Pneumonostomy in the management of pediatric lung abscess.

Emergency pneumonostomy was curative in a critically ill child with acute lung abscess. This procedure may be indicated for the rare acute lung abscess which fails to respond to medical therapy.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy: patterns of presentation to pediatric surgeons.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is an increasingly reported insidious disorder in which illness in a child is fabricated and/or induced by the parent. Over a 5-year period at North Carolina Children's Hospital 10 such children were identified after having presented to the Pediatric Surgical Service. In reviewing this experience, we have identified two patterns of presentation. Apnea, seizures, and cyanosis comprised the pattern most frequently seen in infants. A history of persistent diarrhea and vomiting, although seen in two infants, was the more common pattern in older children. As they got older, four of the infants subsequently were noted to have the childhood pattern of symptoms. The mother was the perpetrator in all cases with the child's illnesses being induced by a number of different mechanisms. The most useful diagnostic tool proved to be isolation of the child from the parent. Resolution of symptoms in parental absence was a consistent finding especially in fabrication cases and was the key to diagnosis. Video telemetry confirmed the diagnosis in two infants and screens for toxins were diagnostic in three others. Awareness of patterns of presentation and parental behavior is critical to establishing an early diagnosis and avoiding needless diagnostic and operative procedures.

Anterior cricoid suspension and tracheal stomal closure for children with cricoid collapse and peristomal tracheomalacia following tracheostomy.

Nearly 10% of infants with long-standing tracheostomies (> 1 year) have severe peristomal tracheomalacia and/or significant cricoid cartilage collapse. Tracheal decannulation in these small children may be complicated by upper airway obstruction, recurring respiratory tract infections, and an unsightly cervical scar. We have developed a simple one-stage method of surgically alleviating severe cricoid collapse and peristomal tracheomalacia that permits immediate extubation. After excising and transversely closing the tracheocutaneous fistula, an anterior cricoid/tracheal suspension is accomplished by suturing the adherent fibromuscular tissue overlying the cricoid and peristomal trachea to the musculofascial insertions of the cervical strap muscles adjacent to the sternum. Once tied, these sutures significantly elevate the anterior cricoid and peristomal trachea by pulling the cervical airway ventrally and inferiorly. The strap muscles cover the tracheal suture line and the skin and soft tissue are closed in a transverse fashion. This procedure has been performed in 9 children (ages 1 to 4 years). All were extubated within 24 to 72 hours. No perioperative or long-term complications were observed with follow-up averaging 20 months (range, 6 months to 4 years). Postoperative endoscopy demonstrated substantial improvement in the airway lumens of all children. The final cosmetic appearance has been excellent. This operative method of dealing with cricoid collapse and peristomal tracheomalacia is simple, safe, and effective.

Chronic lung disease is the leading risk factor correlating with the failure (wrap disruption) of antireflux procedures in children.

Recurrent gastroesophageal reflux (GER) after antireflux procedures (ARP) has been correlated with significant neurological impairment (NI). Other major risk factors for recurrent GER have not been extensively characterized. The authors reviewed their experience with ARPs in children to better characterize the risk factors for recurrent GER and identify successful management strategies for these patients. The charts of 281 consecutively treated children who had an ARP at our institution (1985 to 1992) were reviewed. The neurological status of each child was assessed as normal or impaired (cerebral palsy, seizures, mental retardation, spasticity), and other medical diagnoses such as chronic pulmonary disorders (eg, interstitial disease, cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma, etc), and congenital malformations and syndromes were identified. The average follow-up period was 3 years (range, 1 to 7.5 years). Patients with symptoms of recurrent GER were evaluated with an upper gastrointestinal study. Patients with a radiologically intact fundoplication and suspected GER were further evaluated with a 24-hour pH probe. Statistical analyses were performed using the Fisher's Exact Test. Of the 281 patients who underwent ARP, 39 had documented recurrent GER (average, 16 months after surgery). Twenty-five (64%) of these children had chronic pulmonary disease (CPD). Thirty-two percent of all children with CPD had recurrent GER after ARP, versus 7% of those without CPD (P < .0001). For children with NI and CPD there was an increased risk (P < .0001) of failure when compared with the risk in the normal subgroup (children without CPD or NI) who underwent ARP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Successful treatment of Candida-infected caval thrombosis in critically ill infants by low-dose streptokinase infusion.

