The effect of using tablet computer on surgical stress: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effects of tablet computer method on children with and without anxiety. The study was designed as a prospective single-blinded randomized controlled trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population of the study were 300 patients between the ages of 4 and 10 years old who were scheduled for their first elective surgery for phimosis-inguinal hernia-hydrocele-undescended testis-hypospadias. The initial anxiety scores of the patients were evaluated using modified-Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS). Group-Midazolam, Group-Tablet, Group-Control were formed by applying randomization to the patients. The anxiety levels of the patients were evaluated in the waiting room using mYPAS after 0.5 mg/kg midazolam or tablet computer. Patient anxiety about separation from their families was evaluated with Parental Separation Anxiety Scale (PSAS), and reactions to the anaesthesia mask were evaluated with Mask Acceptance Scale (MAS). Also, the time spent by the patients in the Post-Operative Care Unit (PACU) was evaluated. Post-Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ) scores of the patients were determined by the anesthesiologist one week after the surgery. RESULTS: The study compared the anxiety levels in groups. There were significant differences in the post-anxiolytic-mYPAS-scores and percentages of decrease from the preoperative baseline measurements (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). There were significantly more children who were easily separated from their parents (PSAS-Score 1) in Group-Midazolam (p < 0.01). The children in Group-Midazolam also accepted the masks more readily (MAS-Score 1) than other (p < 0.001). Differences in the duration of the recovery time and mean PHBQ-scores between the groups were also significant (p < 0.001 for each). For children with anxiety, the recovery time for those in Group-Midazolam was significantly longer than other. For children without anxiety (p < 0.001), the duration of the recovery time in Group-Midazolam was also found to be significantly longer than other. The PHBQ-scores of the children in Group-Control with anxiety and without anxiety were significantly higher than other (p < 0.05 for each). Also, there were significant differences in the distribution of the PSAS-scores between the children with and without anxiety. Anxiety had no impact on the distribution of the MAS-scores (p = 0.045 and p = 0.100). CONCLUSION: Playing tablet-based games in the preoperative period enabled pediatric patients to be more comfortable while waiting in their rooms, leaving their families, and applying an anaesthetic mask. In pediatric patient with and without anxiety, midazolam separation from the family and accepting the anesthesia mask is easiest in midazolam, second in those who are given a tablet computer.

Effect of intraperitoneal erythropoietin on the degree of mucosal damage of left colon flaps in rats.

BACKGROUND: Several modifications to an esophageal replacement approach have been described, using the left, the right, or the transverse colon as an interposition flap. Interposition of the left colon has become the most popular procedure. Intraoperative clamping of the arterial blood supply and venous drainage of the flap is a possible reason for ischemic flap failure. Thus, we designed a novel model to investigate whether erythropoietin (EPO), which has a tissue-protective effect in ischemia, would have any protective effect on prepared colon flaps in rats. METHODS: A total of 56 rats were randomly divided into four main groups, consisting of sham, sham + EPO, colon flap, and colon flap + EPO, and each main group was divided into two sub-groups. In the colon flap and colon flap + EPO groups, the colon flap was prepared and the pediculated free flap fixed tautly to the anterior abdominal wall. The sub-groups were subjected to post-reoperative histopathological investigation on the first and the seventh days, respectively. RESULTS: Our model was reliable for research related to colon interposition techniques. There was significant histopathological damage in the colon flap group both for the long and short limbs of the flap. On the other hand, EPO administration prevented the mucosal damage seen in the colon flap group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a colon flap attached tautly to the abdominal side wall simulates colon transposition techniques and also shows that intraperitoneal EPO markedly decreases flap damage in rats with prepared colon flaps.

Burn-associated bloodstream infections in pediatric burn patients: Time distribution of etiologic agents.

BACKGROUND: Infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with burns in burn units. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) in patients with burns may result from burn wound infection, use of invasive devices such as central venous catheters, and translocation of the gastrointestinal flora. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance of causative pathogens in children with burns and the durational changes of microorganisms in the distribution of BSIs in children. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Pediatric Burn Unit (PBU) of Dr. Behçet Uz Children Research and Training Hospital during the period of November 2008-April 2015. The study subjects were all the patients admitted to the PBU, in whom microorganisms were isolated at least from one of the cultures, including blood and catheter cultures. RESULTS: Gram-positive bacteria were the most common causative agents of BSI in patients with burns (66.4%), followed by gram-negative bacteria (22.1%) and fungi (11.5%). The median duration of development of BSIs caused by gram-positive bacteria from the time of burn was 5 days (ranging from 2 to 54 days of burn), which was significantly shorter than that of BSIs caused by gram-negative bacteria (12 days) and fungal pathogens (13 days). CONCLUSION: The etiologic agents of BSIs in children may differ from those in adults. Gram-negative drug-resistant bacteria such as multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were important agents of BSI in patients with burns, especially in the long term; however, gram-positive bacteria should also be considered while deciding the antimicrobial therapy, especially in the early periods of burn.

