Management of fetal head and neck masses: Evaluation of prenatal factors associated with airway obstruction and decision for definitive airway and ex-utero intrapartum treatment at birth.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal head and neck masses can result in critical airway obstruction. Our study aimed to evaluate prenatal factors associated with the decision for a definitive airway, including ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT), at birth among at-risk fetuses. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review evaluated all fetal head and neck masses prenatally diagnosed from 2005 to 2023. The primary outcome was the decision for a definitive airway at birth, including intubation, tracheostomy, or EXIT. RESULTS: Thirty four patients were included, with 23 deliveries occurring at our institution. 8/23 (35%) patients received a definitive airway at birth, six underwent an EXIT procedure, and two required intubation only. Patients who received a definitive airway had higher rates of polyhydramnios (50% vs. 7%, p = 0.03), tracheal narrowing on ultrasound (US) (50% vs. 0%, p = 0.01), tracheal displacement on US (63% vs. 0%, p < 0.01), abnormal fetal breathing on US (50% vs. 0%, p = 0.01), tracheal narrowing or displacement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (75% vs. 7%, p < 0.01), and larger mass maximum diameter (7.9 vs. 4.3 cm, p = 0.02). In our series, 100% of patients with polyhydramnios, tracheal narrowing or displacement on either US or MRI, and abnormal fetal breathing on US received a definitive airway at birth. CONCLUSION: Prenatal findings of tracheal narrowing or displacement, polyhydramnios, and abnormal fetal breathing are strongly associated with the decision for a definitive airway at birth and warrant mobilization of appropriate resources.

Clinical Outcomes of Noninvasive Ventilation in Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and Other COPD.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) appears to be associated with a significant decrease in frequency of exacerbation, hospital admissions, and mortality in patients with COPD. In this study, we sought to determine clinical outcomes, prevalence, patient profiles and systems characteristics associated with the use of NIV in patients with asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample dataset was used to evaluate patient characteristics for adult hospitalizations for asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD between January 2002 and December 2017. Using the adjusted survey logistic regression model, the association between NIV and in-hospital mortality for asthma, bronchiectasis, and other COPD was ascertained. RESULTS: Other COPD hospitalization prevalence was nearly two times higher among non-Hispanic Black patients compared with non-Hispanic White patients (8.32/1000 vs 4.46/1000). There was a 4.3% average annual decrease in the rates of NIV among hospitalized patients with other COPD during the study period. Furthermore, nonusage of NIV was associated with increased in-hospital mortality for asthma (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-1.57), bronchiectasis (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.69-2.41), and other COPD (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.16-1.32), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient use of NIV has a clear mortality benefit in asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD. These findings support a signal for potential benefit, particularly among certain populations and warrant further investigation.

Community Violence, PTSD, Hopelessness, Substance Use, and Perpetuation of Violence in an Urban Environment.

We investigated the relationships among chronic violence exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, hopelessness, substance use, and perpetuation of violence to facilitate the development of trauma-related interventions for residents of Newark, NJ. A convenience sample of Newark residents (N = 153) was recruited from community centers during various events in 2016-2017. Anonymous, self-report survey measures included a PTSD screen (PCL-C), Beck's Hopelessness Scale, the CAGE questionnaire, and a CDC Health Behavior Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, Chi square analyses, logistic, and linear regressions were used for analysis. Thirty percent (95% CI [22.7, 37.4]) of our sample screened positive for PTSD. Drug and alcohol use, fighting, and hopelessness were related to severity of PTSD symptoms (p < 0.05). Female gender, CAGE scores, and hopelessness predicted the severity of PTSD symptoms (R2 = 0.354, p < 0.05). Our data has informed the development of a resilience support group currently in the pilot stage for community members.

Pediatric Ultrasound Appendicitis Score for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis to Reduce Computed Tomography Scan Utilization.

