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Pulmonary contusion in the adult population is an independent risk factor for respiratory failure, ventilator associated pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pilot studies in adults note an increased risk when volume of pulmonary contusion exceeds 20 per cent of total lung volume. The purpose of this study was to determine if children with pulmonary contusion suffer the same morbidity as adults. From January 2005 to May 2007, all trauma patients ages 3 to 18-years-old were assessed for CT evidence of pulmonary contusion. Children were excluded if injury included confounding variables, which could result in respiratory failure independent of contusion status. CT images were reviewed and pulmonary contusion was calculated as a percentage of total lung volume. Outcomes including need for invasive ventilation, pneumonia, and development of oxygenation problems were recorded. Data collected included patient age, Injury Severity Score, arterial blood gas findings, and number of rib fractures. Twenty-six patients met criteria for the study with a mean age of 13.35 years and mean Injury Severity Score of 24. The mean percentage of pulmonary contusion was 19.81 per cent. No patients required intubation. Pediatric pulmonary contusion does not carry the same morbidity as noted in the adult population. Invasive airway management is rarely required.

The minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair as described by Nuss et al. is rapidly gaining acceptance as an effective method of repair of severe pectus excavatum deformities in the pediatric population. It potentially offers several advantages over previous techniques. The incidence of major complications of the procedure has been reduced by recent modifications including utilization of video-assisted thoracoscopy during placement of the Lorenz pectus bar as well as utilizing the pectus bar stabilizer that provides more rigid fixation of the strut. We report two cases of acquired thoracic scoliosis following minimally invasive repair of severe pectus excavatum deformity. This particular complication has not been reported in previous literature and warrants concern. In both cases the thoracic scoliosis slowly improved with physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises.

The finding of a pericardial effusion in the pediatric population evokes an extensive list of differential diagnoses. With the added history of trauma the effusion should be considered secondary to hemorrhage. We present a patient with such a history who was admitted to the hospital with the finding of a large pericardial effusion and an associated pericardial mass. The evaluation and treatment of this rare pathology are discussed as well as a review of the literature.

We present a classic but rare case of spontaneous perforation of the bile duct in infancy and a previously undescribed treatment technique. The patient, a male age 5 weeks, was admitted with abdominal distention, ascites, and conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Ultrasound revealed ascites but did not provide visualization of the gallbladder. Although hepatobiliary scintigraphy with technetium [dimethyl iminodiacetic acid (HIDA scan)] showed normal uptake peritoneal excretion suggested perforation of the common bile duct (CBD). Exploratory laparotomy revealed 200 cm3 dark amber ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity and cholestasis of the liver. Intraoperative cholangiogram performed via the gallbladder showed a large perforation at the cystic duct/CBD junction. The perforation was large and leakage of contrast prevented demonstration of the distal CBD despite our attempt to primarily repair the perforation. The CBD was explored; a T-tube was placed. T-tube cholangiogram demonstrated flow of contrast into the duodenum. A large leak remained at the cystic CBD junction. A cholecystectomy was performed and a vascularized flap of the gallbladder wall was used to repair the CBD over the T-tube. The T-tube was clamped intermittently beginning 3 weeks postoperatively. T-tube cholangiogram performed 6 weeks postoperatively revealed no extravasation and normal intra- and extrahepatic biliary tree. The T-tube was subsequently discontinued and liver function tests remained normal at 6 months follow-up.

The minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair as described by Nuss et al. is rapidly gaining acceptance as an effective method of repair of severe pectus excavatum deformities in the pediatric population. It potentially offers several advantages over previous techniques. The incidence of major complications of the procedure has been reduced by recent modifications including utilization of video-assisted thoracoscopy during placement of the Lorenz pectus bar as well as utilizing the pectus bar stabilizer that provides more rigid fixation of the strut. We report two cases of acquired thoracic scoliosis following minimally invasive repair of severe pectus excavatum deformity. This particular complication has not been reported in previous literature and warrants concern. In both cases the thoracic scoliosis slowly improved with physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises.

The finding of a pericardial effusion in the pediatric population evokes an extensive list of differential diagnoses. With the added history of trauma the effusion should be considered secondary to hemorrhage. We present a patient with such a history who was admitted to the hospital with the finding of a large pericardial effusion and an associated pericardial mass. The evaluation and treatment of this rare pathology are discussed as well as a review of the literature.

During pregnancy, intestinal obstruction due to sigmoid volvulus is extremely rare. Only 73 cases have been reported. A 24-year-old black woman, gravida 2, para 1, presented during Week 36 of an otherwise uneventful pregnancy, with intermittent abdominal pain and constipation, and no history of nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, previous medical problems, or prior abdominal surgery. Her previous pregnancy was a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a normal full-term neonate. On examination, she was afebrile, with abdominal tenderness. Laboratory studies revealed elevated WBC count of 13,500. She was admitted and given a Fleet enema, with no result or change in abdominal pain. Pain worsened; reexamination of her cervix revealed 3 cm dilation. After Pitocin augmentation, a viable male infant with Apgars of 7 and 9 was delivered. Postpartum, abdominal pain continued, with worsening abdominal distention. Radiograph revealed a massively distended colon. Physical examination 12 hours postdelivery indicated peritonitis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed volvulated, gangernous, massively distended sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon was resected and Hartmann's colostomy performed. She was discharged on postoperative Day 4. Sigmoid volvulus complicating pregnancy is an uncommon and potentially devastating development that should be suspected with worsening abdominal pain and evidence of bowel obstruction. Prompt intervention is necessary to minimize maternal and fetal morbidity.

The thyroid gland originates from the foramen cecum, and by 7 weeks gestation, descends ventrally in the midline of the neck. During its descent, a patent diverticulum, the thyroglossal duct, connects the gland to the base of the tongue. While the duct normally closes by the tenth gestational week, it is not uncommon to have all or a portion of the duct remain patent as a thyroglossal duct cyst or sinus. While these cysts are relatively common, thyroglossal duct carcinomas are very uncommon. They are generally of two types: squamous cell carcinoma arising from metaplastic columnar cells, and thyrogenic carcinoma arising from thyroembryonic rests in the duct or cyst. We report one case of each. The squamous cell carcinoma was resected via the Sistrunk procedure with no evidence of recurrence over a 10-year follow-up. The thyrogenic carcinoma (papillary type) was resected via the Sistrunk procedure with subsequent total thyroidectomy.