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Adhesions and fibrosis following failed primary surgery for severe gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) in neurologically impaired children (NI) can render mobilization of the lower oesophagus and oesophago-jejunal anastomosis a technically demanding exercise both at open surgery and laparoscopy. This paper presents the Modified Oesophago-Gastric Dissociation (M-OGD) as a less complex technical modification of the original Total Oesophago-Gastric Dissociation (TOGD). The stomach is detached from the oesophago-gastric junction with an articulated 5-mm stapler, leaving a 5-mm strip of stomach attached to the oesophagus. An end-to-side isoperistaltic oesophago-jejunostomy is created between the gastric stump and the isoperistaltic jejunal Roux loop. A jejuno-jejunal anastomosis restores bowel continuity. Between May 2018 and February 2020, M-OGD was performed on 3 NI patients with a weight of 9–27.3 kg (median = 14 kg). Median age at surgery was 60 months (18–180), median surgical time 170 min (146–280), median re-feeding time was 3 days (2–5), and median length of stay was 20 days (11–25). All patients healed primarily and after a median follow-up of 3 months, there were no problems related to the oesophago-jejunal anastomosis. M-OGD reduces the difficulties of redo oesophageal surgery following failed anti-reflux procedures, with a safer oesophago-jejunal anastomosis and a good long-term outcome.

Background Esophageal replacement in children is an option that is confined to very few situations including long-gap esophageal atresia and esophageal strictures unresponsive to other therapies (peptic or caustic ingestion). The purpose of our work was to describe the experience of gastric transposition in three Italian centers. Methods This is a retrospective study. The data were extrapolated from a prospective database. We included all patients who had undergone gastric transposition in the last 15 years. Results In the 15-year period, eight infants and children (3 males and 5 females) underwent gastric transposition for esophageal replacement. Six patients had long-gap esophageal atresia, and two had caustic esophageal stenosis. There were no deaths in the series. Three patients had an early postoperative complication: two had a self-limited salivary fistula at three weeks, and one (a patient with jejunostomy) had a jejunal perforation treated surgically. One late complication, anastomotic stricture, was recorded that required two endoscopic dilatations. The median follow-up was 60 months (range: 18-144 months). At final clinical follow-up, six patients had no eating problems, and two patients had some difficulties with eating (jejunostomy in situ), but they underwent logopedic therapy with improved outcomes. All patients had an increase in body weight and height postoperatively. Conclusion Our small study reports the clinical experience of three Italian centers in which gastric transposition was performed with excellent results, both in terms of surgical technique (simplicity, reproducibility, complication rate) and clinical follow-up (good oral feeding of young patients, normal social life and regular growth curves).

Bladder exstrophy and epispadias are severe congenital anomalies associated with an open bladder and urinary sphincter. Despite modern reconstruction, there is a significant incidence of residual or recurrent urinary incontinence that impacts on quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem, which in turn limits social interaction (Figure). The present study involved 14 patients, mainly from a Middle Eastern country, and reported the early findings with a modification of the Heitz-Boyer-Hovelacque rectal bladder technique for both urinary and faecal control.Fourteen children, with a median age of 8.1 years, with poor quality of life and low self-esteem because of urinary incontinence and small polypoidal open bladders of 5-15 ml volume, mostly after bladder exstrophy surgery, were managed with a modification of the Heitz-Boyer-Hovelacque rectal bladder technique keeping an intact anal sphincter. The retrorectal pulled-through colon was anastomosed to the posterior wall of the rectum just above the external sphincter complex, thereby avoiding any possible injury to the anal sphincter. All patients had a normal colon and a competent anal sphincter without lumbosacral spinal or nerve anomalies.Ten children had a 5- to 10-year follow-up, one child had a 15-year follow-up, and three others, that were also continent, were excluded because of a5-year follow-up. There were no postoperative complications, and all were dry and odour-free by day within 2-4 weeks of surgery. Two children still had minor urinary loss at night. There were no UTIs and renal function remained unimpaired. Eleven years after surgery, one child underwent excision of a pedunculated benign inflammatory polyp from the tip of the left ureter because of recurrent torsion and bleeding, there was no recurrence at the 2-year follow-up. None of the rectal or ureteric biopsies from any of the children showed metaplasia or neoplasia; however, in view of the potential long-term risks, all children were placed on a lifelong 'proctoscopy and biopsy' protocol.The ability to be dry and odour-free, and to wear normal clothing had a striking impact on QoL and psychological well-being of the children and their families. This was reflected in their positive overall approach, voluntary school attendance, and enthusiastic participation in communal events. All agreed that their improved genital appearance markedly contributed to their better body image and increased self-esteem.These significant benefits, at a crucial time in the child's life, outweigh the potential risk of long-term neoplasia. Therefore, the Heitz-Boyer-Hovelacque rectal bladder technique is recommended with long-term proctoscopic follow-up.

