Failed back surgery syndrome: a new strategy by the epidural injection of MESNA.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of MESNA (sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate) injection into the epidural space in the FBSS. METHODS: We designed a prospective phase II longitudinal study. Six consecutive patients were enrolled. Patients underwent one peridural injection per week for 3 weeks. NRS and ODI were investigated before and 48 h after injections, and at 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after the last procedures. Opioids intake is investigated before procedures and 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the last procedures. Lumbosacral MRI is performed before the first procedure, at the end and 3 months after the last procedures. RESULTS: From baseline, at 3 months, NRS in standing, sitting and lying position improved, respectively, of 34.29, 30.56 and 26.47%; ODI improved of 20.3%; the average decrease in morphine intake was 20.54%. No difference in MR images was found. Conclusions Our preliminary results suggest that MESNA might be an efficacy alternative to common practice.

Long-term outcome of laparoscopic Nissen, Toupet, and Thal antireflux procedures for neurologically normal children with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: Nissen fundoplication is the most popular laparoscopic operation for the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Partial fundoplications seem to be associated with a lower incidence of postoperative dysphagia, and thus a better quality of life for patients. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcome in neurologically normal children who underwent laparoscopic Nissen, Toupet, or Thal procedures in three European centers with a large experience in laparoscopic antireflux procedures. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 300 consecutive patients with GERD who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The first 100 cases were recorded for each team, with the first team using the Toupet, the second team using the Thal, and the third team using the Nissen procedure. The only exclusion criteria for this study was neurologic impairment. For this reason, 66 neurologically impaired children (52 Thal, 10 Nissen, 4 Toupet) were excluded from the study. This evaluation focuses on the data for the remaining 238 neurologically normal children. The patients varied in age from 5 months to 16 years (median, 58 months). The median weight was 20 kg. All the children underwent a complete preoperative workup, and all had well-documented GERD. The position of the trocars and the dissection phase were similar in all the procedures, as was the posterior approximation of the crura. The short gastric vessels were divided in only six patients (2.5%). The only difference in the surgical procedures was the type of antireflux valve created. RESULTS: The median duration of surgery was 70 min. There was no mortality and no conversion in this series. A total of 12 (5%) intraoperative complications (5 Nissen, 5 Toupet, 2 Thal) and 13 (5.4%) postoperative complications (3 Toupet, 4 Nissen, 6 Thal) were recorded. Only six (2.5%) redo procedures (2 Thal, 2 Toupet, 2 Nissen) were performed. After a minimum follow-up period of 5 years, all the children were free of symptoms except nine (3.7%), who sometimes still require medication. The incidence of complications and redo surgery for the three procedures analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test are not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: For pediatric patients with GERD, laparoscopic Nissen, Toupet, and Thal antireflux procedures yielded satisfactory results, and none of the approaches led to increased dysphagia. The 5% rate for intraoperative complications seems linked to the learning curve period. The authors consider the three procedures as extremely effective for the treatment of children with GERD, and they believe that the choice of one procedure over the other depends only on the surgeon's experience. Parental satisfaction with laparoscopic treatment was very high in all the three series.

