[Parent controled analgesia system in postoperative pain management in patients undergoing lip and cleft palate surgery]. / Analgesia mediante bomba de infusión continua controlada por el paciente para el manejo postoperatorio del dolor en pacientes intervenidos de fisura palatina y labio fisurado.

OBJECTIVES: Craniofacial clefts surgery associates a painful postoperative pain whose management is complicated with conventional analgesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A parent controlled analgesia system was implanted with a continuous perfusion of tramadol, ondansetron and metamizole adjusted by weight. Parents are allowed to administer additional boluses if they observe irritability. We compared the variables of the cleft patients operated before and after the implantation of the system in our center. RESULTS: During 2016, 16 craniofacial clefts were operated (4 cheilorhinoplasties and 12 palatal clefts). No PCA (parent controlled analgesia) system was used. The average time of stay in PICU was 1.5 days. It took an average of 2.5 days to initiate tolerance. The mean of VAS (Visual Analogic Scale) was 3. 53% required major opioids (morphine, fentanyl) not being sufficient analgesia every 3 hours. During 2017, 7 palatal fissures and 4 cheilorhinoplasties were operated (11). Both of them were controlled by PCA. Patients with palatal cleft were admitted to the PICU with a total mean of 0.5 days. The beginning of tolerance was advanced to the first postoperative day. The VAS diminished to 0.5. Only one patient required opioids. 72% did not need to associate any type of analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: The PCA system is a safe and risk-free insurance for analgesia of fissured patients with benefits such as: decrease in pain, stay in PICU, the need for analgesia and initiation of early tolerance.

OBJETIVOS: La cirugía de las fisuras craneofaciales asocia un intenso dolor postoperatorio cuyo manejo resulta complicado con la analgesia convencional. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Utilizamos una bomba de analgesia controlada por los padres que contiene una perfusión continua de tramadol, ondansetrón y metamizol ajustada por peso. Se permite a los padres administrar bolos adicionales si observan irritabilidad. Comparamos variables de los pacientes fisurados intervenidos antes y después de la implantación del sistema en nuestro centro. RESULTADOS: Durante 2016 fueron intervenidos 16 fisurados (4 queilorrinoplastias y 12 fisuras palatinas). En ninguno se empleó bomba de analgesia. El tiempo medio de estancia en UCIP fue 1,5 días. Tardaron de media 2,5 días en iniciar tolerancia. La media de EVA (Escala Analógica Visual) fue de 3. El 53% precisaron opiáceos mayores (morfina, fentanilo), no siendo suficiente la analgesia c/3 horas. Durante 2017 se operaron 7 fisuras palatinas y 4 queilorrinoplastias (11). En todos empleamos bomba. Únicamente ingresaron en UCIP las fisuras palatinas (debido al manejo de la vía aérea) con una media total de 0,5 días. Se adelantó el inicio de tolerancia al primer día postoperatorio. La EVA disminuyo a 0,5. Solo un paciente precisó opiáceos. El 72% no precisó asociar ningún tipo de analgesia. CONCLUSIONES: La bomba de PCA (analgesia controlada por el paciente/por los padres) es un método seguro y exento de riesgo para la analgesia de los pacientes fisurados con beneficios como: disminución del dolor, de la estancia en UCIP, de la necesidad de analgesia e inicio de tolerancia precoz.

[Management of recurrent urethrocutaneous fistula after hypospadias surgery in pediatric patients: initial experience with dermal regeneration sheet Integra]. / Manejo de la fístula uretrocutánea recurrente tras cirugía de hipospadias: experiencia inicial con lámina de regeneración dérmica.

