Prenatal diagnosis of the acute meconium peritonitis secondary to ileum volvulus perforation: a case report.

This is an unusual case in comparison to other sonographically described prenatal cases due to very early diagnosis and surgical intervention following prompt delivery. A 40-year-old pregnant, ultrasonography showed presence of cystic structure in the fetal abdomen that was consistent with intestinal dilatation. At 32 weeks' of gestation, repeat ultrasound showed collapse of the bowel dilatation along with the presence of hyperechogenic fluid in the fetal abdominal cavity. Cesarean section was performed. The clinical utility of this report is the recognition that meconium peritonitis (MP) may be diagnosed in the acute phase with typical ultrasound features, and should be considered in the differential diagnoses of cases presented with reduced fetal movements. Although it appears that morbidity and mortality in MP cases depend upon gestational age, this case report may help to manage similar cases for defining the appropriate delivery time and treatment modality after prenatal identification of the problem.

Evaluation of effects of s-methyl isothiourea and melatonin on intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

The present study was designed to evaluate whether the administration of s-methylisothiourea and melatonin has protective potential in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Ileal specimens were obtained to determine the levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl content, levels of antioxidant enzymes and evaluation of histologic changes. Combination of s-methylisothiourea and melatonin, led to a statistically significant increase in activities of antioxidant enzymes with a decrease in malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content and intestinal mucosal injury scores. It was shown; combination of SMT and melatonin may exert more promised results.

Erdosteine and ebselen as useful agents in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generated during reperfusion of the tissue are characteristic of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether erdosteine and ebselen, molecules with antioxidant properties and peroxynitrite scavenging capability, respectively, can reduce oxidative stress and histological damage in the rat small bowel subjected to mesenteric I/R injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups equally: sham, I/R, I/R plus erdosteine, I/R plus ebselen, and I/R plus erdosteine and ebselen. Intestinal ischemia for 45 min and reperfusion for 3 d were carried out. Ileal specimens were obtained to determine the tissue levels of malondialdehide (MDA), protein carbonyl content (PCC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) level and histological changes. RESULTS: Intestinal I/R resulted in increased tissue MDA, PCC, and NO(x) levels and decreased SOD and GPx activities. Both erdosteine and ebselen alone significantly decreased MDA, PCC, and NO(x) levels and increased antioxidant enzymes activities, but all values were different from control. These changes almost returned to control values in the group treated with erdostein and ebselen. Histopathologically, the intestinal injury in rats treated with erdosteine and ebselen as well as combination were less than I/R group. CONCLUSIONS: Both erdosteine and ebselen were able to attenuate I/R injury of the intestine via inhibition of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, maintenance of antioxidant, and free radical scavenger properties. Nevertheless, combination treatment showed more promising results, suggesting that scavenging peroxynitrite nearby antioxidant activity is important in preventing intestinal I/R injury.

Effects of pyrolytic carbon on postoperative adhesion formation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal adhesion is a consequence of wound healing that sometimes causes severe postoperative complications. Despite all the preventive measures and agents, adhesions have still not been eliminated completely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pyrolytic carbon on the development of postoperative peritoneal and uterine tube adhesions. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty female Wistar-Albino type rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two groups: treatment and control groups. After ketamine anaesthesia (50 mg/kg IM), a lower midline abdominal incision was performed and a standard uterine lesion was created by electrocauterization. In the study group, pyrolytic carbon was applied to the surface of the uterus and no additional procedure was applied in the control group. After 2 weeks, all of the rats were killed and uterine adhesions were staged according to the Leach scoring system. RESULTS: In the control group, the total adhesion score was 8.8 +/- 0.42. In the study group, the total adhesion score was 3.3 +/- 1.49, significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pyrolytic carbon significantly reduces the prevalence of peritoneal and uterine tube adhesion formation in rats. However, further more detailed investigations are needed before this material is used in clinical practice.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura presenting with symptoms mimicking balanoposthitis.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis, characterized with palpable purpuric rush and collection of immunglobuline A (Ig A) around small vessels. Onset of purpuric rush at gluteus and lower extremities is the main symptom of the disease, however it presents with a wide variety of signs and symptoms. Here, we present a two-year-old boy who had presented with penile swelling and color change. Then, purpuric rush was occurred and it was seen spontenous resolution on second day without treatment.

