Vacuum-assisted staged omphalocele reduction: A preliminary report.

Introduction: Omphalocele represents a rare congenital abdominal wall defect. In giant omphalocele, due to the viscero-abdominal disproportion, gradual reintegration of eviscerated organs is often associated with medical challenges. We report our preliminary experience combining staged gravitational reduction with vacuum (VAC) therapy as a novel approach for treatment of giant omphalocele. Patients and methods: Retrospective chart review of six patients (five females) born between September 2018 and May 2022 who underwent staged reduction of giant omphalocele in conjunction with VAC therapy was conducted. Treatment was performed at two German third-level Pediatric Surgery Departments. Biometric and periprocedural data were assessed. Main outcome measure was the feasibility of VAC therapy for giant omphalocele. Data are reported as median and interquartile range (Q1-Q3). Results: Gestational age was 37 (37-38) weeks, and birth weight was 2700 (2500-3000) g. VAC dressing was changed every 3 (3-4) days until abdominal fascia closure at the age of 9 (3-13) days. Time to first/full oral feeds was 3 (1-5)/20 (12-24) days with a hospital stay of 22 (17-30) days. Follow-up was 8 (5-22) months and complications were of minor extent (none: n = 2; Clavien-Dindo I: n = 3; Clavien-Dindo II: n = 1), comprising a delayed neo-umbilical cord rest separation (n = 2) and/or concomitant neo-umbilical site infection (n = 2) with no repeat surgery. Conclusion: In neonates with giant omphalocele, VAC constitutes a promising and technically feasible enhancement of the staged gravitational reduction method. This study shows evidence that VAC may accelerate restoration of the abdominal wall integrity in giant omphalocele, thus minimizing associated comorbidities inherent to a prolonged hospitalization.

Meckel's Diverticulum in Children: A Monocentric Experience and Mini-Review of Literature.

Vitelline duct anomalies (VDA, including Meckel's diverticulum (MD)) result from failed embryologic obliteration. This study aimed for characteristics in symptomatic versus asymptomatic VDA, analyzing clinico-laboratory data from 73 children, aged 1 day to 17 years, treated at a tertiary Pediatric Surgery Institution from 2002-2017. A male preponderance was obtained (ratio 3.6:1). MD accounted for 85% of VDA. Incidence of symptomatic VDA decreased with older age. Leading symptoms were intestinal obstruction and hemorrhage. Mucosal heterotopia (present in 39% of symptomatic MD) was associated with anemia and lowered CRP-levels. On ROC-analysis, hemoglobin < 8.6 g/dL, CRP < 0.6 mg/dL and MD distance to ileocecal valve >40 cm were predictors of ectopic tissue in symptomatic MD. Our data confirmed known characteristics as male preponderance, declined incidence of symptomatic cases with age and predominance of gastric ectopia in symptomatic MD. Moreover, anemia and prolonged distance of MD to ileocecal valve were predictors of ectopic mucosa in symptomatic MD.

Pediatric Urachal Anomalies: Monocentric Experience and Mini-Review of Literature.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the current mainstay for the treatment of urachal anomalies (UA). Recent literature data support the theory of a spontaneous resolution within the first year of life. The aim of this study, comprising solely surgically treated children, was to identify age specific patterns regarding symptoms and outcomes that may support the non-surgical treatment of UA. METHODS: Retrospective review on the clinico-laboratory characteristics of 52 children aged < 17 years undergoing resection of symptomatic UA at our pediatric surgical unit during 2006-2017. Data was dichotomized into age > 1 (n = 17) versus < 1 year (n = 35), and complicated (pre-/post-surgical abscess formation or peritonitis, n = 10) versus non-complicated course (n = 42). RESULTS: Children aged < 1 year comprised majority (67%) of cohort and had lower complication rates (p = 0.062). Complicated course at surgery exclusively occurred in patients aged > 1 year (p = 0.003). Additionally, complicated group was older (p = 0.018), displayed leukocytosis (p < 0.001) and higher frequencies regarding presence of abdominal pain (p = 0.008) and abdominal mass (p = 0.034) on admission. Regression analysis identified present abdominal pain (OR (95% CI), 11.121 (1.152-107.337); p = 0.037) and leukocytosis (1.435 (1.070-1.925); p = 0.016) being associated with complicated course. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that symptomatic disease course follows an age-dependent complication pattern with lower complication rates at age < 1 year. Larger, studies have to clarify, if waiting for spontaneous urachal obliteration during the first year of life comprises a reasonable alternative to surgery.

Piezoelectric versus conventional techniques for orthognathic surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the piezo surgery comparing with conventional osteotomy in orthognathic surgery. METHODS: We conducted this systemic review in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. We searched for relevant studies in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase databases, Lilacs, Scopus and Science Direct to identify prospective and retrospective studies, compare patient outcomes (intraoperative blood loss, operative time, neurosensory disturbance) after performing orthognathic surgery by conventional saw or piezo-electric device. According to pool individual results we used the mean difference (MD) with the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: Among three studies that used conventional saw and three studies used piezo-electric device and nine studies used both techniques, the operative time required to perform orthognathic standard procedures was longer using piezo-electric device compared to conventional saw. The results showed that during using the conventional saw to perform orthognathic surgery the amount of the blood loss was higher than the amount while using piezo-electric device (MD -140.4 mL; P = 0.29). based on the studies that evaluated neurosensory disturbance, after 3 months and 6 months respectively, neurosensory disturbance was seen in 23.8% and 23.4% of patient who underwent conventional osteotomy versus 4.3% and 2.4% of the patients who underwent surgery in which piezo surgery was used. Our meta-analysis showed difference in neurosensory disturbance between piezo-surgery and conventional surgery at 3 months (MD -19.5; P = 0.11) and 6 months (MD -21; P = 0.5) postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Piezo-electric device enabled lower blood loss and higher nerve integrity rates in outcomes according to the complications that associated with orthognathic surgery.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio Might Predict Pediatric Ovarian Torsion: A Single-Institution Experience and Review of the Literature.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical and laboratory characteristics of ovarian torsion (OT; n = 28) compared with a non-OT control (OC; n = 64) group. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center review performed between January 2006 and December 2016. SETTING: Academic department of pediatric surgery. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Postoperative diagnosis of pediatric ovarian pathology (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code N83) in 88 patients who underwent 92 surgeries for suspected OT, aged from 3 days to 17.8 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predictive value for OT according to biometric, procedural, and laboratory parameters at the time of admission. RESULTS: Compared with OC, OT in patients aged older than 1 year was associated with elevated values regarding white blood cell count, neutrophils, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR; all P < .001), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR; P = .003), platelets (P = .011), and a trend toward raised C-reactive protein (P = .054), whereas lymphocytes and lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (both P < .001) were decreased. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis for differentiating OC from OT, besides lymphocytes and NLR (both area under the curve > 0.9), PLR elicited strongest discriminatory accuracy (area under the curve = 0.946 ± 0.037; P < .001; sensitivity 82%; specificity 90%). At binary logistic regression analysis PLR (P = .018) was independently predictive of OT. OT was suspected on ultrasound imaging in 15/18 (83%), showed a right-sided dominance in 13/18 (72%), and was associated with younger age (P = .003). No differences regarding laboratory or procedural parameters in patients aged younger than 1 year were discerned. CONCLUSION: Blood count indices such as PLR, NLR, and lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio might be helpful in identification of inflammatory processes as induced by ischemia in OT. Together with ultrasound and clinical features, these parameters constitute potential predictors of OT in girls aged older than 1 year.