Laparoscopic versus open portoenterostomy for treatment of biliary atresia: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to compare laparoscopic portoenterostomy versus open portoenterostomy for the treatment of biliary atresia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the databases EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane, we carried out a thorough literature search up to 2022. Studies comparing laparoscopic and open surgery for the treatment of biliary atresia were included. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies comparing laparoscopic portoenterostomy (LPE) (n = 689) and open portoenterostomy (OPE) (n = 818) were considered appropriate for meta-analysis. Age at surgery time was lower in the LPE group than OPE group (I2 = 84%), (WMD - 4.70, 95% CI - 9.14 to - 0.26; P = 0.04). Significantly decreased blood loss (I2 = 94%), (WMD - 17.85, 95% CI - 23.67 to - 12.02; P < 0.00001) and time to feed were found in the laparoscopic group (I2 = 97%), (WMD - 2.88, 95% CI - 4.71 to - 1.04; P = 0.002). Significantly decreased operative time was found in the open group (I2 = 85%), (WMD 32.52, 95% CI 15.65-49.39; P = 0.0002). Weight, transfusion rate, overall complication rate, cholangitis, time to drain removal, length of stay, jaundice clearance, and two-year transplant-free survival were not significantly different across the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic portoenterostomy provides advantages regarding operative bleeding and the time to begin feeding. No differences in remain characteristics. Based on the data presented to us by this meta-analysis, LPE is not superior to OPE in terms of overall results.

Has the frequency of complicated appendicitis changed in children in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic period suggests that the rate of complications may have increased in patients requiring surgical treatment due to the fact that they could not come to the hospital at the onset of the symptom. This study aims to evaluate the difference in the frequency of complicated appendicitis and postoperative complications in the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients included those who underwent appendectomy in 1 year before the COVID-19 pandemic and in the first year of the pandemic. The patients were categorized into two groups: pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Clinical and histopathology results were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Results: A total of 407 patients were included in the study, 207 of whom were included during the pre-pandemic and 200 of whom during the pandemic period. The mean time to hospital admission after the onset of symptoms was 1.3 ± 0.9 days, pre-pandemic, and 1.4 ± 0.8 days during the pandemic group. In the pre-pandemic group, 0.4% intrabdominal abscess developed and 37.5% complicated appendicitis was detected. In the pandemic group, it was found that there were 1% abscess, 0.5% wound infection, 0.5% brid ileus, and 31.9% complicated appendicitis. The pre-pandemic group length of hospitalization was 2.4 ± 0.8 days, and the pandemic was 2.1 ± 0.9 days There was no difference between pre-pandemic and pandemic groups in terms of age, gender, white blood cell count, duration of symptoms, postoperative complications and frequency of complicated appendicitis, and duration of hospitalization. Conclusions: In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that the rate of complicated appendicitis and postoperative complications were not different from pre-pandemic.

The effect of postoperative ventilation strategies on postoperative complications and outcomes in patients with esophageal atresia: Results from the Turkish Esophageal Atresia Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative ventilatory strategies in patients with esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) may have an impact on early postoperative complications. Our national Esophageal Atresia Registry was evaluated to define a possible relationship between the type and duration of respiratory support on postoperative complications and outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Among the data registered by 31 centers between 2015 and 2021, patients with esophago-esophageal anastomosis (EEA)/tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) were divided into two groups; invasive ventilatory support (IV) and noninvasive ventilatory support and/or oxygen support (NIV-OS). The demographic findings, gestational age, type of atresia, associated anomalies, and genetic malformations were evaluated. We compared the type of repair, gap length, chest tube insertion, follow-up times, tensioned anastomosis, postoperative complications, esophageal dilatations, respiratory problems requiring treatment after the operation, and mortality rates. RESULTS: Among 650 registered patients, 502 patients with EEA/TEF repair included the study. Four hundred and seventy of patients require IV and 32 of them had NIV-OS treatment. The IV group had lower mean birth weights and higher incidence of respiratory problems when compared to NIV-OS group. Also, NIV-OS group had significantly higher incidence of associated anomalies than IV groups. The rates of postoperative complications and mortality were not different between the IV and NIV-OS groups. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that patients who required invasive ventilation had a higher incidence of low birth weight and respiratory morbidity. We found no relation between mode of postoperative ventilation and surgical complications. Randomized controlled trials and clinical guidelines are needed to define the best type of ventilation strategy in children with EA/TEF.