Congenital Cervical Teratoma:Anaesthetic Management (The EXIT Procedure).

SUMMARY: Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is a procedure performed during caesarean section with preservation of fetal-placental circulation, which allows the safe handling of fetal airways with risk of airways obstruction. This report aimed at describing a case of anaesthesia for EXIT in a fetus with cervical teratoma. A 30-year-old woman, 70 kg, 160 cm, gravida 2, para 1, was followed because of polyhydramniosis diagnosed at 24 weeks' gestation. During a routine ultrasonographic examination at 35 weeks' gestation, it was noticed that the fetus had a tumoral mass on the anterior neck, the mass had cystic and calcified components and with a size of was 10 x 6 x5 cm. The patient with physical status ASA I, was submitted to caesarean section under general anaesthesia with mechanically controlled ventilation for exutero intrapartum treatment (EXIT). Anaesthesia was induced in rapid sequence with fentanyl propofol and rocuronium and was maintained with isoflurane in 2.5 at 3 % in O and N O (50%). After hysterotomy, fetus was partially released assuring uterus-placental circulation, followed by fetal laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The infant was intubated with an uncuffed, size 2.5 endotracheal tube. Excision of the mass was performed under general anaesthesia. After surgical intervention, on the fourth postoperative day, the infant was extubated and the newborn was discharged to the pediatric neonatal unit and on the seventh day postoperatively to home without complications. Major recommendations for EXIT are maternal-fetal safety, uterine relaxation to maintain uterine volume and uterus-placental circulation, and fetal immobility to help airway handling. We report one case of cervical teratoma managed successfully with EXIT procedure.

Appendicitis within an umbilical hernia sac: previously unreported complication in children.

Umbilical hernia is one of the most common congenital pathologies of the anterior abdominal wall in children. Umbilical hernia in children has a high tendency for spontaneous closure. Surgical treatment is performed only for rarely occurring complications. Appendicitis within an umbilical hernia sac is a previously unreported complication for umbilical hernias. We report here the first case in the current English language literature.

Congenital pouch colon: is it really a rare pathology?

Congenital pouch colon is a condition of a shortened and pouch-like dilated colon and it is usually associated with an anorectal malformation. The pathogenesis and embryology of congenital pouch colon are not well understood, but dietary, environmental factors and familial inheritance may be contributing factors in this pathology. Most of the cases in the literature have been reported from India. This increased regional incidence may be attributed to the lack of awareness of this pathology or its mislabeling rather than regional distribution. Congenital pouch colon is classified into four types based on the length of the abnormal colon. A variable dilatation of the rectum and sigmoid is always present in anorectal malformation. However, there is no clear definition of a limit for the dilatation of the rectum and sigmoid observed in anorectal malformation. Furthermore, many surgeons do not routinely take a biopsy from a dilated rectum or sigmoid during a colostomy procedure in anorectal malformation cases. For these reasons, type IV congenital pouch colon can be easily underdiagnosed. Surgical treatment options in type IV congenital pouch colon include resection of the affected sites of the colon or excisional tapering coloplasty. In the undiagnosed cases, congenital pouch colon results in severe constipation and overflow incontinence. We herein report two additional new cases of type IV congenital pouch colon.

Increasing tendency in caustic esophageal burns and long-term polytetrafluorethylene stenting in severe cases: 10 years experience.

In recent years, lye products have come into common household use in Turkey. Unfortunately, we have noted more cases of serious corrosive esophagitis owing to accidental caustic agent ingestion. The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate our experience with these cases and (2) investigate the effects of long-term intraesophageal polytetrafluorethylene stenting on esophageal remodeling and its impact upon the need for esophageal replacement. Between 1997 and 2006, 68 patients (44 males and 22 females) with accidental caustic agent ingestion were admitted to our department, the only tertiary care referral center for the Turkish Army. Once stabilized, esophagoscopy was performed for injury grading (grades 0, 1, 2a, 3b, 3a, or 3b) as described by Millar and Cywes (Pediatric Surgery. 1998;969-979). Esophagogram was performed 3 weeks after injury to assess healing. At presentation, the injury grade for 24, 31, 11, and 1 cases were 0 or 1, 2a, 2b, and 3a, respectively. One case had gastric outlet obstruction. All cases of grade 0 or 1 injuries had a normal esophagogram at 3 weeks postinjury. For the remaining 44 patients, several treatment modalities have been applied, including antegrade and retrograde dilatations in 31 grade 2a patients, intraluminal stenting in 11 grade 2b patients, esophageal reconstruction in 1 grade 3a patient, and gastroenterostomy in 1. Of the 11 patients with esophageal stenting, 8 patients have resumed a normal diet after 9 to 14 months of stenting. Mean follow up duration is 3.5 years (1-6 years) after stent removal. In the remaining 3 cases, treatment is still ongoing. Esophagitis and esophageal structuring because of caustic agent ingestion is a major public health problem in Turkey. Our small uncontrolled pilot series suggests that intraluminal polytetrafluorethylene stenting may be an effective treatment method to reduce the need for major surgical reconstruction of recalcitrant esophageal strictures.

