[Appendicovesicostomy (Mitrofanoff procedure) in children: Long-term follow-up and specific complications]. / Dérivations urinaires continentes trans-conduit selon Mitrofanoff chez l'enfant : suivi à long terme et complications spécifiques.

OBJECTIVE: In children, intermittent catheterization by appendicovesicostomy according to Mitrofanoff is an interesting alternative to the urethral approach. Objective of the study was to evaluate the rate of appendicovesicostomy's specific complications. METHOD: From 1997 to 2017, data on children treated and followed for an appendicovesicostomy in an academic institution were collected retrospectively. Rates of surgical complications specifically encountered on appendicovesicostomy, time of onset, frequency, and necessity of surgical reinterventions have been reported. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were operated on and followed for a median of 6.2 years [0.3-24]. Fifty percent had a complication, occurring after a median of 8 months [2-90], and 38% required at least one surgical revision. If complication occurred, adjustment of medical treatment and intermittent catheterization was effective in 12% of patients, endoscopic or over-fascial surgery was necessary in 17% of cases, and under-fascial revision in 21% of cases. Median time to complication was 4 months [1-90] after creation or revision of appendicovesicostomy. Thirty-height percent of difficult channel catheterization were reported, of which 46% were over or under-fascial stenosis. Inaugural urinary incontinence was 18%, and only 9% if using the appendix. At the end, 97% of appendicovesicostomy were continent. CONCLUSIONS: Appendicovesicostomy is a high risk of complications and postoperative revisions surgery, in order to have a functional continent channel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Safety and feasability of ureteroscopy for pediatric stone, in children under 5 Years (SFUPA 5): A French multicentric study.

INTRODUCTION: Ureteroscopy (URS) can be proposed as first-line therapy for the management of pelvic stones from 10 to 20 mm and for lower ureteric stones in children. However, little is known about the success and the morbidity of URS in young children. Ureteroscopic treatment may present matters in young children because of the small size of the pediatric kidney and the small size of the collecting system. OBJECTIVE: To assess safety and efficacy of URS for the treatment of urinary stones in children aged of 5 years or less. STUDY DESIGN: After the institutional ethical board approval was obtained, we conducted a retrospective, analytic, multicentric study that included all URS performed between January 2016 and April 2022 in children aged of 5 years or less. In this non-comparative case series, anonymized pooled data were collected from 7 tertiary care centers of pediatric patients. Endpoints were the one-session SFR at 3 months and per and postoperatives complications. Descriptive statistics were applied to describe the cohort. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included. For them, 96 procedures were performed at the median age of 3.5 years (IQR: 0.8-5) and median weight of 14 Kg (6.3-23). Median stone size was 13 mm (4-45). There were 65 (67 %) renal stones treated with flexible URS, most of which were in the renal pelvis (30 %) and in the lower calix (33 %). A ureteral access sheath was used in 91 % procedures. Preoperative ureteral stent was placed in 52 (54 %) of patients. None of patients had ureteral dilatation. The single-session SFR was 67.4 % (56.3 and 89.2 % for flexible URS and semi-rigid URS respectively) and children require 1.4 procedures to achieve complete stone clearance. The overall complication rate was 18.7 %, most of them were minor (Clavien I-II). Intraoperative perirenal extravasation (Clavien IIIb) due to forniceal rupture was documented in 6.2 % of cases, related to an increased intrapelvic pressure (IPP) performed in a closed pelvicalyceal system. DISCUSSION: Pediatric urologists should be aware of forniceal rupture based on the presence of extravasation of contrast during endourological procedures especially when they have difficulties to reach lower caliceal stone in small patient. CONCLUSION: URS in patients aged of 5 years or less, is a complex minimally invasive procedure with reasonable efficacy and low morbidity. Intrarenal stones treated by RIRS in young children carries the risk of additional procedures to complete stone clearance.

