Renal Artery Stenosis due to Entrapment.

BACKGROUND: Common etiologies of renovascular occlusive disease include atherosclerosis disease, developmental fibrotic conditions such as fibromuscular dysplasia, and vasculitis. Extrinsic compression of the renal artery is a rarely reported phenomenon but can lead to similar clinical manifestations. METHODS: We report recent experience with 2 patients who presented with extrinsic renal artery compression due to entrapment. Diagnosis was made with a constellation of findings on computed tomography angiography, dynamic duplex sonography, and catheter angiography. Both patients had hypertension and 1 had downstream subsegmental renal infarcts. The patients, both with right-sided renal artery entrapment, were treated with open surgical decompression. Exposure was achieved via extended Kocher maneuver followed by mobilization of the right kidney and, in 1 patient, detachment of the right lobe of liver to allow circumferential exposure of the proximal right renal artery to the aorta. All entrapping tissue was circumferentially released. RESULTS: Both operations were uncomplicated. Intraoperative sonography was used to confirm luminal patency of the released segments. Follow-up of renal artery duplex in both patients demonstrated resolution of dynamic compression. Renal artery peak systolic velocity and accelerations indices were all within normal limits. In both patients, improvement in blood pressure control was noted and discontinuation of anticoagulation was possible in the patient who had recurrent episodes of renal infarct. CONCLUSIONS: Extrinsic compression of renal artery by diaphragmatic crura is rare but should be considered in younger patients or otherwise any patients with no vascular risk factors when renovascular hypertension workup yields no demonstrable intrinsic disease. A high index of suspicion should be raised when an anomalously high origin of the renal artery or proximity to the diaphragmatic crura is seen on cross-sectional imaging. Work-up should include dynamic imaging to assess compression of renal arteries during expiration. Open surgical or laparoscopic decompression of the involved renal arteries can be curative.

Link for Injured Kids: A Patient-Centered Program of Psychological First Aid After Trauma.

OBJECTIVE: Injury, the most common type of pediatric trauma, can lead to a number of adverse psychosocial outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder. Currently, few evidence-based parent programs exist to support children hospitalized after a traumatic injury. Using methods in evaluation and intervention research, we completed a formative research study to develop a new program of psychological first aid, Link for Injured Kids, aimed to educate parents in supporting their children after a severe traumatic injury. METHODS: Using qualitative methods, we held focus groups with parents and pediatric trauma providers of children hospitalized at a Level I Children's Hospital because of an injury in 2012. We asked focus group participants to describe reactions to trauma and review drafts of our intervention materials. RESULTS: Health professionals and caregivers reported a broad spectrum of emotional responses by their children or patients; however, difficulties were experienced during recovery at home and upon returning to school. All parents and health professionals recommended that interventions be offered to parents either in the emergency department or close to discharge among admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study strongly indicate a need for posttrauma interventions, particularly in rural settings, to support families of children to address the psychosocial outcomes in the aftermath of an injury. Findings presented here describe the process of intervention development that responds to the needs of an affected population.

Patient education and recall regarding postsplenectomy immunizations.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of initial vaccinations after splenectomy for trauma, assess the effectiveness of patient education on reimmunizations, and evaluate patients' utilization of their knowledge regarding immunization after discharge. METHODS: From June 1996-December 2011, 144 patients underwent splenectomy after traumatic injury. A telephone survey was completed in 100 of 144 splenectomized patients (69%) at a mean of 7.9 y after their splenectomy. Questions were directed to determine the quality of patients' recall of the implications of splenectomy, the need for vaccinations, and the quality of the health information administered. Research electronic data capture tool was used for collecting data, and data were analyzed with Stata 11.2. RESULTS: Only 27% of participants recall receiving education on postsplenectomy vaccination and 41% of those patients rated their education as poor or minimal. Ninety-one percent of patients indicated that they would like more information in the form of a brochure. Our overall initial vaccination rates among patients who had splenectomy from 1996-2011 were 76%, 75%, and 68% for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Hemophilus influenza type b, respectively. Since 2004, 95% of those who had splenectomy between 2004 and 2007 received all three vaccines. Since 2008, our institution has maintained 100% initial vaccination rates for all three vaccines. The revaccination rates in this group of patients (from 1996-2007) were 39% and 15% for pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients had poor recall of the information provided during hospitalization for splenectomy. There were low revaccination rates in our patient cohort. Specific educational and vaccination surveillance strategies are required to improve vaccination rates.

