Clinical outcome of endoscopic balloon dilatations employed in benign paediatric oesophageal pathologies.

Background: Oesophageal dilatations can be done either by bougies or balloons for differing aetiologies in children. We investigated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic balloon dilatations (EBDs) employed by a single surgeon. Patients and Methods: Relevant data over 12 years were retrospectively evaluated with an ethical committee approval. Results: Ninety-seven children underwent 514 EBD with a median EBD of 3 (1-50). The primary diagnoses were oesophageal atresia (OA) in 51 children, corrosive ingestion in 21, peptic strictures in 13, achalasia in 8 and congenital oesophageal stenosis in 4. The balloon size varied between 3 and 30 mm. The EBD was successfully ended in 72 patients and unsuccessful in six patients. Six children are still under EBD and 13 are lost to follow-up. The overall success rate was 92%. The age at the time of first dilatation was the youngest in OA group followed by corrosive strictures. The balloon sizes differed regarding the age of the patients with larger balloons used as the patient age increased. The sizes of the balloons used at the first and the last EBD differed among diagnostic groups. The total number of dilatations or the time interval between the first and the last EBD dilatation did not show a statistically significant difference among groups. The anatomical type of OA or the height of corrosive stricture revealed no significant difference in any of the above parameters. A transmural oesophageal perforation occurred during 2 (0.4%) EBD sessions. Conclusions: EBD is an effective mean in relieving paediatric oesophageal pathologies with a variety of aetiologies and has a low complication rate.

Assessment of ovarian reserve using serum anti-Müllerian hormone after ovarian torsion surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine ovarian reserve using serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level in children who had undergone either ovarian-preserving surgery or oophorectomy because of ovarian torsion. METHODS: Patients aged > 10 years who had undergone surgery for unilateral ovarian torsion were contacted for the study with ethics committee approval. Seventeen patients agreed to be included. RESULTS: A total of 10 patients had undergone ovarian detorsion and seven had undergone oophorectomy. Mean age at operation was 11.6 ± 2.23 years (range, 8-15 years) and 13.2 ± 2.17 years (range, 10-16 years), respectively (P = 0.46). Ovarian torsion was isolated in four patients in the first group, and in three in the second. The remainder had associated benign masses. At the time of this study, mean patient age was 18 ± 2.11 years (range, 14-21 years) with a mean postoperative follow up of 5.9 ± 2.8 years (range, 2-10.5 years). Echogenicity of all preserved ovaries was normal on pelvic Doppler ultrasonography, with presence of antral follicles in six. Three ovaries were smaller than expected for age, although two of these had antral follicles. Mean AMH was 5.54 ± 2.25 ng/mL in the detorsion group and 2.70 ± 2.11 ng/mL in the oophorectomy group (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of follicles in preserved ovaries after detorsion has been reported previously. AMH is expressed in granulosa cells of growing follicles and its serum level is valuable in assessing the quantitative aspects of ovarian reserve. Preservation of the ovary in children with torsion is justified in terms of future ovarian reserve.

Surgical Approach to Ovarian Torsion in Children.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Ovarian torsion in children is a relatively rare cause of acute abdominal pain. This study evaluates the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian torsion with an emphasis on conservative treatment approaches including the long-term follow-up results. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with surgically treated ovarian torsions between December 2006 and February 2014 were included in this retrospective study. The patient population consisted of 41 patients with 42 ovaries involved. The mean age was 11 ± 3.9 (range, 1-17) years. The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent preoperative pelvic color Doppler ultrasonography that identified torsion in 34 (81%) ovaries. RESULTS: During surgery, a right-sided torsion was detected in 25 (59.5%), and a left-sided one was detected in 17 (40.5%) ovaries. An excisional surgery was used for 16 (38%) ovaries, and detorsion with conservation of the ovary was used for 26 (62%). A trend toward conservative management was seen over the years. Regular follow-up for those patients who underwent conservative surgery was done in 22 patients for a mean of 25 months (range, 1.5-83 months). Control color Doppler ultrasonographic results were within normal limits in terms of ovarian size and blood supply in 17 (77%) patients. Despite normal parenchymal echogenicity, an involved ovary was smaller in size compared to the other ovary in five patients. Ovarian follicles were present in three of them. CONCLUSION: The ovary-sparing, conservative surgery is found to be highly successful in the presented series. Although malignancies are rarely encountered in torsed ovaries with associated masses, biopsy samples should be obtained in suspicious cases.