Evaluation of Intussusception Following Pentavalent Rotavirus Vaccine (RotaTeq) Administration in 5 African Countries.

BACKGROUND: A low-level risk of intussusception following rotavirus vaccination has been observed in some settings and may vary by vaccine type. We examined the association between RotaTeq vaccination and intussusception in low-income settings in a pooled analysis from 5 African countries that introduced RotaTeq into their national immunization program. METHODS: Active surveillance was conducted at 20 hospitals to identify intussusception cases. A standard case report form was completed for each enrolled child, and vaccination status was determined by review of the child's vaccination card. The pseudo-likelihood adaptation of self-controlled case-series method was used to assess the association between RotaTeq administration and intussusception in the 1-7, 8-21, and 1-21 day periods after each vaccine dose in infants aged 28-245 days. RESULTS: Data from 318 infants with confirmed rotavirus vaccination status were analyzed. No clustering of cases occurred in any of the risk windows after any of the vaccine doses. Compared with the background risk of naturally occurring intussusception, no increased risk was observed after dose 1 in the 1-7 day (relative incidence = 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47-8.03) or the 8-21 day window (relative incidence = 0.77; 95%CI = 0.0-2.69). Similarly, no increased risk of intussusception was observed in any risk window after dose 2 or 3. CONCLUSIONS: RotaTeq vaccination was not associated with increased risk of intussusception in this analysis from 5 African countries. This finding mirrors results from similar analyses with other rotavirus vaccines in low-income settings and highlights the need for vaccine-specific and setting-specific risk monitoring.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Surgical Volume in Four Low- and Middle-Income Country Hospitals: Insights from an Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical care delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) has been challenging to assess due to a lack of data. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on pediatric surgical volumes at four LMIC hospitals. METHODS: Retrospective and prospective pediatric surgical data collected at hospitals in Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Nigeria, and Zambia were reviewed from January 2019 to April 2021. Changes in surgical volume were assessed using interrupted time series analysis. RESULTS: 6078 total operations were assessed. Before the pandemic, overall surgical volume increased by 21 cases/month (95% CI 14 to 28, p < 0.001). From March to April 2020, the total surgical volume dropped by 32%, or 110 cases (95% CI - 196 to - 24, p = 0.014). Patients during the pandemic were younger (2.7 vs. 3.3 years, p < 0.001) and healthier (ASA I 69% vs. 66%, p = 0.003). Additionally, they experienced lower rates of post-operative sepsis (0.3% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001), surgical site infections (1.3% vs 5.8%, p < 0.001), and mortality (1.6% vs 3.1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, children's surgery in LMIC saw a sharp decline in total surgical volume by a third in the month following March 2020, followed by a slow recovery afterward. Patients were healthier with better post-operative outcomes during the pandemic, implying a widening disparity gap in surgical access and exacerbating challenges in addressing the large unmet burden of pediatric surgical disease in LMICs with a need for immediate mitigation strategies.

A catheterizable serous-lined urinary outlet associated with the ileal bladder augmentation Abol-Enein and Ghoneim procedure: a safe and reliable procedure in children.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome of the serous-lined extramural continent catheterizable outlet procedure (SLECCOP) associated with ileal bladder augmentation in children. Methods: This was a monocentric and retrospective study (2002-2021) that included children (<18 years) undergoing the SLECCOP associated with W-shaped ileocystoplasty with a catheterizable channel (Abol-Enein and Ghoneim procedure). Patients who received other types of bladder augmentation or W-shaped ileocystoplasty without a catheterizable channel were excluded. Patient records were reviewed for demographic information, surgical data, and long-term outcomes. Results: This study included 52 children [33 boys, median age: 8.5 (0.8-18) years]. Pathological conditions included 28 children with the bladder exstrophy and epispadias complex (BEEC), 11 with neurogenic bladders, and 13 with other pathologies. Two patients underwent total bladder substitution. Thirty-four (65%) patients had bladder neck reconstruction (BNR), with 23 undergoing the SLECCOP and ileocystoplasty and 11 having prior BNR. All stomas, except for two, were umbilical, and were associated with omphaloplasty in 28 patients with the BEEC. A total of 40 stomas were created using the appendix (77%) and 12 with a Monti tube (23%). Stoma-related complications included cutaneous strictures (n = 2, 4%) and leaks (n = 10, 19%), all treated by dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer injection (n = 10). A redo surgery was required in three patients: extraserosal wrapping was performed for persistent leakage (n = 2, 4%), and surgical revision was required for the Monti tube procedure (n = 1, 2%). Three patients (6%) underwent dilatation for transient stoma stenosis. Leakage occurred in 20% of appendix channels (n = 8/40) and 17% of Monti tubes (n = 2/12). Strictures were reported in 3% of appendix channels (n = 1/40) and 8% of Monti tubes (n = 1/12). Bladder stones developed in four patients (8%). Channel leakage persisted in one patient (2%) at a median follow-up of 4.4 years (IQR 1.4-9.7). Conclusion: W-Ileal bladder augmentation with the SLECCOP is an efficient technique for treating children with incontinence caused by different etiologies. The rate of channel complication is very low, specifically for strictures, in this complex population of patients.