Circumcision and Risk of Febrile Urinary Tract Infection in Boys with Posterior Urethral Valves: Result of the CIRCUP Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Boys with posterior urethral valves (PUVs) have an increased risk of febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs). Circumcision is believed to reduce the risk of fUTIs in boys, although there are no randomized trials demonstrating this. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of circumcision on the risk of fUTIs in boys with PUVs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A clinical randomized trial that ran between August 2012 and July 2017 was conducted. The trial was multicentric, including 13 referral centers for pediatric urology. Male boys, aged 1-28 d, diagnosed with posterior urethral valves, confirmed by voiding cystogram, were included. The exclusion criteria included presence of a genital malformation contraindicating performing a circumcision. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to neonatal circumcision + antibiotic prophylaxis (CATB) or antibiotic prophylaxis alone (ATB), and followed for 2 yr. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary outcome was a risk of presenting fUTIs in each group. An fUTI was defined as fever (>38.5 °C) with evidence of pyuria and culture-proven infection on urinalysis, obtained by urethral catheterization or suprapubic aspiration. A bivariate analysis of the primary outcome was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In total, 91 patients were included: 49 in group CATB and 42 in group ATB. The probability of presenting an fUTI was 20% in group ATB versus 3% in group CATB. The hazard ratio of presenting an fUTI within 2 yr in the ATB group compared with that in the CATB group was 10.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.3-82.5). Sixty-four children (70.3%) had a complete follow-up at 2 yr of age. CONCLUSIONS: Circumcision significantly decreases the risk of presenting an fUTI in boys with PUVs. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we compared, in a multicentric trial, the number of febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) in boys with posterior urethral valves who had either antibiotic prophylaxis alone or antibiotic prophylaxis and circumcision. We found that those who had a circumcision had a significantly lower risk of febrile UTIs.

Management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children-a roundtable discussion.

The investigation, management and follow-up of paediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction is not standardized. The Young Pediatric Urology Committee of the European Society of Pediatric Urology interviewed five experts in the field on various aspects of management and compared this with published literature.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in children with low grade vesicoureteral reflux: results from a prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: Antibiotic prophylaxis is given to children at risk for urinary tract infection. However, evidence concerning its effectiveness in grade I to III vesicoureteral reflux is lacking. The objective of this study was to determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the incidence of urinary tract infection in young children with low grade vesicoureteral reflux. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children 1 month to 3 years old with grade I to III vesicoureteral reflux were assigned randomly to receive daily cotrimoxazole or no treatment, and followed for 18 months. A urinary tract infection constituted an exit criterion. Infection-free survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log rank test. RESULTS: A total of 225 children were enrolled in the study. Distribution of gender, age at inclusion and reflux grade were similar between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of urinary tract infection between the 2 groups (17% vs 26%, p = 0.2). However, a significant association was found between treatment and patient gender (p = 0.017). Prophylaxis significantly reduced urinary tract infection in boys (p = 0.013), most notably in boys with grade III vesicoureteral reflux (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that antibiotic prophylaxis does not reduce the overall incidence of urinary tract infection in children with low grade vesicoureteral reflux. However, such a strategy may prevent further urinary tract infection in boys with grade III reflux.

Long-term outcome of laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication for neurologically impaired and normal children.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the long-term effects of laparoscopic Nissen-Rossetti fundoplication (LNF) on clinical and pH evaluations of children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) according to neurologic status. METHODS: The study examined 127 children (73 neurologically impaired and 54 neurologically normal with primary GERD) who consecutively underwent LNF from 1992 to 2003. The follow-up protocol included evaluations at 3, 15, and more than 36 months (long-term evaluation) postoperatively, which consisted of physical examination and 24-h pH monitoring. Recurrences were defined as abnormal pH-metry exhibited by symptomatic children. RESULTS: The long-term follow-up period averaged 5.5 years. Of the 73 neurologically impaired children, 9 (12%) had GERD recurrences, which occurred during the evaluation period and required redo surgery in four cases, including two Bianchi procedures. In the neurologically normal group, one recurrence (2%) occurred 3 months after surgery. The long-term complications in this group included dyspepsia (n = 3), occasional dysphagia (n = 2), gas bloat syndrome (n = 1), and alimentary disorders (n = 2). CONCLUSIONS: For children with primary GERD, LNF is a long-term efficient procedure. For the neurologically impaired children, the results were good, with more than 85% of the children symptom free after 5 years, although repeated evaluations are required to diagnose late recurrences related to evolving dysmotility disorders.

