Robotic Surgery in Pediatric Urology: A Critical Appraisal of the GECI and SIVI Consensus of European Experts.

Background: This study aimed to create a consensus statement on the indications, applications, and limitations of robotics in pediatric urology. Methods: After a panel and interactive discussion focused on pediatric robotics, a televoting with 10 questions was administered to 100 pediatric surgeons/urologists attending the joint meeting of the French Group of Pediatric Laparoscopy (GECI)/Italian Society of Videosurgery in Infancy (SIVI) in 2021. The results of televoting were analyzed electronically using Mentometer software. Results: Ninety-four percent of participants stated that the cutoff weight for robotics should be >10-15 kg. A minimum of 20-30 procedures should be performed to become confident in robotics (74%). Pediatric urology is the main field of application (73%) and pyeloplasty is the best indication for robotics (63%). Technical problems may happen intraoperatively in 1/10-15 cases (64%). The mean duration of robotic procedures ranges from 150 to 200 minutes (72%). The main drawbacks of robotics are high costs and limited development of miniaturized instruments (74%). Ninety-five percent believed that the costs of robotics may significantly drop with the availability of more robotic brands. The main advantages of robotics over laparoscopy include improved dexterity, easier suturing, and better ergonomics (100%), whereas the main disadvantage of sharing the robot with other specialties is the wearing out of instruments (100%). Conclusions: This is the first consensus statement, endorsed by the GECI and SIVI societies, on the use of robotics in pediatric urology. The need to introduce more robotic brands on the market to lower the costs and to develop miniaturized instruments to be adopted in infants less than 10 kg emerged. Pediatric urology is the main field of application of pediatric robotics, and robotic pyeloplasty is the most common procedure performed. Proctorship is needed for the first 20-30 procedures and technical problems may occur intraoperatively in 1/10-15 cases. The main advantages of robotics over laparoscopy are improved dexterity, easier suturing, and better surgeon ergonomics.

The role of a pediatric tertiary care center in avoiding collateral damage for children with acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 outbreak.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown on management and outcomes of children with acute appendicitis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including children treated for acute appendicitis (January 20th-May 11th, 2020). The data regarding the severity of appendicitis and outcome were collected and compared for two time periods, before and after the nationwide lockdown (March 17th, 2020). RESULTS: The number of cases of acute appendicitis increased by 77% during the lockdown (n = 39 vs. n = 69, p = 0.03). During the lockdown, children treated for appendicitis were older (11.1 vs. 8.9 years, p = 0.003), and were more likely to live more than 5 km away from our institution (77% vs. 52%, p = 0.017). Less children had previously consulted a general practitioner (15% vs. 33%, p = 0.028), whereas more children were transferred from other hospitals (52% vs. 31%, p = 0.043). There was no difference in terms of length of hospital stay, rate of postoperative intra-abdominal abscess, ER visits, and readmissions between both periods. Three children (4%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 and appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increase in the number of children with appendicitis managed at our hospital during the COVID-19-related lockdown, management, and outcome remained similar. Although our pediatric center was strongly affected by this pandemic, maintaining our prior practice strategies for acute appendicitis avoided the occurrence of collateral damage for those children.

Failure of First-Line Antibiotics in Nonoperative Management of Appendiceal Mass, toward a Second-Line Instead of Surgery?

Background Conservative approach for complicated appendicitis has been gradually adopted in children to decrease postoperative morbidity. The first aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a second-line antibiotics enlarged on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus in case of poor clinical outcome after initial conservative approach for appendiceal mass and abscess. The second aim of this study was to identify predictive factors of failure of first-line antibiotics. Methods We performed a prospective review of all the cases of appendiceal mass or abscess managed at our institution between November 2007 and September 2011 after implementation of a conservative protocol including a second-line antibiotics in case of poor initial clinical outcome. Results A total of 64 consecutive patients were included. We observed a success in 46 patients after the first-line antibiotics and in 14 of the remaining patients after the second-line. The only predictive factor of failure of the first-line antibiotics was a shorter duration of symptoms before admission (p = 0.02). Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in all the cases (emergency or interval procedure) with six postoperative complications and two conversions to open surgery. Conclusions A gradual adapted antibiotherapy in nonoperative management of appendiceal abscess and mass is effective. We found no relevant predictive factor of failure of the first-line antibiotics.

Cloaca in discordant monoamniotic twins: prenatal diagnosis and consequence for fetal lung development.

Objective Describe a case of cloaca prenatally diagnosed in one of a set of monoamniotic twins. Study Design Retrospective review of a case. Results Cloaca is one of the most complex and severe degrees of anorectal malformations in girls. We present a discordant cloaca in monoamniotic twins. Fetal ultrasound showed a female fetus with a pelvic midline cystic mass, a phallus-like structure, a probable anorectal atresia with absence of anal dimple and a flat perineum, and renal anomalies. The diagnosis was confirmed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging postnatally. Conclusions The rarity of the malformation in a monoamniotic pregnancy, the difficulties of prenatal diagnosis, the pathogenic assumptions, and the consequences of adequate amniotic fluid for fetal lung development are discussed.

Abdominal Cellulitis following a Laparoscopic Procedure: A Rare and Severe Complication.

Advantages of laparoscopic approach in Hirschsprung disease have been already published decreasing the hospital stay and postoperative adhesions. To our knowledge, we report the first case of postoperative abdominal cellulitis after laparoscopic procedure. A laparoscopic Duhamel pull through was done on a 3-month-old child. Full-thickness biopsy under laparoscopy was performed with intraperitoneal inoculation. Large peritoneal irrigation was used. Abdominal necrotizing cellulitis starting from a port site occurred few days after the procedure requiring repeat surgical excision, broad spectrum antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen.

Hysteroscopic placement of tubal sterilization implants: virtual reality simulator training.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess face and construct validity of a new virtual reality (VR) training simulator for hysteroscopic placement of tubal sterilization implants. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, controlled trial comparing responses and performance of novices and experts on the simulator. DESIGN CLASSIFICATION: Canadian task force II-1. SETTING: Forty-six gynecologists were personally invited or recruited at the 33rd Conference of the French National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF) from December 9 to 12, 2009, grouped as 20 experts and 26 novices. They all performed the defined sequence of virtual procedures on the simulator (case 1 for familiarization, case 4 for study assessment) and finally completed the study questionnaire. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Responses to realism, educational potential, and general opinion were excellent, proving face validity. Significant differences between novices and experts were assessed for 7 of the 15 metrics analyzed, proving construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: We established face and construct validity for EssureSim, an educational VR simulator for hysteroscopic tubal sterilization implant placement. The next steps are to investigate convergent and predictive validity to affirm the real capacity of transferring the skills learned on the training simulator to the patient in the operating room.