[Epidemiology, treatment and prognosis of colorectal cancer in young adults in sub-Saharan Africa]. / Épidémiologie, traitement et pronostic du cancer colorectal de l'adulte jeune en milieu sub-saharien.

Colorectal cancer is the most common digestive cancer. The objectives of this study was to analyse the frequency, aetiologies, and the therapeutic and progressive aspects of colorectal cancer in young adults in Burkina Faso. This study was a 10-years descriptive study conducted in 2 regional hospitals in Burkina Faso. It included all patients aged 20 to 45 years admitted to these two hospitals for colon cancer or rectal cancer during the study period. A total of 116 patients were included, which was 39.2% of all patients admitted for colorectal cancer during the same period. The average age of the included patients was 35.4 years old. There were 70 male patients (60.3%). Seven patients had a history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and six had a family history of colon cancer. The average consultation time was 6.2 months. In 25 cases (19.9%), the cancer was discovered in the context of an abdominal emergency. Ninety-two patients (79.3%) were diagnosed at stage 3 or stage 4 according to the TNM Staging System. The most common histological type was adenocarcinoma (103 cases, 88.9%). Therapeutically, surgery was performed on 87 patients (75%) and chemotherapy was used in 37 cases (31.9%). Sixteen patients received radiotherapy. The intra operative mortality rate was 4.6%. The 5-year survival rate was 17%. In conclusion, colorectal cancer in young adults occurs without obvious risk factors in Burkina Faso. Mortality remains high because of the limited therapeutic arsenal.

Penetrating chest wound of the foetus.

Traumas of the foetus caused by stabbings are rare but actually life-threatening for both the foetus and the mother. We report a case of penetrating chest wound on a baby taken from the obstetrics unit to the paediatric surgical department. His mother was assaulted by his father, a mentally sick person with no appropriate follow-up. The foetus did not show any sign of vital distress. Surgical exploration of the wound has revealed a section of the 10 th rib, a laceration of the pleura and a tearing of the diaphragm. A phrenorraphy and a pleural drainage were performed. The new-born and its mother were released from hospital after 5 days and the clinical control and X-ray checks 6 months later showed nothing abnormal. We insisted a medical, psychiatric follow-up be initiated for the father. As regards pregnant women with penetrating wounds, the mortality rate of the foetus is 80%. The odds are good for our newborn due to the mild injuries and good professional collaboration of the medical staff. Penetrating transuterine wounds of the foetus can be very serious. The health care needed should include many fields due to the mother and the foetus' lesions extreme polymorphism. In our case, it could have prevented by a good psychiatric followed up of the offender.

Appendicular bilharzioma: An unusual cause of acute intestinal obstruction in childhood (a case report at Charles de Gaulle Paediatric Teaching Hospital of Ouagadougou).

The authors report the case of a 12-year-old boy admitted to the surgical emergency department of Charles de Gaulle Paediatric Teaching Hospital of Ouagadougou for acute abdominal pain. A strangulation of the terminal ileum by a tumour-like appendix wound around the bowel loop was seen during operation. The histological examination of the removed appendix disclosed eggs of Schistosoma haematobium and concluded to bilharzian appendicitis. A course of praziquantel treatment was instituted, and the patient underwent an event-free recovery. Such cases report are infrequent, even in areas where bilharzia-related diseases are endemic. It is important to recognise them and to treat them in an aetiological manner so as to prevent any potential complications. The diagnosis is always an operatory and histological curiosity. Appendectomy and treatment with a course of praziquantel seem quite suitable for this situation.

Left posterolateral strangulated congenital diaphragmatic hernia in children: About a case at the Charles de Gaulle Paediatric Teaching Hospital in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

Late presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is uncommon. It poses considerable diagnostic challenges when it strangulates. The authors report a case of a left posterolateral strangulated congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a 5-year-old child diagnosed at the stage of acute intestinal occlusion with intestinal necrosis and managed successfully. A strangulated congenital diaphragmatic hernia should be suspected in the case of an association of sudden-onset respiratory and digestive manifestations with no sign of trauma or specific pulmonary history. It then requires an antero posterior thoracic X-ray or, even better, a thoracic-abdominal scan to confirm the diagnosis.