Search

Abstract Background Allergic proctocolitis (APC) in exclusively breast-fed infants is caused by food proteins, deriving from maternal diet, transferred through lactation. In most cases a maternal cow milk-free diet leads to a prompt resolution of rectal bleeding, while in some patients a multiple food allergy can occur. The aim of this study was to assess whether the atopy patch test (APT) could be helpful to identify this subgroup of patients requiring to discontinue breast-feeding due to polisensitization. Additionally, we assessed the efficacy of an amino acid-based formula (AAF) when multiple food allergy is suspected. amino acid-based formula Methods We have prospectively enrolled 14 exclusively breast-fed infants with APC refractory to maternal allergen avoidance. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopy with biopsies. Skin prick tests and serum specific IgE for common foods, together with APTs for common foods plus breast milk, were performed. After a 1 month therapy of an AAF all patients underwent a follow-up rectosigmoidoscopy. Results Prick tests and serum specific IgE were negative. APTs were positive in 100% infants, with a multiple positivity in 50%. Sensitization was found for breast milk in 100%, cow's milk (50%), soy (28%), egg (21%), rice (14%), wheat (7%). Follow-up rectosigmoidoscopy confirmed the remission of APC in all infants. Conclusions These data suggest that APT might become a useful tool to identify subgroups of infants with multiple gastrointestinal food allergy involving a delayed immunogenic mechanism, with the aim to avoid unnecessary maternal dietary restrictions before discontinuing breast-feeding.

Background: The surgical separation of two Conjoined Twins is a particularly complex operation. Surgical times are particularly long and post-operative complications are very frequent in this type of procedure. We report a clinical case of surgical separation of two thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins in which, thanks to the use of (3D) three dimensional technologies, we were able to significantly reduce operative times and improve clinical outcomes. Methods: We performed a 3D reconstruction of the anatomical parts involved in congenital fusion using Computer Tomography (CT) images. We obtained virtual anatomical models of the patients which allowed us to estimate essential details as the residual post-operative thoracic volume as well as the exact position of resection planes for both the general separation and for the hepatic splitting procedure. Subsequently, we printed 3D anatomical models of the thoracic cage and sternum and of the liver with the plane of resection. Finally, we printed an additional 3D anatomical model of the two patients representing different organs with multiple colors and materials. Results: The use of 3D printing reduced the duration of surgery by 30% with a favorable patient outcome. Two years after the operation, the patients do not present any type of deficit and have a normal life without any significant complication. Conclusion: Virtual anatomical 3D models and 3D printing represent a valid technological tool to support complex surgical operations, especially in pre-surgical planning. 3D models are important tools to better understand complex anatomy and to discuss clinical cases among members of the surgical team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of new energy sources for hemostasis has greatly facilitated advanced laparoscopic procedures. We describe a straightforward technique of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) accomplished using the THUNDERBEAT™ system (TS) (Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan) as the sole means of tissue dissection and hemostasis in two patients aged 19 and 6 years, respectively. The specimens were removed intact via a Pfannenstiel incision. Total operative time was 165 and 150 min, and length of hospital stay was three and 4 d, respectively. The TS is an appealing and reliable alternative to currently available energy devices, allowing fast dissection and secure hemostasis during laparoscopic splenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose Current repair of small omphaloceles and hernias into the umbilical cord is a straightforward procedure, whose repair may result in a suboptimal cosmetic outcome. We describe a novel repair technique retaining the umbilical cord elements in an attempt to improve the cosmetic appearance of the umbilicus. Methods Eight neonates were consecutively treated more than a ten-year period. Size of the fascial defects ranged 1 to 3 cm (median, 2). Present technique entails incision of the amniotic sac without its detachment from the skin, reduction of the extruded contents under direct vision, and closure of the abdominal wall defect by circumferential suturing of peritoneum and fascia around the base of the amniotic sac. The amniotic sac is then re-approximated and folded to create an umbilical stump, which is trimmed and left to shed naturally. Results All patients achieved a scarless abdomen with a normal appearing umbilicus in 6. The remaining 2 patients are awaiting surgery for persisting umbilical hernia repair and umbilicoplasty, respectively. Poor esthetic outcome was significantly associated with initial fascial defect ≥ 2.5 cm in size (p = 0.03). Conclusions Present technique is a simple and cosmetically appealing repair for umbilical cord hernias and small omphaloceles, especially effective when the size of the fascial defect is less than 2.5 cm. Level of evidence IV (Treatment Study). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the prevalence and clinical relevance of hypersensitivity to the plant panallergen profilin in children. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate prevalence, risk factors and clinical relevance of profilin sensitization in a large cohort of Italian children of different ages living in different geographic areas. Methods: Children with pollen allergy enrolled by 16 pediatric outpatient clinics sited in three main geographic areas of Italy were studied. SPT were carried out with commercial pollen extracts and a commercial purified date palm pollen profilin. IgE specific for allergenic pollen molecules, Phl p 12 (grass profilin) and Pru p 3 (peach lipid transfer protein) were tested by ImmunoCAP FEIA. Results: IgE to Phl p 12 (≥0.35 kU/l) was observed in 296 of the 1,271 participants (23%), including 17 of the 108 (16%) preschool children. Profilin SPT was positive (≥3 mm) in 320/1,271 (25%) participants. The two diagnostic methods were concordant in 1,151 (91%, p < 0.0001) cases. Phl p 12 IgE prevalence declined from northern to southern Italy and was directly associated with IgE to Phl p 1 and/or Phl p 5 and Ole e 1. Among children with IgE to Phl p 12, OAS was provoked by kiwi, melon, watermelon, banana, apricot and cucumber. Conclusions: Profilin sensitization is very frequent among pollen-allergic children, occurs at a very young age and contributes to the development of childhood OAS with a typical pattern of offending foods. Pediatricians should always consider IgE sensitization to profilin while examining pollen-allergic children, even if they are at preschool age. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In children, epiploic appendagitis has been seldom reported. We describe two children with clinical presentations mimicking appendicitis. A correct diagnosis was eventually achieved by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed at laparoscopy in the initial case. Our preliminary experience suggests that MRI is a valid and non-invasive alternative to computed tomography for characterization of unusual causes of pediatric abdominal pain in the acute hospital care setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Acquired gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) during infancy and childhood represents an uncommon event. We describe a 6-year-old boy with GOO who did not respond to medical treatment or to endoscopic pyloric balloon dilatations. The stenosis was successfully treated with laparoscopic pyloroplasty which relieved the obstruction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sporadic juvenile polyp of the jejunum is exceedingly rare, reported only once in the English literature. We describe a 3-year-old girl with a long-lasting history of chronic iron deficiency anemia and a delayed diagnosis of jejunal polyp. The lesion was eventually discovered by ultrasonography and successfully resected using a laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Acute liver injury (ALI) induced by paracetamol overdose is a well known cause of emergency hospital admission and death. However, there is debate regarding the risk of ALI after therapeutic dosages of the drug. The aim is to describe the characteristics of patients admitted to hospital with jaundice who had previous exposure to therapeutic doses of paracetamol. An assessment of the causality role of paracetamol was performed in each case. Methods: Based on the evaluation of prospectively gathered cases of ALI with detailed clinical information, thirtytwo cases of ALI in non-alcoholic patients exposed to therapeutic doses of paracetamol were identified. Two authors assessed all drug exposures by using the CIOMS/RUCAM scale. Each case was classified into one of five categories based on the causality score for paracetamol. Results: In four cases the role of paracetamol was judged to be unrelated, in two unlikely, and these were excluded from evaluation. In seven of the remaining 26 cases, the RUCAM score associated with paracetamol was higher than that associated with other concomitant medications. The estimated incidence of ALI related to the use of paracetamol in therapeutic dosages was 0.4 per million inhabitants older than 15 years of age and per year (99%CI, 0.2-0.8) and of 10 per million paracetamol users-year (95% CI 4.3-19.4). Conclusions: Our results indicate that paracetamol in therapeutic dosages may be considered in the causality assessment in non-alcoholic patients with liver injury, even if the estimated incidence of ALI related to paracetamol appears to be low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is an attractive conservative therapy for Crohn''s disease (CD) with stricture; however, its long-term efficacy has been questioned because many patients require more dilations or postdilation surgery. Most reports are retrospective, and no pediatric data are available. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of corticosteroid intralesional injection after EBD in preventing stricture recurrence. Design: Single-center prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Setting: Tertiary-referral university hospital. Patients: Between November 2005 and January 2009, 29 pediatric patients with stricturing CD were enrolled. Interventions: Enrolled patients were randomized to receive intrastricture injection of corticosteroid (CS) (n = 15) or placebo (n = 14) after EBD. Patients were followed clinically via small intestine contrast US and intestinal magnetic resonance imaging at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months; all underwent colonoscopy 12 months after dilation. Main Outcome Measurements: Time free of repeat dilation and time free of surgery in the 2 groups. Results: One of the 15 patients receiving CS required redilation, whereas the latter was needed in 5 of the 14 placebo patients; surgery was needed in 4 of the placebo patients, but in none of those receiving CS. The 2 groups statistically differed in the time free of redilation (P = .04) as well as for time free of surgery after EBD (P = .02), which were worse in the placebo group compared with the CS group. