Spanish primary care in pediatric trauma (AITP) consensus: An AITP checklist. / Consenso AITP español: Una lista de verificación AITP.

INTRODUCTION: The course in Primary Care in Pediatric Trauma (ATIP in Spanish) has been taught in Spain since 1997, and there are currently 9 accredited training centers. Care of polytraumatized pediatric patients often takes place in an environment conducive to errors resulting from forgetfulness, which is why checklists - mnemonic tools widely used in industry and medicine - are particularly useful to avoid such errors. Although several checklists exist for pediatric trauma care, none have been developed within the setting of our course. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The criteria for being selected as an expert in Primary Care in Pediatric Trauma were agreed upon with the scientific polytrauma committee of the Spanish Pediatric Surgery Society. The items that make up the checklist were obtained from a review of the literature and consultation with selected experts, using the Delphi Technique. RESULTS: 10 experts representing the 9 groups or training centers in Primary Care in Pediatric Trauma were selected, and a 28-item checklist was drawn up in accordance with their design recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: With the consensus of all the groups, a checklist for the treatment of polytraumatized pediatric patients was drawn up using the Delphi Technique, an essential requirement for the dissemination of this checklist, which should be adapted and validated for use in each healthcare center.

INTRODUCCION: El curso de Asistencia Inicial al Trauma Pediátrico se imparte en España desde 1997, existiendo en la actualidad 9 centros formadores acreditados. La asistencia al paciente pediátrico politraumatizado se produce muchas veces en un ambiente proclive al error por olvido, por lo que las listas de verificación, como herramientas mnemotécnicas de amplia difusión en la industria y en medicina, serían especialmente útiles para evitarlos. Aunque existen varias listas de verificación para la asistencia al traumatismo pediátrico, ninguna se ha desarrollado en el entorno de nuestro curso. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se acordaron los criterios para ser seleccionado como experto en Asistencia Inicial al Trauma Pediátrico con la comisión científica de politrauma de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Pediátrica. Los ítems para formar la lista de verificación se obtuvieron a partir de una revisión bibliográfica y de la consulta a los expertos seleccionados, empleando un método Delphi. RESULTADOS: Se seleccionaron 10 expertos que representan los 9 grupos o centros formadores en Asistencia Inicial al Trauma Pediátrico y se elaboró una lista de verificación con 28 ítems, siguiendo sus recomendaciones de diseño. CONCLUSIONES: Se diseñó una lista de verificación para el manejo del paciente pediátrico politraumatizado, con el consenso de todos los grupos empleando un método Delphi, requisito fundamental para facilitar la difusión de esta lista. Sería preciso adaptar y validar dicha lista para su uso en cada centro asistencial.

CT-guided hook-wire localization of pulmonary nodules in children prior to atypical resection by thoracoscopy: Practical aspects.

In the multidisciplinary treatment of pediatric oncologic patients, multiple imaging tests, biopsies, and resections are required for diagnosis, initial staging, and posterior restaging. In these patients, pulmonary nodules are not always metastases, so the correct diagnosis of these lesions affects their treatment and the patient's survival. Percutaneous localization of pulmonary nodules is key for two reasons: it enables the surgeon to resect the smallest amount of lung tissue possible and it guarantees that the nodule will be included in the resected specimen. Without percutaneous localization, it can be impossible to accomplish these two objectives in patients with very small nodules that are separated from the pleural surface and therefore impossible to see by thoracoscopy. This article reviews the technique for hook-wire localization of pulmonary nodules and the keys to ensuring the best results.

Wheat and barley can increase grain yield in shade through acclimation of physiological and morphological traits in Mediterranean conditions.

Major cereal yields are expected to decline significantly in coming years due to the effects of climate change temperature rise. Agroforestry systems have been recognized as a useful land management strategy that could mitigate these effects through the shelter provided by trees, but it is unclear how shade affects cereal production. Most cereal species and cultivars have been selected for full light conditions, making it necessary to determine those able to acclimate to low irradiance environments and the traits that drive this acclimation. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in central Spain to assess the photosynthetic response, leaf morphology and grain yield of nine cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) at three levels of photosynthetic active radiation (100%, 90% and 50%). Cultivars were selected according to three different precocity categories and were widely used in the studied area. The main objective was to assess whether the species and cultivars could acclimate to partial shade through physiological and morphological acclimations and thus increase their grain yield for cultivation in agroforestry systems. Both species increased grain yield by 19% in shade conditions. However, they used different acclimation strategies. Barley mostly performed a physiological acclimation, while wheat had a major morphological adjustment under shaded environment. Barley had lower dark respiration (42%), lower light compensation point (73%) and higher maximum quantum yield (48%) than wheat in full light conditions, revealing that it was a more shade-tolerant species than wheat. In addition, to acclimate to low irradiance conditions, barley showed a 21% reduction of the carotenoids/chlorophyll ratio in the lowest irradiance level compared to 100% light availability and adjusted the chlorophyll a/b ratio, photosystem II quantum efficiency, electron transport rate and non-photochemical quenching to shade conditions. On the other hand, wheat showed a 48% increase in single leaf area in the 50% irradiance level than in full light to maximize light capture. Our results showed that current commercialized wheat and barley cultivars had sufficient plasticity for adaptation to shade, supporting tree presence as a tool to reduce the negative effects of climate change.