[Morbidity of foreskin reconstruction in distal hypospadias repair surgery]. / La reconstruction du prépuce dans la chirurgie d'hypospade distal : quelle morbidité ?

UNLABELLED: Hypospadias is almost constantly associated with an abnormality of the prepuce, resulting in incomplete prepuce. In the context of distal hypospadias repair surgery, prepuce reconstruction is an alternative to circumcision. The authors report their experience of this operation and analyze its specific morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of 316 prepuce reconstructions performed in the context of distal hypospadias surgery between 1996 and 2004. The median age at the time of surgery was 12.1 months. The prepuce reconstruction technique was based on the principles of Righini preputioplasty. Urethroplasty was performed according to the tubularized urethral plate (Duplay-Snodgrass) technique in the majority of children (204/316, 65%). No urethral catheter was left in place in 293 children (93%). The operation was performed as an outpatient procedure in 245 cases (78%). RESULTS: Partial or complete disunion of the reconstructed prepuce was observed in 18 children (6%), mainly early in the authors' experience, and nine of these 18 cases occurred in a more general context of failure of hypospadias repair surgery (urethrocutaneous fistula). Secondary phimosis was observed in 40 cases, 12 months after the operation. Topical corticosteroids (betamethasone 1.0% cream) allowed normal foreskin retraction in 26 out of 30 cases (85%). CONCLUSIONS: Prepuce reconstruction performed in the context of distal hypospadias repair surgery is responsible for a low rate of specific morbidity. If the objective of distal hypospadias surgery is to restore a penis with an appearance as normal as possible, prepuce reconstruction should constitute a key element of the final result.

One-stage combined delayed bladder closure with Kelly radical soft-tissue mobilization in bladder exstrophy: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: The radical soft-tissue mobilization (RSTM, or Kelly repair) is an anatomical reconstruction of bladder exstrophy generally performed as a second part of a two-step strategy, following successful neonatal bladder closure. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of a combined procedure of delayed bladder closure and RSTM in one stage without pelvic osteotomy, in both primary and failed initial closure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: From 11/2015 to 01/2018, 27 bladder exstrophy patients underwent combined bladder closure with RSTM by the same surgical team at four cooperating tertiary referral centers for bladder exstrophy, including 20 primary repairs (delayed bladder closure, median age 3.0m [0.5-37m]) and seven secondary repairs after failed attempt at neonatal closure, median age 10m [8-33m]. INTERVENTION: RSTM included full mobilization of the bladder plate, urogenital diaphragm, and corpora cavernosa from the medial pelvic walls, followed by anatomical reconstruction with antireflux procedure, bladder closure, urethrocervicoplasty, muscle sphincter approximation, and penile/clitoral reconstruction. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The main criteria were bladder dehiscence or prolapse. Secondary outcomes included bladder neck fistula or urethral fistula, urethral stenosis, and parietal hernia. Continence and voiding have not been addressed at this stage. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: All bladder exstrophy cases were successfully closed without osteotomy, with no case of bladder dehiscence after 12 m [3-30] follow-up. COMPLICATIONS: Urethral fistula or stenosis occurred in eight patients: 4/5 fistulae closed spontaneously in less than 3 months; four urethral stenoses were successfully treated with 1-3 sessions of endoscopic high-pressure balloon dilatation or meatoplasty; one patient with persistent bladder neck fistula is currently awaiting repair. Although the follow-up is short, it does allow examination of the main outcome criterion, namely bladder dehiscence, which is usually expected to happen very early after surgery. CONCLUSION: The Kelly RSTM can be safely combined with delayed bladder closure without osteotomy in both primary and redo cases in classic bladder exstrophy.

[Pleuropulmonary blastoma: a case of early neonatal diagnosis through antenatal scan screening]. / Pleuropneumoblastome: un cas de découverte néonatale précoce grâce au dépistage échographique prénatal.

