Longitudinal growth of children born with gastroschisis or omphalocele.

Normal childhood growth is an indicator of good health, but data addressing the growth of children born with abdominal wall defects (AWDs) are limited. The detailed growth phenotypes of children born with gastroschisis or omphalocele are described and compared to peers without AWDs from birth to adolescence. Data from 183 gastroschisis and 144 omphalocele patients born between 1993 and 2017 were gathered from Finnish nationwide registers and electronic health records. Weight (n = 3033), length/height (n = 2034), weight-for-length (0-24 months, n = 909), and body mass index measures (2-15 years, n = 423) were converted into sex- and age-specific Z-scores. Linear mixed models were used for comparisons. Intrauterine growth failure was common in infants with gastroschisis. Birth weight Z-scores in girls and boys were - 1.2 (0.2) and - 1.3 (0.2) and length Z-scores - 0.7 (0.2) and - 1.0 (0.2), respectively (p < 0.001 for all comparisons to infants without AWDs). During early infancy, growth failure increased in infants with gastroschisis, and thereafter, catch-up growth was prominent and faster in girls than in boys. Gastroschisis children gained weight and reached their peers' weights permanently at 5 to 10 years. By 15 years or older, 30% of gastroschisis patients were overweight. Infants with omphalocele were born with a normal birth size but grew shorter and weighing less than the reference population until the teen-age years. CONCLUSION: Children with gastroschisis and omphalocele have distinct growth patterns from fetal life onwards. These growth trajectories may also provide some opportunities to modulate adult health. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Intrauterine and postnatal growth failure can be seen frequently in gastroschisis and they often show significant catch-up growth later in infancy. It is assumed that part of the children with gastroschisis will become overweight during later childhood. WHAT IS NEW:  â€¢ The longitudinal growth of girls and boys with gastroschisis or omphalocele is described separately until the teenage years. The risk of gaining excessive weight in puberty was confirmed in girls with gastroschisis.

Comparison of three risk stratification scores in gastroschisis neonates: gastroschisis prognostic score, gastroschisis risk stratification index and complex gastroschisis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate the utility of three different risk stratification scores for gastroschisis neonates; simple/complex gastroschisis, gastroschisis prognostic score and risk stratification index. METHODS: Data of neonates born with gastroschisis between the years 1993 and 2015 were collected. The national registers and patient records of four Finnish University Hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic and linear regression analysis were performed to identify independent predictors for adverse outcomes. The efficacy of these prognostic methods was further assessed using ROC-curves and DeLong (1988) test. RESULTS: Gastroschisis risk stratification index was an acceptable predictor of in-hospital mortality, AUC 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-0.91, p = 0.049. Complex gastroschisis and gastroschisis prognostic score were able to predict short bowel syndrome, AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.58-1.00, p = 0.012 and AUC 0.80, 95% CI 0.59-1.00, p = 0.012, respectively. CONCLUSION: There are three easily obtainable risk stratification scores for outcome prediction in gastroschisis patients, however, their predictive ability did not have a statistical difference in the present study. The Gastroschisis risk stratification index seemed to perform moderately well in mortality prediction.

Different strategies, equivalent treatment approaches in terms of mortality in four university hospitals: a retrospective multicenter study of gastroschisis in Finland.

PURPOSE: Optimal treatment of gastroschisis is not determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate treatment methods of gastroschisis in four university hospitals in Finland. METHODS: The data of neonates with gastroschisis born between 1993 and 2015 were collected. The primary outcomes were short and long-term mortality and the length of stay (LOS). Statistical analyses consisted of uni- and multivariate models. RESULTS: Total of 154 patients were included (range from 31 to 52 in each hospital). There were no statistically significant differences in mortality or LOS between centers. Significant differences were observed between the hospitals in the duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.046), time to full enteral nutrition (p = 0.043), delay until full defect closure (p = 0.003), central line sepsis (p = 0.025), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.018), number of abdominal operations during initial hospitalization (p = 0.000) and follow-up (p = 0.000), and ventral hernia at follow-up (p = 0.000). In a Cox multivariate analysis, the treating hospital was not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in short or long-term mortality between four university hospitals in Finland. However, some inter-hospital variation in postoperative outcomes was present. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

The association of perinatal and clinical factors with outcomes in infants with gastroschisis-a retrospective multicenter study in Finland.