Routine Administration of a Multispecies Probiotic Containing Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus to Very Low Birth Weight Infants Had No Significant Impact on the Incidence of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of gastrointestinal morbidity in preterm infants, and prevention and treatment strategies have remained largely unchanged over the past several decades. As understanding of the microbiome has increased, probiotics have been hypothesized as a possible strategy for decreasing rates of NEC, and several studies have noted significant decreases in rates of NEC after initiation of probiotics in preterm infants. However, a recent AAP report cited caution on the use of probiotic use in part because studies of probiotic use in ELBW infants are lacking. As our unit began routine use of probiotics for all infants <33 weeks in 2015 and we are a leading institution for intact survival of ELBW infants, we attempted to answer if probiotic use can impact the rate of NEC in VLBW and ELBW infants. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective chart review of infants with modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC for the 4 years prior to and 5 years after initiation of a protocol involving routine supplementation of a multispecies probiotic to premature infants at the University of Iowa, Stead Family Children's Hospital. The primary outcome measures were rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC and all-cause pre-discharge mortality at our institution before and after initiation of routine probiotic supplementation in 2015. Results: In our institution, neither the rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC, nor the rates of all-cause mortality were significantly altered in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants by the initiation of routine probiotic use (NEC rates pre-probiotic 2.1% vs. post-probiotic 1.5%; all-cause mortality rates pre-probiotic 8.4% vs. post-probiotic 7.4%). Characteristics of our two cohorts were overall similar except for a significantly lower 5-minute APGAR score in infants in the post-probiotic epoch (pre-probiotic 8 vs. post-probiotic 6 p = 0.0316), and significantly more infants in the post-probiotic epoch received probiotics (pre-probiotics 0% vs. post-probiotics 65%; p < 0.0001). Similarly, probiotic use had no impact on the incidence of NEC when we restricted our data to only extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants (pre-probiotics 1.6% vs post-probiotics 4.1%). When we restricted our analysis to only inborn infants, probiotics still had no impact on NEC rates in VLBW infants (1.5% pre- and 1.1% post-probiotic, p = 0.61) or ELBW infants (2% pre- and 2.1% post-probiotic, p = 0.99) Conclusions: Contrary to other studies, we found no significant difference in rates of modified Bell's stage ≥2a NEC or all-cause pre-discharge mortality in VLBW infants following routine administration of a multispecies probiotic supplement.

Comparative Effectiveness of Parent-Based Interventions to Support Injured Children.

OBJECTIVES: A comparative effectiveness trial tested 2 parent-based interventions in improving the psychosocial recovery of hospitalized injured children: (1) Link for Injured Kids (Link), a program of psychological first aid in which parents are taught motivational interviewing and stress-screening skills, and (2) Trauma Education, based on an informational booklet about trauma and its impacts and resources. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 4 children's hospitals in the Midwestern United States. Children aged 10 to 17 years admitted for an unintentional injury and a parent were recruited and randomly assigned to Link or Trauma Education. Parents and children completed questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months posthospitalization. Using an intent-to-treat analysis, changes in child-reported posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, quality of life, and child behaviors were compared between intervention groups. RESULTS: Of 795 injured children, 314 children and their parents were enrolled into the study (40%). Link and Trauma Education was associated with improved symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and pediatric quality of life at similar rates over time. However, unlike those in Trauma Education, children in the Link group had notable improvement of child emotional behaviors and mild improvement of conduct and peer behaviors. Compared with Trauma Education, Link was also associated with improved peer behaviors in rural children. CONCLUSION: Although children in both programs had reduced posttrauma symptoms over time, Link children, whose parents were trained in communication and referral skills, exhibited a greater reduction in problem behaviors.

Who Hurts More? A Multicenter Prospective Study of In-Hospital Opioid Use in Pediatric Trauma Patients in the Midwest.

BACKGROUND: Despite increased national attention on misuse of prescription and nonprescription opioids for adolescents and children, little is known about opioid use in a pediatric population during hospitalization for injury. The purpose of this investigation is to describe opioid administration and magnitude of opioid exposure in the first 48 hours of hospitalization in a pediatric trauma population. STUDY DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of data collected for a randomized, prospective intervention study at 4 Midwestern children's trauma centers. Participants included children ages 10 to 17 years old, admitted to the hospital for unintentional injury. Descriptive statistics and multivariable modeling were used to characterize demographic factors and measure prevalence and magnitude of opioid use within the first 48 hours of hospitalization. RESULTS: Among 299 participants, 82% received at least 1 opioid administration. Children had increased odds of receiving an opioid (odds ratio [OR] 4.25; 95% CI 2.16 to 8.35) for every log increase of Injury Severity Scores (ISS), yet the majority of children with minor injury (61%) also received an opioid. Children with fractures and older children had higher odds of receiving an opioid. Amount of opioid, expressed as morphine milligrams equivalent (MME), significantly increased with child age, ISS, and fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Most pediatric trauma patients received an opioid in the first 48 hours of hospitalization, although prevalence and exposure varied by age, injury, and acuity. Aggressive pain management can be appropriate for injured pediatric patients; however, study results indicate areas for improvement, specifically for children with minor injuries and those receiving excessive opioid amounts.