Trees' role in nitrogen leaching after organic, mineral fertilization: a greenhouse experiment.

New sustainable agriculture techniques are arising in response to the environmental problems caused by intensive agriculture, such as nitrate leaching and surface water eutrophication. Organic fertilization (e.g., with sewage sludge) and agroforestry could be used to reduce nutrient leaching. We assessed the efficiency of establishing trees and pasture species in environmentally sensitive, irrigated Mediterranean grassland soils in controlling nitrate leaching. Four vegetation systems-bare soil, pasture species, cherry trees [ (L.) L.], and pasture-tree mixed plantings-and five fertilization treatments-control, two doses of mineral fertilizer, and two doses of organic fertilizer (sewage sludge)-were tested in a greenhouse experiment over 2 yr. In the experiment, the wet and warm climate characteristics of Mediterranean irrigated croplands and the plant-to-plant and soil-to-plant interactions that occur in open-field agroforestry plantations were simulated. Following a factorial design with six replicates, 120 pots (30-cm radius and 120 cm deep) were filled with a sandy, alluvial soil common in the cultivated fluvial plains of the region. The greatest pasture production and tree growth were obtained with sewage sludge application. Both pasture production and tree growth decreased significantly in the pasture-tree mixed planting. Nitrate leaching was negligible in this latter treatment, except under the highest dose of sewage sludge application. The rapid mineralization of sludge suggested that this organic fertilizer should be used very cautiously in warm, irrigated Mediterranean soils. Mixed planting of pasture species and trees, such as , could be a useful tool for mitigating nitrate leaching from irrigated Mediterranean pastures on sandy soils.

[Heterotaxy-polysplenia, approach to the esophageal hiatus for Nissen technique]. / Heterotaxia-poliesplenia, abordaje del hiato esofágico para técnica de Nissen.

INTRODUCTION: Heterotaxy is a failure in embryonic development to achieve left-right symmetry. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of heterotaxy and show a surgical approach for fundoplication. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A girl with heterotaxy-polysplenia syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux and recurrent abdominal pain. It was decided to perform laparoscopic antireflux treatment with Nissen fundoplication with approach by the right side of the diaphragmatic hiatus and pillars. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is being discussed in these syndromes, indicating only in cases of recurrent abdominal pain, subocclusive lesions or when diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux is done. The dilemma is between laparoscopic or classical laparotomy. The main difficulty of the laparoscopic approach is the enlarged liver and stomach placement right despite the esophageal hiatus is normally on the left side.

[Surgical treatment of congenital mesoblastic nephroma]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico del nefroma mesoblástico congénito.

BACKGROUND: Renal tumors are rare in infants less than 6 months of age, being congenital mesoblastic nephroma the most frecuent in this age group. We reported 4 cases treated in our hospital in the last years. METHODS: We analyze age, sex, the clinical presentation as well as diagnosis and treatment. RESULTS: Range of age at diagnosis was 0-6 months. In our study the predominant sex was female. Clinical presentation was abdominal mass in all of cases with hypertension (HTA) in two of them. Scan ultrasound has been the method of dignostic, that was completed with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The tretament was open surgery in three cases and laparoscopic on the last. All patients are alive with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS: Low frecuency of this tumor limit the experience on diagnostic and treatment. Standard treatment is nephroureterectomy radical with free margins. Adjuvant therapy should be considered in recurrent disease although exists few studies. Laparoscopic surgery should be an alternative to clasical treatment since permits excision with good security margins.

