Symptomatic Mullerian Duct Cyst in a Male Infant.

Symptomatic Mullerian duct cyst is a rare entity in children. A 9-month-old male infant presented with bowel and urinary obstructive symptoms. Imaging investigations revealed a cystic mass in the rectovesical pouch compressing bladder neck and rectum. At laparotomy, a Mullerian duct cyst was found. Most of the cyst was excised and the remaining cyst mucosa was cauterized. The child improved thereafter.

Thoracoscopic excision of foregut duplication cyst: A case report and review of literature.

Thoracoscopy has major advantages over thoracotomy. We report a successful management of foregut duplication cyst thoracoscopically in a child with review of literature.

Congenital lobar emphysema: Pitfalls in diagnosis.

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare but life-threatening congenital anomaly leading to respiratory distress in early childhood. Diagnosis requires a strong clinical suspicion. We report a case of a 31/2-month-old infant who was initially diagnosed with pneumonia requiring multiple hospital admissions. After computed tomography of the thorax, a diagnosis on CLE was made. The child was planned for surgery in the next available routine operation theatre. However, suddenly in the evening, she developed respiratory distress and needed emergency surgical intervention. The child improved dramatically after surgery, and the postoperative period was uneventful. Early diagnosis and treatment in such cases can lead to dramatic results.

Isolated hydatid cyst of the pancreas masquerading as pancreatic pseudocyst.

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is very rare and usually presents with obstructive jaundice. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl with cyst of the pancreas without any obstructive jaundice. The child was treated surgically and hydatid cyst of pancreas was found. Partial pericystectomy was performed. After 1 month on follow-up, the child developed pseudocyst of pancreas, which needed cystogastrostomy. Postoperatively, the child improved and is remaining well after 3 months of follow-up. Hydatid cysts of pancreas are very difficult to diagnose preoperatively and should be kept as a differential diagnosis of cystic intrapancreatic lesions. Serological tests can help in early diagnosis.

Complications of long-standing foreign body in the airway and their outcomes after endoscopic management: an experience of 20 cases.

AIM: To study the outcomes after endoscopic treatment of chronic foreign bodies (FBs) in the airway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study (2008-2013) of 20 cases with chronic airway FBs (>2 weeks) was done with emphasis on endoscopic management. All cases were initially evaluated by the pediatric pulmonologist. Flexible and rigid bronchoscopy was done for diagnosis and retrieval, respectively. The techniques of FB retrieval, problems encountered, and their solutions were analyzed. Follow-up flexible bronchoscopy was done in symptomatic cases. Outcomes were assessed in terms of successful removal of the FB, clinical recovery, lung expansion, and need for further procedures. RESULTS: Twenty cases (16 boys, 4 girls) with a mean age of 7 years had a chronic airway FB diagnosed on chest X-ray (n=6) and flexible bronchoscopy (n=14). Six cases had computed tomography evaluation. On rigid bronchoscopy, the FB was successfully retrieved in 16 cases. Two cases required open surgery for FB-induced tracheoesophageal fistula. One case required pneumonectomy because of a battery eroding into the lung parenchyma. One patient died. Of the 16 who had successful retrieval, 11 recovered with full lung expansion. Four recovered after additional bronchoscopic procedures (cauterization of granulation [n=2] and balloon dilatation of bronchial stenoses [n=2]). One case required pneumonectomy for persistent collapse despite multiple dilatations. CONCLUSIONS: An airway FB producing chronic respiratory symptoms may be missed because of lack of definite history of an inhaled FB. Clinical suspicion and flexible bronchoscopy are instrumental in diagnosis. Treatment is challenging because of chronicity-related complications and requires innovative ideas to make best use of the available urologic and bronchoscopic equipment. Addition of tracheotomy provides safety in difficult cases. Bronchoscopic removal leads to clinical and radiological recovery in most cases.

Laparoscopic-assisted transanal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease: Comparison between partial and near total laparoscopic mobilization of rectum.

BACKGROUND: Transanal pull-through with laparoscopic assistance is gaining popularity. How much rectal dissection to do laparoscopically and how much transanally is not clear. Laparoscopic rectal mobilization is akin to open pelvic dissection of Swenson's operation - the most physiological procedure. Through this comparative study, we aim to evolve a technique that maximizes the benefits of Swenson's technique and minimizes the problems of a transanal procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients (19 boys and one girl, newborn to 6 years) with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) were randomized for laparoscopic-assisted transanal pull-through (LATAPT) either by near complete (Group A) or partial (Group B) laparoscopic mobilization of rectum. Patients were followed up for at least 3 months. Demographic profile; operative details (time taken, blood loss, operative difficulty, and complications); postoperative course (duration of urinary catheter, oral feeding, and hospital stay); and follow-up stooling pattern, consistency, and continence were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The time taken for laparoscopic mobilization was marginally higher in group A, but the time taken for transanal dissection in this group was significantly less than in group B. All other comparisons showed no significant difference in the two groups. Stool frequency and continence improved with time in both groups. CONCLUSION: Extent of laparoscopic mobilization of rectum does not appear to be a factor deciding the outcomes. No recommendations could be made in view of the small number of cases. However, it shows that laparoscopic assistance can be used to maximize the benefits of Swenson type of operation and a transanal pull-through.

Laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted pelvic surgery in small infants: our experience.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review our experience of laparoscopic (LA) or laparoscopic-assisted pelvic surgery (LAPS) in small infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 35 patients who underwent an LA or LAPS between January 2007 and June 2010 were studied and 21 patients who were younger than 1 year or whose weight was less than 10 kg were included. Indications, procedures, results, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The indications of surgery and procedures done were impalpable undescended testes (7 cases--3 single-stage orchidopexy and 4 Fowler Stephen stage I ligation of testicular vessels), Hirschsprung's disease (HD; 5 cases--all laparoscopic-assisted transanal pull-through), anorectal malformation (ARM; 3 cases--all laparoscopic-assisted pull-through), disorders of sexual differentiation (3 cases--1 herniotomy and 2 gonadal biopsy), sacrococcygeal teratoma (1 case--laparoscopic mobilization of pelvic component and posterior sagittal excision), and ovarian mass (2 cases; laparoscopic oophorectomy). There were 14 males, 4 females, and 3 of indeterminate sex. All procedures could be successfully completed without conversion. There was no anesthesia-related complication or need for postoperative ventilatory support. There were no immediate procedure-related complications. One female child with ARM had rectal mucosal prolapse; 1 HD case had rectovaginal fistula that healed following fecal diversion. The major advantages of laparoscopy in different indications were magnified access into the depth of pelvis and early frozen section biopsies in HD, accurate placement of neoanus in the center of muscle complex in ARM, early ligation of vessels and avoidance of laparotomy in sacrococcygeal teratoma, ease of decision making and better mobilization of vessels in undescended testes, and diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic procedure in ambiguous genitalia. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic pelvic surgery in small infants is a safe procedure with advantage of magnification, access, and cosmesis.

Delayed presentation of anorectal malformations.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Delayed management of anorectal malformation (ARM) increases the surgical and functional complications for the patient. We defined "delayed presentation of ARM" and reviewed our patients with ARM to find out the incidence and causes of delayed presentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients satisfying the criteria of "delayed presentation of ARM" were involved. Detailed information of each patient including the mode of presentation, associated anomalies, plan of management and follow-up was obtained from the hospital records. RESULTS: Between 2003 and 2006, 43 patients satisfied our criteria of "delayed presentation of ARM". There were 21 males and 22 females. Seventeen of these males presented with low-type ARM. Eleven of them were managed by a single-stage procedure. These "delayed presenters" had to live with constipation, inadequate weight gain and parental anxiety for a greater time. Analysis of the outcomes showed more functional complications in patients who had undergone failed perineal surgery previously. In females with low ARM, the procedure of choice was anterior sagittal anorectoplasty (ASARP). Single stage surgery provides good outcomes for most of low type of ARMs. High-type ARMs in males and females were managed by a staged procedure. CONCLUSION: "Delayed presentation of ARM" is a major group of ARM in our setup. The management and results of their treatment are not different from those of the early presenters. The most common cause of delayed ARM is wrong advice given by the health care providers followed by inadequate treatment elsewhere. Corrective surgeries taking second attempt in perineum always produces poor outcomes.

Comparison of three solutions for total gut irrigation in pediatric patients.

Total gut irrigation (TGI) is a safe method of bowel preparation in children. Many solutions are used but none is ideal. This study has been done to compare household common salt solution prepared by dissolving 10 g of pure NaCl salt (Active Reagent Quality) in 1 l of tap water, polyethylene glycol with electrolytes (PEG) and ringers lactate for TGI in children. We prospectively evaluated the three solutions in terms of efficacy, safety, rapidity, tolerability and cost effectiveness in patients undergoing a variety of colorectal procedures. Patients (126) were randomly assigned into one of the three groups; Group I, household common salt solution, 40; Group II, Peglec, 55; Group III, Ringer lactate, 31. TGI with PEG is the most rapid method of bowel preparation but is least tolerable. Household common salt solution is inexpensive and most tolerable of the three preparations. All three are similar in safety and effectiveness in bowel preparation. Household common salt solution is effective, safe, cost effective and the most tolerable method of bowel preparation.

Hemoperitoneum as a first manifestation of HCC with bleeding from ruptured aberrant vessel: a case report.

A young man presented with a history of abdominal pain and distension for 4 days. Diagnosis of spontaneous hemoperitoneum was made after clinical examination, abdominal USG and a diagnostic peritoneal tap. Emergency laparotomy revealed massive hemoperitoneum with extensive bilobar hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). A ruptured aberrant vessel communicating between the intercostal vessel and HCC in the liver had caused massive hemoperitoneum.

Double gastric outlet obstruction with epidermolysis bullosa in a neonate.

We report a 2-day-old baby who had double gastric outlet obstruction, rectovaginal fistula and associated epidermolysis bullosa. She recovered after excision of diaphragms, pyloroplasty and pelvic colostomy.

Non surgical management of cystic lymphangioma.

UNLABELLED: Aim/Purpuse: To evaluate our experience of 19 patients of lymphangioma who were treated by intralesional Bleomycin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients of lymphangioma aged between 16 days to 11 years were managed in the department. The male-female ratio was of 2:1. Commonest sites were in the neck (58%) followed by axilla (21%). The patients were treated by intralesional bleomycin injection. Bleomycin was given at a dose not exceeding 0.5 unit/kg/dose at interval of 2 weeks. Reduction in size of the mass was noted in between 2 weeks to 16 weeks and number of injections required for each patient varied from 1 to 6. Follow up ranged from 1- 7 Year. RESULT: In injection group, significant reduction of mass was noted in 84% (n=l6) and 57% (n=11) of them showed complete disappearance. No serious complications were noted in any patient. CONCLUSION: Our experience showed that Bleomycin in aqueous solution is a good sclcrosing agent in the management of lymphangioma.