Diagnostic Dilemma in Hydatid Cysts: Tumor-Mimicking Hydatid Cysts.

OBJECTIVES: Hydatid cysts are sometimes confused with different pathologies, and problems arise in their diagnosis and treatment. In this study, cases that are followed up with a diagnosis of lung malignancy and that are detected to have hydatid cysts were retrospectively examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven patients with hydatid cysts whose clinical and radiological features were consistent with lung malignancy were retrospectively examined between 2010 and 2014 regarding sex, age, symptoms, diagnostic methods, surgical procedures performed, and postoperative complications. In the diagnosis of the patients, radiological diagnostic methods such as chest radiography, thoracic computed tomography (TCT), and positron emission tomography+computed tomography (PET-CT) as well as invasive diagnostic methods such as bronchoscopy, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, thoracentesis, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were used. RESULTS: The average diameter of the lesions was determined as 4.14±1.57 cm in TCT. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) was measured as 8.77±3.41 (5.4-15.1) in the PET-CT analysis. Bronchoscopy, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, and thoracentesis yielded no results. Definitive diagnosis was established by performing thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary hydatid cysts can appear as malignant diseases such as lung cancer as well as infectious pathologies such as tuberculosis or benign pathologies. Radiologically, it should be kept in mind that pulmonary hydatid cysts can mimic many pulmonary pathologies, particularly malignancies. Necessary examinations towards its differential diagnosis must be performed in the preoperative period.

Beneficial influence of topical extra virgin olive oil application on an experimental model of penile fracture in rats.

Penile fracture (PF) is known as a traumatic rupture of the tunica albuginea of corpus cavernosum. In this study, we aimed to investigate the healing influence of topical extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on PF through evaluating levels of some oxidative stress biomarkers for the first time. Histopathological evaluation was also realized. A total of 18 male Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of six rats each as control group, in PF (alone) group, and PF + EVOO group. Experimental PF was formed via incising from the proximal dorsal side of the penis in the rats of all groups except control. While in PF (alone) group, fracture was formed and the incision was primarily closed, in PF + EVOO group in addition to foregoing processes, EVOO was also administrated topically twice a day for 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, all rats were killed and penectomy was carried out. While malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, lipid hyroperoxide, and total oxidant status significantly (p < 0.05) increased, reduced glutathione and total free sulfhydryl groups markedly (p < 0.05) decreased in PF (alone) group when compared with PF + EVOO group. Levels of these parameters were reversed to nearly normal values by topical EVOO application. Protection by EVOO is further substantiated via the improved histological findings in PF + EVOO group as against degenerative changes in the rats of PF (alone) group. Our data revealed that EVOO has protective effect in penile cavernosal tissue through probably its antioxidant, free radical defusing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects.

Crossed testicular ectopia: Report of six cases.

Crossed testicular ectopia or transverse testicular ectopia is an extremely rare anomaly characterised by migration of one testis towards the opposite inguinal canal, usually associated with unilateral inguinal hernia. This report describes six cases of crossed ectopic testes, one of the largest series, and with unusual clinical histories.

Acute appendicitis in two children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

In Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), involvement of the ileum and ascending colon with vasculitis can mimic appendicitis and cause unnecessary appendicectomy. A 13-year-old boy presented with signs of HSP and abdominal pain. He was treated with prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) for 10 days, but there was no improvement. At laparotomy he had acute suppurative appendicitis. A 12-year-old girl presented with HSP associated with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea and at laparotomy was also found to have suppurative appendicitis. Both patients had vasculitic areas in the ileum. In HSP, although suppurative appendicitis is rare, it should always be considered and appropriate investigations, including ultrasonography, undertaken.

Kutlay technique for hypospadias repair.

OBJECTIVE: Although many techniques have been described, new techniques with a wide range of therapeutic options are needed. The Kutlay technique is a novel technique that is based on the reconstruction of the neourethra with two horizontal meatal-based skin flaps. In the present study, the data of 31 patients who underwent surgery with the Kutlay technique are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with hypospadias with an average age of 5.6 years who did not have previous hypospadias repair were operated on with the Kutlay technique. Ten patients had chordee. Among those patients, three patients were circumcised. RESULTS: The patients were followed up for 4-13 months (average, 9.3 months). During the follow-up period, a fistula was observed in only one patient. None of the patients developed neourethral dehiscence, meatal stenosis, urethral stricture, wound infection, penile torsion, hematoma, or persistent or recurrent chordee. On uroflowmetry studies, the maximum flow rate of the patients was approximately 10.5 ml/s (range, 6-17 ml/s). The patients were observed to void with a single straight urinary stream in a forward direction. CONCLUSION: The Kutlay technique is a technique that is easily applied in patients with chordee and that provides a low risk of fistulas and acceptable functional and esthetic results. The factors that reduce the risk of fistula are the lack of the superposition of the suture lines of the skin and the urethra, the reconstruction of the urethra with well-vascularized flaps, and the replacement of the neourethra in its appropriate location through the tunnel created in the glans.