The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic factors for the outcome of gastroschisis in Finland. A retrospective multicenter study of gastroschisis patients born between 1993 and 2015 in four Finnish university hospitals was undertaken, collecting perinatal, surgical, and clinical data of neonates for uni- and multifactorial modeling analysis. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for mortality and the composite adverse outcome (death and/or short bowel syndrome or hospital stay > 60 days). Of the 154 infants with gastroschisis, the overall survival rate was 90.9%. In Cox regression analysis, independent risk factors for mortality included liver herniation, pulmonary hypoplasia, relaparotomy for perforation or necrosis, abdominal compartment syndrome, and central line sepsis. Furthermore, a logistic regression analysis identified central line sepsis, abdominal compartment syndrome, complex gastroschisis, and a younger gestational age as independent predictors of the composite adverse outcome.Conclusion: The risk of death is increased in newborns with gastroschisis who have liver herniation, pulmonary hypoplasia, abdominal compartment syndrome, relaparotomy for perforation or necrosis, or central line-associated sepsis. Special care should be taken to minimize the risk of central line sepsis in the clinical setting. What is known: • Gastroschisis is a relatively rare congenital anomaly of the abdominal wall and its incidence is increasing. • Complex gastroschisis has been reported to increase risk of mortality and complications. What is new: • Central line sepsis was found to be independently associated with mortality in gastroschisis patients. • Liver herniation was also significantly associated with mortality.

Omphalocele in Finland from 1993 to 2014: Trends, Prevalence, Mortality, and Associated Malformations-A Population-Based Study.

INRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to assess the changes in prevalence, mortality and termination pregnancy of omphalocele, and to identify associated anomalies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A population-based nationwide register study. All cases with omphalocele were identified in the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations and the Care Register for Health Care from 1993 to 2014 including live births, stillbirths, and terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. Associated anomalies were recorded and analyzed, and perinatal and infant mortality and prevalence were calculated. RESULTS: There were 600 cases with omphalocele including 229 live births, 39 stillbirths, and 332 (55%) abortions. Birth prevalence in Finland was 1.96 per 10,000 births with no consistent trend over time. However, total prevalence was much higher (4.71/10,000) because more than half of these families chose option for the termination of pregnancy. Omphalocele is often complicated with other anomalies; most commonly chromosomal abnormalities (9.3%), heart defects (6.3%), central nervous system anomalies (3.0%), gastrointestinal, and urogenital malformations (both 2.0%). Proportion of chromosomal and central nervous system abnormalities were even higher in terminated pregnancies. Overall infant mortality was 22%. Total 1-year survival rates for isolated omphalocele, cases with multiple anomalies and neonates with chromosomal defects were 80, 88, and 17%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Omphalocele is a rare congenital anomaly, often associated with other malformations. Our data suggest that isolated cases may be more common than previously thought. In the absence of chromosomal defects, survival is reasonably good. Regardless, more than half of these pregnancies are often terminated.

An autochthonous case of cystic echinococcosis in Finland, 2015.

We report a case of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis in a child from eastern Finland with no history of travelling abroad. The cyst was surgically removed and the organism molecularly identified as Echinococcus canadensis genotype G10. This parasite is maintained in eastern Finland in a sylvatic life cycle involving wolves and moose; in the present case, the infection was presumably transmitted by hunting dogs.

[Fetal surgery]. / Sikiökirurgia.

In spite of the best postnatal care, a number of congenital anomalies lead to the death or severe disability of the child being born. Improved diagnostics, more reliable prenatal prognosis, increased knowledge of pathophysiology and milder surgical procedures have enabled prenatal treatment in selected cases. While only few randomized studies are available so far, the results are not complete and ethical problems are involved in the procedures. Novel gene or stem cell therapies and tissue cultures may open totally new treatment possibilities in the future.