Implication of the age in the clinical spectrum of giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the potential influence of the age in the clinical spectrum of giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: The case records of all patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA at the Department of Medicine of the Hospital Xeral-Calde (Lugo, Northwest Spain) between 1981 and 2006 were reviewed. RESULTS: During the period of study, 273 Lugo residents were diagnosed with biopsy-proven GCA. The mean age +/- standard deviation at the time of disease diagnosis was 75.1+/-6.8 years (median: 75 years; interquartile range 71-80 years). A longer delay to the diagnosis was observed in patients younger than 70 years of age (13.2+/-12.8 weeks) compared to those 70 years and older (9.4+/-10.2 weeks) (p=0.03). Patients younger than 70 years presented more frequently polymyalgia rheumatica (p=0.02), cerebrovascular accidents (p=0.004), peripheral arteriopathy of recent onset due to large artery stenosis (p=0.03) and high alkaline phosphatase values (p=0.001) than those 70 years and older. Individuals 70-79 years of age at the time of disease diagnosis had ESR values (90.2+/-22.8 mm/1st hour) lower than those observed in patients younger than 70 years (98.3+/-22.2 mm/1st hour) or 80 years and older (99.5+/-20.6 mm/1st hour) (p=0.005). However, no significant differences in the frequency of visual ischemic complications according to the age at the time of disease diagnosis were observed. CONCLUSION: The results from this study display differences in the clinical spectrum of the disease according to the age of disease onset.

[Use of laparoscopy in neonatal pathology: our experience]. / Uso de la laparoscopia en la patología duodenal: nuestra experiencia.

The neonatal duodenal pathology has been diagnosed and treated with open surgery for many years. The use of minimally invasive techniques is widely use today on pediatric surgery, but its use on neonatal pathology poses a challenge. We have conducted a study of the 8 neonatal patients with duodenal obstruction that were operated with a laparoscopy in our hospital between 2001 and 2007. The analyzed parameters were the gender, prenatal diagnostic, type of duodenal malformation, weight at birth, hospitalization stay, start of feeding, complications and follow-up. In our sample (6 girls and 2 boys) the 62.5% of the cases was diagnosed after a prenatal ultrasound scan. The duodenal malformations discovered were 5 atresias, 2 webs and 1 anular pancreas. In all the cases, the feeding started by means of a trans-anastomotic probe 48 hours postoperatives. There were 3 complications: one re-surgery and 2 stenosis of anastomosis. The average hospitalization stay was of 27 days with a mean follow-up of 3 years. We think that laparoscopy is a good method for the treatment of the neonatal duodenal pathology, although the scarce volume of our sample does not allow us to generalize the technique.

[Thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation]. / Lobectomía toracoscópica en pacientes con malformación adenomatoidea quística.

BACKGROUND: The management of asymptomatic patients with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) is controversial. This report evaluates the video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) lobectomy in children with this malformation, and the different intraoperative complications and their resolution are discussed. METHODS: Six patients with CCAM underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. All the patients were under one year and all of them were asymptomatic at the diagnosis. The procedures were performed with single lung ventilation and the chest was insufflated with a low flow and pressure to complete collapse of the lung. We used 3 or 4 thoracoscopic ports depending on the difficulty of the dissection. A bipolar sealing device was the preferred mode of vessel ligation and bronchi were closed with interrupted sutures. The following features have been taken into account: age at diagnosis, localization, surgical technique, complications, hospital stay, results, and time of follow-up. RESULTS: Four lesions were on the right lower lobe (66.7%) and two (33.3%) in the middle lobe. All the procedures were completed thoracoscopically. Chest tubes were left in all cases. Two patients (33.3%) showed postoperative hemothorax but it didn't need blood transfusion. Mean hospital stay was 6 days. At the moment all the patients are asymptomatic with and the mean time of follow-up has been 2 years and 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: VAT lobectomy avoids the long-term morbidity associated to an open thoracotomy and therefore it is a safe and efficacious technique in asymptomatic children with CCAM. Moreover, a greater number of cases are necessary to validate and to improve the technique.

[The role of tracheobronchial stenting in the management of pediatric airway obstruction]. / El papel de las prótesis traqueobronquiales endoluminales en la patología obstructiva de la vía aérea del niño.