We report a case of pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) prenatally diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation. The suspected diagnoses was a congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM). The excision of the malformation was performed through a thoracotomy at 4 months of age. On pathological examination, the presence of focal stromal hypercellularity (cambium layer) in the cyst wall was consistent with both the diagnosis of type IV CCAM or grade I PPB. The presence of nodules of immature cartilage and the positivity of particular immunohistochemical staining (indicate which staining came positive) confirmed the diagnosis of grade I PPB. Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare malignant tumour in children, sometimes difficult to differentiate from the type IV CCAM as they share similar circumstances of diagnosis, radiological and macroscopic features. The pathological examination does not always allow to differentiate them clearly, implying the necessity of an extended medical supervision for the children carrying those border lesions. Because of the risks of malignancy and of the risks of septic complications, surgical resection during the first year of life is often advocated. Therefore, prenatal detection is essential to allow adequate early management and complete resection of these lesions.

Neuroblastoma chemotherapy can be augmented by immunotargeting O-acetyl-GD2 tumor-associated ganglioside.

Despite recent advances in high-risk neuroblastoma therapy, the prognosis for patients remains poor. In addition, many patients suffer from complications related to available therapies that are highly detrimental to their quality of life. New treatment modalities are, thus, urgently needed to further improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of existing therapies. Since antibodies specific for O-acetyl GD2 ganglioside display pro-apoptotic activity against neuroblastoma cells, we hypothesized that combination of immunotherapy could enhance tumor efficacy of neuroblastoma chemotherapy. We demonstrate here that combination of anti-O-acetyl GD2 monoclonal antibody 8B6 with topotecan synergistically inhibited neuroblastoma cell proliferation, as shown by the combination index values. Mechanistically, we evidence that mAb 8B6 induced plasma cell membrane lesions, consistent with oncosis. Neuroblastoma tumour cells treated with mAb 8B6 indeed showed an increased uptake of topotecan by the tumor cells and a more profound tumor cell death evidenced by increased caspase-3 activation. We also found that the combination with topotecan plus monoclonal antibody 8B6 showed a more potent anti-tumor efficacy in vivo than either agent alone. Importantly, we used low-doses of topotecan with no noticeable side effect. Our data suggest that chemo-immunotherapy combinations may improve the clinical efficacy and safety profile of current chemotherapeutic modalities of neuroblastoma.

[Understanding nephroblastoma. Information dedicated to parents and relatives]. / Comprendre le néphroblastome. Information à l'usage des parents et des proches d'un enfant malade.

In response to the evolution of the information-seeking behaviour of patients and concerns from health professionals regarding cancer patient information, the French National Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (FNCLCC) introduced, in 1998, an information and education program dedicated to patients and relatives, the SOR SAVOIR PATIENT program. The methodology of this program adheres to established quality criteria regarding the elaboration of patient information. Cancer patient information developed in this program is based on clinical practice guidelines produced by the FNCLCC and the twenty French regional cancer centres,the National League against Cancer, The National Cancer Institute, the French Hospital Federation, the National Oncology Federation of Regional and University Hospitals, the French Oncology Federation of General Hospitals, many learned societies, as well as an active participation of patients, former patients and caregivers. The handbook SOR SAVOIR PATIENT Understanding nephroblastoma is an adapted version of various scientific publications and international clinical practice guidelines, validated by oncology experts and by the Nephroblastoma Committee of the French Society against Cancers and Leukaemias in children and adolescents (SFCE). It was elaborated with the active participation of parents and other family members. It is meant to provide a basis for the explanation of the disease, to help parents asking questions, and to facilitate discussions with the healthcare team. It is available from the FNCLCC (101, rue de Tolbiac, 75013 PARIS, Tel. (0033)1 76 64 78 00, www.fnclcc.fr). This document was validated at the end of 2005 and published in May 2006. SOR SAVOIR PATIENT guides are systematically updated when new research becomes available. Information leaflets, extracted from the handbook SOR SAVOIR PATIENT Understanding nephroblastoma and published in this edition of the Cancer et Radiothérapie, describe the physiopathology of nephroblastoma, as well as treatments and follow-up. The guide allows parents and relatives to better understand the disease and the treatments proposed. It also offers health professionals a synthetic evidence-based patient information source which facilitates discussions with the patient.

