Charge Awareness Affects Treatment Choice: Prospective Randomized Trial in Pediatric Appendectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether charge awareness affects patient decisions. BACKGROUND: Pediatric uncomplicated appendicitis can be treated with open or laparoscopic techniques. These 2 operations are considered to have clinical equipoise. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized clinical trial, nonobese children admitted to a children's hospital with uncomplicated appendicitis were randomized to view 1 of 2 videos discussing open and laparoscopic appendectomy. Videos were identical except that only one presented the difference in surgical materials charges. Patients and parents then choose which operation they desired. Videos were available in English and Spanish. A postoperative survey was conducted to examine factors that influenced choice. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 01738750). RESULTS: Of 275 consecutive cases, 100 met enrollment criteria. In the group exposed to charge data (n = 49), 63% chose open technique versus 35% not presented charge data (P = 0.005). Patients were 1.8 times more likely to choose the less expensive option when charge estimate was given (95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.75). The median total hospital charges were $1554 less for those who had open technique (P < 0.001) and $528 less for the group exposed to charge information (P = 0.033). Survey found that 90% of families valued having input in this decision and 31% of patients exposed to charge listed it as their primary reason for their choice in technique. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and parents tended to choose the less expensive but equally effective technique when given the opportunity. A discussion of treatment options, which includes charge information, may represent an unrealized opportunity to affect change in health care spending.

The role of focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) in pediatric trauma evaluation.

PURPOSE: With increasing concerns about radiation exposure, we questioned whether a structured program of FAST might decrease CT use. METHODS: All pediatric trauma surgeons in our level 1 pediatric trauma center underwent formal FAST training. Children with potential abdominal trauma and no prior imaging were prospectively evaluated from 10/2/09 to 7/31/11. After physical exam and FAST, the surgeon declared whether the CT could be eliminated. RESULTS: Of 536 children who arrived without imaging, 183 had potential abdominal trauma. FAST was performed in 128 cases and recorded completely in 88. In 48% (42/88) the surgeon would have elected to cancel the CT based on the FAST and physical exam. One of the 42 cases had a positive FAST and required emergent laparotomy; the others were negative. The sensitivity of FAST for injuries requiring operation or blood transfusion was 87.5%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV in detecting pathologic free fluid were 50%, 85%, 53.8%, and 87.9%. CONCLUSIONS: True positive FAST exams are uncommon and would rarely direct management. While the negative FAST would have potentially reduced CT use due to practitioner reassurance, this reassurance may be unwarranted given the test's sensitivity.

Clinical variables as prognostic tools in pediatric-onset ulcerative colitis: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical variables may identify a subset of patients with pediatric-onset ulcerative colitis (UC) (≤18 years at diagnosis) at risk for adverse outcomes. We postulated that routinely measured clinical variables measured at diagnosis would predict colectomy in patients with pediatric-onset UC. METHODS: We conducted a chart review of patients with pediatric-onset UC at a single center over a 10-year period. We compared patients with and without colectomy across several variables, used proportional hazards regression to adjust for potential confounders, and assessed the ability of a UC risk score to predict colectomy. RESULTS: Among 470 patients with inflammatory bowel disease ICD9-coded encounters, 155 patients had UC and 135 were eligible for analysis. The 1- and 3-year colectomy rates were 16.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.0%-24.8%) and 35.6% (26.7%-45.4%). White blood cell (WBC) count and hematocrit measured at diagnosis were associated with colectomy at 3 years, even after correcting for potential confounding variables. A UC Risk Score derived from the WBC count and hematocrit was strongly associated with colectomy risk, with a high negative predictive value (NPV) for colectomy at 1 and 3 years (NPV = 0.95 and 0.89, respectively), but low positive predictive value (PPV = 0.22 and 0.38, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A risk score calculated from WBC and hematocrit measured at diagnosis was associated with, but incompletely predictive of, colectomy in pediatric-onset UC. These data suggest 1) routinely measured clinical variables may have a prognostic role in risk stratification, and 2) multicenter prospective studies are needed to optimize risk stratification in pediatric UC. Our findings have impact on the design of such studies.

Reflux esophageal stricture--a review of 30 years' experience in children.