Transanal coloanal anastomosis for Hirschsprung's disease: comparison between endorectal and perirectal pull-through procedures.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the results of 2 procedures of transanal pull-through for the management of rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease. METHODS: Twenty-one consecutive children with rectal or rectosigmoid Hirschsprung's disease were operated on between November 1999 and April 2003, in two pediatric surgical departments (Dijon and Strasbourg). Twelve children underwent a transanal perirectal pull-through procedure (TPR) and 9 had a transanal endorectal (Soave) pull-through procedure (TER). The collected data in each group included demographic data, length of aganglionosis, age and weight at operation, operating time, duration of hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications (sepsis, enterocolitis, stricture) and quality of fecal continence on long-term follow-up. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the TPR and TER groups with respect to mean age at presentation, length of aganglionosis (rectosigmoid in 10/12 and 8/9 patients respectively), age at operation, with seventeen children operated on before one year of age (mean 3.8 and 3.3 months, respectively) and duration of hospital stay (5.2 vs. 5.3 days), frequency of bowel movements at 3 months postoperatively (1 - 3 per day). Mild differences were observed between TPR and TER groups for gender (ratio M : F 5 : 1 vs. 2 : 1), gestational age at term (39 vs. 37.5 weeks), birth weight (3240 g vs. 2520 g) and operating time (116 min vs. 138 min). No iatrogenic injury of the surrounding pelvic structures occurred during surgery and no blood transfusion was required in either of the groups. A retrorectal pelvic abscess was found in one child of the TPR group. It resolved after an enterostomy had been performed with parenteral antibiotics. Anal dilatation for postoperative anorectal stricture was required in 3 and 2 patients, respectively, for the TPR and TER groups. A mild postoperative enterocolitis developed in one case in the TER group. The average follow-up period was 35.3 months, but ten children still wear diapers, making a functional evaluation difficult. Constipation was noted in 4 and 3 patients, respectively, for the TPR and TER groups. No permanent soiling has been noted at long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: As an objective assessment of fecal continence could not yet be done for this short series, further follow-up is required. Up to now, no significant difference was observed between these two transanal pull-through procedures.

Laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy: an effective procedure for the treatment of neurologically impaired children with feeding problems and gastroesophageal reflux.

BACKGROUND: Feeding difficulties and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) are major problems in severely neurologically impaired children. Many patients are managed with a simple gastrostomy, with or without fundoplication. Unfortunately, fundoplication and gastrostomy are not devoid of complications, indicating the need for other options in the management of these patients. METHODS: Since January 2002, seven patients (age range, 5-14 years) have been treated by creating a jejunostomy with the laparoscopic-assisted procedure. The procedure was performed using two 10-mm trocars. The technique consists of identifying the first jejunal loop, grasping it 20-30 cm away from the Treitz ligament with fenestrated atraumatic forceps, and exteriorizing it to the trocar orifice under visual guide. The jejunostomy was created outside the abdominal cavity during open surgery. At the end of the jejunostomy, the correct positions of the intestinal loop and feeding tube were evaluated via laparoscopy. RESULTS: Surgery lasted 40 min on average, the laparoscopic portion only 5 min. There were no perioperative complications; hospital stay was 3 or 4 days for all patients. At the longest follow-up (18 months), all patients had experienced a significant weight gain, with a high level of parental satisfaction. One patient died 1 year after the procedure of unknown causes. All the others are well, without complications or problems, and their parents are extremely satisfied with the improved quality of life of their children. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic-assisted jejunostomy is a safe and effective procedure to adopt in neurologically impaired children with feeding problems and GER. This procedure solves these patients' feeding problems even if the reflux is not completely eliminated. We advocate the use of this procedure in neurologically impaired patients with feeding problems and reflux due to its overall practicability and because there is minimal surgical trauma. This technique is extremely safe because the surgeon is able to verify, at the end of procedure, the status of the jejunostomy from outside and inside the abdominal cavity. The improvement in the quality of life of these children after the jejunostomy seems to be the major advantage of this procedure.

The uncertain primary diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to re-evaluate our series of patients affected by a colonic non-neoplastic disease, in order to measure the percentage in whom we were unable to make a correct diagnosis after the first clinical and histological approach and to single-out the reasons for our inability to reach the correct diagnosis. METHODS: During the period 1985-1999 we observed 1228 patients affected by chronic inflammatory colonic diseases. RESULTS: In 859 patients (69.9%) an ulcerative colitis was diagnosed for the first time, and 248 patients (20.1%) were affected by Crohn's colitis. One hundred and twenty-one patients (9.8%) were defined as being affected by an undetermined colitis. Forty-three patients of these had a definite diagnosis, afterwards: 27 patients were affected by ulcerative colitis and 16 by Crohn's colitis. Differential diagnosis between inflammatory large bowel diseases (ILBD) and other forms of colitis was set out as follows: 62 cases out of 1228 were consequent on a bacterial infection or parasitosis; in 28 patients a colitis pseudomembranosus was diagnosed. Eighteen cases of ischemic colitis are reported and 14 patients were affected by NSAID-related colitis. In another 6 patients we diagnosed a postradiation colitis. In 22 cases mimicking a Crohn's colitis we ascertained 9 patients affected by intestinal lymphoma, 11 mycobacterium tuberculosis related intestinal infections and 2 cytomegalovirus related colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite progress in scientific acquisitions and in diagnostic methods, correct initial diagnosis of ILBD is still difficult, even though it will be defined with time.