Laparoscopic versus open orchidopexy in children with intra-abdominal testes.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The management of intra-abdominal testis has been controversial but has changed significantly since the introduction of the laparoscopic technique. The aim of our study was to evaluate the success rate of laparoscopic orchidopexy (LO) compared with that of open orchidopexy (OO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In Kuopio University Hospital, 35 of 357 children with undescended testes treated between January 1992 and December 2004 had intra-abdominal testes. A retrospective review was performed to compare the outcomes of children having LO with those who had undergone OO. RESULTS: Sixteen children with 19 intra-abdominal testes underwent LO and 18 children with 18 intra-abdominal testes underwent OO. Primary LO was performed in 14 children with 17 testes and staged Fowler-Stephens LO in 2 children. One LO was converted to OO. The mean (+/- standard deviation) operating time was 62 (+/- 30) minutes in the LO group and 43 (+/- 12) minutes in the OO-group (mean difference of 19 minutes, 95% confidence interval of the difference of 2 to 34 minutes; P = 0.025). There were no differences in the length of hospital stay between the two groups. Two major intra-abdominal complications occurred: 1 child in the LO-group had spermatic vessels torn, which led to a one-stage Fowler-Stephens orchidopexy, and the other child, one who had undergone a conversion from LO to OO, had a transection of the vas. One child in both groups was lost to follow-up. The overall success rate (acceptable scrotal position of the testis without testicular atrophy) was 88% in the LO group and 82% in the OO group. CONCLUSIONS: Although marginally longer in duration, primary LO appears to be a feasible, safe technique for the management of the low intra-abdominal testes, whereas the staged Fowler-Stephens LO may be more safe than primary LO in cases with high intra-abdominal testes.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic versus open surgery for persistent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to compare the experience with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) since 1995 with the results of conventional open surgery from the preceding 10 years. METHODS: The records of 60 children who underwent standard posterolateral muscle splitting thoracotomy and ligation of PDA in 1986-1995 were reviewed for the study. The data on 50 children who underwent VATS PDA ligation since 1995 were collected prospectively. RESULTS: All patients survived. Ductal bleeding requiring sutures with patches occurred once in the open surgery group. Two patients in the VATS group underwent immediate rethoracoscopy and clipping because of residual ductal flow in the postoperative echocardiography. Complications in the VATS group included 6 (12%) recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries (3 transient) and 2 chylothoraces. One patient in each group underwent open reoperation because of residual ductal flow 1 year after the initial operation. The operative time, duration of recovery room/neonatal intensive care unit care, duration of pleural drainage, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in the VATS group. CONCLUSIONS: VATS PDA ligation gave results equal to traditional open surgery with a shorter operative time, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stay. More complications, especially recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, occurred in the VATS group.

Comparison of oxycodone pharmacokinetics after buccal and sublingual administration in children.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated and compared the pharmacokinetics of two oral administration routes of oxycodone parenteral liquid (10 mg/mL)--single buccal and sublingual administration--in 30 generally healthy awake children, aged 6-91 months. METHODS: Two groups of children undergoing inpatient surgery were enrolled. In a randomised fashion, children received a single dose of oxycodone 0.2 mg/kg buccally (n = 15) or sublingually (n = 15). Regular blood samples were collected for up to 12 hours, and plasma was analysed for oxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxycodone using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Bioavailability was similar after administration at the two instillation sites. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUCinfinity) was 2400-8000 ng x min/mL (median 4200 ng x min/mL) in the buccal group and 2700-7900 ng x min/mL (median 5500 ng x min/mL) in the sublingual group. After buccal administration, maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) was 5.4-39 ng/mL (16 ng/mL) after buccal and 5.5-42 ng/mL (22 ng/mL) after sublingual administration. Twelve of the 15 children in both groups reached the oxycodone analgesic concentration of 12 ng/mL, which was sustained for 43-209 minutes (median 160 minutes) in the children with buccal oxycodone and for 32-262 minutes (median 175 minutes) in the children with sublingual oxycodone. The terminal elimination half-lives were closely similar in the two groups: 104-251 minutes (median 140 minutes) in the buccal group and 110-190 minutes (150 minutes) in the sublingual group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that in young children the absorption of oxycodone is similar after buccal and sublingual instillation.

