Validity and reliability of Spanish PROMIS pediatric pain interference short form.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to analyze psychometric properties of the Spanish PROMIS Pediatric Pain Interference short form (PROMIS-PPI) in a sample of Spanish children and adolescents. METHODS: In a hospital pediatric sample it was studied the structure scale (exploratory and confirmatory analysis), construct validity, convergent validity, and reliability (internal consistency). FINDINGS: 163 children and adolescents (mean age 13.3 years; SD 2.01; 39.26% female) with and without chronic pain completed measures pertaining to their pain experience. Psychometric analysis showed the PROMIS-PPI Spanish version maintains the original one-factor model of the scale, excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient 0.90 (95% CI 0.88-0.92)), and convergent validity (showed a positive, significant, and moderate magnitude correlation [r from 0.330 to 0.604] with pediatric quality of life, child and parent pain intensity, and showed a low correlation with the number of medical consultations in the last year). DISCUSSION: The Spanish PROMIS-PPI scale is a valid and reliable tool. It is recommended for research and clinical care in pediatric populations. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: The results provide evidence that the Spanish version of PROMIS-PPI is valid and reliable tool. Health professionals who work with children in risk to develop persistent pain, will have access to short tool with highest evidence, for assess pain interference.

Use of 5-mm Staple in Neonatal Intestinal Surgery.

Introduction: The use of staples to perform intestinal anastomosis in children has gained popularity in the past years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of pediatric patients who underwent intestinal anastomosis with a 5-mm staple in a tertiary health care center. Material and Methods: From April 2017 to November 2019, the records of all pediatric patients who underwent intestinal anastomosis with a 5-mm staple were retrospectively revised. The reconstruction technique was functional end-to-end anastomosis. Results: A total of 12 intestinal anastomoses were evaluated. Mean age at surgery was 120 days. Small bowel anastomosis was the most frequently performed procedure (eight cases). Stapling difficulties were found in 3 patients. The anastomosis could not be performed with the 5-mm endostapler in one of these patients. The median follow-up was 26 months (interquartile range 20-40 months). Postoperative complications included one bowel obstruction that was surgically treated. Conclusions: Mechanical suturing with 5-mm staple is a safe alternative technique to perform intestinal anastomosis in neonates and infants. The use of this staple has proven to be safe and feasible in pediatric patients. It is necessary to select patients carefully according to their bowel characteristics.

[Complications in laparoscopy renal surgery in pediatric age: analysis of our experience and literature review]. / Complicaciones en cirugía laparoscópica renal en la edad pediátrica: análisis de nuestra experiencia y revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: The development of the minimally invasive surgery in pediatric age has been slower than in the adult age since their advantages are not so clear. The learning curve and the complications presented during this period, as well as the type of material used has been the factors that have contributed to this fact. OBJECTIVE: We collected our experience and the complications presented in renal laparoscopic exegesis surgery, adding a review of the published literature to date. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of our clinical cases in that we practiced laparoscopic renal exegesis surgery. We collected 56 cases from January 2003, when it was implanted, to September 2008. We had 36 boys (64%) and 20 girls (36%). The mean age was 3.6 years. We analyzed principal diagnosis, the situation that conducted to the surgery and the type of surgery performed, time of surgery, hospital stay and complications with their solution. The results were analyzed the statistical program SPSS (SPSSCorp, Chicago, Illinois). The literature review was practiced in MEDLINE, EMBASE and COCHRANE database. The selected works were reviewed by two investigators. Series containing adults were excluded. RESULTS: We perfomed 42 nephrectomies (75%), 13 heminephrectomies (23%) and 1 quistectomy (2%). 5 cases (9%) were done by retroperitoneoscopy and 51 cases (91%) transperitoneally. The mean operative time was 118 +/- 0,75 min, for nephrectomies; 192 +/- 1.07 min, for partial nephrectomies, 111 +/- 0,64 for nephroureterectomies and 240 min for quistectomia. The mean hospital stay was 3.18 min (2-6) days for nephrectomies; 5.91 (3-11) days for partial nephrectomies, 3 days (2-4) for nephroureterectomies and 6 days for the quistectomy. We had 8 complications (14%): 2 conversions for bledding and technical difficulty and 6 postoperative complications (3 were minor complications, postoperative fever and 3 mayor (2 Urinomas and one pseudoaneurism, requiring 2 interventions and one catheter double J placement). The evolution has been satisfactory in all cases. In the bibliographic review 47 articles with a level of evidence IIIB were selected (Oxford Centers for Evidence-based Medicine). The main reasons to conversion to open surgery were vascular problems and the complication rate change from anyone to 37%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery has proved to be a secure and feasible technique in the treatment of benign renal pathology in pediatric age with satisfactory results. Actually the indications are expanding to reconstructive procedures, with promising results, and selected oncologic procedures.

