normal. RESULTS: Heminephrectomy was curative in 66.5% of children with ureterocele. In the others was required a correction of the vesicoureteral reflux associated with the lower pole or removal of the ureterocele with ureteral reimplantation due to failure in ureterocele collapse. 88.5% of ureterocele was collapsed. None of the heminefrectomies performed on patients with ectopic ureter needed further surgery. Pathology studies showed a high incidence of renal dysplasia (63%). CONCLUSION: We consider the heminephrectomy the treatment of choice in pyeloureteral duplication associated with ureterocele and ectopic ureter when gammagraphy studies show hypofunctioning upperpole.