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the 2 groups. Limitations: Sample size, participation bias, and short-term follow-up. Conclusion: In pediatric CD with stricture, intralesional CS injection after EBD is an effective strategy for reducing the need both for redilation and surgery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Management and successful use of vascular access are critical issues in pediatric patients affected by malignancies. Prolonged course of disease, complex and various treatment protocols require long-lasting vascular access providing adequate tools to administrate those therapies and to collect routine blood sampling without painful and repeated venipuncture. For these reasons, central venous catheters are currently an important component in pediatric onco-hematological care, with a direct influence on outcome. Indeed, there are peculiar issues (techniques of insertion, management, complications etc.) which must be well-known in order to improve the outcome and the quality of life of children with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background/purpose: No studies have investigated the cosmetic outcome of current approaches to pyloromyotomy in infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the final appearance of the scar in patients undergoing circumumbilical pyloromyotomy. Methods: During a 16-year period, 86 infants underwent circumumbilical pyloromyotomy at our institution. A detailed questionnaire was created to document the family members'' perceptions of the esthetic appearance of the scar. Data were collected by telephone interview and at clinic visit. In addition, cosmesis was assessed by 5 staff members who scored blindly the esthetic outcome of the scars with comparative photographs, using a categorical scale. Results: Fifty-seven families were tracked by telephone contact. In the family questionnaire, 100% of families reported an excellent or good scar. Of these, forty-one (72%) were available for cosmetic assessment. Follow-up ranged between 5 months and 15 years (mean, 6 years). The panel members ranked the scar, on average, as excellent or good for 90% of the patients. No assessor stated that a scar was unacceptable. Intra- and interobserver agreement was 0.72 and 0.78, respectively. Conclusions: Overall satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome of circumumbilical pyloromyotomy is very high. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: We recently adopted an approach described by eyelid surgeons for angular dermoid cyst excision. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of this technique with that accomplished through a conventional trans-eyebrow incision. Methods: Prospective nonrandomized study of 34 consecutive children treated between January 2000 and December 2006. Twenty-six patients (group I) were operated on through a trans-eyebrow incision, whereas 8 (group II) received an upper eyelid crease incision. Performance measures included cosmesis, operative time, and complications. Cosmesis was assessed blindly with comparative photographs, using a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results: No significant differences were found between groups I and II with regard to age at surgery (22 ± 17 vs 24 ± 4 months; P = .07) and operative time (42 ± 21 vs 40 ± 16 minutes; P = .9). In group II, the scar resulted invisible when the affected side was assessed with the eye open and still significantly better than group I, when evaluated with the eye closed (96 ± 7 vs 81 ± 18 mm; P = .0001). All patients and their families reported great satisfaction and an excellent scar. There were neither major postoperative complications nor recurrence of the lesion. Conclusions: Angular dermoid cyst excision using an eyelid crease approach yields excellent cosmesis and represents a safe, simple, and easily reproducible procedure in pediatric general surgical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 2 month-old boy was admitted to the authors' hospital because of regurgitation and persistent cough during breastfeeding. A chest X-ray examination and a barium esophagogram disclosed small amounts of barium passing in the trachea, suggesting a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Bronchoscopy combined with upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy performed with the patient under general anesthesia confirmed the fistula. The TEF was treated by injection of 1 ml Glubran 2 from the esophageal side. A nasogastric tube was placed for feedings, and 7 days later, a barium esophagogram showed a reduction of caliber but not complete closure of the TEF. Unsuccessful fistula obliteration with Glubran was attributed to technical difficulties in catheterization of the fistula orifice, mainly resulting from its close proximity to the upper esophageal sphincter and to its small caliber. Therefore, an argon plasma coagulator (APC) probe with a circumferentially oriented nozzle was used from the esophageal side as an alternative