PURPOSE: Strictures of the esophagus in children may have multiple etiologies including congenital, inflammatory, infectious, caustic ingestion, and gastroesophageal reflux (peptic stricture [PS]). Current literature lacks good data documenting long-term outcomes in children. This makes it difficult to counsel some patients about realistic treatment expectations. The objective of this study is to evaluate our institutional experience and define the natural history and treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical data obtained from children who underwent dilation for PS was performed. RESULTS: Over the past 30 years, 114 children and adolescents received 486 dilations. The most common indications for stricture dilation were PS (42%) and esophageal atresia (38%). Other lesser indications included congenital, foreign body, corrosive, cancer, radiation, allergic, and infectious. This review focuses on the 48 children with PS. Of the children with PS, a congenital anomaly was identified in 23 children; and 12 had neurologic impairment. Average age at presentation was 10.2 years (range, 0.5-18.3 years). Most patients had had symptoms for many months before diagnosis. Peptic stricture was most common in the lower esophagus (n = 39). However, middle (n = 8) and upper (n = 1) strictures were occasionally identified. Noncompliance with medical therapy was a challenge in 12% (n = 5) of children. Children with a PS received a median of 3 dilations, but a subset of 5 patients with severe strictures underwent up to 48 dilations (range, 1-48). Repeated dilations were required for a median of 20 months (range, 1-242 months). Among patients receiving esophageal dilation for PS, 94% required an antireflux procedure (19% required a second antireflux surgery). A subgroup of patients (n = 10) was identified who required extended dilations, multiple surgeries, and esophageal resection. This subgroup had a significantly longer period of symptomatic disease and increased risk of esophageal resection compared with those patients requiring fewer dilations. Surgical resection of the esophageal stricture was ultimately required in 3 children with PS after failure of more conservative measures. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents presenting with reflux esophageal stricture (PS) frequently require antireflux surgery, redo antireflux surgery, and multiple dilations for recurrent symptoms. We hope that these data will be of use to the clinician attempting to counsel patients and parents about treatment expectations in this challenging patient population.

Magnetic attraction leading to a small bowel obstruction in a child.

Foreign body ingestion in small children is common yet only 1% of cases require operative management of associated complications (Arana et al. in Eur J Pediatr 160:468-472, 2001). A 6-year-old boy was referred to our institution with a 12 h history of abdominal pain. This pain was diffuse and crampy in nature and associated with multiple episodes of non-bilious, non-bloody emesis. On evaluation he was stable and his abdomen demonstrated slight distention and tenderness without peritoneal signs. Plain abdominal radiographs demonstrated some distended loops of small bowel and a radio-opaque foreign object within the mid-abdomen. A small bowel obstruction secondary to foreign body ingestion was diagnosed and an emergent laparotomy performed. Upon exploration, a transition zone was noted near the ileocecal valve. Further exploration revealed the obstruction to be caused secondary to the apposition of two small (8 mm) magnets, one in the proximal ileum and the other near the ileocecal valve, resulting in an internal hernia. The magnets were easily separated relieving the obstruction and both were removed via two small bowel enterotomies. After being presented with the magnets, his parents suspected that they came from the clothes of a Polly Pocket (Mattel, Inc., El Segundo, CA) doll. The patient had an uneventful post-operative course and was discharged to home on the second post-operative day. This case demonstrates the complications that may occur with multiple magnet ingestion. It highlights the need for close observation and early surgical intervention in children with a suspected history of foreign body ingestion, a clinical picture of gastrointestinal distress, and radiographic evidence of a radio-opaque foreign object.

High-dose steroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, and chronic intravenous antibiotics improve bile flow after Kasai procedure in infants with biliary atresia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Early reports suggest that the use of steroids after Kasai portoenterostomy may improve bile flow and outcome in infants with biliary atresia. METHODS: Of 28 infants with biliary atresia, half received adjuvant high-dose steroids, and half received standard therapy. Infants in the steroid group (n = 14) received intravenous solumedrol (taper of 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 mg/kg/d), followed by 8 to 12 weeks of prednisone (2 mg/kg/d). The steroid protocol also included ursodeoxycholic acid indefinitely and intravenous antibiotics for 8 to 12 weeks followed by oral antibiotic prophylaxis. Infants in the standard therapy group (n = 14) received no steroids, occasional ursodeoxycholic acid, and perioperative intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotic prophylaxis. The infants were not assigned randomly, but rather received standard therapy or adjuvant steroid therapy according to individual surgeon preference. RESULTS: Eleven of 14 (79%) in the steroid group and 3 of 14 (21%) in the standard therapy group had a conjugated bilirubin level less than 1.0 within 3 to 4 months of surgery (P <.001). Fewer patients in the steroid group (21% v 85%) required liver transplantation or died during the first year of life (P <.001). Infants in the steroid group did better despite the fact that this group included 5 infants with biliary atresia-polysplenia-heterotaxia syndrome, a subgroup that might have been expected to have a poor prognosis. Neither bile duct size nor liver histology was a reliable predictor of success or failure in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant therapy using high-dose steroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, and intravenous antibiotics may accelerate the clearance of jaundice and decrease the need for early liver transplantation after Kasai portoenterostomy.