The Bracka two-stage repair for severe proximal hypospadias: A single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Surgical correction of severe proximal hypospadias represents a significant surgical challenge and single-stage corrections are often associated with complications and reoperations. Bracka two-stage repair is an attractive alternative surgical procedure with superior, reliable, and reproducible results. PURPOSE: To study the feasibility and applicability of Bracka two-stage repair for the severe proximal hypospadias and to analyze the outcomes and complications of this surgical technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from January 2011 to December 2013. Bracka two-stage repair was performed using inner preputial skin as a free graft in subjects with proximal hypospadias in whom severe degree of chordee and/or poor urethral plate was present. Only primary cases were included in this study. All subjects received three doses of intra-muscular testosterone 3 weeks apart before first stage. Second stage was performed 6 months after the first stage. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 43 patients operated for Bracka repair, out of which 30 patients completed two-stage repair. Mean age of the patients was 4 years and 8 months. We achieved 100% graft uptake and no revision was required. Three patients developed fistula, while two had metal stenosis. Glans dehiscence, urethral stricture and the residual chordee were not found during follow-up and satisfactory cosmetic results with good urinary stream were achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: The Bracka two-stage repair is a safe and reliable approach in select patients in whom it is impractical to maintain the axial integrity of the urethral plate, and, therefore, a full circumference urethral reconstruction become necessary. This gives good results both in terms of restoration of normal function with minimal complication.

Minimal access surgery in newborns and small infants; five years experience.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess and present the outcome (initial experience and lessons learnt) of minimally invasive surgery for various indications in neonates and small infants (< 5 kg) at a single medical centre. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 65 patients (age day 2 to 10 months) managed with minimal access surgery (MAS) for various indications, between 2005 and 2010. We analyzed demographic information, procedures, complications, outcomes, and follow-up and overall feasibility of the procedure. RESULTS: No serious complications except one death in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) (due to other comorbidities) occurred. Intra operative hypercarbia and hypoxia were observed more frequently in thoracoscopic procedures. Intra operative hypothermia was not common and was well tolerated. Conversion to open procedure (n = 5), post operative ileus (n = 3), port site infection (n = 5) were other complications. CONCLUSION: MAS in neonates and small infants is a technically demanding but a feasible choice available. Some prior experience in older children is required for safe and effective outcome. Good quality optics, video equipments and instruments are required for safe and effective procedure. Intra operative measurement of oxygen saturation and temperature, and diligent post operative ICU care are mandatory for safe and successful outcome.

Early experience with thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernias in pediatric age group: results and lessons learned.

PURPOSE: To describe the surgical technique, initial results, and overview indications of thoracoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of patients with CDH who underwent thoracoscopic repair from January 2006 to July 2010, in department of pediatric surgery in a tertiary care institute in India. Patients underwent surgery under general anesthesia. Reduction of the hernia contents was carried out using one trocar for telescope and two operating trocars. Pleural insufflation with carbon dioxide was maintained at a pressure of 6-10 mmHg. The hernia defect was repaired using nonabsorbable interrupted sutures. RESULTS: There were 17 patients, including 12 boys and 5 girls. Among 12 infants, there were 6 patients younger than 30 days. The other 5 patients were older than 1 year. The hernia was located in the left side in 14 patients and in the right side in 3 patients. The mean operative time was 110 min. Conversion was required in three patients. There were one recurrence and one postoperative death. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic repair is feasible and safe for children with CDH, including selective newborn. The technique causes minimal trauma, results in good respiratory function, and promotes early recovery.

Persistent Cloaca associated with Unilateral Lung Agenesis- A Rare Presentation.

We report a case of full term female child having persistent cloaca who was diagnosed to have right lung agenesis on investigations.

Extra-hepatic biliary atresia in association with polysplenia and intestinal malrotation.

The syndromic form of biliary atresia accounts for 10-25% and is associated with a poor prognosis due to associated anomalies. We report a case of extrahepatic biliary atresia and polysplenia syndrome with jaundice since 19th day of life and who had undergone surgical correction of malrotation in the neonatal period. Inspite of successful Kasai's portoenterostomy at 52nd day of life, the child succumbed to post-operative sepsis.

Single Stage Transanal Pull-Through for Hirschsprung's Disease in Neonates: Our Early Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Hirschsprung's disease is one of the common causes of intestinal obstruction in neonates. Transanal endorectal pull-through represents the latest development in the concept of the minimally invasive surgery for Hirschsprung's disease. In this study, we present our early experience with single stage transanal pull through in neonates. DESIGN: Retrospective study of neonates with single stage transanal pull-through done for Hirschsprung's disease in our institute from January 2011 to January 2013. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Five newborn boys who presented with Hirschsprung's disease were studied. The selection criteria included radiological transition zone at rectosigmoid or mid-sigmoid region, weight more than 2 kg, no evidence of enterocolitis or sepsis and no associated major anomaly. Single stage transanal endorectal pull-through was done in these patients. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years. RESULTS: Five patients with a mean age of 26.4 days (range 15-45 days) and a mean weight of 2.6 Kg (range 2.2 to 3.7 Kg) underwent transanal endorectal pull through. The mean operating time was 68 min (range 60 to 120 min). The average intra-operative blood loss was 20 ml (range - 10 to 30 ml) and the average length of bowel resected was 12.8 cm (range - 10 to 18 cm). Post-operatively patients passed first stool between 2nd and 3rd day. Oral feeding was resumed on 5th to 6th post-operative day. The average post-operative duration of stay in hospital was 10 days. None of the patients had post-operative bleeding, urethral injury, anastomotic leak or retraction of anastomotic site. Three patients developed perianal excoriation and one patient had post-operative enterocolitis. No mortality occurred in the series. CONCLUSION: Advancement in pediatric anaesthesia, availability of pediatric surgical expertise, improvement in pre-operative and post-operative management and nursing care has made single stage transanal pull-through in neonates a feasible option. The early results are comparable to single stage or multistage surgery in older children.