The efficacy of laparoscopy in detecting and treating associated congenital malformations in children.

One of the main advantages of laparoscopy in children is the fact that it enables a magnified view and the possibility to explore the whole abdominal cavity. This case report clearly shows these advantages. We report the case of a 3-yr-old girl, suffering from severe GERD and right inguinal inguinal hernia, who had already been operated at birth for esophageal atresia. We performed a laparoscopic fundoplication according to Nissen and, at the end of procedure, we decided to turn the optic down to control the right inguinal region to confirm the presence of an inguinal hernia. To our great surprise we found a right oblique external hernia as well as a direct inguinal hernia on the same side. Both hernias was treated successfully in laparoscopy. At a 1-year follow-up, the patient presented no reflux and no recurrence of the inguinal hernias. The laparoscopy in this case permitted operation on two different pathologies involving the upper and lower parts of the abdominal cavity using the same ports and without enlarging the incision, as would happen in laparotomy. The main relevance of this case is that laparoscopy allowed the detection of an associated pathology like a direct inguinal hernia that would have been certainly overlooked in open surgery and could have caused a recurrent hernia if operated via open surgery.

Laparoscopic solution of a vascular complication occurring during an open procedure in a child.

Usually the word conversion implies conversion from a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure to solve complications occurring during laparoscopy. In this article we report a conversion from an open procedure to a laparoscopic one, to treat a vascular complication that occurred during an orchiectomy performed in open surgery. A 2-year-old boy came to our center for a right orchiectomy. The clinical history of this baby showed the presence of a right atrophic testis positioned in the medial part of the inguinal canal, a finding also confirmed by ultrasonography. One of our residents performed a right orchiectomy via an open inguinal procedure. After removing the testis, and before ligating the inner spermatic vessels at the level of the internal inguinal ring, the forceps that held the vessels was inadvertently opened, causing a contraction of the spermatic vessels. Since we were unable to identify the vessels and achieve hemostasis via the inguinal opening, a conversion to laparoscopic surgery was decided. A 10-mm 0 degrees optics was introduced through an umbilical trocar and revealed a large retroperitoneal hematoma along both the inner spermatic vessels and the deferential vessels, for about 3-4 cm from the internal inguinal ring. Two 5-mm trocars were positioned in triangulation and hemostasis was achieved by positioning clips on the vessels at the level of internal inguinal ring and proximally to the hematoma. Surgery lasted 1 hour; the laparoscopic procedure, 25 minutes. The baby was discharged 2 days after surgery. At a 9-month follow-up the clinical and ultrasonographical evaluation was normal. This case clearly shows the usefulness of laparoscopy in pediatric surgery, as well as to solve complications due to open surgery. We think that nowadays the use of laparoscopy should be considered indispensable by every pediatric surgical team.

One-trocar laparoscopy: a valid procedure to treat abdominal complications in children with peritoneal shunt for hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to show the efficacy of laparoscopy using only one umbilical trocar to treat abdominal complications of hydrocephalic children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a 15-year period, 14 laparoscopies were performed on as many children with VPS complications: in the last 4 patients only one trocar was used to solve the complications, and this subgroup will be the object of the present study. Concerning the indication for surgery, the patients presented one catheter lost in the abdominal cavity; one cerebrospinal fluid pseudocysts; one bowel obstruction; and one malfunctioning peritoneal limbs of the catheter. We used the one-trocar laparoscopic approach in all the 4 patients, and the 10-mm trocar was always introduced through the umbilical orifice in open laparoscopy. RESULTS: The laparoscopic technique was curative in all four cases and permitted the solution of the complication. CONCLUSIONS: One-trocar laparoscopic surgery can be considered as the ideal procedure in case of abdominal complications of VPS in children with hydrocephalus.

