Novel index to estimate the cephalocaudal extent of the excavation in pectus excavatum: The Titanic index.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Quantification of the severity of pectus excavatum deformities is currently performed using the Haller index (HI) and the Correction index (CI), amongst others. However, most indexes characterize the severity at the point of maximum excavation. We present a new index, the Titanic index (TI), aimed at the appraisal of the cephalocaudal extent of the excavation and its potential clinical use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients who underwent a minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) between July 2020 and April 2022 at a single center. We defined TI as the percentage of the sternum that lied behind the anterior costal line observed in the CT. Demographics, HI, CI, and TI calculated based on computed tomography images (CT) were analyzed. Also, we compared the severity indexes of two groups of patients divided by the number of implants introduced per patient (group A: two implants, and group B: more than two). RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (92% male) were included, with a mean age of 17.2 ± 4.8 years. The mean TI was 37%. Albeit weak, we identified significant correlations between the TI and the HI and, more closely, to the CI. Two implants were introduced in 37 (47%) patients, and more than two in 41 (53%) patients. Compared to patients with two implants, the group of patients who received more than two implants were older and showed worse thoracic indexes. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we identified the TI as a better predictor of the need for more than two implants than HI and CI. In this regard, a TI larger than 66.5% had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 92%. CONCLUSION: We propose a novel index for the categorization of the severity of pectus excavatum. This index might be useful in planning the number of implants required for complete thoracic remodeling during MIRPE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective Comparative Study.

Implementation and acceptance rates of a specially designed vacuometer for the vacuum bell treatment of pectus excavatum.

BACKGROUND / PURPOSE: To report the implementation of a specially designed vacuometer for the ambulatory measurement of the exact negative pressure self-applied by the patient when using the vacuum bell for the treatment of pectus excavatum and to analyze patient satisfaction with the device, by conducting a survey. METHODS: Between October 2018 and June 2020, all patients with pectus excavatum who received a vacuum bell at our Pectus Clinic were provided with a specially designed pectus vacuometer for their personal use. We described the vacuometer, the fundamentals of its development, and the utilization protocol. A survey was conducted evaluating comfort, clarity of instructions, usefulness, simplicity of connection, and likeability. The level of satisfaction was assessed using a Likert scale ranging from 1 (very negative experience) to 5 (very positive experience). The occurrence of skin lesions provoked by the application of the vacuum bell was registered. RESULTS: From 72 submitted surveys, 54 patients answered. Patient demographics comprised 44 (81.5%) males and a mean age of 12.6 ± 6.0 years. The mean initial external pectus depth was 2.0 ± 0.7 cm and the mean duration of treatment was 13.2 ± 8.6 months. No skin lesions were detected while using the vacuum bell and the vacuometer. The mean general satisfaction score was 4.4 ± 0.7 and 83.3% of the respondents did not have any inconvenience with the vacuometer. A patient who considered himself cured was the only dropout during the study. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we described the feasibility and fundamentals of the application of a specifically designed vacuometer for ambulatory use as an adjunct to the treatment of pectus excavatum with a vacuum bell, and demonstrated a high satisfaction level with the device. In addition, the vacuometer might help avoid skin lesions secondary to the vacuum bell and foster adhesion to treatment. TYPE OF STUDY: Treatment study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Choledochal cyst in pediatric patients: a 10-year single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Choledochal cysts (CCs) are rare congenital dilatations of the biliar tree. The incidence is 1:150,000. A correct diagnosis and surgical treatment are important because of the long term risks of infection and neoplasia. We report our experience with CCs in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with CC disease, who were seen at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between 1999 and 2009, were identified retrospectively from our prospectively acquired hepato-pancreatico-biliary database. Prenatal, clinical, surgical and pathological records were analysed. RESULTS: We included 12 children (10 girls and 2 boys), all of them affected by a cystic dilatation type I of Todani classification. Between the 4 patients with antenatal diagnosis only one presented symptoms before surgery, expressed in acolic feces. Between the 8 patients with postnatal diagnosis, the most common clinical presentation was abdominal pain, occurring in all patients. Ultrasound was used for the diagnosis of all patients. Mean age at surgery was 74 months. All patients had intraoperative cholangiograms to definitively confirm the diagnosis. Five patients underwent open surgery and 7 laparoscopic approach. From patients with a laparoscopic approach, 1 had to be converted to open surgery due to intraoperative complications and 2 underwent an initial surgery for a cholecystectomy and a CC cyst excision. The complications observed were: anastomotic biliary fistula 1, residual lithiasis in the pancreatic portion of the duct 1 and anastomotic stenosis 1. The last 2 cases required reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Once CCs are diagnosed, careful treatment decisions need to be taken because both intra hepatic and extra hepatic CCs, if untreated, have an increased risk of cancer. After a careful study of the cyst's characteristics, we recommend a laparoscopic approach when possible, as the best choice, after 3 months of life to increase the success of the treatment according to the size of the anatomic structure. We recommend early treatment, before 3 months of life, only in case of severe symptoms.