OBJECTIVE: To present our initial experience using a dermal regeneration sheet as an urethral cover in the repair of recurrent urethrocutaneous fistulae in pediatric patients. METHODS: Since May 2016 to March a total of 8 fistulaes were repaired using this new technique. We performed the ddissection of the fistulous tract and posterior closure of the urethral defect. A dermal regeneration sheet was used to cover the urethral suture. Finally a rotational flap was performed to avoid overlap sutures. RESULTS: During the follow-up (average 6 months), one patient presented in the immediate postoperative period infection of the surgical wound. This patient presented recurrence of the fistula. 88% of the patients included presented a good evolution with no other complications. CONCLUSIONS: In our initial experience the new technique seems easy, safe and effective in the management of the recurrent urethrocutaneous fistulae in pediatric patients. More studies are needed to prove these results.

OBJETIVO: Describir nuestra experiencia inicial en la reparación de la fístula uretrocutánea recurrente en la población pediátrica, mediante el uso de una lámina de regeneración dérmica como cobertura uretral. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Desde mayo del 2016 hasta marzo del 2017 se repararon 8 fístulas uretrocutáneas mediante esta técnica. Se realizó la disección del trayecto fistuloso, la sección del mismo y el posterior cierre del defecto uretral. Una lámina de regeneración dérmica monocapa se utilizó como cobertura sobre la sutura uretral. Finalmente se realizó un colgajo cutáneo de rotación evitando la superposición de las suturas. Los pacientes fueron seguidos mensualmente en consulta mediante exploración física. RESULTADOS: Durante un seguimiento medio de 6 meses (R: 2-10), únicamente 1 paciente (12%), que sufrió una infección de la herida quirúrgica durante el postoperatorio inmediato, sufrió una recidiva de la fístula uretrocutánea. El resto de los pacientes (88%) no desarrollaron ninguna complicación durante su evolución. CONCLUSION: En nuestra experiencia inicial, la técnica descrita parece sencilla, segura y eficaz en el manejo de los pacientes con fístulas uretrocutáneas recurrentes. No obstante, estudios a largo plazo son necesarios para corroborar estos resultados.

[Is experimental surgery necessary or essential in the training program of a pediatric surgeon?]. / ¿Es necesaria o imprescindible la cirugía experimental en el programa formativo de un cirujano pediátrico?

Many surgical procedures performed in pediatric surgery have a slow learning curve, the volume of patients and the existence of complex diseases that require extensive training and surgical skill, have taken our service to create a global training program of experimental surgery. This program based on the simulation and training invasive procedures in real anatomical models, aims to educate our residents in a global and efficiently way in order to obtain an improvement of technical training, and increased patient safety result of experience and expertise wined in the experimental animal. This paper presents the main features, objectives and results obtained with this training program and seeks to promote the incorporation of simulation programs in live animal as an essential part of the training of pediatric surgery resident.

[Varicoceles in adolescents and relationship with bmi: are varicoceles more frequent in tall thin men?] / Varicoceles en adolescentes y su relación con el índice de masa corporal: ¿son más frecuentes en varones altos y delgados?

OBJECTIVES: Varicocele is a dilatation of the venous pampiniform plexus considered the leading cause of correctible male infertility. Varicocele ethology remains controversial and there have been several studies which inform that varicoceles are found less frequently in obese adolescents but relationship between varicocele and body mass index (BMI) remains controversial yet. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To study the relationship between varicocele and body mass index in children population we review the patients treated for varicocele in our institution. We analyzed patients with varicocele surgical correction in our centre in the last 10 years. At our institution all patients were treated by Palomo technique. We analyzed: age, location and degree of varicocele, weight and height, surgical technique, appearance of reactive hydrocele or others complications, varicocele recurrence and reoperation. Our objective is to study the relationship between BMI and varicocele in adolescent boys. RESULTS: We observed that varicocele in our series was found more frequently in taller patients and less frequently in obese patients (higher BMI). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies will be needed to confirm that theory and to understand varicocele ethology but we consider that this fact is very useful because we are talking about a pathology with repercussion in fertility so we must be alert about it in adolescent population to correct it.