Experience with the use of tissue adhesives in pediatric endoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Due to technological improvements, the use of tissue adhesives and glues for tissue approximation and hemostasis in surgery has increased. We report our preliminary experience with this technology in pediatric endosurgery. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2000, we employed tissue adhesives in 48 pediatric patients during laparoscopic procedures. In 25 patients, the glue was adopted for the hemostasis of parenchimal organs (liver in 24 cases and spleen in one). In three cases, the glue was used to repair organ perforation, in 19 it was used to close the distal part of a patent processus vaginalis in case of congenital inguinal hernia. In the final case, the glue was adopted to achieve optimal airtightness in case of pulmonary biopsy. The glue was injected with the aid of a needle positioned transparietally. RESULTS: The procedure was easy and rapid in all cases, and there were no problems or complications related to glue positioning at a mean follow up of 51 months. CONCLUSION: Tissue adhesives are a very versatile product for use in pediatric laparoscopic surgery. It is likely that their usage will increase as the technology improves and more effective products are developed.

Impact of laparoscopy on the management of an unusual case of nonpalpable testis in an adult patient.

BACKGROUND: In the past decade, cryptorchidism has generally been treated in the first 36 months of life using an inguinal approach, in the case of palpable testis, or using laparoscopy, in the case of nonpalpable testis. Nevertheless, before this period some children were managed incorrectly. This case report shows how laparoscopy and the collaboration between pediatric surgeons and urologists may lead to optimal results. CASE REPORT: A 19-year-old male was referred to our unit following routine medical examination for enrollment in the military service with a diagnosis of right cryptorchidism. The clinical history showed the anamnesis of right cryptorchidism diagnosed at birth as a right nonpalpable testis, confirmed at 2 years of age with clinical examination and computer tomography. The patient came to our attention to again undergo a clinical examination, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. We found a left, well-positioned testis of 20 ml in volume and an empty right scrotum; all the instrumental examinations were negative. The patient was thus scheduled for a diagnostic laparoscopy. A pediatric surgeon with extensive experience in this pathology performed the procedure. The 10-mm 30 degrees optics introduced through the umbilicus showed a closed right inguinal ring, with no evidence of either vas deferens or inner spermatic vessels at the level of the inguinal region or pelvis. Two more trocars were introduced and a testis of 15 ml in volume was found under the ascending colon 10 cm away from the cecum. An orchiectomy was performed via laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: This case clearly shows that some males with nonpalpable testis may have been treated incorrectly in the prelaparoscopic era and may now have an intraabdominal testis. In addition, our experience shows that intraabdominal testis may sometime be in an unusual location, and a laparoscopic surgeon with experience in this pathology is fundamental to finding the testis. In the case of adults with nonpalpable testis, when echography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging are not useful, the only effective diagnostic procedure is laparoscopy.

Gastric motility disorders in patients operated on for esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: long-term evaluation.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Disturbed peristalsis is reported frequently after successful repair of esophageal atresia (EA). Delayed gastric emptying could be considered a cause of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in patients with repaired EA. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the incidence of and to characterize gastric motility disorders in a long-term follow-up of patients operated on for EA-tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) by studying gastric emptying with scintigraphic techniques and comparing the results with gastric manometric data. METHODS: Eleven patients, between 12 and 23 years of age (median, 17) operated on for EA-TEF between 1975 and 1985, were studied. The scinthigraphic study was undertaken using a standard solid meal. The manometric study was performed using a 2.3-mm probe with 3 solid-state transducers. RESULTS: Dysphagia was present in about 20% of patients. Dyspepsia was recorded in 40% of the patients. A pathological reflux was present in 2 patients. Delayed gastric emptying (T1/2 > 90') was present in 4 patients (36%). Manometric data showed alteration of gastric peristaltic activity in 5 patients (45%). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed gastric emptying is frequent in long-term follow-up of patients operated on for EA-TEF. In these patients antral hypomotility also is recorded manometrically. Abnormal gastric motility can be considered as an important factor predisposing to symptoms of GER. A thorough evaluation of gastric function is recommended in symptomatic patients after EA repair.

