Transinguinal laparoscopic evaluation of contralateral side during unilateral inguinal hernia repair for children.

BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia repair is a common procedure in daily pediatric surgical practice. OBJECTIVES: The present study was planned to find out whether transinguinal laparoscopic exploration (TILE) of the contralateral groin is effective in reducing the need of operation for contralateral metachronous inguinal hernia (CMIH) in children. STUDY DESIGN: Charts of 1103 children who underwent inguinal hernia repair between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Eighty-eight children with bilateral hernia at the presentation were excluded, and 705 patients whose parents could be contacted by phone to get the latest information about children's condition were included in the study. RESULTS: Of the 705 children with unilateral inguinal hernia repair, 362 (51.4%) and 343 (48.6%) of them had right-sided and left-sided inguinal hernia, respectively. Transinguinal laparoscopic exploration was performed in 479 of the 705 children with unilateral hernia and a hernia or contralateral patent processus vaginalis (PPV) was found and ligated in %28.3 (n = 136) of them. Mean follow-up time was 60 ± 36 months. Fifteen (4.3%) of 479 patients who had TILE and 31 (13.6%) of 226 the patients who did not have TILE developed CMIH. When the videos of 15 patients who developed CMIH were reviewed, overlooked PPV was found in 10 (3.3%) patients who had TILE during early phases of institutional learning curve. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: TILE of the contralateral side during pediatric inguinal hernia repair is a simple and effective method to evaluate contralateral PPV. This approach clearly and significantly reduces the need of operation for a metachronous hernia at a later date.

Endoscopic balloon dilatation of benign esophageal strictures in childhood: a 15-year experience.

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in childhood benign esophageal strictures. The medical records of 38 patients who underwent EBD from 1999 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic features, diagnoses, features of strictures, frequency and number of EBD, complications, outcome, and recurrence data were recorded. Median age was 1.5 years (0-14), and female/male ratio was 17/21 (n = 38). Primary diagnoses were corrosive esophageal stricture (n = 19) and esophageal atresia (n = 19). The length of strictures were less than 5 cm in 78.9% (n = 30). No complication was seen in 86.8% (n = 33). Perforation was seen in 10.5% (n = 4), and recurrent fistula was seen in 2.7% (n = 1). Total treatment lasted for 1 year (1-11). Dysphagia was relieved in 60.5% (n = 23). Recurrence was seen in 31.6% (n = 12). Treatment effectiveness was higher, and complication rates were lower in strictures shorter than 5 cm compared with longer ones (70% vs. 25%, P < 0.05, and 3.4% vs. 37.5%, P < 0.05). Although there was no statistical difference, treatment effectiveness rates were lower and complication and recurrence rates were higher in corrosive strictures compared with anastomotic ones (P > 0.05). EBD is a safe and efficient treatment choice in esophageal strictures, especially in strictures shorter than 5 cm and anastomotic strictures.

Disorders of sexual development: an overview of 18 years experience in the pediatric Endocrinology Department of Ankara University.

INTRODUCTION: Disorders of sexual development (DSD) occur when the appearance of the internal and/or external genitalia is at variance with normal development for either sex. We reviewed the characteristics of patients with DSD. PATIENTS: Two hundred and eight children aged from newborn to 19 years with DSD from 1990 to 2008. RESULTS: 46,XY DSD (52.4%) was more common than 46,XX DSD (34.6%) and gonadal differentiation disorders (12.99%). Thirty-six (33.02%) patients were diagnosed with androgen resistance syndrome, 41 (37.61%) had 5alpha-reductase deficiency, 23 (21.10%) had testosterone synthesis disorders. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia was the most frequent underlying cause of 46,XX DSD. CONCLUSION: There are many difficult aspects in the diagnosis and management of DSD. Gender assessment teams of endocrine centers need a multidisciplinary approach for the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, genetic counseling, and psychosocial support of these patients.

Rare gallbladder parasitosis mimicking cholelithiasis: Dicrocoelium dendriticum.

Cholelithiasis is increasingly diagnosed in childhood and infancy. Biliary parasites are the rarest cause of cholelithiasis in all age groups. We present a twelve-year-old girl with non-hemolytic gallbladder stone and discuss the clinical features and differential diagnosis of Dicrocoelium dendriticum (DD) invasion that causes and/or mimics cholelithiasis in children.

Laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis: a comparison with open appendectomy.