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common reasons for pediatric surgical consultation in the emergency room. Although acute appendicitis is a clinical diagnosis, the use of imaging in the emergency department to assist with the diagnosis is very common. Ultrasound is frequently utilized in pediatrics because of the radiation risks associated with computed tomography (CT) scan. The risks of radiation in the pediatric population are much more significant than in adults. Reasons for this include smaller size so there is a relative higher radiation dose than for larger adults, radiosensitive organs such as thyroid, bone marrow, and gonads, and radiation exposure earlier in life allows for more time that a radiation induced cancer could develop. The risks of radiation from imaging are increased with cumulative dosing. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to incorporate the pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and standardized ultrasound scoring system to provide a combined score that would assist with the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis and avoid the need for a CT scan. RESULTS: The presented data shows that for scores of 7 or more, the specificity and sensitivity is 90% and 90.2%, respectively for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. DISCUSSION: This study validates the combined score, shows the specific cutoffs, and initiates the discussion that CT scan may not always be required for diagnosing acute appendicitis if this scoring system is used.

Complicated Meckel's Diverticulum Presenting as Pneumoperitoneum in an Adolescent.

BACKGROUND The finding of pneumoperitoneum frequently leads to operative management for diagnosis and treatment. The etiology of pneumoperitoneum includes perforated viscus, such as perforated peptic ulcers, small or large intestinal perforations, appendicitis, and complicated sigmoid diverticulitis. We describe the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative course of a patient with perforated Meckel’s diverticulitis presenting with pneumoperitoneum. This unusual presenting finding highlights that Meckel’s diverticulum should be included in the differential diagnosis in adolescents and young adults presenting with pneumoperitoneum. CASE REPORT We describe a case of an 18-year-old male who presented with 1 day of abdominal pain, found to have pneumoperitoneum during workup, attributed to perforated Meckel’s diverticulum. CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis were performed, confirming pneumoperitoneum, an inflamed segment of distal ileum, and a non-visualized appendix, which made the diagnosis difficult. Perforated Meckel’s diverticulum, likely due to infection, was confirmed by diagnostic laparoscopy. The Meckel’s diverticulum was then exteriorized and removed by segmental small bowel resection with primary anastomosis. The final pathology report confirmed perforated Meckel’s diverticulum with gastric oxyntic-type mucosa. CONCLUSIONS This case illustrates an uncommon presentation of Meckel’s diverticulum in an adolescent with pneumoperitoneum. Pneumoperitoneum requires broadening the diagnosis to include other causes, including Meckel’s diverticulum, especially in the setting of an acute abdomen. This case highlights that a high index of suspicion should be kept for Meckel’s diverticulum, even in adolescents and young adults with pneumoperitoneum.

Small Bowel Obstruction Following Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair-Incidence and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a known complication following congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair, resulting in significant morbidity and potential mortality. Our study aims to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for SBO following CDH repair. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review evaluated all CDH births between January 2010 and September 2022 (n = 120). Risk factors for SBO were analyzed, including operative approach, type of repair, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and additional abdominal surgeries (gastrostomy tube and fundoplication). RESULTS: 120 patients were included. 16 (13%) patients developed an SBO, of which 94% were due to adhesive bands. The median time to SBO was 7.5 months. 15/16 (94%) patients required operative intervention. Need for ECMO (P < 0.01), prior gastrostomy tube (P < 0.01), and prior fundoplication (P < 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of SBO, as were longer time to initial CDH repair (6 days vs 3 days; P < 0.01) and longer length of initial hospitalization (63 days vs 29 days; P = 0.01). DISCUSSION: Neonates with increased acuity of illness (ie, those requiring ECMO, additional abdominal operations, longer time to repair, and longer initial hospitalizations) appear to have an increased risk of developing adhesive SBO after CDH repair. More than 90% of patients who developed SBO required surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for children with pulmonary hypertension: A single-institutional experience of outcomes.

Pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can present with a wide spectrum of disease severity. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) crises can lead to acute decompensation requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, including extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR). We evaluated outcomes for pediatric PH patients requiring ECMO. A single-institution retrospective review of pediatric PAH patients with World Symposium on PH (WSPH) groups 1 and 3 requiring ECMO cannulation from 2010 through 2022 (n = 20) was performed. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes were survival to decannulation and 1-year survival. Of 20 ECMO patients, 16 (80%) survived to decannulation and 8 (40%) survived to discharge and 1 year follow up. Of three patients who had two ECMO runs; none survived. There were five patients who had eCPR for the first run; one survived to discharge. The univariate logistic regression model showed that venovenous ECMO was associated with better survival to hospital discharge than venoarterial ECMO, (OR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.01-0.86, p = 0.046). PH medications (administered before, during, or after ECMO) were not associated with survival to discharge. For children with decompensated PAH requiring ECMO, mortality rate is high, and management is challenging. While VA ECMO is the main configuration for decompensated PH, VV ECMO could be considered if there is adequate ventricular function, presence of a systemic to pulmonary shunt, or an intercurrent treatable illness to improve survival to discharge. A multidisciplinary approach with requisite expertise should be utilized on a case-by-case basis until more reliable data is available to predict outcomes.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: While the lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the impact on adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery remains unseen. OBJECTIVE: We examined the impact of the pandemic on adolescents undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery. SETTING: Academic hospital, New York, NY. METHODS: A single-institution review of prospectively collected data evaluated adolescents who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between 2010 and 2023, forming two cohorts: pre-COVID (before March 1, 2019) and COVID (after March 1, 2020). Absolute and percent weight loss and body mass index (BMI) change at 6 and 12 months postsurgery were compared between cohorts. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to estimate the association between weight loss, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and BMI. RESULTS: A total of 358 patients were included: 245 in the pre-COVID cohort and 113 in the COVID cohort. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. There were no significant differences between cohorts at 6 months in weight loss (21.6 kg vs. 22.5 kg, P = .43), percent weight loss (18% vs. 18%, P = .63), and BMI change (8.0 vs. 8.4, P = .39) which was maintained at 12 months. In multivariate models, after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline BMI, undergoing surgery during the pandemic was not associated with a difference in weight loss or BMI change at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Despite the severe societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy remained a durable intervention for adolescent obesity, with no observed differences in weight loss in patients undergoing surgery during the pandemic compared to prepandemic.

Optimizing Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair on ECMO: Evaluating the Risk of Bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Institutions lack consensus on the management of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) who are repaired on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our study aimed to evaluate risk factors associated with bleeding complications in patients with CDH repaired on ECMO. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review evaluated all patients with CDH who underwent on-ECMO repair between January 2005 and December 2023. A significant bleeding complication post-repair was defined as bleeding necessitating re-operation. The association between preoperative factors and bleeding complications was evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were included. Bleeding complications developed in 11/46 (24%) patients. Birthweight (2.5 vs. 3.2 kg, p = 0.02), platelet count <100/mm3 (64% vs. 29%, p = 0.04), elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 24.5 vs. 17.5 mg/dL, p = 0.05), and older age at repair (8 vs. 5 days, p = 0.04) were associated with bleeding. In univariate analysis, patients with platelets under 100/mm3 were more likely to develop a bleeding complication (OR = 4.4, p = 0.04). Patients who experienced a significant bleeding event experienced increased ECMO days (12 vs. 7 days, p < 0.01), ventilator days (31 vs. 18 days, p < 0.05), and lower survival to discharge (36% vs. 74%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Among CDH patients undergoing repair on ECMO, those with lower birth weight, platelet counts under 100/mm3, elevated BUN, and older age at repair had an increased risk of a significant bleeding complication, resulting in more ECMO and ventilator days and higher mortality. Patients undergoing on-ECMO repair should have platelet count transfused to greater than 100/mm3. Patients at high risk for bleeding may benefit from early repair on ECMO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Enhanced recovery after surgery improves clinical outcomes in adolescent bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are evidence-based, multimodal approaches to optimize patient recovery and minimize complications. OBJECTIVES: Our team evaluated clinical outcomes following the implementation of an ERAS protocol for adolescents undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. SETTING: Academic hospital, New York, NY, USA. METHODS: We performed a single-institution longitudinal assessment of adolescents who underwent laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) between August 2021 and November 2022. Unpaired t-tests and Fisher's exact test were used to compare means between groups and categorical factors. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included in the study, 21 who participated in the ERAS protocol and 22 control patients. ERAS cohort was 52% females, with a median age of 17.5 years and a median body mass index (BMI) of 46.3 kg/m2. The non-ERAS cohort was 59% females, with a median age of 16.7 years and a median BMI of 44.0 kg/m2. There were no significant differences between baseline characteristics. Patients in the ERAS group had a shorter time to oral intake (10.7 hours versus 21.5 hours, P < .01), lower morphine milligram equivalents (18.2 versus 97.0, P < .01), and shorter length of stay (1.5 days versus 2.0 days, P = .01). There were no significant differences between return visits to the emergency department (ED) within 30 days (3 versus 2, P = .66) or readmissions (0 versus 1, P = 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: The described ERAS protocol is safe and effective in adolescents undergoing laparoscopic VSG and is associated with shorter time to oral intake, reduced opioid requirements, and shorter hospital lengths of stay with no increase in return ED visits or readmissions.