Interpleural bupivacaine and intravenous oxycodone for pain treatment after thoracotomy in children.

INTRODUCTION: The results of studies exploring the efficacy of interpleural analgesia in children post-thoracotomy have frequently been inconclusive. In this pilot study, we have evaluated the efficacy and safety of interpleural bupivacaine and intravenous (IV) oxycodone in pain treatment after thoracotomy in 10 generally healthy children, aged 10 months to 12 years, with patent ductus arteriosus who underwent thoracotomy. METHODS: After surgery, all 10 children were given ibuprofen 10 mg/kg rectally every six hours. The first dose of interpleural bupivacaine (2 mg/kg) was given with epinephrine at the end of surgery, and thereafter plain bupivacaine (1 mg/kg) was given every two hours if the pain score was 4 or higher on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain). For rescue analgesia, children were provided oxycodone 0.1 mg/kg IV if pain was not relieved sufficiently with ibuprofen and bupivacaine. Vital signs, pain scores, and all adverse effects were monitored continuously for 24 hours. RESULTS: All 10 children needed both interpleural bupivacaine and IV oxycodone. The number of bupivacaine doses ranged between three and 10 (mean = 6.1, SD = 2.3), and the number of oxycodone doses ranged between one and 12 (mean = 6.0, SD = 3.6). No cases of low respiratory rate or low peripheral oxygen saturation or any serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSION: Scheduled nonopioid analgesic (ibuprofen) with interpleural bupivacaine did not provide sufficient analgesia for post-thoracotomy pain in young children. IV oxycodone was found to be an effective and safe opioid supplement to the pain regimen.

Health-related quality of life in adults after repair of congenital diaphragmatic defects--a questionnaire study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Long-term respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vertebral sequelae are common after repair of congenital diaphragmatic defects (CDDs). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of these sequelae on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of adult survivors after CDD repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire, including 36-Item Health Survey Form (SF-36), 36-item Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), 55-item Psychosocial Survey, 9-item survey for Respiratory Symptoms-Related Quality of Life Index, and a symptoms query, was sent to 94 adult survivors of CDD and to 400 healthy control subjects. One SD lower than the age-adjusted national average in the 36-Item Health Survey Form score for physical or mental health was considered as low HRQoL. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients with CDD (72%) and 162 (41%) control subjects returned the questionnaire. The initial presentation was critical in less than 10% of patients with CDD. Forty-five patients with diaphragmatic hernia had primary closure; in 1 patient with diaphragmatic hernia, a patch was used. Twenty-four patients had plication of diaphragmatic eventration. The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (20% vs 2%), recurrent intestinal obstruction (7% vs 0%), and recurrent abdominal pain (12% vs 2%) was significantly higher in patients with CDD than in control subjects, whereas no difference in the incidence of respiratory, musculoskeletal, or other health problems not associated with CDD was found. Scores in GIQLI, Psychosocial Survey, and Respiratory Symptoms-Related Quality of Life Index did not differ between patients with CDD and control subjects. Health-related quality of life was low in 17 (25%) of 69 patients with CDD, which exceeded 1.5 times the expected value. There was no correlation between the type or severity of the primary defect and HRQoL at the time of the study. CONCLUSION: Most adults with repaired CDD have good or satisfactory HRQoL. Congenital diaphragmatic defect-associated symptoms with or without acquired diseases significantly impair HRQoL in one fourth of the patients.

Oxycodone vs placebo in children with undifferentiated abdominal pain: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial of the effect of analgesia on diagnostic accuracy.