BACKGROUND: The role of laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis remains controversial. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic and open appendectomy outcomes for children with perforated appendicitis. METHODS: Over a 36-month period, 111 children with perforated appendicitis were analyzed in a retrospective review. These children were treated with either laparoscopic (n = 59) or open appendectomy. The primary outcome measures were operative time, length of hospital stay, time to adequate oral intake, wound infection, intraabdominal abscess formation, and bowel obstruction. RESULTS: The demographic data, presenting symptoms, preoperative laboratory values, and operative times (laparoscopic group, 61 +/- 3 min; open group, 57 +/- 3 were similar for the two groups (p = 0.3). The time to adequate oral intake was 104 +/- 7 h for the laparoscopic group and 127 +/- 12 h for the open group (p = 0.08). The hospitalization time was 189 +/- 14 h for the laparoscopic group, as compared with 210 +/- 15 h for the open group (p = 0.3). The wound infection rate was 6.8% for the laparoscopic group and 23% for the open group (p < 0.05). The wounds of another 29% of the patients were left open at the time of surgery. The postoperative intraabdominal abscess formation rate was 13.6% for the laparoscopic group and 15.4% for the open group. One patient in each group experienced bowel obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic appendectomy for the children with perforated appendicitis in this study was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of wound infection. Furthermore, on the average, the children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy tolerated enteral feedings and were discharged from the hospital approximately 24 h earlier than those who had open appendectomy.

Laparoscopic cecostomy button placement for the management of fecal incontinence in children with Hirschsprung's disease and anorectal anomalies.

BACKGROUND: Antegrade colonic enemas offer a surgical solution for many children with chronic constipation and encopresis associated with Hirschsprung's disease and anorectal malformations. This study demonstrated the feasibility of a new laparoscopic technique for cecostomy button placement (LCBP) to allow antegrade enema treatment. METHODS: Charts of children with encopresis who underwent LCBP between 1999 and 2001 were reviewed. The age, weight, primary diagnosis, operative time, hospital stay, associated complications, follow-up duration, and outcome of the patients were recorded. The surgical technique used a "U-stitch" method and a chait tube or a standard gastrostomy button. A follow-up telephone survey was conducted to assess parental satisfaction and overall success in continence. RESULTS: Seven patients ages 4 to 12 years (mean, 7.3 +/- 1.3 years) and weighing 15 to 44 kg (mean, 24.5 +/- 4 kg) underwent LCBP over a 2-year period. The mean follow-up period was 15 +/- 4 months (range, 6-33 months). Four patients had anorectal malformations, and three patients had Hirschsprung's disease. For all the patients, LCBP was accomplished without any intraoperative complications. The mean operative time was 33 +/- 2 min, and the hospital stay was 2 to 5 days (mean, 3.8 +/- 0.5 days). The patients received one or two daily antegrade enemas, and none had accidental bowel movements. Episodes of soiling at night once or twice a week were observed with two children. Two patients had hypertrophic granulation tissue formation, which responded to topical therapy. The button was uneventfully changed twice in one patient because of mechanical malfunction. CONCLUSION: To manage overflow incontinence of children with anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung's disease, LCBP is a technically straightforward, effective, and reversible method for the placement of a cecostomy button.

Comparison of the incidence of complications in open and laparoscopic pyloromyotomy: a concurrent single institution series.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and type of technical complications seen in a concurrent series of pyloromyotomies done open and laparoscopically. METHODS: The medical records of all patients who underwent pyloromyotomy for congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis over a 66-month period were reviewed (n = 457). Information obtained included age, sex, weight, operating time, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-seven pyloromyotomies were equivalently divided between the 2 techniques (232 laparoscopic, 225 open). Demographic characteristics and operating times were similar. There were no deaths in the series. The overall incidences of complications were similar in the 2 groups (open, 4.4%; laparoscopic, 5.6%). There was a greater rate of perforation with the open technique and a higher rate of postoperative problems including incomplete pyloromyotomy in the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: The open and laparoscopic approaches have similar overall complication rates. The distribution and the type of complications differ, however.

A longitudinal follow-up using the high trans-scrotal approach for inguinal and scrotal abnormalities in boys.

The popular incision for surgical approach to pediatric inguinal pathologies has been the suprapubic transverse inguinal incision. Yet alternative incisions may be considered. A prospectively randomized study of a consecutive series of 256 male infants and children with various inguinal pathologies (mainly indirect inguinal hernias) were treated surgically using the "high trans-scrotal skin-crease incision," over a period of 84 months (7 years) and were compared and found to be clinically better than age- and sex-matched 278 controls with suprapubic transverse inguinal incisions for wound healing/infection, edema, seroma, hematoma, malpositioning or atrophy of testes and recurrence of the primary pathology. The results in the study group were cosmetically and clinically more favorable, and better than the control group. Nosocomial infections, complications of incarceration, and emergency surgery have resulted in an acceptable morbidity rate of approximately 5%. Popularized use of the high trans-scrotal incision and further clinical experience is recommended to facilitate even better results.

A novel incision for groin pathologies in children: the low inguinal groove approach.

BACKGROUND: The traditional approach to pediatric inguinal pathologies has been the suprapubic transverse inguinal incision. Alternative incisions for better cosmetic results may be considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The recently defined "low inguinal groove incision" was used in a consecutive series of 483 children having indirect groin hernias, hydroceles, and palpable undescended testes, etc. The neonates, infants, and children were operated on as elective day surgery cases. RESULTS: All children ended with excellent cosmetic and functional results. There were no complications or morbidity apart from a recurrence of an inguinal hernia in a 7 year-old boy. In addition to the series of girls reported earlier, this novel surgical incision has further been employed in boys with excellent results.