OBJETIVOS: El varicocele constituye la principal causa de infertilidad masculina tratable. Su fisiopatología no es todavía bien conocida y existen varios estudios que sugieren que esta patología se desarrolla con menos frecuencia en pacientes obesos. Sin embargo, la relación entre el varicocele y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) continúa siendo controvertida. Nuestro objetivo es estudiar los pacientes pediátricos con varicocele y establecer una relación entre el IMC de estos pacientes y esta patología. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Para estudiar la relación entre el varicocele y el índice de masa corporal en la población infantil, revisamos a los pacientes intervenidos de varicocele en nuestro centro. Se estudiaron 79 pacientes en los últimos 10 años. Todos los pacientes fueron tratados con técnica de Palomo. Analizamos: edad, localización y grado de varicocele, peso y talla, técnica quirúrgica, aparición de hidrocele reactivo u otras complicaciones, recurrencia de varicocele y reintervención. RESULTADOS: Observamos en nuestra serie una mayor frecuencia de varicocele en pacientes más altos y delgados (menor IMC) comparándolos con los pacientes con mayor masa corporal en relación a la altura. CONCLUSIONES: Concluimos que según nuestra serie y en concordancia con literatura, el varicocele podría darse con más frecuencia en pacientes altos y delgados. Son necesarios más estudios para confirmar este hecho y aclarar la fisiopatología de esta entidad, pero dado que se trata de una patología que podría tener repercusión en la fertilidad creemos que debemos estar alerta en este grupo de pacientes para detectar esta patología y valorar la necesidad de corrección.

[Appendicitis, an unusual cause of acute abdomen in neonatal patients. A case report]. / Apendicitis como causa de abdomen agudo en etapa neonatal. A propósito de un caso.

Appendicitis is the most frequent surgical disease in childhood, but it is very uncommon in the neonatal period. In this period of life, a delay in diagnosis (frequently due to the rareness of this pathology and lack of clinical suspicion) and consequently in therapeutic approach, frequently results in appendicular perforation and a subsequently poor evolution of this pathology. We present the case of a neonate with a history of Down's syndrome and Fallot's tetralogy. Due to her basal cardiopathy, she required surgical intervention to create a systemic-pulmonary fistula, as a temporary bridge until definitive cardiac surgery could be performed. In the postoperative period of this surgery she presented fever, acute abdomen and abdominal radiography compatible with pneumoperitoneum. An emergency laparotomy was performed, which revealed peritonitis secondary to a cecal gangrenous appendix with perforation in its middle third. Neonatal appendicitis is usually associated with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, necrotizing enterocolitis, or Hirschsprung's disease, as in the case of our patient. In neonates with acute abdomen and presence of pneumoperitoneum, appendicitis must be part of the differential diagnosis and requires urgent surgical intervention. Despite this, it presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Once the definitive diagnosis is made, any basal pathology that justifies its presence should be discarded.

Endoscopic balloon dilatation in primary obstructive megaureter: Long-term results.

BACKGROUND: Open neoureterocystostomy is the traditional surgical treatment for primary obstructive megaureter (POM). Endoscopic balloon dilation is a new minimally invasive alternative. It has been shown to be a safe and effective endoscopic procedure over short-term follow-up; however, few studies have shown its long-term efficacy. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results and complications of balloon dilation for the treatment of primary obstructive megaureter in infants. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective review was performed of patients with primary obstructive megaureter treated with balloon dilation. The diagnosis was made through ultrasonography, diuretic isotopic renogram, and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). The indications for surgery were: worsening hydronephrosis, renal function impairment, and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). All patients were followed 3 months after the endoscopic procedure with ultrasonography and MAG-3 renogram, and 6 months after surgery with VCUG and ultrasonography. Annual ultrasound and clinical follow-up were performed until present time. RESULTS: Seven boys and six girls were treated (median age 9 months, range 2-24). Ten patients had a prenatal diagnosis of hydronephrosis, and the diagnoses was made after UTI in three patients. No intraoperative complications were observed. One double-J stent was replaced after endoscopic procedure for malpositioning, and four patients developed UTIs after surgery. All patients had non-obstructive MAG-3 diuretic renogram 6 months after surgery. The mean washout on the renogram and the ultrasound pelvic diameter showed pre-operative and postoperative statistical differences (Summary Table). All patients maintained their results without recurrence or any other complications in the long-term follow-up. The median follow-up was 10.3 years (range 4.7-12.2). DISCUSION: In 2014, Aparicio et al. first described balloon dilation being used as a definitive treatment for primary obstructive megaureter in infants. Bujons et al. also presented 20 cases with a mean follow-up of 6.9 years. The current study is the largest to date, with a median follow-up of 10.2 years. It demonstrated the value of balloon dilation as a definitive treatment for POM. Despite these results, it was difficult to establish endoscopic balloon dilation as a definitive treatment for POM, due to the absence of long-term studies like the current one. CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation can be a safe and effective endoscopic procedure for the treatment of primary obstructive megaureter in infants, and has shown good outcomes in long-term follow-up. More studies are needed to demonstrate these results.