Bilateral cervical chondrocutaneous remnants: a case report and review of the literature.

Cervical chondrocutaneous remnants are less common lesions, which are encountered at the lateral neck. They are similar in appearance to preauricular tags, which are more frequent. Bilateral appearance of this pathology is quite uncommon. The lesions always present at birth, and are located in the middle or lower third of the lateral neck with a significant prevalence of location anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The overlying skin is similar to the surrounding neck skin and the lesion is painless, lacking any inflammation or discharge. Surgically there is no connection with deep underlying structures. The therapy of choice should be complete surgical removal. Several associated anomalies may accompany cervical chondrocutaneous remnants. Thus these patients must be evaluated carefully in order to detect any additional anomaly. We herein report a four-year-old patient with bilateral cervical chondrocutaneous remnant located at the inferior third of the lateral neck anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. We also review the literature for patients with bilateral cervical chondrocutaneous remnants and discuss embryologic and diagnostic aspects.

Abdominal heterotopic tissues: review of 24 cases diagnosed on postoperative histological evaluation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Heterotopy is defined as abnormal localization of well-differentiated tissue. Heterotopic tissues usually tend to be asymptomatic and noncomplicated but sometimes may cause serious clinical problems. Malignancy potential is the most important issue in this clinical entity. In this study we reviewed medical records of 24 patients with heterotopic tissues. METHODS: Between 1995-2004, 24 patients with heterotopic tissues who were diagnosed during gastrointestinal system or abdominal wall surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were included in this study. Patients' medical data were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with heterotopy were younger than 30 years and eight patients were older than 30 years. Nineteen (0.21%) heterotopic tissues were diagnosed in 8,945 patients who underwent gastrointestinal system surgery or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, whereas five (0.21%) heterotopic tissues were diagnosed in 2,320 patients who underwent abdominal wall surgery. Overall, 24 (0.21%) heterotopic tissues were found in a total of 11,265 patients. The majority were pancreatic heterotopy, followed in decreasing order by gastric, adrenal and osseous heterotopy. In patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery-endoscopy, pain was the main symptom (n=13)(68.4%), followed by dyspepsia (n=3)(15.7%) and vomiting- nausea (n=2)(10.5%). The main symptom in patients who underwent abdominal wall surgery was palpable mass. heterotopic tissues presented as wall thickening in 13, polypoid mass in five and whole solitary mass or intraparenchymal lesion in six patients. CONCLUSION: Although incidence of heterotopic tissues is low, in case of its suspicion or diagnosis, early treatment should be performed by surgical or endoscopic resection or patients must be followed up carefully due to risk of malignancy.

Conservative approach to the mediastinitis in childhood secondary to esophageal perforation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nonoperative treatment of esophageal perforation (EP) in children. Between 1999 and 2004, 13 episodes in 12 patients were evaluated. The treatment program consisted of broad-spectrum antibiotics, nasopharyngeal aspiration, parenteral and/or enteral nutrition by gastrostomy, and pleural effusion or mediastinal abscess drainage when required. Mean age of the patients was 3.75 +/- 1.13 (range 3-7 years). Two patients (16.7%) were girls and 10 patients (83.3%) were boys. Chest pain was found 76.9% of all EP episodes (10 of 13 perforations), followed by dyspnea in 69.2% (9 of 13), vomiting in 46.1% (6 of 13), fever in 46.1% (6 of 13), and epigastric pain in 7.6% (1 of 13). No deaths occurred. In children, in contrast with the adults, EP can be treated safely by nonoperative methods.