Reduction of surgery-induced peritoneal adhesions by continuous release of streptokinase from a drug delivery system.

Postoperative abdominal adhesions may lead to intestinal obstruction and infertility. The effect of continuous release of streptokinase to the peritoneal cavity on postoperative adhesions was examined under experimental conditions. Peritoneal adhesions were induced in rats and the animals were further treated by intraperitoneal administration of streptokinase solution, polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) membrane alone and streptokinase loaded PHBV membrane and compared to sham operated and untreated groups. Formation of adhesions was evaluated by quantitative macroscopic grading, histopathologically with light microscopy, on the following week. Streptokinase loaded PHBV prevented postoperative adhesion formation in 90% of the cases. PHBV membrane alone also reduced the severity of adhesions due to its anti-adhesive properties. Histopathological examination revealed limited foreign body reaction due to PHBV. Continuous streptokinase activity in the peritoneal cavity during early post-surgical period prevents postoperative adhesion.

Gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography in jugular phlebectasia and aneurysm.

True jugular vein aneurysms and phlebectasias are very rare abnormalities, which are usually discovered in children. Though their ultrasonographic features have been well described, magnetic resonance angiographic appearance of these lesions has not been reported in the radiology literature. We describe gadolinium-enhanced MR angiographic findings in two patients with internal jugular vein phlebectasia and one patient with anterior jugular vein aneurysm. The jugular venous system and its abnormalities were successfully depicted in the coronal plane, much like the images of coronal angiography.

The effect of amnio-allantoic fluid pH on the intestines: an experimental study in the chick embryo gastroschisis model.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Prolonged exposure to amniotic fluid causes the intestinal changes such as serosal edema, thickening, fibrous coating, and adhesions in gastroschisis. The effect of amnio-allantoic fluid (AAF) pH on intestines was evaluated using a chick embryo gastroschisis model. METHODS: Seventy fertile eggs were divided into 5 groups: preliminary study (PS, n = 20), AAF control (AAC, n = 10), just gastroschisis (JG, n = 10), gastroschisis pretreated with placebo (GPP, n = 15), and gastroschisis pretreated with sodium bicarbonate (GPS, n = 15). The PS group was also divided into 2 subgroups to determine the biochemical differences between the amniotic and the allantoic fluid. Gastroschisis was created surgically at the 14th day of incubation. In GPS group, 8.4% NaHCO(3) solution (0.1 mL/100 mg/d) was instilled into the AAF for 4 days. RESULTS: A significant decrease in intestinal damage was observed both macroscopically and microscopically in the group GPS compared with the JG and GPP groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment with alkalization of AAF prevented intestinal damage because of gastroschisis. Alkalization could be a simple alternative for pretreatment with amniotic fluid exchange for human fetuses with gastroschisis.

Psoas abscess secondary to tuberculous lymphadenopathy: case report.

Tuberculous psoas abscesses, a well-known sequel of tuberculous spondylitis, very rarely develop without concomitant spinal involvement. We report a unique case where a psoas abscess was secondary to retroperitoneal tuberculous lymphadenopathy in a 13-year-old boy who had no demonstrable findings of spinal tuberculosis. Computed tomography showed an obvious communication between the necrotic and calcified retroperitoneal lymph node and the psoas abscess. To the best of our knowledge, fistulization of tuberculous lymph nodes into the psoas sheath has not been reported in the English-language literature.

Post-traumatic intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms with delayed rupture: color Doppler sonographic and CT findings.

Post-traumatic intrasplenic pseudoaneurysms are very rare in children. Since pseudoaneurysms may expand a splenic hematoma and cause delayed splenic rupture, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. In this report, we describe the case of a 12-year-old boy with a delayed splenic rupture caused by a splenic hematoma containing 2 pseudoaneurysms. Abdominal sonography showed free intraperitoneal fluid and a mildly enlarged spleen with a large heterogeneous area occupying the upper half of the organ. Two anechoic lesions (15 and 4 mm) were seen inside the hematoma near the splenic hilum. Color Doppler sonography demonstrated turbulent arterial flow within the lesions, suggesting pseudoaneurysms. On CT, the lesions enhanced simultaneously with the splenic artery in the arterial phase of contrast enhancement. CT also showed an intrasplenic arterial branch leading to the larger of the 2 pseudoaneurysms.

Three-dimensional CT of congenital esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula in neonates: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: Radiography was traditionally used in the preoperative treatment of neonates with tracheoesophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. The aim of this study was to assess the potential use of three-dimensional CT in the evaluation of this complex congenital malformation. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional CT coupled with reformations in the three orthogonal planes may have a complementary diagnostic role in congenital esophageal atresia.