Chronic central venous catheters are an important component in the management of chronically ill infants and children. Sepsis and thrombosis are common complications of these catheters. When the combination of Candida sepsis and caval thrombosis occurs, the prognosis is very poor. Lysis of the thrombus is critical to effective therapy and allows preservation of vascular access. We report the successful treatment of four critically ill infants with Candida-infected caval thrombosis treated with low-dose infusion of streptokinase combined with standard antimicrobial therapy. All four infants survived, and in all cases thrombolysis was complete and Candida sepsis resolved. Each of the infants required continued central venous access, which was made possible by resolution of the caval thrombosis. There were no hemorrhagic or other complications of the therapy.

Acquired symptomatic bronchial stenosis in infants: successful management using an argon laser.

Acquired bronchial stenosis following prolonged endotracheal intubation is uncommon, but in infants it is associated with significant morbidity. A variety of endobronchial techniques including forceps or cautery resection and balloon dilatation have been used with inconsistent results. Laser therapy seems attractive, but pediatric applications have been very limited. We report the first series of infants with life-threatening acquired bronchial stenosis treated with an argon laser. Eight infants, age 3 weeks to 2 years, presented with symptomatic bronchial obstruction following prolonged intubation. Seven of these patients had at least 90% obstruction of a lobar or mainstem bronchus. Under general anesthesia a 300 or 600 micron quartz laser fiber was passed through the suction channel of a 3.5-mm flexible or 3-mm rigid bronchoscope. The laser was operated at 2.5 to 3.5 W in 0.5-second pulses, to ablate the obstructing tissue. Multiple procedures, spaced no closer than 10 days, were required in three of eight infants. Follow-up bronchoscopy after 2 to 30 months revealed normal findings in five of eight infants. All but one child, who has persistent collapse of the bronchus intermedius due to bronchomalacia at the site of the obstruction, had satisfactory results. The only complication was a pneumothorax in a 1,300 g infant, which developed eight hours after treatment. Our experience suggests that the argon laser is effective in the management of endobronchial lesions in infants and is superior to the CO2 and Neo-dymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) lasers for this purpose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endoscopic management of large, postresection bronchopleural fistulae with methacrylate adhesive (Super Glue).

Bronchopleural fistulae that occur following pulmonary resection are usually managed by direct, operative closure. In complex cases, in which the risk of repeat thoracotomy is great, other means may be preferable. We report two patients, one with cystic fibrosis and one with extensive radiation fibrosis post-Askin's tumor, in whom the risk of thoracotomy was considered to be prohibitive. Both had a large fistula between the pleural cavity and a segmental bronchus from the right upper lobe. The cystic fibrosis patient had recurrent massive bleeding from the pleural space. A Teflon catheter was passed through a flexible bronchoscope and Super Glue (butyl or methyl methacrylate) was deposited into the fistula. In both cases, the fistula resolved promptly. One patient developed a large, recurrent granuloma at the site of the fistula requiring endoscopic resection. We believe that tissue adhesive may be a reasonable approach to the management of large bronchopleural fistulas when the risk of operative closure is great.

Prospective analysis of urokinase in the treatment of catheter sepsis in pediatric hematology-oncology patients.