Gender assignment surgery on children with disorders of sex development: a case report and discussion from South Africa.

This case report highlights the dilemma faced by staff with regard to the timing of surgery on a child with a disorder of sex development living in a large, lower socio-economic class, South African, urban township. In this community, children with disorders of sex development can sometimes become an object of interest and ridicule or are thought to be bewitched. Many parents of children with such disorders find it difficult to protect their offspring from the marginalization and rejection that is the consequence of such curiosity and transparency. Current research and theory pertaining to the biological and social bases of gender identity and behaviour are reviewed and their capacity to guide decisions is explored. The absence of a support group to assist these children and their parents, and the paucity of information available in the public domain, compounds an already challenging problem.

Stump Appendicitis.

Abdominal pain is a frequent problem encountered in the emergency department, and acute appendicitis is a well-recognized diagnosis. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States. Patients with a history of appendectomy may experience recurrent right lower quadrant abdominal pain from an infrequently encountered complication that may occur when the residual appendix becomes obstructed and inflamed. We describe two cases of stump appendicitis in pediatric patients with a review of clinical and imaging findings and surgical management.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection and amebiasis.

Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a major and increasing burden worldwide, but particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Coinfection with other pathogens increases the likelihood of progression of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and the immunosuppressive consequences of the disease predispose to opportunistic infections that can run a fulminant course. Despite high prevalence, amebiasis has not appeared as a major source of morbidity during the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Information from recent sources, however, appears to suggest that amebiasis may indeed be a risk for individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

Bronchial Compression and Tracheosophageal Fistula Secondary to Prolonged Esophageal Foreign Body.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body ingestion is a common pediatric problem that can have a delayed presentation, as presented herein. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 15-year-old female who developed bronchial compression and an acquired tracheoesophageal fistula secondary to a longstanding esophageal foreign body. DISCUSSION: There are several challenges in diagnosis and management of this unusual situation. We review the literature regarding prolonged retention of foreign bodies and the challenges in diagnosis in the developmentally disabled child. CONCLUSION: Providers must have a high suspicion for foreign bodies in the case of unusual symptoms present in children with neurodevelopmental delays.

The Thoracic Inlet Index in patients with tracheal obstruction caused by chest wall deformity: Validation in patients and age-matched controls.

AIM: We present a novel index for evaluating severity of airway-threatening thoracic inlet compromise in childhood. Two indices were validated in three cases and sixty asymptomatic controls. METHODS: We developed an index to determine severity of thoracic inlet narrowing. Two different measurement methods were evaluated: Thoracic Inlet Index (TII) was determined at the site of greatest airway compromise at the level of the innominate artery crossing the anterior trachea and TII (anatomic) using purely skeletal measurements, both determined from thoracic CT scan. We sought to validate both indices to determine which was more predictive of the risk of airway compromise. Three patients who presented with life threatening airway compromise were compared to sixty age matched asymptomatic controls obtained from the trauma registry. RESULTS: The mean TII in controls was 3.89. The TII was consistent at various ages. In patients, mean TII was 12.16 (range of 11.31-12.95). For TII the difference between controls and symptomatic patients was highly significant (P=0.0012). The mean TII (anatomic) in controls was 3.5. The TII (anatomic) was less consistent when evaluated in different age groups. In patients mean TII (anatomic) was 6.32 (range 5.38-7.59). For TII (anatomic), the difference between controls and symptomatic patients was also significant (P=0.0474) but did not discriminate as well as the functional index. CONCLUSIONS: The TII measured at the level of the innominate artery crossing on thoracic CT scan appears to be the most useful. A level of greater than 10 was highly predictive of airway compromise in our patient group.