[Minimally invasive theurapeutic approaches in pediatric nonvascular fourth-grade renal trauma]. / Çocuklarda vasküler olmayan dördüncü derece böbrek yaralanmalarinda minimal invaziv tedavi yaklasimlari.

BACKGROUND: Conservative management procedures are implemented in cases of low-grade pediatric blunt renal trauma, but procedures for grade 4 injuries are not clearly defined. The present objective was to discuss treatment procedures in patients who presented with or developed urinoma during follow-up. METHODS: Treatment procedures implemented in 8 patients (female:male ratio=1:7; average age: 6) with grade 4 renal trauma who presented to the clinic between 2003 and 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Cause of renal injury was fall in 4 cases, blunt abdominal trauma in 3 cases, and being trapped in a harvesting machine in 1 case. Right renal trauma was diagnosed in 4 cases, left renal trauma in 4. Emergent exploration due to hemodynamic instability was not necessary. Although urinary extravasation was observed upon investigation in 1 patient, urinoma did not form during follow-up. Five of the 7 patients with urinoma were treated with drainage procedures (double-J catheter (JJ) in 3, percutaneous drainage (PD) in 1, followed by JJ catheter placement). In spite of initial PD, inferior pole nephrectomy and pyeloplasty were performed in the remaining 2 cases due to decomposition of the integrity of the urinary system. In 1 patient, pyeloplasty was performed following regression of symptoms due to ureteropelvic obstruction. Catheters were removed when extravasation was not detected in the urinary system. Average time of removal was 4 months for JJ catheters and 1.5 months for PD catheters. DISCUSSION: Pediatric grade 4 renal trauma can be successfully treated with minimally invasive procedures. Initial implementation of these procedures increases the chance of kidney salvage, even when surgical intervention is eventually performed.

Unusual Radiological Sign in Bronchial Atresia.

Bronchial atresia is usually diagnosed by incidentally detecting opacitiy at hilar ragion and hyperinflation around this opacity on chest X-ray. It may rarely be detected as air sac like atresic bronchus. The breath sounds in the right hemithorax were heard less when compared to the left hemithorax in the auscultation of a 16-year-old male patient with allergic rhinitis. The patient had no pulmonary complaints, and this finding was not recorded in his previous follow-up. In order to determine the etiology of hyperinflation seen on chest X-ray, computed tomography was performed. Hyperinflation was identified in the lower lobe superior segment of the right lung, which could be secondary to bronchial atresia. It was confirmed that in the evaluation of computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction, lower lobe superior segment bronchus of the right lung was atresic and contrary to expected mucus opacity in the distal of atresia, dilated bronchus was filled with air. This case was especially presented to lay emphasis on careful auscultation and share its unusual radiological presentation which had been reported twice before.

Pulmonary vascular anomalies: a review of clinical and radiological findings of cases presenting with different complaints in childhood.

Congenital pulmonary vascular abnormalities arise from several etiologies. These anomalies are difficult to categorize and sorted into distinct classifications. Major pulmonary vascular abnormalities can be ranked as interruption of the main pulmonary artery or its absence, emergence of the left pulmonary artery in the right pulmonary artery, pulmonary venous drainage abnormalities, and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). Some of the cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed by coincidence, whereas a few of them are diagnosed by typical findings in the newborn and infancy period, symptoms, and radiological appearances. Early diagnosis is important, since death may occur as a result of pulmonary and cardiac pathologies developed in patients with pulmonary vascular anomalies. In this case presentation, the clinical and radiological findings of patients that presented with different complaints and were diagnosed with pulmonary vascular anomalies were introduced.

The efficacy of non-operative management in childhood blunt hepatic trauma.