Use of right atrial catheters (RACs) in children with cancer improves the comfort and efficacy of therapy. However, catheter-related infections are responsible for significant morbidity leading to the removal of approximately 20% of implanted RACs. Sepsis has been linked to thrombus and fibrin sheath formation within the RAC. Gram-negative and fungal infections appear to be particularly resistant to antibiotic therapy alone and most of these infections have required catheter removal. Urokinase has been effectively used for reopening thrombus occluded RACs. Theoretically, thrombolytic agents could improve the treatment of catheter-related infections by removing luminal sites of bacterial/fungal colonization. We prospectively monitored the use of urokinase and antibiotics for catheter-related sepsis in our pediatric hematology/oncology population from 1985 to 1991. Sepsis episodes were treated with 2 doses of urokinase and antibiotics (10 to 42 days) infused through the RAC. One to 2 mL of urokinase (5,000 U/mL) was instilled in the RAC for 1 hour, then removed and repeated 24 hours later. During the study, 224 RACs were placed in 177 children. RACs were in place for a total of 71,134 days (median, 274 days). There were 67 blood culture-positive sepsis episodes occurring in 50 RACs. Fifty-nine sepsis episodes were treated with urokinase and antibiotics and all responded by clearance of organisms from the blood. Three patients (5.1% of urokinase treated) had recurrent sepsis with the same organism within 2 months, were considered treatment failures and had RACs removed. Only 1 of 16 episodes of multiple organism/Candida sepsis led to RAC removal due to inability to cure the infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Percutaneous translumbar and transhepatic inferior vena caval catheters for prolonged vascular access in children.

Central venous access for children with caval occlusion remains a major challenge to pediatric surgeons. Traditionally, children with superior and inferior vena cava (SVC, IVC) thrombosis have often required a thoracotomy to directly cannulate the azygos system or right atrium (RA). Recently, the possibility of placing tunneled RA catheters (RACs) by a percutaneous translumbar or transhepatic approach has become available. We report our experience of seven children with SVC and IVC obstruction who have received 11 transhepatic and 4 translumbar RACs from 1987 to 1991. All but one child was less than 2.5 years old and all were chronically dependent on parenteral nutrition. All catheters were placed in the angiography suite under general anesthesia using ultrasound guidance and Seldinger technique. This technique was successful in all seven children. Perioperative complications included accidental extubation in one patient and aspiration pneumonia in another. Mechanical complications requiring RAC replacement occurred 5 times in three infants (greater than 2,650 catheter days) and included catheter dislodgement (2) and thrombosis (3). In the patients with catheter thrombosis, the existing tract was successfully wired and the catheter exchanged on three occasions. Thrombolytic therapy was effective in restoring catheter patency on three other occassions. Nine episodes of catheter sepsis occurred in five children. Two late deaths occurred from infection. Of the five remaining children, four are dependent on total parenteral nutrition and have a translumbar or transhepatic catheter in situ and one child has adapted successfully to enteral feedings. Percutaneous translumbar or transhepatic IVC catheters provide excellent alternative routes for prolonged central venous access in those patients whose traditional vascular access sites are no longer available. Complications of the technique itself were minimal and although late catheter complications were not infrequent, they appear to be comparable to the standard approaches reported.

Bladder pressure monitoring significantly enhances care of infants with abdominal wall defects: a prospective clinical study.

Increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP) has been demonstrated to cause intestinal and renal ischemia in both animals and humans. Neonates undergoing closure of anterior abdominal wall defects are at risk for these complications from markedly increased IAP, which are putatively responsible for a 13% to 20% mortality. In an effort to decrease morbidity and mortality we performed a 4-year prospective clinical study to determine if monitoring IAP using bladder pressure (BdP) measurements would significantly improve perioperative care in infants with abdominal wall defects. Forty-two consecutive infants with gastroschisis (28) and omphalocele (14) were prospectively studied. Intraoperative and serial postoperative measurements of BdP were obtained from an indwelling bladder catheter using a standard pressure transducer. Methods of initial closure, as well as manipulations in sedation, paralysis, and silo reduction, were selected to keep BdP < 20 mm Hg. Bladder pressure monitoring significantly altered the management of 64% of our patients, particularly those with gastroschisis (74%). Thirteen patients with gastroschisis underwent staged closure; in 7 (54%) this decision was based on high BdP even though bowel reduction was mechanically possible. Elevated BdP influenced the closure method and timing of silo reductions in 5 of 14 (42%) infants with omphalocele. There were no episodes of renal failure or refractory oliguria. There were three patients in a single cluster who developed uncomplicated, nonsurgical necrotizing enterocolitis late in their respective courses. One patient whose bowel was placed in a silo had severe hypotension associated with group B streptococcal sepsis and subsequently developed necrotic bowel despite low BdP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired lobar emphysema (overinflation): clinical and pathological evaluation of infants requiring lobectomy.