Segmental resection for the treatment of congenital pulmonary malformations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of segmental resection to lobectomy as increasing antenatal diagnosis of congenital pulmonary malformations has led to a shift in surgical management. METHODS: A retrospective institutional review for patients undergoing surgical excision of congenital pulmonary malformations was performed. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with congenital pulmonary malformations were reviewed between 2001 and 2012. Forty-five were included for analysis. Malformations were subdivided into two groups, including congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) (n=11, 24%) and intrapulmonary (IP) lesions (n=34, 76%). Nineteen (56%) IP patients underwent segmental resection, and 15 (79%) were performed thoracoscopically without conversion to thoracotomy. None of these patients had recurrent disease. Lobectomy was performed in 11 (100%) CLE and 15 (44%) IP patients, and the majority were by thoracotomy. Median hospital stay was longer for the lobectomy group at 7days when compared to the segmentectomy group at 2days (p<0.001). There was not a difference in complication rate (21% vs. 19%, p=1.000) or in median number of chest tube days (2 vs. 3days, p=0.079) for segmentectomy versus lobectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental resections of congenital pulmonary malformations can be performed safely while conserving healthy lung tissue.

Outcome of antegrade continent enema (ACE) procedures in children and young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Intractable incontinence affects a large number of children and young adults in the US. The goal of this study is to evaluate the long-term outcomes of surgical access for administration of antegrade continence enemas (ACE) in affected children and young adults. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgical procedure to enable administration of ACE from 1994 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient demographics, primary diagnosis, surgical technique, conduit used, complications, follow-up duration, and social continence. RESULTS: Sixty eighty patients underwent surgery to enable ACE; mean follow up was 61 months. Enteral conduit (EC) was performed in 19 patients, tube cecostomy catheters (CC) in 49. Meningomyelocele was diagnosed in 60% of patients. Mean age was 11 (1.67-53) years. Complications included tube dislodgement (43%), granulation tissue (46%), site infection (13%), leakage (32%), break in the tube (6%) and tract stenosis (6%). Complete social continence was achieved in 68%, partial continence was achieved in 29%, and no benefit was achieved in 3% of patients. The rate of complications and incontinence resolution following CC was 78% and 66%, and following EC 89% and 74%. The differences were not statistically significant. CC patients developed granulation tissue more frequently (53%) and leaks of fecal material less frequently (20%) compared to EC patients (26% and 53%) (p < 0.05 and < 0.01). Although children 7 years or younger developed more overall complications (94%) than older patients (69%; p < 0.05), there was not a significant difference in the frequency of any one complication or in the rate of continence, between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that EC is three times more likely to be complicated by fecal leakage. CC patients are at greater risk to develop granulation tissue (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients achieved social continence and improved hygiene with the aid of ACE. Younger children also benefited greatly from institution of ACE. CC was associated with fewer major complications such as leak of fecal contents than EC but required regular tube changes.

Outcomes of plastic closure in gastroschisis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis is a congenital abdominal wall defect in which the intestines develop outside the abdomen and are exposed to amniotic fluid. When the defect is small, lymphatic, venous, and intestinal obstruction may occur and contribute to the formation of intestinal edema, atresia, ischemia, and a thick inflammatory peel. Treatment requires early coverage of abdominal contents either by primary closure or by the placement of temporary Silastic silo followed by abdominal wall closure. Currently, both traditional suture closure and the sutureless plastic closure are being employed to repair the gastroschisis defect. The goal of the current study is to evaluate plastic closure. We predict no difference will be found in clinical outcomes between plastic closure and traditional suture closure. METHODS: A retrospective review of 80 patients treated between 2000 and 2009 was performed. Plastic closure was used in 52 (65%) and traditional suture closure in 28 (35%) babies. The surgical procedure was determined by surgeon preference. Of the 31(39%) babies who required silos, 15 (19%) were treated with plastic closure and 16 (20%) underwent traditional closure. We collected the following demographic data and clinical progression data. Using SAS 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC), we conducted linear regression, logistic regression, and time to event models to compare the following outcomes: days on ventilator, days to start enteral feeds, days to reach goal enteral feeds, days on total parenteral nutrition, hospital charges, duration of stay, mortality, and complications. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 11.4 months. Patients spent an average of 6 days on the ventilator. There were 2 mortalities. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that no differences were found between the 2 closures with most of the outcomes; however, when compared with traditional suture closure, those babies treated with plastic closure spent 4 days fewer days on the ventilator (P < .01). Those babies who underwent suture closure were more likely to have an infection or sepsis (odds ratio, 5.15; P < .001). When the entire cohort was considered, no significant difference was found between plastic and suture closure in time to start feeds, time to reach goal feeds, time on parenteral nutrition, hospital charges, duration of stay, or complications. Ventral hernias were noted in 46 (58%) patients, 32 (62%) after plastic closure and 14 (50%) after suture closure (P = .32). Hernia repair was required in 16 (20%) patients, 11 (21%) after plastic closure, and 5 (18%) after traditional repair (P = .32). In the silo cohort, children treated with plastic closure required 7.5(P < .01) fewer days to start enteral feeds than those treated with suture closure. CONCLUSION: Plastic closure of abdominal wall defects in gastroschisis is effective both as a primary procedure and after silo placement. A multivariate analysis shows plastic closure to be associated with fewer days of mechanical ventilation and less likelihood of developing infection or sepsis.