Sumatriptan overuse in episodic cluster headache: lack of adverse events, rebound syndromes, drug dependence and tachyphylaxis.

This observational study was designed to examine the pattern of sumatriptan use in patients with cluster headache using more than the recommended daily dose of subcutaneously injected (s.c.) sumatriptan. Thirteen patients suffering from episodic cluster headache were asked to record the characteristics of their attacks and drug intake for 1 year. All reported a high daily frequency of attacks (more than 3 per day) and the related overuse of s.c. sumatriptan. The results show that the overall incidence of adverse events among patients receiving sumatriptan injections for the treatment of cluster headache is low. The extended administration of this drug in episodic cluster headache did not result in tolerance problems or tachyphylaxis. Only 4 patients experienced minor adverse events and recovered more slowly than the others. They suffered from migraine without aura and cluster headache, and showed a family history of migraine. Even though they must be viewed with caution, due to the observational nature of the study and the low number of patients included, these results suggest that the profile of sumatriptan may differ in cluster headache compared with migraine.

Utility of a scoring system in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in pediatric age. A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent cause of surgical emergency in pediatric age. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a scoring system, retrospectively applied, to the clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with acute appendicitis. METHODS: A group of 156 patients admitted for acute abdominal pain and operated for appendectomy, in the last 3 years, has been included in the study. The mean age was 8.4 years. The modified Alvarado score has been used as scoring system: white count, neutrophil count, fibrinogen level, body temperature, resistance in the right iliac fossa, length of symptoms, nausea/vomiting. The score has been calculated for each patient. They were subdivided into 3 groups. Group I (score 1-4), no admission; Group II (5-6), admission and observation; Group III (7-10), surgery. This subdivision was then compared with the intraoperative notes. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I, 24 patients (15%); Group II, 34 patients (22%); Group III, 98 patients (63%). On the basis of the intraoperative notes 61 patients had acute appendicitis and 95 complicated acute appendicitis. In this last subgroup the score gave a percentage of patients to operate of 90.5%. CONCLUSIONS: With the present work we confirm the utility of a scoring system in the preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis and in our opinion it is a useful system for a first, rapid and economic evaluation in the pediatric emergency department.

[An epidemiological study of the health conditions of Milan traffic police with respect to pollution from vehicular traffic]. / Indagine epidemiologica sulle condizioni di salute dei vigili urbani di Milano in rapporto all'inquinamento da traffico veicolare.

An investigation on the health effects of occupational exposure to motor vehicle exhaust and environmental pollutants was carried out on traffic wardens in Milan (Italy). Randomized samples of 292 traffic wardens (exposed group) and 60 hospital staff members (control group) underwent a physical examination and laboratory tests. No significant difference was observed between the exposed and control groups as regards general morbidity, apart from musculo-skeletal disorders in females. The mean blood lead level (PbB) among traffic wardens was 15.2 micrograms/dl compared with 11.7 in control (p less than 0.01). The carboxyhaemoglobin concentration (COHb) in traffic wardens at the beginning of the shift was 2.8% for smokers and 1.2% for non-smokers (3.0% and 0.9% respectively in controls). At the end of the shift COHb in the exposed group was 4.3% for smokers and 2.5% for non-smokers (p less than 0.01). PbB was significantly correlated (r = 0.17) with Median Nerve Motor Conduction Velocity (NCV) in the exposed but not in the control group. The same pattern was observed for the correlation of PbB and Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (r = -0.24). COHb was significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.20) in the exposed group only. It is questionable whether very low PbB levels can affect NCV and SBP directly or rather whether PbB, as well as COHb, should be regarded as tracers of exposure to those urban pollutants leading also to cardiovascular and nervous disorders.

Fetal vesicoureteral reflux: neonatal findings and follow-up study.