Undescended testis accompanying congenital Spigelian hernia: is it a reason, a result, or a new syndrome?

INTRODUCTION: Frequent reporting of cases of the coexistence of a Spigelian hernia (SH) with an undescended testis (UT) suggests that this phenomenon may be a syndrome. In this article, four pediatric cases in which an UT accompanies a congenital SH have been discussed in light of the literature. METHODS: In this study, four cases aged between 6 months and 5 years who had a SH accompanied by an UT were evaluated and underwent surgery. RESULT: The patient's ages were 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years old. The testis was observed in the opened hernia sac. The patients did not have a gubernaculum or an inguinal canal on the side of the hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the theories suggesting that SH leads to an UT nor those suggesting that an UT leads to a SH are satisfactory. We believe that this coexistence may be the congenital Spigelian-cryptorchidism syndrome seen in boys. As in the four cases presented here, elements of this syndrome are defects in the Spigelian fascia and the hernia sac enveloping the testis and an absence of the gubernaculum and the inguinal canal.

Our eight-year surgical experience in patients with pulmonary cyst hydatid.

BACKGROUND: In this clinical retrospective study, we aimed to investigate our experinces and whether capitonnage is an effective therapy method for a pulmonary hydatid cyst or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 412 patients with hydatid cyst operated in our hospitals were evaluated retrospectively between January 2003 and January 2011. In order to create a study group to compare the hydatid cyst operations with and without capitonnage in our department, 60 uncomplicated patients with the diagnosis of hydatid cyst who had undergone operations in the previous two years, were divided into two groups; while no capitonnage was performed and bronchial leaks were closed in one group, standard cystotomy plus the capitonnage operation was performed in the second group. All patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: In many patients, one or more symptoms were present on admission (339 cases, 82%). Perforated cysts/ nonperfore cysts rate was statistically significant (p = 0.001). There was no statistical difference between patients with or without capitonnage in terms of morbidity rates between patients with or without capitonnage (p = 0.041). However, morbidity rates were higher in the group without capitonnage. There were found statistically significant between capitonnage and non capitonnage groups in terms of length of hospital stay (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the surgical treatment, resection should be avoided as much as possible. An average time of 3-5 minutes should be allocated and capitonnage should be performed. Capitonnage should always be performed in the surgical treatment of hydatid cyst. We believe that povidone iodine per se provides sufficient disinfection.

Preoperative chemotherapy with doxorubicin in Wilms tumor.

BACKGROUND: Vincristine and actinomycin-D have long been used as the preoperative chemotherapy before nephrectomy in patients with Wilms tumor (WT). Actinomycin-D is not readily found in Turkey, and delay in treatment, occurring basically from commercial and marketing problems, prompted us to administer alternatives such as doxorubicin, another antitumor antibiotic available in Turkey, to our newly diagnosed patients with WT. PROCEDURE: Between November 2009 and January 2011, 12 consecutive patients with WT were included in the study. Preoperative chemotherapy consisted of vincristine (1.4 mg/m, days 1, 8, 15, and 22) and doxorubicin (20 mg/m, 1 to 3 d). RESULTS: All renal tumors showed shrinkage drastically after 4 weeks of preoperative chemotherapy. Surgery of all the patients was uneventful and without any complications. At the end of the median follow-up time of 8 months (range, 6 to 17 mo), all patients are in remission without a sign of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemotherapy consisting of vincristine and doxorubicin seems to be successful as a preoperative treatment in achieving shrinkage and reducing the risk of surgical complications. On the basis of the promising results in our study, it is worth administering a similar regimen with further follow-up in larger populations.

A long-term study assessing the factors influencing survival and morbidity in the surgical management of bronchiectasis.