Role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in severe head injury in children.

AIM: A brain injury results in a temporary or permanent impairment of cognitive, emotional, and/or physical function. Predicting the outcome of pediatric brain injury is difficult. Prognostic instruments are not precise enough to reliably predict individual patient's mortality and long-term functional status. The purpose of this article is to provide a guide to the strengths and limitations of the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in treating pediatric patients with severe brain injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied total 56 patients of head injury. Out of them 28 received HBOT. Only cases with severe head injury [Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 8] with no other associated injury were included in the study group. After an initial period of resuscitation and conservative management (10-12 days), all were subjected to three sessions of HBOT at 1-week interval. This study group was compared with a control group of similar severity of head injury (GCS < 8). RESULTS: The study and control groups were compared in terms of duration of hospitalization, GCS, disability reduction,and social behavior. Patients who received HBOT were significantly better than the control group on all the parameters with decreased hospital stay, better GCS, and drastic reduction in disability. CONCLUSION: In children with traumatic brain injury, the addition of HBOT significantly improved outcome and quality of life and reduced the risk of complications.

Laparoscopic repair of pediatric inguinal hernia--is vascularity of the testis at risk? A study of 125 testes.

AIM: The aim of this study was to study the effects of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair on testicular perfusion and size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study concerning laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair was performed for an 18-month period to evaluate testicular perfusion and size in the preoperative, early postoperative (within 48 hours of surgery), and late postoperative periods (6 months after surgery) using Doppler ultrasound (DUS) (both duplex and power Doppler mode). Laparoscopic closure of the deep inguinal ring was accomplished with a purse string suture (Nylon 3-0) using standard 3-port technique. The testis units were divided in 2 groups: group 1 comprising testis units in which a resistive index (RI) could be calculated and group 2 with instances in which an RI could not be calculated but showed blood flow consistently on DUS. RESULTS: A total of 112 boys underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair with 100 available for complete follow-up and data analysis. One hundred twenty-five inguinal (25 bilateral) hernia repairs were performed. Group 1 had 80 testis units. There was no significant difference in values of RI between preoperative, early postoperative, and late postoperative periods. Group 2 had 45 testis units. Resistive index could not be calculated. Seventy-five percent showed only systolic blood flow on spectral analysis; hence, RI, 1; and the rest showed the presence of blood flow on power Doppler scan. All testis units consistently showed blood flow in the early and late postoperative period. No testicular atrophy was found at 6-month follow-up examination on DUS. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernia in children does not affect testicular perfusion or growth.

Ruptured rectal duplication cyst with classical bladder exstrophy.

A newborn boy was brought to us, 2 hours after birth, with a mucosal-lined left hemiperineal lesion associated with classical bladder exstrophy and an anterolaterally displaced anus. Perineal anatomy was restored by excising the mucosa lined lesion. The bladder closure for classical bladder exstrophy was done at the same time. Histologically, gastric, respiratory, and small intestinal epithelia were present in the mucosa. A rectal duplication cyst that had ruptured in utero through the hemiperineum could explain the anomaly. The association of classical bladder exstrophy with ruptured rectal duplication cyst has never previously been described in the literature.

Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in the pediatric age group--experience with 437 children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of pediatric patients that underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of the prospectively collected data of 576 laparoscopic internal ring closures in 437 children (age, 30 days-11 years; median, 1.9 years) from June 1999 to February 2009. The internal ring was closed with a 3-0 nonabsorbable suture. Both extracorporeal and intracorporeal methods of knotting were used. All patients were asked to return at 1 week and 6 weeks postoperatively for routine follow-up. RESULTS: A contralateral patent processus vaginalis was present in 13% (45/352) of boys and 15% (12/83) of girls on the right side, and 7% (25/352) of boys and 6% (5/83) of girls on the left side. Follow-up range was from 1 week postoperatively to 108 months. There were 14 recurrences (2.4 % [14/576], 11 in boys and on the right side and 3 in girls) and 2 hydroceles 0.35% (2/576). Mean operating time was 23 minutes for unilateral and 29 minutes for bilateral inguinal hernia. There was neither metachronus hernia nor testicular atrophy observed during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is technically easier, as there is no need to dissect the vas deferens and vessels. The risk of metachronous hernia is reduced, and we believe the cosmetic result is better. Although recurrences were more common early in the series, currently they are much less frequent. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair appears to have less morbidity than open herniotomy and can be used as routine procedure in the pediatric age group.