BACKGROUND: Analgesics for children with acute abdominal pain are often withheld for fear that they might mask physical examination findings and thus might be unsafe. This viewpoint has been challenged recently. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of buccal oxycodone on pain relief, physical examination findings, diagnostic accuracy, and final clinical outcomes in children with acute abdominal pain. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial between December 2001 and November 2003. SETTING: University teaching hospital in Finland. Patients A total of 104 children aged 4 to 15 years with abdominal pain of less than 7 days' duration were screened, and 63 children with pain scores of 5 or higher on a 10-cm visual analog scale were eligible for the trial. Intervention Children were randomized to receive buccally either 0.1 mg/kg(-1) of oxycodone hydrochloride (n = 32) or the same volume of normal saline (n = 31). The same surgeon described the physical findings and indicated a provisional diagnosis and a provisional disposition before the children received the study medication and at 1 hour and 3.5 hours after initial dosing. Pain scores were recorded at baseline and every 30 minutes for 3.5 hours after the first study drug administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain intensity difference, presence or absence of abdominal guarding, and diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics, initial pain scores, and physical signs and symptoms were similar between the 2 groups. Both study drugs were associated with decreasing pain scores. The summed pain intensity difference over 7 observations was significantly greater in the oxycodone group, 22 +/- 18 cm, than in the placebo group, 9 +/- 12 cm (mean difference 13 cm, with a 95% confidence interval of 2-24 cm; P = .04). The diagnostic accuracy increased from 72% to 88% in the oxycodone group and remained at 84% in the placebo group after study drug administration. Laparotomy was performed in 17 patients in the oxycodone group and in 14 patients in the placebo group. Four patients without appendicitis underwent exploratory laparotomy in each group. One patient in the placebo group was initially diagnosed as having nonspecific abdominal pain, but at 14 hours, she was operated on for appendiceal perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of buccal oxycodone provides a significant pain relief to children with acute abdominal pain, without adversely altering the clinical signs or obscuring the surgical diagnosis.

A diagnostic score for children with suspected appendicitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Appendicectomy is an operation that is often performed without certainty of diagnosis. This study aimed to construct and to validate a prognostic score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. METHODS: Data for 35 symptoms and signs were prospectively recorded for 131 consecutive children with suspected appendicitis. Logistic regression analysis of the variables yielded a diagnostic score: gender (male 2 points, female 0) + intensity of abdominal pain (severe 2, mild or moderate 0) + relocation of pain (yes 4, no 0) + vomiting (yes 2, no 0) + pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant (yes 4, no 0) + fever (yes 3, no 0) + guarding (yes 4, no 0) + bowel sounds (abnormal 4, normal 0) + rebound tenderness (yes 7, no 0). The cut-off level for recommendation of appendicectomy was > or =21, and the cut-off level for non-appendicitis was < or =15. The score was prospectively validated on 109 children. RESULTS: In the validation sample, based on clinical judgment, unnecessary appendicectomy was performed in ten (27%) children, and one (4%) child was misdiagnosed as not having appendicitis. By application of the score, unnecessary appendicectomies would have been reduced to four (13%), and three children (11%) with appendicitis would have been discharged. CONCLUSION: The use of a predictive mathematical model may facilitate the diagnosis of appendicitis to avoid unnecessary operations.

Pharmacokinetics of oxycodone after intravenous, buccal, intramuscular and gastric administration in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of four administration routes of oxycodone parenteral liquid (10 mg/mL), single intravenous and intramuscular injections and buccal and gastric administration, in children. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Forty generally healthy children, aged 6-93 months, undergoing inpatient surgery. METHODS: After induction of anaesthesia, children received a single dose of oxycodone 0.1 mg/kg intravenously (n = 9), intramuscularly (n = 10), buccally (n = 11) or via an orogastric tube into the stomach (n = 10). Regular blood samples were collected up to 12 hours, and plasma was analysed for oxycodone using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (limit of quantification 1 microg/L). RESULTS: The peak drug concentration observed was 57-110 (mean 82) microg/L after intravenous administration, 23-54 (34) microg/L after intramuscular administration, 3.9-14 (9.8) microg/L after buccal administration and 1.7-15 (9.2) microg/L after gastric administration. The time to peak concentration was 2-30 (16) minutes in the intramuscular group, 30-480 (221) minutes in the buccal group and 60-360 (193) minutes in the gastric group. The terminal elimination half-lives were closely similar in the four groups: 124-208 (163) minutes in the intravenous group, 162-227 (150) minutes in the intramuscular group, 73-234 (150) minutes in the buccal group and 80-246 (147) minutes in the gastric group. Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) was 5037-8954 (6612) microg x min/L in the intravenous group, 3084-5524 (4473) microg x min/L in the intramuscular group, 1444-5560 (3658) microg x min/L in the buccal group and 692-3843 (2436) microg x min/L in the gastric group. The estimated bioavailability (AUC/mean intravenous AUC) of intramuscular oxycodone was 0.47-0.84 (0.68), that of buccal oxycodone 0.22-0.84 (0.55) and that of gastric oxycodone 0.10-0.58 (0.37). CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of intravenous oxycodone in children aged 6-93 months are fairly similar to those reported in adults. Intramuscular administration provides relatively constant drug absorption, but after buccal and gastric administration the interindividual variation in the rate and extent of absorption is large.

