Lung biopsy for chronic pulmonary disease in children.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Lung biopsy is frequently used in the management of children with chronic pulmonary disease to obtain a histological diagnosis. We further evaluate the role of lung biopsy by reviewing our experience of this procedure. METHODS: A retrospective case-note review was carried out of all patients in our regional service under 16 years who underwent a lung biopsy from 1998 to 2011. RESULTS: Thirty-three children (12 boys) (median 5 years 5 months, range 2 months to 16 years) underwent lung biopsy in the period studied. Following the procedure, 17 patients required ventilation on the intensive care unit for a median of two days (range 1-56 days). Complication rate was 30% (10/33); seven simple pneumothoraces, one tension pneumothorax, and one pneumonia (one child experienced more than one complication). The operative mortality was 12% (4/33). Three children (9%) died within 28 days of surgery. Twenty-six (79%) biopsies provided a definitive histological diagnosis. In 16 (48%) children, the working diagnosis and treatment were changed following lung biopsy. CONCLUSION: Lung biopsy has an important role in the management of children with chronic pulmonary disease. However, it carries significant risks which must be considered when assessing the need for histological diagnosis.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt survival in children who require additional abdominal surgery--are our estimations of the additional risk accurate?

OBJECTIVE: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS)-dependent children require abdominal surgery for many reasons. Our objective was to quantify the risk of abdominal surgery on VPS survival and to determine whether timing of abdominal intervention impacts on shunt outcome. METHODS: Retrospective data collection was performed on all children undergoing primary VPS insertion or revision over 2 years (1/1/08-31/12/10). All shunt interventions were categorised into two groups: those undergoing additional "Abdominal surgery" (AS) versus those undergoing "Shunt-only" (SO). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were devised and analysed using log-rank. In the AS group, we compared shunt survival for shunts inserted at various "Time from abdominal surgery" (TAS). We conducted a control analysis to compare shunt survival in AS, SO and a control "clean general surgery" (SG) group. Chi-squared test was used to determine the cause of shunt failure in these three groups. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty two shunts from 109 patients were included. Twenty patients contributed 118 shunts to the AS group. Median shunt survival was 3.68 months (95% CI = 1.01-6.47) and 22.6 months (95% CI = 8.76-36.4) in the AS and SO groups, respectively (log-rank = 16.6, p < 0.001). For each additional abdominal intervention, the risk of shunt failure increased by 55.4% (p < 0.001). Median shunt survival was 1.48 months (95% CI = 0.00-3.09, p < 0.001), if shunt insertion occurred within 1 year of abdominal surgery. Beyond 1 year, median shunt survival increased five-fold to 7.65 months (95% CI = 0.00-20.1, log-rank = 23.2, p < 0.001). There was a 29% reduction in risk of shunt failure per year interval between a shunt and an abdominal surgery (95% CI = 0.11-0.44, p < 0.005). Our control analysis confirmed that shunts in the AS group had worst survival and infection (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Additional abdominal surgery shortens VPS lifetime and increases risk of infection. Delaying abdominal surgery from a shunt intervention or vice versa by at least 1 year may prolong shunt survival.

Atropine sulphate: rescue therapy for pyloric stenosis.

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a common condition which presents with non-bilious vomiting and failure to thrive secondary to gastric outlet obstruction. In the UK, management is by fluid resuscitation followed by pyloromyotomy. Incomplete myotomy complicates 0.3% of cases necessitating further surgery and exposing the patient to further risk. Medical management of IHPS with antimuscarinics to promote pyloric relaxation is a well-described treatment modality that is used as first-line therapy in some countries. The use of this technique is limited by the need for extended hospital admission with parenteral nutrition administration. We describe a case of IHPS complicated by incomplete pyloromyotomy and subsequently managed successfully by atropine sulphate therapy.

Long-term outcomes of surgery for malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma: 20-year experience of a regional UK centre.

BACKGROUND: The timing of surgery for malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma is controversial. The long-term outcomes and complications of surgery for this rare tumour are presented. METHODS: All cases of malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma in the 20-year period 1987-2006 were identified and the case notes retrieved. The age at diagnosis, investigations, presentation, type of surgery, early complications, recurrence rates, long-term complications and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Twelve patients (three males, nine females) were identified. Mean age at presentation was 20.8 months (range: 12-39 months). All had the Carboplatin-Etoposide-Bleomycin chemotherapeutic protocol. The average time of follow-up was 10.6 years (range: 1-17 years). Ten patients had excision of their tumours following chemotherapy, whilst two patients had excision prior to chemotherapy. Two patients had recurrence of their tumours. There was one death (8%), which was due to disseminated metastasis. The other 11 children were all well at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgery for malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma is safe and has a low complication rate. The long-term outcomes are favourable with minimal side effects.