Laparoscopic pocket splenopexy for wandering spleen: a case report.

Wandering spleen is a very uncommon condition. Because of the risk of pedicle torsion and splenic ischemia, severe consequences may occur if not diagnosed and treated in time. Unfortunately, splenectomy is sometimes necessary (ie, when splenic infarction occurs). Once the diagnosis of wandering spleen is made, splenopexy is the treatment of choice. There are numerous techniques designed for splenopexy, either by open surgery or by minimally invasive approaches. We describe here a laparoscopic procedure that allows an excellent fixation of the spleen using the patient's own tissues. After a 2-year follow-up, the organ remains in place with good perfusion.

Masas quísticas expansivas en tórax y abdomen en un feto. Tratamiento mininvasivo posnatal / Thoracic and abdominal expansive masses in a fetos. Post-natal mini-invasive treatment

Las masas expansivas en el tórax fetal pueden producir insuficiencia cardíaca y muerte. Si el feto sobrevive, pueden causar insuficiencia respiratoria neonatal por hipoplasia pulmonar. Presentamos el caso de un feto con dos duplicaciones intestinales quísticas detectadas en la 26 semana de gestación.Con RNM se descartaron otras anomalías. No presentó hidropesía fetal y se planificó el manejo perinatal multidisciplinario al término para resolver la probable incapacidad ventilatoria.Inmediatamente después del nacimiento se drenó la masa torácica con guía ecográfica y a las 48 hs se la resecó por videotoracoscopía. Al 18 día de vida se extirpó por una minilaparotimía video-asistida, una duplicación yeyunal que medía 8x8. Fue dado de alta al día 24. El diagnóstico prenatal y el manejo perinatal inmediato evitaron la hipoxia neonatal

Masas quísticas expansivas en tórax y abdomen en un feto. Tratamiento mininvasivo posnatal / Thoracic and abdominal expansive masses in a fetos. Post-natal mini-invasive treatment

Las masas expansivas en el tórax fetal pueden producir insuficiencia cardíaca y muerte. Si el feto sobrevive, pueden causar insuficiencia respiratoria neonatal por hipoplasia pulmonar. Presentamos el caso de un feto con dos duplicaciones intestinales quísticas detectadas en la 26 semana de gestación.Con RNM se descartaron otras anomalías. No presentó hidropesía fetal y se planificó el manejo perinatal multidisciplinario al término para resolver la probable incapacidad ventilatoria.Inmediatamente después del nacimiento se drenó la masa torácica con guía ecográfica y a las 48 hs se la resecó por videotoracoscopía. Al 18 día de vida se extirpó por una minilaparotimía video-asistida, una duplicación yeyunal que medía 8x8. Fue dado de alta al día 24. El diagnóstico prenatal y el manejo perinatal inmediato evitaron la hipoxia neonatal

Esophageal diverticulum in an infant with Down's syndrome and type III esophageal atresia.

An 18-month-old infant with Down's syndrome presented with a symptomatic esophageal diverticulum (ED) located at the cervical esophagus. He had been operated on successfully for an esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula in the newborn period. Neither surgical maneuvers nor esophageal trauma could explain the ED, which was resected through a cervical approach.