Fetal membranes act as a barrier for adenoviruses: gene transfer into exocoelomic cavity of rat fetuses does not affect cells in the fetus.

OBJECTIVES: In utero gene therapy has a potential to correct genetic disorders before the first clinical symptoms appear. Our aim was to examine whether the exocoelomic cavity between amniotic and chorionic membranes offers a minimally invasive route for gene transfer to the fetus during early pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We injected lacZ-adenovirus (4 x 10(9) pfu) during open surgery into the exocoelomic cavity of rat fetuses (n=50) and analyzed the fetuses and rat dams for transgene expression with X-gal staining and polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Giant cells around Reichert's membrane, the outermost extraembryonic membrane in rodents, were transduced; but no transduction was observed in the cells of the fetuses or rat dams. CONCLUSION: In rodents, the exocoelomic cavity does not offer a route for gene transfer into the fetus. It was concluded that fetal membranes act as a barrier that prevents adenoviral particles from passing between embryonic cavities.

Pulmonary effects of gastroschisis in a fetal rabbit model.

Respiratory insufficiency is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity among infants with anterior abdominal wall defects (AWD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulmonary effects in a fetal rabbit model where gastroschisis was induced at midgestation. Gastroschisis (GAS) was created in 20 rabbit fetuses on day 22 or 23 of gestation (pseudoglandular phase; term = 31-32 days). The amniotic sacs of 13 fetuses were subjected to hysterotomy and amniotomy only (HYST), while 13 underwent a sham laparotomy which was immediately closed by sutures (SHAM). Eleven nonoperated littermates served as internal controls (CTR). Fetuses were harvested by cesarean section on day 31 of gestation prior to respiration. Pulmonary response was evaluated by left lung to body weight ratio (LWBWR), airway morphometry, and density of type II pneumocytes, as evaluated by the number of surfactant protein B-positive cells. Fetuses from the GAS group had significantly lower body weights than did CTR (P = 0.0129). Of these fetuses, 27% were growth-restricted, i.e., with a body weight under the 10th percentile of the CTR population. There were no differences in left lung weight and LWBWR among the GAS and CTR groups. Moreover, the GAS group had similar alveolar size, alveolar wall thickness, and type II cell density as CTR fetuses. Only mean terminal bronchiolar density (MTBD), which is inversely related to the alveolar space, was slightly increased in the GAS group, but without reaching significance (P = 0.0821). No effect on lung growth and maturation could be demonstrated in this study.