[Laparoscopic surgery in children]. / Chirurgie coelioscopique chez l'enfant.

In the last two decades, laparoscopy surgery has been progressively adopted to children. Cardiorespiratory changes induced have been understood and controlled. Abdominal and urological surgery have widely benefited from this technique. Immediate postoperative period is simpler. The risk of small bowel obstruction by bands and adhesions is limited. Nevertheless, laparoscopy is not indicated for all pathologies. In neonatal surgery, more studies are necessary. Maybe the future is robotic surgery.

[Urodynamic investigations in children]. / Place des investigations urodynamiques chez l'enfant.

Performing urodynamic investigations in children presents some difficulty due to the lack of any normogram, and due to the results that vary with age. Such investigation is therefore carried out only when clinical examination and radiological assessment fail to explain a voiding dysfunction. The procedure should be performed in a urodynamic unit that has paediatric expertise. A specific paediatric procedure is to be respected when performing uroflowmetry and cystometry in children. Assessing the urethral pressure profile is very difficult since moving a catheter along the urethra causes a reflex activity of the pelvic floor muscles. Main indications are: neuropathic bladders, voiding dysfunctions, urinary infections, anorectal malformations and pelvic tumours. As in adults, urodynamic investigations are useful when selecting a therapeutic strategy.

The radical soft-tissue mobilization (Kelly repair) for bladder exstrophy.

UNLABELLED: The radical soft-tissue mobilization (RSTM) technique has been proposed as an alternative for staged reconstruction of bladder exstrophy. In this video, we demonstrate the successive steps of this technique. METHODS: A newborn male with classic bladder exstrophy underwent bladder closure without pelvic osteotomies at birth; he then underwent RSTM at 1 year of age. TECHNIQUE: Mobilization: The RSTM involved simultaneous intra-pelvic and perineal dissection, aiming at full mobilization of potential urethral sphincter striated structures, levatores ani muscles, pudendal pedicles and corpora cavernosa from their attachment on the pubic bones. From the perineal approach, a periosteum incision was performed on the antero-medial aspect of the pubic bones, and the periosteum was peeled from the ischio-pubic ramus, lifting the corpora from the bone and providing control on the pudendal pedicles. The attachments of all striated muscular structures on the lower aspects of the posterior corpora (transverse perinei, bulbo-spongiosus, ischio-cavernosus muscles) were released to allow adequate re-approximation around the reconstructed urethra. Reconstruction: After ureteric reimplantation, a funnel-shaped cervicoplasty was performed and continued by urethroplasty over an 8-Fr catheter. The muscular structures mobilized from the corpora and the bones were wrapped around the neo-urethra, which was transposed ventrally in the scrotal position, creating a temporary hypospadiac urethrostomy. After abdominal wall closure, the corpora were then de-rotated, and secured to the neo-symphisis with non-absorbable sutures, and the penile skin shaft was reconstructed. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, the boy was asymptomatic, still in nappies, with non-dilated upper-tracts on renal ultrasound, and dryness intervals of 90 min. CONCLUSION: Radical soft-tissue mobilization allows a tension-free bladder-neck reconstruction, and may favour development of physiological continence mechanisms independent of the inevitable pubic symphisis re-enlargement. Creation of temporary hypospadias is most often needed to maximize penile length. This technically demanding procedure requires thorough knowledge of detailed anatomy of the bladder exstrophy pelvis, as demonstrated in this video.

Long-term results with the laparoscopic transposition of renal lower pole crossing vessels.