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of bronchiectasis decreased significantly in developed countries, in less developed and in developing countries, it still represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this retrospective study is to present our surgical experiences, the morbidity and mortality rates and outcome of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 129 patients who underwent surgical resection for bronchiectasis between April 2002 and April 2010, at Van Training and Research Hospital, Thoracic Surgery Department. Variables of age, sex, symptoms, etiology, and surgical procedures, mortality, morbidity and the result of surgical therapy were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mean age was 21.8 year (the eldest was 67 year, the youngest was 4 years-old). Male/female ratio was 1.86 and 75% of all patients were young population under the age of 40. Bilateral involvement was 14.7%, left/right side ratio according to localization was 2.1/1. The most common reason for bronchiectasis was recurrent infection. Surgical indications were as follows: recurrent infection (54%), hemoptysis (35%), empyema (6%), and lung abscess (5%). There was no operative mortality. Complications occurred in 29 patients and the morbidity rate was 22.4%. Complete resection was achieved in 110 (85.2%) patients. Follow-up data were obtained for 123 (95%) of the patients. One patient died during follow-up. The mean follow-up of this patient was 9 months. Mean postoperative hospitalization time was 9.15 ± 6.25 days. Significantly better results were obtained in patients who had undergone a complete resection. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of bronchiectasis can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality at any age. The involved bronchiectatic sites should be resected completely for the optimum control of symptoms.

Therapeutic strategies for complications secondary to hydatid cyst rupture.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical approach and therapeutic methods are important in cases with complicated hydatid cysts of the lung. This study was designed to retrospectively investigate cases with hydatid cysts, thereby discussing diagnostic methods, treatment modalities, and rates of morbidity and mortality in line with the literature. METHODS: 176 cases with perforated hydatid cysts, who presented to our clinic and underwent surgery between 2003 and 2011, were included in the study. There were 71 (40.34%) females and 105 males (59.66%) with a mean age of 27.80±14.07. The most common symptom was dyspnea (44.31%) and the most common radiological finding was the water lily sign (21.02%). 88.06% of the cases were surgically treated by Cystotomy+closure of bronchial opening+ capitonnage, 3.97% by wedge resection, 4.54% by segmentectomy and 3.40% by lobectomy. RESULTS: The cysts exhibited multiple localization in 24 cases (13.63%), bilateral localization in 14 cases (7.95%), with the most common localization (43.75%) being the right lower lobe. While the hydatid cyst rupture occurred due to delivery in three (1.70%), trauma in 11 (6.25%), and iatrogenic causes in seven (3.97%) cases, it occurred spontaneously in the rest of the cases (88.08%). Fourteen of the cases with spontaneously occurring rupture (7.95%) were detected to have received anthelmintic treatment for hydatid cyst during the preoperative period (albendazole). The rate of morbidity was 27.27% and the rate of mortality was 1.13% in our study. Two cases recurred during a one-year follow-up (1.13%). CONCLUSION: Hydatid cyst rupture should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cases with pleural effusion, empyema, pneumothorax and pneumonia occurring in endemic regions. Symptoms occurring during and after perforation lead to errors in differential diagnosis. Performing the surgery without delay favorably affects postoperative morbidity and mortality. While parenchyma-preserving surgery is preferential, there is a need for resection in perforated hydatid cysts.

Comparison of dartos flap and dartos flap plus spongioplasty to prevent the formation of fistulae in the Snodgrass technique.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of paraurethral spongial tissue plus dartos flap using an additional urethral cover to prevent fistula formation in patients who underwent surgery with the Snodgrass technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 161 patients aged 10 months to 15 years who underwent midpenile and distal hypospadias repair using the Snodgrass technique. The patients were assigned to one of two groups. In Group I (75 patients), the neourethra was covered with the dartos flap, and in Group II (86 patients), the neourethra was covered with the dartos flap plus spongioplasty. RESULTS: Urethral fistulae were encountered in six cases (8%) in Group I, and no fistulae were encountered in Group II. CONCLUSION: The use of corpus spongiosum as an intermediate layer in urethral coverage, combined with the dartos flap, reduces the likelihood of fistula formation. This procedure can be applied easily and effectively to prevent the formation of fistulae.

Closure of large myelomeningocele defects using dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap.

Small meningomylocele defects can be closed primarily. Other repair techniques are required for closure of meningomyelocele defects of >5 cm. In this anomaly, in which random or musculocutaneous flaps are usually used, the technique for skin defect closure should have the following criteria: a safely harvested flap with good blood supply; minimal morbidity in the donor site; closure with adequate thickness to protect the underlying neural structure; and a repair to prevent leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. The dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap is a new perforator flap with a large skin island that can be used safely in the dorsal region. In this article, repair of large skin defects due to myelomeningocele has been attempted using a dorsal intercostal artery perforator flap, and the results are discussed.