IMPACT OF THE APPENDICEAL POSITION ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC APPENDICITIS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how symptoms vary according to the appendiceal position in pediatric patients and to demonstrate that the laparoscopic approach is safe and effective in any appendiceal location by comparing each location to another. METHODS: The medical records of 1,736 children aged 14 or younger who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy over a period of 14 years were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided according to the position of the appendiceal tip into four groups: anterior, pelvic, retrocecal and subhepatic. The Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used with the Bonferroni correction, with a significant p<0.05. RESULTS: The appendiceal location was anterior in 1,366 cases, retrocecal in 248 cases, pelvic in 66 cases and subhepatic in 56 cases. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of patient age and gender. Abdominal pain was the only symptom with statistically significant differences between the groups. The rate of perforated appendicitis was higher in the subhepatic and pelvic positions. Intraoperative complications and conversions were not statistically significant. Technical difficulties and operative time were higher in subhepatic position. The rate of postoperative complications was similar between the different locations, except for bowel obstruction, which was higher in pelvic appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical symptoms of appendicitis hardly ever change with the position of the appendix. The laparoscopic approach is safe and effective, regardless the appendiceal location.

Laryngeal stenosis in children: Types, grades and treatment strategies.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal stenosis is infrequent in children and usually secondary to endotracheal intubation. The aims of this study were to review the outcomes of the distinct endoscopic and surgical procedures and to suggest a technical modification for one of them. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with the diagnosis of laryngeal stenosis treated in an academic tertiary care institution between 2000 and 2017. The following variables were analyzed: demographic data, endoscopic findings including anatomic type and severity of the lesion, associated anomalies, type of treatment, outcomes, and time of follow-up. RESULTS: Seventy-eight children were included in the study (39 boys) with a median age at diagnosis of 9 months, and 33 (42.3%) showed an associated anomaly. Lesions were acquired in 84.6% of cases and the subglottic region was most frequently involved (77%). Thirty patients (38.4%) had a severe stenosis (Myer-Cotton grades III and IV) and a tracheotomy was performed as an initial treatment in 38 patients (48.7%). Overall, 91% of endoscopically or surgically treated patients showed a good outcome and the decannulation rate in the series was 79.4%. Fourteen patients were managed conservatively. Median follow-up was 29 months (I.R. 10-60 m.) CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal stenosis in children is usually acquired and exhibit a wide range of anatomic presentations. Endoscopic therapeutic procedures may be useful in the management of low grade immature stenosis. Reconstructive surgical techniques may provide a high success rate with an appropriate selection of candidates.

Impact of the appendiceal position on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric appendicitis / Impacto da posição do apêndice sobre o diagnóstico e tratamento de apendicite da infância

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate how symptoms vary according to the appendiceal position in pediatric patients and to demonstrate that the laparoscopic approach is safe and effective in any appendiceal location by comparing each location to another. Methods: The medical records of 1,736 children aged 14 or younger who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy over a period of 14 years were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided according to the position of the appendiceal tip into four groups: anterior, pelvic, retrocecal and subhepatic. The Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests were used with the Bonferroni correction, with a significant p<0.05. Results: The appendiceal location was anterior in 1,366 cases, retrocecal in 248 cases, pelvic in 66 cases and subhepatic in 56 cases. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of patient age and gender. Abdominal pain was the only symptom with statistically significant differences between the groups. The rate of perforated appendicitis was higher in the subhepatic and pelvic positions. Intraoperative complications and conversions were not statistically significant. Technical difficulties and operative time were higher in subhepatic position. The rate of postoperative complications was similar between the different locations, except for bowel obstruction, which was higher in pelvic appendicitis. Conclusions: The clinical symptoms of appendicitis hardly ever change with the position of the appendix. The laparoscopic approach is safe and effective, regardless the appendiceal location.

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar como os sintomas variam de acordo com a posição do apêndice em pacientes pediátricos e demonstrar que a laparoscopia é segura e eficaz em qualquer posição do apêndice, comparando-as. Métodos: Os prontuários de 1.736 pacientes pediátricos com idade ≤14 anos submetidos à apendicectomia laparoscópica em um período de 14 anos foram analisados retrospectivamente. Os pacientes foram divididos de acordo com a posição do apêndice: anterior, pélvica, retrocecal e sub-hepático. Os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e do qui-quadrado foram usados com a correção de Bonferroni, sendo significante p<0,05. Resultados: A posição do apêndice era anterior em 1.366 casos, retrocecal em 248 casos, pélvica em 66 casos e sub-hepática em 56 casos. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos quanto às variáveis idade e sexo. A dor abdominal foi a única variável com diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos. A taxa de apêndice perfurado foi superior nas posições sub-hepática e pélvica. As complicações intraoperatórias e a taxa de conversão não foram estatisticamente significativas. As dificuldades técnicas e o tempo cirúrgico foram superiores em posição sub-hepática. A taxa de complicações pós-operatórias foi semelhante entre as diferentes posições, exceto a obstrução intestinal, que foi superior em posição pélvica. Conclusões: Os sintomas da apendicite dificilmente variam com a posição do apêndice. A laparoscopia é segura e eficaz, independentemente da posição do apêndice.