BACKGROUND: For the treatment of ureterovascular pelviureteric junction obstruction (PUJO), transposition of lower pole crossing vessels (LPCV) has been described as an alternative to dismembered pyeloplasty. PURPOSE: To report on the long-term follow-up of children after laparoscopic transposition of LPCV. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 70 children consecutively treated by laparoscopic transposition of LPCV. Candidate patients were selected on the basis of clinical history, renal ultrasound (US), and pre-operative mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG-3) scan. Selection criteria included: presence of LPCV with SFU Grade 1-2 hydronephrosis, impaired drainage on MAG-3 and intraoperative normal pelviureteric junction (PUJ) and ureter peristalsis. Thinned parenchyma, impaired renal function, or history of prenatal hydronephrosis were not considered as exclusion criteria. Children were clinically followed up with US and MAG-3 scan. Success was defined by symptom resolution with improvement in hydronephrosis. RESULTS: Seventy children, aged 8.3 years (range 2.75-16.0), were selected. Procedures were performed through transperitoneal laparoscopy (n = 42) or were robotic-assisted (n = 28). Operative time was 120 min and length of hospital stay was 2 days. The outcome was successful in 67/70 patients (96%), with a median follow-up of 52 months (range 13-114). There were three failures in children who eventually underwent dismembered pyeloplasty for a symptomatic, undiagnosed, intrinsic PUJ obstruction. Two of them had been postnatally followed for a resolving prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis. Three children became free of symptoms, had improved hydronephrosis, but still showed impaired drainage on MAG-3 and are being closely followed up. DISCUSSION: Although this procedure proves to have long-term efficiency in selected indications, the main challenge is to intraoperatively ascertain the absence of associated intrinsic stenosis. Objective criteria remain difficult to establish, but intraoperative findings, including dependent, funnel-shaped, normal-looking PUJ with decreasing hydronephrosis after pelvis and LPCV mobilisation, and efficient peristalsis across the PUJ under intraoperative diuretic test, represent a low likelihood of associated intrinsic stenosis. Ipsilateral impaired renal function doesn't seem to be associated with an adverse outcome. In contrast, a prenatal history of mild or self-resolving hydronephrosis in a patient later presenting with intermittent dilatation, raises the suspicion of associated intrinsic PUJ obstruction, as it is associated with a higher risk of failure. CONCLUSION: With a long postoperative follow-up, the robotic-assisted or laparoscopic vascular hitch procedure has been successful in treating a selected group of children with obstructive LPCV, and represents a safe and reliable alternative to standard dismembered pyeloplasty in the absence of intrinsic PUJO suspected on prenatal US.

Interleukin-8 increases acetylcholine response of rat intestinal segments.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine highly expressed in inflammatory bowel diseases, but whose effects on intestinal motility are unknown. AIM: To characterize the role of IL-8 in the contraction of rat intestinal segments. METHODS: Contractile response to acetylcholine (ACh 10-6 M) in terminal ileal segments (including mucosa) from Wistar rats was measured before and after incubation (15, 30, 60 or 90 min) with IL-8 (1 ng/mL), and after 60 min of incubation with different doses of IL-8 (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 10 and 100 ng/mL). The effects of blocking neural transmission with tetrodotoxin (TTX) and inhibiting protein synthesis (cycloheximide) were tested. The contractile response of longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations (i.e. without mucosa) was measured after 60 min of incubation with 0.1 and 1 ng/mL of IL-8. RESULTS: IL-8 increased ileal contraction induced by ACh 10(-6) M. This augmentation was significant after 60 min of incubation (58%, P=0.01) and persisted after 90 min (18%, P=0.04). A 60-min incubation period showed a dose-related effect, beginning at 0.5 ng/mL (30%, P=0.003) and reaching a peak at 1 ng/mL (58%, P=0.01). The same effect was also observed on colonic segments. TTX did not affect the IL-8 increase of ACh-induced contractions, which was completely abolished by cycloheximide. IL-8 had no significant effect on longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations. CONCLUSION: In vitro, IL-8 increases contractile response of the ileum to ACh in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is not neurally mediated, but seems to involve protein synthesis by intestinal mucosa.

Retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy of a horseshoe kidney in a child.