technique to fulgurate the residual fistula orifice (see video). A nasogastric tube was placed for feedings. Oral feeding was started 7 days later when a barium esophagogram confirmed complete fistula closure. At the 2-year follow-up visit, the boy was asymptomatic, and the barium esophagogram was negative. This report describes a case in which esophagoscopy gave a clear view of the fistula due to its direction from esophagus to trachea. Complete fistula obliteration was not obtained with Glubran. However, APC was successfully used to close the residual fistula orifice. The authors suggest that APC can be used as an alternative endoscopic technique to repair TEF when other techniques fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thyroglossal duct remnant localized to the suprasternal notch is an exceedingly rare condition. We report on a novel case occurring in an 8-year-old girl who presented with acute onset of a suprasternal abscess. After incision and drainage, a Sistrunk procedure was successfully carried out using 2 stepladder incisions. This approach combined optimal surgical exposure and satisfactory cosmesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Superior sternal cleft repair aims to restore bony protection to mediastinal structures and to eliminate visible deformity. We describe a 4-day-old neonate with an isolated defect who successfully underwent primary repair using a low cervical skin crease incision. Such a novel approach combined optimal surgical exposure and excellent cosmesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim: In infants with Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS), mandibular distraction may be more advantageous than glossopexy as it not only relieves oropharyngeal airway obstruction but also reverses body growth retardation. Because no data are available on body weight velocity after glossopexy, we assessed longitudinally the body weight velocity in a cohort of children undergoing glossopexy. Methods: The records of 48 infants with PRS undergoing glossopexy after unsuccessful nonoperative treatment between 1981 and 2005 were reviewed. Weight measurements were analyzed at 4 time-points: at birth, on admission for glossopexy, on admission for lysis of lip-tongue adhesion (TLA), and at follow-up. Weight velocity was assessed using Tanner''s tables. Main Results: Adhesion dehiscence occurred in 9 patients (18.7%). Lip-tongue adhesion resolved airway compromise in 36 infants (75%). Release of TLA was accomplished in 34 patients. Data on weight velocity from birth to follow-up (mean, 5.57 ± 0.59 years) were available for 31 patients. After glossopexy, mean body weight increased from the 9.7 ± 2.6th to the 17.5 ± 4.6th percentile (P > .05), whereas mean weight velocity increased from the 19.1 ± 4.9th to the 74.2 ± 4.7th percentile (P < .001). No temporal correlation was found between glossopexy and oropharyngeal dysphagia. Conclusion: In infants with PRS, glossopexy is a valid alternative to mandibular distraction because it does not cause decline in body growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Of 136 infants with repaired esophageal atresia, one presented an unilateral facial flushing and 2 presented a flushing and sweating of one half of the body. The topography of these disorders and/or the associated clinical manifestations suggest that the asymmetry may be related to an instability of unilateral autonomic centers more than to a surgical injury of upper thoracic sympathetic chain during esophageal repair. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the use of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy in a low-volume pediatric surgery center in Italy. It describes Italian pediatric surgeons' preferred practice patterns in managing infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. The performance of laparoscopic pyloromyotomy via a small supraumbilical skin incision is mentioned. The percentage of pediatric general surgery centers using the circumumbilical approach is also addressed.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between renal function and vesicoureteral reflux before and after valve ablation in patients with posterior urethral valves. In these patients, back pressure may not be the only cause of renal damage. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 37 patients with valves consecutively treated between 1970 and 2002. Data were available for 31 patients, 19 of whom presented reflux at presentation. Grade of reflux was ascertained by voiding cystourethrography. Overall renal function was measured by serum creatinine, and split renal function was estimated by dimercaptosuccinic acid scan available for all patients but two. Results: Before relief of obstruction, there was no correlation between split renal function and grade of reflux into 25 kidneys of the 17 patients (r = −.13; 95% CI, −.50 to .27; P = .51). High-grade reflux (grade IV-V) affected 6 of the 11 renal units, with split renal function >40% vs 11 of the 14 units with split renal function <40% (P = .38). After successful valve ablation, reflux resolved in all the 11 units with split renal function >40% vs 4 of the 14 units with split renal function <40% (P = .0005). Conclusion: The good renal function of more than half of the renal units with high-grade reflux at presentation, and the persistence of reflux mainly in nonfunctioning or poorly functioning kidneys after valve ablation, support the concept that in some patients with valves, reflux and renal damage are associated anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]