Fetal extraperitoneal rectal perforation: a rare neonatal emergency.

PURPOSE: Intraperitoneal bowel perforation may occur in utero as a result of a variety of abnormalities and typically results in sterile meconium ascites, pseudocysts, and/or calcification in the fetus. On the other hand, extraperitoneal bowel perforation in intrauterine life is extremely rare. The object of this report is to present our experience of prenatal extraperitoneal rectal perforation, defining the clinical presentation, management, and progress. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Nine babies who were identified from 2 centers in the Republic of South Africa with fetal extraperitoneal rectal perforation are presented. The details of these babies were obtained retrospectively from the case notes. RESULTS: All patients presented at or shortly after birth with air and meconium tracking below the pelvic floor manifesting as either an expanding, meconium-stained aerocele or with perirectal spreading sepsis. Where abdominal signs were present, laparotomy confirmed the extension of the meconium perforation into the peritoneal cavity. Management was by diverting colostomy, drainage of the perineal collection, and supportive therapy. A posterior approach to the rectum and excision of a fibrotic section of the lower rectal wall was performed in one case. One case developed rectal stenosis that was treated by dilatation before colostomy closure. In all the other cases, digital examination performed before colostomy closure ruled out significant narrowing. There was no mortality, and the site of the rectal perforation healed in all cases to leave good anorectal function after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal extraperitoneal perforation is extremely rare, but the clinical features are easily recognizable, and when appropriate therapy is instituted, the outcome is likely to be good with normal anorectal function to be expected in the long-term. The exact cause of the condition is unknown.

Surgeons are failing to recognize children with HIV infection.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Despite much clinical experience, there are few published accounts of the surgical manifestations of HIV/AIDS in children and still fewer guidelines for the best or most appropriate treatment. Our primary objective was to document the incidence of HIV infection in children who presented with a surgical emergency to a major pediatric surgical unit in South Africa. If possible, we aimed to provide a description of the impact of the disease in a surgical pediatric population and to raise awareness of the mode of presentation of HIV to the pediatric surgeon in a developing nation, now that specific antiretroviral therapies are available. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of consecutive surgical emergency admissions to the Division of Paediatric Surgery at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, between April 1 and May 31, 2005. Consent for inclusion in the study was sought in all cases. The clinical profile of children presenting during the study period was recorded. If relevant, permission was sought from the parent/guardian to undertake HIV status testing if this were not already known. MAIN RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-one children were admitted as emergency cases during the study period. Thirty-seven (9.5%) of 391 were excluded, because consent could not be obtained, leaving 354 children. Ages ranged between 1 day and 17 years, with a median age of 3 years. The diagnosis in most was trauma/burns (42%) and abdominal emergencies (27%). Infections occurred in 13% of these patients. Human immunodeficiency virus status was already known in 10 (3%) of 354 patients, and only 18 (5%) of 344 children were tested; of these, 10 (55%) were positive. As expected, the predominant surgical presentation of HIV positive children was sepsis. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in those children not tested is unknown. CONCLUSION: It is likely that the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection is higher than the 4% identified in our study group. The surgical manifestations in these HIV-positive children are dominated by sepsis, often severe in nature and with opportunistic pathogens. Despite increased knowledge about the disease and widening therapeutic opportunities, our results suggest that many children with HIV infection are not being recognized, despite entry into the healthcare system. Prompt recognition and surgical management of the complications of pediatric HIV infection can sometimes result in a good outcome. Further studies are therefore required to define the true incidence of HIV/AIDS infection in children presenting as a surgical emergency case. These patients may benefit from early antiretroviral therapy. Surgeons are well placed to identify children who are HIV positive and should do more to ensure HIV testing and enrollment into antiretroviral treatment programs.

Formalin treatment of refractory hemorrhagic cystitis.

Severe hemorrhagic cystitis can be a devastating complication of chemotherapy. Intravesical formalin may obviate the need for radical surgery in the face of failure of other conservative measures. Open instillation is favored in order to reduce the risk of complications.