To examine features of primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) at birth following prenatal hydronephrosis and to describe the course of congenital damage in the first two years of life. We reviewed the records of 382 patients with prenatally diagnosed dilated urinary tracts seen during a 15-years period. When fetal hydronephrosis was confirmed at birth, voiding cystography was performed. If a VUR was diagnosed dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renography, at 1 month of age, was also performed. Cystography and DMSA renography were repeated and 1 and 2 years of age. Of 382 patients with prenatal hydronephrosis, 68 (17.8%) had primary VUR (50 male and 18 female, M:F = 3:1). VUR was unilateral in 24 patients and bilateral in 44 for a total of 112 refluxing renal units (RRUs). High-grade VUR (grade > or = 4) was found in 70 (62.5%) RRUs, and 60 (85.7%) were boys. Grade V reflux was observed in 96.5% of males. At birth, 22 (20%) RRUs had moderate impairment of renal function. In 12 (10%) RRUs (grade > or = 4) was demonstrated by a severe decrease in renal function. In all cases no focal scarring was noted. Eight infants (all males), with grade 5 degrees VUR, in the first six months of life had surgical treatment. The majority of the RRUs (110/112 = 89%) were followed medically. Mild reflux (grade I-III) had resolved in 81% RRUs, severe reflux (grade > or = 4) had resolved in 38% RRUs. Serial renal scans during the follow-up showed no progression of renal damage. VUR diagnosed at birth on prenatal ultrasonography is associated with congenital damage, with males affected more often than females. In patients without infection, after two years, modification of renal function or renal scars are very rarely observed.

[Do histologic changes of the upper renal pole in double ectopic ureterocele justify a conservative approach?]. / Le alterazioni istologiche del polo renale superiore nell'ureterocele ectopico duplex giustificano un approccio conservativo?

The aim of this study was to review the histology of the upper pole segment in patients with duplex ectopic ureterocele to verify if a less aggressive surgery is justified in the prenatally diagnosed patients. We reviewed the histology of the upper pole segment of 15 consecutive patients with duplex system ectopic ureterocele treated between 1991 and 1999 at the Paediatric Surgery Unit of University Hospital of Messina. The diagnosis of duplex system ectopic ureterocele was made according to the criteria of the Section on Urology of the American Academy of Paediatrics. The histology specimens were assessed for dysplastic, inflammatory and obstructive changes. All 15 patients with duplex system ectopic ureterocele were surgically treated with heminephro-ureterectomy and the surgical specimens were histologically examined. Nine of the 15 patients were prenatally diagnosed. The histology of the upper pole segment of the 9 prenatally diagnosed showed in all patients segmental renal microcystic dysplasia, chondroid metaplasic islands and an inflammatory tubulo-interstitial nephropathy in 6 patients (66.6%) and in 2 (22.2%) nephroblastomatosis. The histology of six the postnatal postnatally diagnosed patients showed in all patients segmental multicystic renal dysplasia, inflammatory tubulo-interstitial nephropathy and segmental parenchymal scars. The upper pole histology of the patients with duplex ectopic ureterocele diagnosed prenatally did not show any evidence of reversible histological change. Considering the histology and the good outcome of patients treated with upper pole nephroureterectomy a less aggressive surgery with preservation of the upper pole does not seem justified.

A case of Beauveria bassiana keratitis confirmed by internal transcribed spacer and LSU rDNA D1-D2 sequencing.

We describe a case of fungal keratitis due to Beauveria bassiana in a farmer with Fuchs' dystrophy, treated with amphotericin B. Surgery with penetrating keratoplasty was necessary to resolve the lesions. Susceptibility testing and molecular sequencing permitted the identification and treatment of this rare aetiological agent of invasive fungal disease.

Performance characteristics of current-generation Immulite 2000 TORCH Assays.

The performances of seven Immulite 2000 (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics) TORCH (Toxoplasma gondii, other microorganisms, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus) assays were evaluated in comparison with the performances of the ETI-MAX 3000 (DiaSorin) TORCH assays. The two systems demonstrated good agreement, and given their sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value, they can be used with confidence for TORCH prenatal screening.