BACKGROUND: In this study the results of non-operative management of pediatric hepatic injury after blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated. METHODS: Multitrauma patients (n = 498) admitted between 1998 and 2002 were analysed as for mechanism of trauma retrospectively. Liver injuries were classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma's Organ Injury Scaling System. Liver function tests, transfusion status, duration of hospital stay, complications, and operative intervention needed were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients had liver injuries. The mean age was 6.7 years and male/female was 2.5/1. Number of patients in terms of injury grade: I: 15, II: 26, III: 29, IV: 4, V: 1. There was no significant difference between mean blood pressures, heart rates, and hematocrite values on admission and post-stabilisation. In three of 21 transfused patients, it exceeded 40 ml/kg and two of them were operated. The mean pediatric trauma score was +2. As a complication biloma was encountered in one patient. One patient with grade V hepatic injury died in the operating room because of heavy bleeding. The average hospital stay was 8,6 days. CONCLUSION: Our results support the efficacy of non-operative management of any grade hepatic injuries due to blunt abdominal trauma, with resultant low complication and mortality rates and shorter hospital stays.

Ceacal perforation in a premature newborn infant complicating milk curd syndrome: case report.

A 34-weeks-old female baby having a closed ceacal perforation due to milk curd syndrome is reported. The obstructing milk curd was located in the transvers colon and the perforation was in the ceacum. Primary repair of the ceacal perforation, aspiration of the material from an enterotomy and a protective ileostomy were performed. The patient died in the second postoperative day as a result of cardiopulmonary arrest and septic shock.

Late ureteral obstruction after endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux with polyacrylate polyalcohol copolymer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and presentation of ureteral obstruction after endoscopic injection of polyacrylate polyalcohol copolymer (PPC) for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux, and to analyze its possible causes, together with histopathologic assessment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 189 patients who underwent endoscopic injection of PPC between May 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. After the injection, patients were followed up by urinalysis and ultrasonography monthly for 3 months. Control voiding cystouretrography was performed in the third postoperative month. Patients were then followed up by ultrasound every 3 months. If a new-onset hydroureteronephrosis (HUN) was observed, control ultrasound was performed monthly to follow the change in the degree of HUN. If a moderate or severe HUN was observed, technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine or dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy was performed. For patients who needed open surgery, Cohen ureteroneocystostomy was performed. The distal 1 cm of the ureters was resected and examined histopathologically. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-nine patients with 268 refluxing ureters underwent endoscopic injection of PPC. Ureteral obstruction was observed in 3 ureters (1.1%), in 3 female patients of whom the degrees of reflux were grade 4, 5, and 5, respectively. Obstruction showed late onset in all 3 patients. Manifestations of obstruction included pain in 2 patients and recurrent febrile urinary tract infection with loss of function in scintigraphy in 1. All 3 patients underwent open ureteroneocystostomy. CONCLUSION: PPC may cause ureteral obstruction several months or even years after injection. Patients who undergo endoscopic treatment of PPC need long-term follow-up, despite reflux showing complete resolution.

Erythropoietin restores bowel damage and hypoperistalsis in gastroschisis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the decreased mortality in gastroschisis (Gx), patients experience postoperative intestinal hypoperistalsis, malabsorption, and shortened bowel length. The trophic effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo) in the developing small bowel have been reported, increasing the length and height of the villi, and villous surface area. This study investigated the effects of rEpo on intestinal malfunction in the chick embryos with Gx. METHODS: Thirteen-day-old fertilized chicken eggs were used to create Gx model. Study groups included the following: group 1, control; group 2, Gx-only; group 3, Gx + 0.075% saline exchange; group 4, Gx + 10 IU rEpo exchange; group 5, Gx + 20 IU rEpo exchange. The bowels were evaluated by in vitro muscle strip technique, and the response was expressed as a percentage of the maximum carbachol-evoked contraction (Emax). In addition, parasympathetic ganglion cells per 10 plexuses and villi height were determined by light microscopy. Results were evaluated statistically by Mann-Whitney U, chi2, and Fisher's Exact test tests. RESULTS: Saline exchange had no effect on ganglion cell number (P = .63) and villi height (P = .10). In group 4, ganglion cell number was not increased (P = .82), but villi height increase was significant (P = .03). In Gx + 20 IU rEpo group, both the number of ganglia (P = .0001) and villi height (P = .002) were significantly increased. The decrease in contractility in group 2 (P = .0121) was significantly reversed by rEpo 20 IU treatment (P = .0216), no significant difference was obtained in groups 3 (P = .0809) and 4 (P = .1516) compared with group 2. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that rEpo has prokinetic effects on hypoperistalsis and restores bowel damage in Gx.