Retroperitoneoscopic heminephrectomy used to manage a horseshoe kidney in a 15-month-old boy is reported. The surgery was decided after a progressive increase of arterial blood pressure in the patient followed for poor kidney functioning resulting from vesicoureteral reflux in both ureters of the left duplex moiety of a horseshoe kidney. The retroperitoneoscopy was conducted with three trocars: a 10-mm port inserted under direct vision at the extremity of the left 12th rib and two 5-mm operating trocars. Division of the isthmus was performed using an ultrasonic scalpel. Duration of the pneumoretroperitoneum was 115 min. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 4. At 2 years postoperatively, the patient's arterial blood pressure was normal without treatment. The authors conclude that retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for horseshoe kidney is safe and feasible in children, offering all the advantages of minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Definitive treatment of extended Hirschsprung's disease or total colonic form.

BACKGROUND: Between December 1990 and March 1999, five laparoscopic Duhamel pull-through procedures for extended or total aganglionosis were performed in our department, one of which had a rectosigmoid form with a short bowel and a colonic resection due to a volvulus. METHODS: The aim of this study was to show that even when the extended form of Hirschprung's disease or anatomic difficulties such as a short bowel and anterior colonic resection are encountered, the laparoscopic approach is possible and total colectomy is feasible. The procedure has been described previously. We used one camera port and three working ports. The sigmoid, transverse, and right colon up to the last ileal cove were mobilized laparoscopically. A standard posterior ileo-anal anastomosis was performed, and an endo-GIA stapler was used for the anterior anastomosis. RESULTS: A total of five patients underwent laparoscopic surgery for Hirschprung's disease. There were three total colonic forms, one rectosigmoid form with a short bowel and colon resection attributed to a volvulus, and one transverse variant that required a Deloyers' maneuver for the pull-through. Three of the infants required total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for an average of 49 days (range, 28-60) from diversion until the time of the definitive procedure. Only one patient did not receive TPN. Postoperatively, there were two complications-one wound infection and one hectic fever. The clinical results were good, with no soiling or stool incontinence and no constipation. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic procedure for total aganglionosis or the extended form of Hirschprung's disease is safe, feasible, and reproducible.

[The place of laparoscopy in pediatric surgery]. / La place de la coelioscopie en chirurgie pédiatrique.

The development of laparoscopy in children is designed to decrease the risks of this technique by respecting certain rules (particularly open laparoscopy). The indications are beginning to be well defined for certain frequent diseases (appendicitis, impalpable testes, gastro-oesophageal reflux) suitable for prospective studies, but remain much more subjective in other indications (splenectomy, lumboscopy) due to the limited paediatric series.

["Traffic lights" in pediatrics: what do residents beginning their family residency know about them?]. / Les « feux tricolores ¼ en pédiatrie : état des lieux des connaissances en début de 3e cycle de médecine générale.

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric practice is a difficult task requiring physicians to discriminate potentially serious situations among a variety of benign situations. The goal of this study was to assess the knowledge of students beginning their residency in family medicine on these situations. METHODS: One hundred and three students were evaluated on pediatric "traffic lights" using 103 true/false questions. Pediatric and family medicine teachers of the Nantes University Hospital defined "traffic lights" as the fundamentals of pediatrics, misleading situations, and diagnosis and treatment that should not to be missed. Emergency levels were defined by colors, with "red light" corresponding to life-threatening emergencies. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of the questions (n=103) had a correct response rate below 75%. Thirty-two percent of the questions on emergency situations ("red lights") (n=37) had a response rate below 75%. Fifteen percent of the questions (n=103) had a correct response rate below 50%, half of which were "red light" (e.g., on meningitis, diabetic acidocytosis, or shock). Questions concerning infants (n=24) had significantly fewer correct answers (correct response rate below 50%: 29% versus 10%; P=0.047). All the students answered seven questions correctly. The students' mean score (percentage of good answers) was 76% (±6%). No student had 100% or less than 50% good answers. CONCLUSIONS: Some life-threatening situations or situations concerning infants had not been mastered by most of the students. It is therefore essential to optimize the teaching of pediatrics during the second cycle of medical studies.