Endobronchial tuberculous granuloma in children.

Endobronchial tuberculosis is rare in children, in whom it is usually a complication of primary tuberculosis. Endobronchial involvement may adopt several forms, with granuloma being infrequent. Here we report on 10 cases of endobronchial tuberculous granuloma diagnosed and treated in our Paediatric Surgery Service between 1991 and 2004. In 2 cases the presentation was acute and constituted the first manifestation of TB; the remaining patients were undergoing treatment or had been treated for primary TB, and presented with clinical symptoms or radiological signs that led us to suspect endobronchial involvement. In all cases the granuloma was removed by bronchoscopy. Patients received conventional medical TB treatment, with corticoids for 4 weeks following granuloma removal. The clinical course was favourable in all cases and on follow-up we saw no complications. Endobronchial tuberculous granuloma should be borne in mind in children with symptoms or signs of airway obstruction and especially during the course of tuberculosis treatment.

[Ingestion of foreign bodies containing lead]. / Ingestión de cuerpos extraños de plomo.

Ingestion of a foreign body containing lead in children carries the additional risk of acute lead poisoning secondary to dissolution and absorption of the ingested lead in the acid environment of the stomach. We report the case of a 3-year-old girl who ingested a lead sinker. The patient was asymptomatic but therapy with a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole) was empirically started on admission and the foreign body was removed from the stomach by emergency endoscopy within 6 hours of ingestion. Despite the quick removal, blood lead levels (drawn 3 hours after ingestion) exceeded 40 .g/dl. The patient completely recovered and continues to do well after 1 year of follow-up. This case reveals that acute elevations of blood lead concentrations may occur rapidly after ingestion of lead foreign bodies. Even in the absence of symptoms, lead foreign body ingestion in children should prompt lead screening and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Handlebar hernia in children: two cases and review of the literature.

Localised traumatic abdominal hernias are rare. Most such hernias are due to the direct impact of the handlebars of a bicycle or motorcycle, with 20 cases reported to date in the English language literature, 12 in children. We report two new cases of handlebar hernia, in children aged 6 and 10 years. In both cases, physical examination revealed an area of contusion and bruising in the lower abdomen. However, the muscle defect was detected during the first examination in only one of the patients, and not until several days later in the other patient. Abdominal ultrasonography proved useful for diagnosis in both patients. Early surgical correction is necessary to prevent possible complications. This type of hernia should be borne in mind when evaluating children who have suffered abdominal trauma in a bicycle accident.

[Blunt abdominal trauma. Nonoperative management]. / Traumatismos abdominales cerrados: un enfoque conservador.