Neonate with congenital pulmonary airway malformation concurrent with enteric duplication cyst: a case report of a rare anomaly.

A congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) occurring concurrently with an enteric duplication cyst is a rare anomaly. Definitive management for both abnormalities is usually surgical resection. We present the uncommon case of a neonate with a CPAM and ileal duplication cyst, including pre-natal and post-natal workup. The patient was brought to the operating room for laparoscopic duplication cyst excision at 3 months of age. The patient returned to the operating room for a thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy at five months of age. This case presents a rare congenital anomaly with the concurrent presentation of a CPAM and enteric duplication cyst, with both being successfully excised minimally invasively.

Anterior Abdominal Varicosities Due to Unilateral Common and External Iliac Vein Occlusion Five Decades Post-Injury.

Abdominopelvic varicosities are a rare occurrence after traumatic venous injuries. Several disorders exist that present with abdominopelvic varicosities such as May-Thurner syndrome, pelvic congestion syndrome, and nutcracker syndrome; however, it has rarely been described after trauma.1 We present a case in 70-year-old male, who in 1974 sustained a penetrating injury from fragments secondary to mortar explosion, requiring exploratory laparotomy. He presented to the hospital with abdominopelvic varicosities that began 20 years after the incident and was asymptomatic at initial presentation. While there is a known case report of congenital absence of a common iliac vein in a young, healthy, athletic man who developed abdominopelvic varicosities, this is the first case report, to our knowledge, of evolution of a traumatic injury of this nature over a lifetime. Pathophysiology, diagnostics, risks of ligation, and management of chronic abdominopelvic varicosities in this patient are discussed.

Spontaneous Retroperitoneal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Abscess in a Pediatric Patient.

Retroperitoneal abscesses are relatively uncommon in infants and children. They carry a high rate of morbidity due to insidious onset and pose a diagnostic challenge. Here we report a case of spontaneous retroperitoneal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in a two-year-old patient. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and surgical washout and drainage. A retroperitoneal abscess is usually found in patients with a history of osteomyelitis, seeding of post-traumatic pelvic hematomas, post radiation, or perforated hollow viscus including but not limited to: perforated appendicitis, bowel perforations due to foreign objects or malignancy, or perforated diverticulitis. Most of these conditions are usually found in the adult population. As per a recent literature search, there are no reported cases of a spontaneous retroperitoneal MRSA abscess in the pediatric population without risk factors.

Impact of ketamine as an adjunct sedative in acute respiratory distress syndrome due to COVID-19 Pneumonia.

PURPOSE: Deep sedation is sometimes needed in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Ketamine is a sedative that has been shown to have analgesic and sedating properties without having a detrimental impact on hemodynamics. This pharmacological profile makes ketamine an attractive sedative, potentially reducing the necessity for other sedatives and vasopressors, but there are no studies evaluating its effect on these medications in patients requiring deep sedation for acute respiratory distress syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study in a single center, quaternary care hospital in southeast Texas. We looked at adults with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation from March 2020 to September 2020. RESULTS: We found that patients had less propofol requirements at 72 h after ketamine initiation when compared to 24 h (median 34.2 vs 54.7 mg/kg, p = 0.003). Norepinephrine equivalents were also significantly lower at 48 h than 24 h after ketamine initiation (median 38 vs 62.8 mcg/kg, p = 0.028). There was an increase in hydromorphone infusion rates at all three time points after ketamine was introduced. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with COVID-19 ARDS who required mechanical ventilation receiving ketamine we found propofol sparing effects and vasopressor requirements were reduced, while opioid infusions were not.