The short bowel state is treatable, with acceptable long-term quality of life. Management during the first 6-12 months of life is critical but, presently, frequently compromises long-term survival and prospects. At first presentation, primary caregivers, working with specialists at designated intestinal failure centers, should develop a structured individual-oriented management plan. Preservation of venous access, "hepatosparing" parenteral nutrition, and avoidance of liver sepsis are crucial to survival. Early surgery should be limited to conservation of autologous bowel, even short bowel lengths having great potential, and to facilitating natural intestinal adaptation. Bowel expansion may be relevant prior to delayed bowel reconstruction with single or combined techniques that include bowel lengthening and/or tailoring, reversed segments, and colon interposition. Bowel transplantation, as yet not recommended for primary management, offers survival and opportunity to those with no prospect of autologous bowel autonomy or following failed autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction. This paper reviews current surgery for the short bowel state and concludes that it is presently appropriate before bowel transplantation to offer autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction, with its prospect of enteral autonomy with quality life. It emphasizes the need for an individual-oriented management plan, developed jointly at the time of first presentation between the primary caregivers and a designated multidisciplinary intestinal failure center, to enhance the prospects for enteral autonomy preferably on autologous bowel. Autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction is in its infancy and requires resources, commitment, and research from dedicated bowel reconstructive surgeons toward a better opportunity for the child and family with short bowel.

In severe short bowel syndrome, as a result of the natural adaptation, the bowel becomes overdilated, this interferes with the persitalsis and may lead to stasis, bacterial translocation and sepsis. At present two techniques are used to improve peristalsis. The Bianchi procedure is technically challenging, the Serial Transverse Enteroplasty (STEP) is easy however it results in an aphysiological ultrastructure altering the orientation of the muscle fibres. Our aim was to develop an easy technique, which does not alter intestinal muscular ultrastructure dramatically.The idea, Spiral Intestinal Lengthening and Tailoring (SILT), is based on a spiral shape incision of the intestine and retubularisation in a longer but narrower fashion. The feasibility and the effect on the muscular ultrastructure were tested on bowelsimulator and porcine intestine. The intramural microcirculation was checked with intravital microscopy. The outcome was assessed on minipigs (n = 6) than clinical application was commenced.SILT was feasible, did not change the orientation of muscle fibres significantly, did not compromised microcirculation, no surgical complication was noted when tailoring did not exceed 75%. The first clinical application was successful.SILT is a safe and easy technique and not altering the intestinal musculature significantly.Bevezetés: Súlyos rövidbél-szindrómában, a természetes adaptáció következtében, a megmaradt vékonybél annyira kitágul, hogy a béltartalmat nem képes továbbítani, ez stasishoz, bacterialis translocatióhoz, majd sepsishez vezethet. A passzázs javítására jelenleg alkalmazott műtétek közül a Bianchi-műtét igen bonyolult, a serial transverse enteroplasty (STEP) lényegesen egyszerűbb, de az izomrostok orientációját drámaian megváltoztatva afiziológiás állapotot teremt. Célunk egy új, egyszerű és kevéssé kockázatos bélhosszabbító műtéti technika kifejlesztése volt, amely nem változtatja meg jelentősen a bél mikroszkópos anatómiáját. Anyag és módszer: Az ötlet a bél spirális vonal mentén történő incisióján és kisebb kaliberen történő retubularisatióján alapul. A műtétet spiral intestinal lengthening and tailoringnek (SILT) neveztük el. Elsőként a műtét kivitelezhetőségét és az izomrostok orientációjára gyakorolt hatását vizsgáltuk bélszimulátoron és sertésbélen. Az intramuralis keringésváltozásokat in vivo mikroszkópia segítségével elemeztük, majd műtétet túlélő sertésmodellen (n = 6) teszteltük, csak ezek után került sor a klinikai alkalmazásra. Eredmények: A SILT könnyen kivitelezhetőnek bizonyult, az izomrostok orientációja nem változott lényegesen. A műtét nem okozott kritikus változást a bélfal keringésében, és amennyiben a lumen szűkítése nem haladta meg a 75%-ot, nem észleltünk sebészi komplikációt vagy krónikus szöveti ischaemiát sem. Az első klinikai alkalmazás is sikeres volt. Következtetés: A SILT-műtét nem változtatja meg a bél izomstruktúráját, biztonságos és ajánlható módszer a bélhosszabbításra.

We report our series of selected patients with complete incontinence in whom the appendix was divided and utilized for creating two continent catheterizable stomas. All patients were treated for urinary and fecal incontinence by split appendix technique. The appendix was divided into two different parts preserving adequate perfusion and used for creating an appendicocecostomy (ACE) and an appendicovesicostomy at the same time. After a clinical and radiological follow up, our patients referred a good acceptance and an easily management of the stomas in order to stay dry for all day from urine and feces with improving of their quality of life. The combination of ACE and Mitrofanoff principle have revolutionized the management of urinary and fecal incontinence in patients who are unable to utilize their urethra to keep themselves dry.