Acquired lobar "emphysema" (overinflation) (ALE) is an increasingly recognized complication of advanced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). To refine current concepts regarding patient management and pathogenesis, we examined clinical and pathological features of six infants with ALE who did not have obstructing intraluminal lesions and who underwent lobectomy after failing nonoperative management. All had severe neonatal respiratory distress and required prolonged ventilatory support (average, 2 months) with peak inspiratory pressures greater than 30 mm Hg and 100% oxygen. ALE developed between 3 weeks and 20 months of age (median, 5 months), with lobar hyperinflation, atelectasis, and mediastinal shift. Selective bronchial intubation provided only transient benefit. Videobronchoscopy demonstrated no intraluminal obstructing lesions in five patients. In one child, ALE became clinically apparent only after laser excision of an endobronchial cicatrix. All infants had bronchomalacia with the involved lobar bronchus being most severely affected. Ventilation-perfusion scans demonstrated severe impairment of both ventilation and perfusion in the involved lobes. The decision to perform lobectomy was based on clinical parameters and failure of non-operative management. After lobectomy, all children dramatically improved. However, only three of six were alive 2 to 3 years later; one infant died of unrelated causes at 6 weeks; and two died of progressive respiratory insufficiency 13 and 24 months postlobectomy. Microscopic evaluation of the lung demonstrated findings of late-stage BPD with peribronchial and interstitial fibrosis, parenchymal overinflation, and alveolar septal disruption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The relative merits of various methods of indirect measurement of intraabdominal pressure as a guide to closure of abdominal wall defects.

Visceral ischemia secondary to increased intraabdominal pressure (IAP) following closure of abdominal wall defects presents a serious postoperative problem. Currently, the method of closure and postoperative management are determined by clinical impressions rather than measurement of IAP. In this study various methods of indirectly measuring IAP were compared in 17 rabbits in which IAP was sequentially increased with an intraabdominal balloon. Vesical and inferior vena caval (IVC) pressures were found to have good statistical correlation with IAP. Other methods tested were gastric, rectal, superior vena caval, femoral and brachial artery, and rectus compartment pressures. All were found to be poor indicators of actual IAP. In nine of the rabbits, radiolabeled microspheres were used to assess cardiac output and visceral blood flow. Renal blood flow was very sensitive to increased IAP with dramatic impairment at IAP above 10 to 15 mmHg. Small intestinal flow was less sensitive and did not become significantly diminished until IAP exceeded 25 to 30 mmHg. Our studies suggest that vesical and IVC pressure monitoring should be used to evaluate IAP in the clinical setting. If IAP is in excess of 10 to 15 mmHg surgical intervention is indicated to prevent the development of renal ischemia.

Surgical applications of ultrathin flexible bronchoscopes in infants.

Ultrathin flexible bronchoscopes with controlled distal angulation allow the conventional diagnostic examination of the lower airways of even the smallest infants. These instruments may be passed through small endotracheal or tracheostomy tubes while ventilation is maintained. It is thus possible, under direct visualization, to control the manipulation of surgical instruments where they could not otherwise be seen, or to study airway dynamics and anatomy intraoperatively without extubating the patient.

Effect of caffeine on motor performance by caffeine-naive and -familiar subjects.