PURPOSE: Tracheobronchial stenting can aid in the management of pediatric airway problems. We reviewed our experience to determine the role of endoscopic airway stents in children. METHODS: Sixteen children (Age range: 10 days- 19 years) underwent 28 tracheobronchial stents in the period 1991-2006. The stent type chosen depended on patient age and location. All procedures were done under general anesthesia with bronchoscopy. The following features have been taken into account: etiology, obstruction diagnosis, stent type, localization,,associated anomalies, complications, results, and time of follow-up. RESULTS: Etiology of the tracheobronchial obstruction included tracheobronchiomalacia in 13 patients (81.3%), tracheal stenosis in 2 (12.5%) and glotic stenosis in one case (6.2%). The stent used were 15 Palmaz (53.5%), 7 Dumon (25%), 4 Montgomey (14.5%), 1 Poliflex (3.5%) and one Dynamic stent (3.5%). More than one stent were undertaken in seven cases (43.7%). 16 patients had tracheal stents, 11 children had bronchial stent and one infant a carinal stent. Five complications are reported (two patients developed granulation tissue, two stents migrated, and a child presented a left lung atelectasis) and five patients died (only one case related to tracheobronchial stenting). Results have been satisfactory in 14 patients (87.5%) and the mean time of follow-up has been two years and ten months (range 2 months- 12 years and 6 months). CONCLUSIONS: The tracheobronchial stenting in children may represent a valid treatment option for many sick children in particular circumstances. The long-term outcome remains uncertain but the medium-term outlook is encouraging.

[Minimally invasive surgery for the management of congenital diaphragmatic patology]. / Manejo de la patología diafragmáitica congénita con cirugía mínimamente invasiva.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) plays a major role in pediatric surgery. We reported our experience in MIS management of congenital diaphragmatic patology (CDP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors collected date on children who underwent a MIS for CDP repair from 1998 until 2006. The following features have been taken into account: lesion type, approach, surgical technique, complications, hospital stay and time of follow-up. RESULTS: From 1998 until 2006 11 patients (age range: 2 days-6 years and 6 months) with CDP had undergone an attempt at MIS repair: 6 patients with posterolateral hernia (36.4%), 4 with Morgagni hernia ( 54.5%) and a congenital diaphragmatic eventration case (9%). Eight patients 8 (72.7%) were treated using laparoscopy and three cases using thoracoscopy. Three patients were treated as newborns (27.2%). Four patients presented complications (36.3%): two patients who were repaired initially laparoscopically were converted to a transabdominally approach and two patients had recurrent herniation, which were repaired with MIS. Actually all cases were asymptomatic with a mean time of follow-up of 1 year and 8 months (range: 3 months-two years). CONCLUSIONS: MIS is a feasible, safe, easy to perform and efficient approach to repair CDP but it needs selection criteria for successful outcome.

[Laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy in children. First results]. / Resultados iniciales del tratamiento de la hernia inguinal por vía laparoscópica.

INTRODUCTION: The inguinal hernia repair in the child has a new alternative, the laparoscopic repair. We study our initial results obtained with this technique. We evaluate the indications and the efficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 150 patients have been operated with an initial diagnosis of hernia inguinal or crural. Usually this technique is realized with three ports: we put the umbilical one (5mm) for the scope and two ports (3 mm) placed in flanks. The repair was realized in purse string fashion or interrupted or noninterrupted suture with non-absorbable suture (polipropylen) 3-4/0. RESULTS: Indications of the herniorraphy were: (12%) recurrent hernia, bilateral hernia (28%), association inguinal hernia inguinal and umbilical (39%), crural hernia (4%) and in 16% incidental hernia. Most of them (137) was treated in purse string fashion, (11) non interrupted suture and 12 interrupted suture. No conversion to open was require in any case. Haematoma for puncture of the spermatic vessels was seen in 6 cases (1,4%). Today we do this surgery in ambulatory way. We have had 2 recurrent hernias (1%) that were treated again laparoscopicaly. CONCLUSIONS: We can't extract conclusion from this study because of the number of patients but we think that the laparoscopic treatment of inguinal hernias can offer advantages in selected cases.