The clinical outcome of 260 pediatric ITP patients in one center.

In the current study, clinical and laboratory findings and treatment modalities of children with acute and chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were evaluated retrospectively. Our purpose was to determine clinical outcome of children with ITP and their responses to different treatment regimes. Total of 260 children with ITP were enrolled in the study. The mean age of patients was 76.8 ± 48.1 months. The therapy responses of high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP; n = 134), standard dose methylprednisolone (n = 32), and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; n = 15) treatments were similar. Two (0.8%) of the 260 ITP patients had intracranial bleeding. None of the patients died due to hemorrhage. Of all the patients with ITP, 191 (73.5%) completely resolved within 6 months after initiation of the disease and therefore they were diagnosed as acute ITP; 69 patients (26.5%) had progressed into chronic ITP. The therapy responses of HDMP, standard dose methylprednisolone, and IVIG treatments are similar.

Comparison of the methods of fibrinolysis by tube thoracostomy and thoracoscopic decortication in children with stage II and III empyema: a prospective randomized study.

Today, in spite of the developments in imaging methods and antibiotherapy, childhood pleural empyema is a prominent cause of morbidity and mortality. In recent years, it has been shown that there has been an increase in the frequency of pleural empyema in children, and antibiotic resistance in microorganisms causing pleural empyema has made treatment difficult. Despite the many studies investigating thoracoscopic debridement and fibrinolytic treatment separately in the management of this disease, there is are not enough studies comparing these two treatments. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the efficacy of two different treatment methods in stage II and III empyema cases and to present a perspective for treatment options.WE EXCLUDED FROM THE STUDY CASES WITH: i) thoracoscopic intervention and fibrinolytic agent were contraindicated; ii) immunosuppression or additional infection focus; iii) concomitant diseases, those with bronchopleural fistula diagnosed radiologically, and Stage I cases. This gave a total of 54 cases: 23 (42.6%) in stage II, and 31 (57.4%) cases in stage III. These patients were randomized into two groups of 27 cases each for debridement or fibrinolytic agent application by video-assisted thoracoscopic decortication (VATS). The continuity of symptoms after the operation, duration of thoracic tube in situ, and the length of hospital stay in the VATS group were of significantly shorter duration than in the streptokinase applications (P=0.0001). In 19 of 27 cases (70.37%) in which fibrinolytic treatment was applied and in 21 cases of 27 (77.77%) in which VATS was applied, the lung was fully expanded and the procedure was considered successful. There was no significant difference with respect to success rates between the two groups (P=0.533). The complication rate in our cases was 12.96% and no mortality was observed. Similar success rates in thoracoscopic drainage and enzymatic debridement, and the low cost of enzymatic drainage both served to highlight intrapleural streptokinase treatment as a reliable method in reducing the need for surgery in complicated empyema.

Conservative surgical treatment of pulmonary hydatid disease in children: an analysis of 35 cases.

PURPOSE: Hydatid cyst disease is a major health problem for people who live in endemic countries such as Turkey. The definitive cure for pulmonary hydatidosis is still surgical. This study evaluates our experience of treating pulmonary hydatidosis, focusing on the conservative surgical management of children with this disease. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 35 children ranging in age from 3 to 13 years old, treated for pulmonary hydatidosis during a recent 4-year period. RESULTS: The 35 patients had a collective total of 48 cysts. Twenty-seven patients had a single cyst, 7 had unilateral multiple cysts, and 1 had bilateral multiple cysts. Six patients had multiple coexisting liver cysts. The 33 pulmonary cysts were intact and uncomplicated. Of the total 48 cysts, 34 were larger than 5 cm in diameter. Fever, cough, and dyspnea were the most common symptoms and chest radiography gave a correct diagnosis in 96.4% of the patients. Conservative surgical treatment was carried out in 33 of the 35 children (94%). There were few postoperative complications, and no mortality or recurrence in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Parenchyma-saving surgical procedures such as cystotomy and capitonnage are the preferred methods of treatment for pulmonary hydatid disease in childhood. These simple procedures are safe, reliable, and successful. Combined medical treatment can be given but not as an alternative to surgery. Simultaneous surgical procedures for coexisting liver cysts may be preferred because of the lower morbidity rates and hospitalization. Ultrasound or computed tomography scanning should be done to detect coexisting liver cysts in every patient with pulmonary hydatid disease.