The role of renal scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up of unilateral ATN after complete bilateral distal ureteral obstruction as a complication of acute appendicitis.

Acute anuria due to bilateral distal ureteral obstruction developed in two boys, ages 7 and 13, several days after appendectomy, without sonographic signs of hydronephrosis or hydroureters. Decompression was achieved after introduction of ureteric stents. This failed on the left side in one patient, and unilateral acute tubular necrosis (ATN) subsequently developed on that side. Although bilateral decompression was successful in the second patient, ATN had already developed on the left side. In both patients, Tc-99m MAG3 renal scintigraphy proved to be an important tool in diagnosing unilateral ATN and for evaluating the recovery from this rare complication.

Comparison between umbilical and transverse right upper abdominal incision for pyloromyotomy.

BACKGROUND: Besides laparoscopic pyloromyotomy, the operation for pyloric stenosis has been performed using 2 standard open surgical exposures: the right upper quadrant (RUQ) incision and the semi-circumumbilical (UMB) incision. The aim of this study was to compare the morbidity and cosmetic results of both open exposures. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1995, we performed 104 pyloromyotomies through a RUQ incision. These operations were retrospectively compared with 133 UMB incisions performed between 1995 and 1999. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding age at presentation, sex, and preoperative status. Only a significantly higher percentage of patients with a metabolic alkalosis before surgery was found in the UMB group, but this did not affect morbidity rate. The groups did not differ significantly with respect to mucosal perforations (P =.95), wound infections (P =.53), inadequate pyloromyotomies (P =.42), or other complications. The mean operating time was slightly longer in the UMB group (P <.025). The UMB approach produced a better cosmetic result, with an almost invisible scar. CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown that the UMB approach has equal intra- and postoperative complication rates as compared with the RUQ approach. The main advantage of the UMB approach is that it produces an excellent long-term cosmetic result.

Unsuspected sphincter defects shown by anal endosonography after anorectal surgery. A prospective study.

PURPOSE: Anorectal surgery can lead to fecal soiling and incontinence. Whether surgery changes the anatomy and causes symptoms is unknown. Anatomic changes can be visualized by anal endosonography. METHODS: We studied 50 patients after hemorrhoidectomy (24), fistulectomy (18), and internal sphincterotomy (8). Symptoms were assessed, and anal endosonography, anal manometry, mucosal electrosensitivity, and neurophysiologic tests were performed. RESULTS: In 23 (46 percent) patients, a defect of the anal sphincter was found (13 patients had an internal sphincter defect, 1 had an external sphincter defect, and 9 had a combined sphincter defect), 3 after hemorrhoidectomy, 13 after fistulectomy, and 7 after internal sphincterotomy. Seven patients had symptoms, and they all had a sphincter defect. In the other 16 of 23 patients (70 percent), the sphincter defect did not produce symptoms. An internal sphincter defect lowered maximum basal pressure and shortened sphincter length. CONCLUSION: Anal endosonography can reveal sphincter defects after anorectal surgery. Seventy percent of the patients in this group had no complaints; therefore, defects were unsuspected. This has clinical implications in the evaluation of patients with fecal incontinence.