The effectiveness of sucralfate against stricture formation in experimental corrosive esophageal burns.

PURPOSE: In this study, the effectiveness of sucralfate against stricture formation in experimental corrosive esophageal burn is reported. METHODS: Sixty-four Swiss albino adult male rats were divided into three groups, group A (control; n, 7), group B (esophageal burn induced but not treated; n, 25), and group C (esophageal burn induced and treated with sucralfate, n, 32). Groups B and C were further subdivided into subgroups for evaluation on days 2, 7, and 28. A standard esophageal burn was performed by the method of Gehanno, using 50% NaOH. Oral sucralfate treatment was given to group C at a dosage of 50 mg/100 g twice daily. The rats were then killed after 2, 7, or 28 days. Levels of tissue hydroxyproline were measured in excised abdominal esophageal segments, and a histopathological evaluation was performed with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. RESULTS: The tissue hydroxyproline levels were significantly lower in group C than in group B (P = 0.017). There was a significant difference in the stenosis index between groups B and C (P = 0.016). When compared with group B, the collagen deposition in the submucosa and tunica muscularis was significantly lower in group C (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Sucralfate has an inhibitory effect on stricture formation in experimental corrosive burns and can be used in the treatment of corrosive esophageal burns to enhance mucosal healing and suppress stricture formation.

Atresia of the colon.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Colonic atresia (CA) is one of the rarest causes of neonatal intestinal obstructions, and no large series can be reported. Therefore, we did perform a retrospective clinical trial to delineate our CA cases and carry out a literature survey. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of CA cases treated in our center between 1992 and 2002. We aimed to collect all reported cases in Medline, and personal communications with the authors of published series were used to reach the missing data. RESULTS: The chart review revealed 9 newborns with CA treated in our center (6 cases of type III, 2 cases of type II, and 1 case of type IV). These accounted for 3.7% of all gastrointestinal atresias managed in our center. Of the CA cases, 3 were isolated and 6 had at least one or more associated congenital anomalies. The preferred surgical technique at the initial treatment of CA was performing a proximal stoma and distal mucous fistula in an average of postnatal 59.4 hours. The literature survey enabled us to reach 224 cases of CA, including our cases. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low incidence of CA, delay in diagnosis and treatment may occur. The mortality is statistically higher when the surgical management is performed after 72 hours of age. However, the prognosis of CA is satisfactory if diagnosis and surgical management could be made promptly and properly.

Structural changes of smooth muscle in congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is the most common cause of congenital hydronephrosis. Previous studies have reported that the excess amount of collagen restricting mobility and resiliency of the UPJ is the result of an impaired collagen production by anomalous smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Our purpose was to evaluate the role of SMC differentiation in the pathogenesis of UPJ obstruction. METHODS: Surgical specimens of UPJ from 21 patients (8 girls/13 boys) who were subjected to dismembered pyeloplasty were examined immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against smooth muscle (SM) myosin heavy chain isoforms including SM1, SM2, and SMemb. The age ranged from 1 month to 13 years. Ureteropelvic walls taken from 14 forensic autopsy cases, with no urological abnormalities, served as age-matched control group. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical expression of SM1 and SM2 in UPJ obstruction was significantly increased when compared with controls (P < .05). In contrast, there was no statistical difference of expression of SMemb. CONCLUSION: Our findings supported the hypothesis that the primary anomaly in UPJ obstruction may be attributed to a malfunction of SMCs in the ureter.

Associated malformations in delayed presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Delayed presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has been considered rare, and clinical manifestations differ from the more common newborn entity. Associated malformations in late-appearing CDH have been reported in a few patients. The authors reviewed their clinical experience to catalogue the frequency and clinical importance of associated malformations in patients with late-presenting CDH. METHODS: The records of patients greater than 1 month of age with Bochdalek type CDH treated in the authors' clinic, from 1991 to 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty patients (age range, 1 month to 10 years) were included in the study. RESULTS: Associated malformations were documented in 16 of the patients (80%) and included malrotation in 12 patients, umbilical hernia in 2, pulmonary hypoplasia in 4, pulmonary sequestration in 1, gastroesophageal duplication cyst coexisting with polysplenia in 1, atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect in 1, hydronephrosis in 1, wandering spleen in 1, talipes equinovarus in 1, and type I diabetes mellitus in 1. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show a significant incidence and a wide spectrum of associated malformations. These findings suggest that patients with late CDH should be evaluated carefully for additional anomalies that may help to establish correct diagnosis and treatment.