The costs and effects of laparoscopic appendectomy in children.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic procedures are performed commonly in children. In general, the cost containment of laparoscopic surgery in children has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs of laparoscopic appendectomy with those of open appendectomy. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial between November 1, 1997, and April 30, 2000. For analysis, cost of supplies, operation room use, and recovery in the hospital and after discharge was evaluated. Costs common to both groups were not determined. SETTING: Operations performed in a university hospital.Patients Eighty-seven children aged 4 to 15 years who underwent appendectomy for suspected appendicitis. Patients were randomized to laparoscopic or open appendectomy. Intervention Laparoscopic appendectomies performed with the same standard set of reusable equipment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cost surplus of the laparoscopic procedure and recovery after surgery were evaluated, to determine the costs and effects of laparoscopic appendectomy compared with those of open appendectomy in children. RESULTS: Excess operating and complication costs per procedure were 96 euros (EUR) in laparoscopic appendectomy. The increased operative expenses were offset by a shorter hospital stay, resulting in a marginal difference of 53 EUR in itemized total costs between the 2 procedures (total cost, 1023 EUR in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 970 EUR in the open appendectomy group). After laparoscopic appendectomy, children returned to school and sports earlier than those who had had an open appendectomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendectomy was marginally more expensive, but it allowed earlier return to normal daily activities than open appendectomy.

Laparoscopy in children with complicated appendicitis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Laparoscopic appendectomy is an accepted way of dealing with suspected uncomplicated appendicitis in children. The role of laparoscopy in complicated acute appendicitis is more controversial. The purpose of this trial was to compare laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy in children with complicated appendicitis. METHODS: A total of 102 children with suspected acute appendicitis were selected randomly to undergo either a laparoscopic or an open appendectomy. The outcomes of 25 children with complicated appendicitis, 13 in the laparoscopic group and 12 in the open appendectomy group, were analyzed. Children, their parents, and research nurses were blinded to which procedure had been performed and remained blinded until the control visit 7 days after the operation. All 25 children completed a 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences in terms of patients' age, sex, weight, height, and appendiceal histology between the 2 groups. All laparoscopic procedures were completed without conversion. The mean (+/-SD) operating time was 63 (+/-31) minutes in the laparoscopic group and 37 (+/-18) minutes in the open appendectomy group (mean difference 26 minutes, 95% CI 5 to 47 minutes, P =.02). There were 2 major complications in the laparoscopic group in children with appendiceal masses. One child had an entero-cutaneous fistula of the residual appendiceal tip that needed open reoperation. Another child had a pelvic abscess that resolved with antibiotic treatment. Superficial wound infections were encountered in 2 patients in the open appendectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic appendectomy is an alternative to open procedure in children with complicated appendicitis. Good surgical judgement is necessary in patients with an established appendiceal abscess.

Nitrous oxide amniodistention compared with fluid amniodistention reduces operation time while inducing no changes in fetal acid-base status in a sheep model for endoscopic fetal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate in a sheep model for endoscopic fetal surgery the impact of nitrous oxide-gas amniodistention compared with fluid amniodistention on duration of surgery, hemorrhagic events, and fetomaternal acid-base status. STUDY DESIGN: Pregnant ewes (n = 16) at 92 to 104 days of gestation (term, 145 days) underwent amniodistention with Hartmann's solution (group I, n = 8) or nitrous oxide (group II, n = 8) at 38 degrees C. Endoscopic tracheal clipping according to a standardized surgical protocol was performed in all animals. The duration of fetoscopy (from insertion of first cannula until removal of last one), fetal surgery (fetal skin incision to skin closure), and number of bleeding episodes was recorded. Maternal and fetal blood gas values (pH, PO2, and PCO2) were measured at baseline and every 15 minutes during the experiment. Videotapes of the operations were assessed independently and scored by a visual analog scale in terms of smoothness of the operation and control of hemorrhagic events. RESULTS: Mean duration of fetoscopy (+/-SEM) (68 +/- 16 minutes vs 92 +/- 23 minutes) and fetal surgery (19 +/- 6 minutes vs 42 +/- 18 minutes) as well as number of bleeding episodes (1.9 +/- 0.8 minutes vs 5.8 +/- 2.1 minutes) was significantly reduced in animals operated with use of nitrous oxide amniodistention. In both groups, fetal and maternal blood gases remained unchanged during the entire experiment. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were significantly higher for procedures conducted with use of gas distention. CONCLUSION: In a lamb model for fetal surgery, gas amniodistention with use of nitrous oxide results in a quicker operation procedure with less bleeding compared with fluid amniodistention, and without adverse side effects on fetomaternal acid-base status.