Safety of withholding anticoagulant therapy in patients who have clinically suspected pulmonary embolism and negative results on helical computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the safety of withholding anticoagulant therapy in patients with negative results on helical computed tomography (CT). However, these studies were either retrospective or had a selection bias, since spiral CT was performed only in selected patients. Moreover, no special attention has been directed towards an alternative diagnosis which might explain patients' signs and symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of withholding anticoagulants in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and negative CT results when ultrasonography (US) was performed only in patients with clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Another goal was to evaluate the effect of CT findings on the final clinical diagnosis. METHODS: Among 192 consecutive patients who underwent CT for possible acute PE, 98 patients had negative images and 88 of them-- without clinical suspicion of DVT-- were prospectively followed up for 3 months for evidence of subsequent thromboembolic disease. They did not receive anticoagulation. Clinical probability of PE was assessed applying the Geneva score. These patients were also classified into several diagnostic categories according to the CT findings and clinical presentation. In addition, all patients who were alive (or a member of his or her family) were interviewed by phone once the last patient's follow-up was completed. RESULTS: One patient was lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 87 patients (35 with low, 47 with intermediate and 5 with high clinical probability), subsequent thromboembolic disease was found in 1 (1.1%; 95%CI: 0.03-6.2%). Two patients died during the follow-up period, but no deaths were attributed to PE. Alternative diagnoses were: nonspecific thoracic pain (43.3%), nonspecific pleuritis (19.5%), pneumonia (18.4%), other (18.8%). The telephone survey was performed in 74 patients (median follow-up: 11 months; range: 4-23). None of them had newly diagnosed episodes of PE and none of them had received anticoagulation for any reason. CONCLUSIONS: With the limitations of a small single-center series, our data suggest that withholding anticoagulation in patients with suspected acute PE and negative CT results appears to be safe when the clinical probability of PE is assessed as low or intermediate. This technique also provides useful information to pose an alternative diagnosis. US could be avoided in patients without clinical suspicion of DVT.

[Pleural empyema. Thoracoscoopic treatment]. / Empiema pleural. Tratamiento toracoscópico.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of primary and secondary thoracoscopy in children with parapneumonic empyema. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a retrospective study of 24 children entered our hospital between years 1998 and 2003. RESULTS: Early thoracoscopy doesn't influence in length of stay. 12 children (50%) were treated with previous chest tube and other 12 children (50%) without it. There is statistical significance in length of hospital stay. The days with postoperative fever didn't decrease, but it was seen if we compare it from the beginning of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: An early thoracoscopy decrease length of hospital stay and the duration of fever postoperative.

[Primary lung tumors]. / Tumores broncopulmonares primarios.

Pulmonary neoplasia in children is usually due to methastatic disease because primary lung tumors are very unfrequent. Due to its' rarity they are usually not included in the differential diagnosis of lung masses, so treatment is delayed and prognosis is worsened. Herein, we show our experience in the management of five primary tumors of the lung or the airway: one tracheal, three bronchial, and another intraparenchymatous. We study the clinical behaviour, diagnostic work-up, treatment, histology, and follow-up. Despite its rarity, a diagnosis of pulmonary tumor should be considered in any child with respiratory symptoms that does not improve with standard therapy. An early and accurate diagnosis and an adequate treatment are crutial in the prognosis of these patients.

[Gastric heterotopia and cleft palate. Deformation sequence or syndromic association?]. / Heterotopia gástrica y fisura palatina. Secuencia deformativa o asociación sindrómica?

Gastric heterotopia is more frequently in small intestine, gall bladder, biliary tract, Meckel's diverticulum, colon and rectum, but it can be found in other locations. It is especially rare in oral cavity. We only find one case that concurs with cleft palate. We present the case of a neonate with gastric heterotopia and cleft palate in addition to other congenital malformations not related at first. We make a brief revision of literature, showing the pathogenesis of heterotopia and its possible association with the cleft palate.

[Health status of the oldest old: functional and medical situation in centenarians]. / Estado de salud de los muy ancianos: situación clínica y funcional de la población centenaria.

OBJECTIVE: We planned a prospective and descriptive analysis of the centenarian population in Lugo sanitary area, establishing their social, functional and medical status as well as its relationship with their basic hematological and biochemical parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the study period between January 2001 and September 2003, participants were visited at home by a doctor and a nurse. The following variables were assessed: social status, past medical history, physical examination, functional status (Barthel index), blood analysis. RESULTS: 54 centenarians were interviewed, 16 men and 38 women. 75.9% were widows; 87% lived with their family and 57,4% in urban areas. 79.6% had followed studies. All of them had their own incomes. Regarding past medical history, 64.8% had some visual or auditive disturbances, 81.5% were taking medical drugs, 59.3% had some surgical intervention and 46.3% had been hospitalized for medical reasons. Their vaccination status was poor. Functional status, assessed by Barthel index, showed an average of 59 +/- 36.4, higher in men (82.7 +/- 28.7) than in women (49.6 +/- 35.1) (p<0.003). Blood samples were analyzed in 51 cases, there were not significant differences among them regarding sex or physical disability. CONCLUSION: The features of the centenarian population of Lugo are similar to other countries. It is an heterogeneous group. There are more women, but their clinical and functional status are significantly worse than in males. We have not founded a relationship between hematological and nutritional parameters and the degree of functional dependence in centenarians.