[Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in pediatric patients: our experience and proposal of follow-up methodology]. / Gastrostomia endoscopica percutanea (PEG) nei pazienti pediatrici: nostra esperienza e proposta operativa di metodologia osservazionale.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effectiveness and acceptability of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in pediatric patients and to propose a data collection and follow-up methodology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective and prospective study on 33 pediatric patients and 5 adults with PEG, placed using Gauderer "push" technique, between 2000 and 2007. By means of an appropriate questionnaire, the following parameters were evaluated: complications, factors of further risk, nutritional status, management and acceptability of PEG. RESULTS: No problems occurred during placement. Complications were few and easy to resolve. In 3 patients a stomal dehiscence occurred, strongly related to the tube gauge. During replacement, in 4 patients, bumper was not taken away because of difficult removal. 8 patients had pre-PEG Gastroesophageal reflux: In 2 of them, during the PEG placement, fundoplication was realized. Subsequently PEG procedure, only 1 patient needed fundoplication for worsening of GER. All of them continued gastroprotective treatment. Respiratory tract infections decreased in our 13 patients carries of tracheostomy. CONCLUSIONS: To prefer smaller gauge reduces risk of dehiscence. If the bumper's removal is hard, to leave it inside is acceptable and quite safe, on condition of a careful surveillance of gastrointestinal obstruction signs. GER is not a contraindication of PEG. A careful follow-up is important, by recording all the evaluated parameters and by questionnaire to the family, during every hospital admission. This study, even if on few patients, confi rms PEG as the technique of choice for long-term enteral feeding, also in children. Training of family and caregivers is important to care.

Major anastomotic dehiscence after repair of esophageal atresia: conservative management or reoperation?

SUMMARY. The authors report a case of recurrent anastomotic dehiscence following surgical repair of type C esophageal atresia according to the Gross classification. Surgical repair was followed by a recurrence, which was successfully managed with conservative treatment. Esophageal atresia with fistulization of the lower pouch in a male newborn with the VACTER association was repaired with a high-tension single-layer anastomosis. On the fifth postoperative day, major anastomotic dehiscence (> 4 mm) was diagnosed. The breach was re-sutured and the anastomosis reinforced with fibrin glue, but dehiscence recurred again 4 days later. Surgery was deferred and the infant was treated conservatively with continued chest-tube drainage and total parenteral nutrition. After 43 days, complete closure of the anastomosis was documented. Even major anastomotic dehiscence can be successfully managed with conservative treatment (chest-tube drainage, suspension of oral feedings, total parenteral nutrition). If the patient is otherwise stable, we feel that this approach should be attempted even when major leakage is present.

Fibromyxoid sarcoma in a 4-year-old boy: case report and review of the literature.

The authors report on the case of a low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) with giant rosettes in a 4-year-old boy. The tumor arose in the paravertebral region and had infiltrated the vertebral canal between L2 and S1. A review of the literature indicates that this is one of the youngest patients diagnosed with a tumor of this type, and spinal involvement had never been reported with LGFMS.

Malignant retroperitoneal paraganglioma: case report and review of the literature.

Paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm observed in patients of all ages but it has not been characterized in children. The authors describe a retroperitoneal paraganglioma diagnosed by chance in an 11-year-old boy. Many aspects of retroperitoneal paraganglioma are still under investigation. The treatment of choice is radical resection. Surgery may be possible following chemotherapeutic debulking with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dacarbazine. 131I-MIBG radiotherapy has proved increasingly useful in reducing the pain associated with disseminated disease and also in facilitating surgical resection in cases that appear inoperable. Conventional radiotherapy is purely palliative and used to reduce the pain of bone metastases.