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effect of caffeine on selected manipulation skills by caffeine-naive and caffeine-familiar subjects. The subjects were 20 caffeine-naive (less than 90 mg/d) and 20 caffeine-familiar (greater than 750 mg/d) college-age (21 +/- 1.7 yr.) women. Measurements included steadiness error time and frequency, duration of tracing, error time and frequency, and dexterity. Doses of 2.5, 5.0 mg.kg-1 body weight caffeine or a placebo (200 mg. methylcellulose) were administered randomly to all subjects on three separate occasions. A 2 x 3 repeated-measures analysis of variance yielded a significant group difference for steadiness error time between the 5 mg.kg-1 and 2.5 mg.kg-1 dose and between 5 mg.kg-1 and the placebo. For frequency of steadiness errors, the nonuser group posted significant gains for both 5.0 and 2.5 mg.kg-1 over the placebo control. On tracing error time and error frequency, 5.0 mg.kg-1 resulted in significant increases from both 2.5 mg.kg-1 and the placebo group. In the caffeine-naive group, both doses of caffeine led to significant increases in dexterity time from the placebo, and the 5.0 mg.kg-1 dose was significantly different from the 2.5 mg.kg-1 trial. It was concluded that caffeine had detrimental effects on selected performance skills of caffeine-naive women but not in caffeine-familiar women.

Fetal cardiac tumors: prenatal diagnosis and outcome.

We present our experience in the management of fetuses diagnosed with huge cardiac tumors. These cases illustrate that the size of the tumor likely does not impact on survival as much as the location of the tumor and how it compromises blood flow into and out of the ventricles. We speculate that obstruction of right-sided inflow and/or simultaneous obstruction to outflow from both ventricles may lead to diminished cardiac output, atrial and caval hypertension, and hydrops fetalis. Obstruction can occur at any point in gestation and depends on both the size and the location of the tumor in relation to all cardiac structures. We therefore suggest serial assessment of these fetuses throughout gestation, particularly after the point of postnatal viability, to assess the hemodynamic effects that the tumor has on the heart. If obstruction to blood flow and/or early fetal compromise is noted, then the decision of whether to deliver early can be made. At the time of birth, if obstruction to blood flow persists, surgery can be considered, keeping in mind that the natural history of these tumors is to shrink and become clinically less important over time.

Intraoperative pacemaker failure in an infant.

Pacemakers in children can present clinical challenges during surgery. We present a case report of an infant whose pacemaker reverted to a backup mode when electrocautery was used during surgery. The resulting bradycardia did not respond either to a magnet placed over the generator or to iv atropine. The circulation was supported by isoproterenol until the pacemaker was re-programmed by the manufacturer. Such devices require care and understanding if problems during surgery are to be avoided.

Repair of agenesis of the hemidiaphragm by prosthetic materials.

Creation of a substitute hemidiaphragm for an infant born with agenesis of the hemidiaphragm is a formidable task. Subsequent growth of the infant may produce distortion or fracture of diaphragmatic prostheses. Our experience with a surviving two year old infant with agenesis led us to conclude that a Silastic prosthesis is unsatisfactory and that a polypropylene mesh prosthesis is satisfactory as a diaphragmatic substitute.

CT appearance of a surgically retained towel (gossypiboma).

A case of a surgically retained towel within the peritoneal space is reported. Computed tomography demonstrated an unusual appearance not unlike that previously described for retained surgical sponges. Computed tomography of the gastrointestinal tract served as a useful adjunct to barium radiography in this case, suggesting the correct diagnosis of foreign body.

Giant hydronephrosis presenting as unilateral iliofemoral vein thrombosis.

We report a case of left iliofemoral vein thrombosis with extension to the inferior vena cava associated with giant right hydronephrosis secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Surgery revealed marked infrarenal vena caval compression and deviation to the left side caused by the dilated right renal pelvis, with resultant kinking of the origin of the left iliac vein. It is postulated that the reduction in blood flow caused by this compression and distortion predisposed this patient to venous thrombosis.

A simple method of removing residual intrathoracic air post-thoracotomy in children.

A simple and effective method of aspirating residual intrathoracic air is described. This method can be used when air leaks or persistent fluid accumulations are not expected. This technique may be easily adapted for use in older children or adults when similar circumstances are present. Standard postoperative monitoring, including serial roentgenogram of the chest, should be used to verify appropriate pulmonary re-expansion.