During the 7 year period, 1987 to 1994, 48 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were treated in our Hospital. There were splenic injury in 50% cases, liver trauma in 25% and renal injury in 40%. Seven patients suffered injuries to multiple sites. The clinical findings were confirm with ultrasound (47 children) and Computed Tomography scanning (CT) (19 children). Intravenous pyelography were performed in nine cases with previously suspect of renal affection. The CT scan provided diagnosis in four patients with negative findings in the sonography. In the present serine, 42 cases were managed by nonoperative means with 100% survivals. One patient surgically treated died from associated severe head injury. The postoperative complications appeared in ten nonoperatively cases (recurrence of bleeding in four children). 14 of these non surgical patients required blood transfusion, and the mean volume of transfusion was 30 ml/kg. A follow-up abdominal sonography was obtained in all survivors, showing resolution of the injury in all of them. We conclude that non surgical managements must be the first choice in all blunt abdominal trauma in pediatrics. Laparotomy is mandatory in masive bleeding or hemodynamically inestable patients. Ultrasonography is a simple method without risks and fast available, well indicated for diagnosis and follow-up of this children.

[The use of technetium 99m with diethyleneamino pentaacetic acid (Tc 99-DTPA) in the pathology of the pyeloureteral junction]. / Aplicación del tecnecio 99m con ácido dietilenoaminopentacético (Tc 99-DTPA) en la patología de la unión pieloureteral.

By using diuretic renograms with technetium 99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Tc 99-DTPA) as a non-invasive procedure to evaluate paediatric patients with pelvicaliceal dilatation, we are able to make a clear differentiation between dilated, obstructed and non obstructed renal units. This procedure has given us a new insight into the management of these patients, permitting us to decide which patients would benefit from a surgical treatment and which patients would be reserved for clinical observation and follow up.

[Necrotizing enterocolitis: a 10-year survey]. / Enterocolitis necrotizante: revisión de 10 años.

We reviewed the records of all infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) who had been diagnosed in "Teresa Herrera" Hospital in La Coruña between 1984 and 1994. We tried to determine the risk factors that could influence at the beginning of the disease, the clinic presentation, and the basic aspects of treatment. All cases of ECN with clinic-radiologic confirmation were examined (Bell stages II and III). With this approach, a general questionnaire containing records, clinical presentation, and treatment, was applied to all cases. In our revision, we found that neonate most at risk is that one with an average gestational age of 35 weeks, a mean weight of 2500 gr., with a laborious delivery and who was admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit for an important disease. The onset of NEC was more frequent in the first 15 days of life, and clinical and radiological features were used to confirm the disease. In 86% of the cases, oral feeding had begun. Surgery was needed in 36% of the cases, of which 86% suffered from gut perforation, terminal ileum being the most frequent localization. The general mortality was 12%. Only one of the operated patient died. We conclude that in the appearance of NEC there are a lot of influential factors, including perinatal stress, prematurity and a low birth weight. Clinical symptoms are haemodynamic instability, abdominal distension and bloody stools, obtaining confirmation through radiology in 87%. We consider the importance of early diagnosis and treatment and exhaustive observation by children's surgeon to indicate early surgery.

What is the infection risk of oesophageal dilatations?

UNLABELLED: Oesophageal dilatation is the most widely used treatment option for the management of oesophageal strictures. Complications include bleeding, a slight increase in body temperature, thoracic or abdominal pain, oesophageal perforation, brain abscess and bacteraemia. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the frequency of post-dilatation bacteraemia in nine patients subjected to a total of 50 dilatations. Bacteraemia was detected in 36 cases (72%), In all but three cases, however, it was transient and not associated with fever or other clinical complications. The organisms most commonly responsible (64%) were alpha-haemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus viridans), probably originating as contaminants from the oropharynx and oesophagus and introduced into the bloodstream during dilatation. Despite the relatively low incidence of bacteraemia-related postdilatation complications, the potential severity of such complications argues for the use of antibiotic prophylaxis as a routine measure prior to oesophageal dilatation. CONCLUSION: Oesophageal dilatation is associated with a high incidence of bacteraemia. The organisms most commonly responsible were alpha-haemolytic streptococci. We recommend the use of antibiotic prophylaxis as a routine measure prior to oesophageal dilatation.