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ABSTRACT: Background: Surgeons and surgical trainees are expected to be highly skilled in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Simulation allows unlimited practice and repetition without jeopardizing patient safety. This study aimed to analyze the impact of simulation and the role of mentorship. Methods: This was a randomized prospective study. Twenty medical students were randomly assigned to one of two groups: independent training or supervised mentoring by a qualified surgeon. Task performance was assessed before and after training. Speed and the GOALS (Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills) scale were used to evaluate each subject's performance and to compare groups. Results: At the initial evaluation, only 9 (45%) students were able to complete all the exercises with a mean GOALS score of 2.54. In contrast, at the end of the training, all students were able to complete all exercises (p=0.004) with a 4.17 mean score (p=0.002). Duration of the exercises decreased by an average of 45% with a mean duration of 286.14 seconds per exercise before and 186.57 (range 28-330) after training (p=0.01). Students in the mentored group achieved higher scores in all exercises than those not mentored (average of 4.34 vs 3.99). Conclusions: This study in medical students without previous surgical experience reinforces the value of simulation-based training. Mentorship has proven to have a positive impact on the ability to acquire surgical skills. The application of mentored simulation strategies could be of valuable use if incorporated into surgical training programs.

Introduction: Congenital segmental intestinal dilatation has a low incidence within the differential diagnoses of fetal abdominal cyst masses. Suspicion may arise at prenatal ultrasonography, but diagnosis is confirmed at surgery and subsequently at histopathological analysis. There are various theories available to explain its etiopathogenesis. Association with anorectal malformations is rare., Clinical Case: Newborn prenatally diagnosed with an abdominal cystic mass and diagnosed at birth with an associated anorectal malformation, with postoperative confirmation of segmental intestinal dilatation., Discussion: Segmental intestinal dilatation should be considered within the differential diagnoses when an abdominal cystic mass is prenatally detected at ultrasonography. Association with anorectal malformations at birth has been described, but it is unusual. Suspicion allows diagnosis and adequate treatment to be established.

Purpose: To analyze the initial impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on surgical skills training and performance of Pediatric Surgery Residents., Methods: Retrospective study considering the modifications on the Pediatric Surgery Residency training from March 1st-May 31st, 2020. Exposure to OR learning opportunities was compared to the same 2018-2019 trimesters. An anonymous survey about self-perception on surgical skills development was also performed., Results: Residents performed 209 procedures as leading surgeons during the 2020 trimester with a mean number of surgeries per resident of 20.9, representing a reduction of 46% and 56.8% compared to the 2018-2019 averages, respectively. Reduction in both the number and the percentage of total procedures (n: 209, 56.8%) compared to both 2019 (n: 354, 68.7%, p: 0.000272) and 2018 (n: 420, 76.1%, p < 0,00,001) showed statistical correlation with no changes in their complexity pattern. From the survey (response rate: 100%), hours dedicated to simulation-based training were highly increased. More time was spent studying, but only 60% achieved better preparation for surgery and 70% perceived a decrease in surgical confidence., Conclusions: Even though the pandemic promoted new teaching strategies and the use of simulation-based training, it drastically reduced "on-the-job" learning opportunities with potential effects on residents' performance and self-confidence during surgery., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Although surgical therapy for testicular tumors (TT) is often radical orchidectomy, tumor resection with preservation of healthy testicular parenchyma has been proposed. This study herein reports a 20 year single center experience applying testicular sparing surgery (TSS) as a primary operative strategy in pediatric patients. A systematic literature review summarizes the utility and outcomes of TSS in appropriately selected patients., Methods: Pediatric patients with TT who underwent TSS between 1997 and 2018 were studied. TSS was indicated if patients presented evidence of adequately spared healthy testicular parenchyma on preoperative ultrasound and negative serum tumor markers. A systematic review of the literature was also performed., Results: 12 cases met full inclusion criteria with 10 of 12 subjects in the prepubertal age group. Follow-up was 73 months (range 18-278 months). Only a single male patient (GSCCT) presented with early recurrence and orchidectomy was then performed. No cases of postoperative testicular atrophy were identified. Sexual maturation (Tanner stage) expected for age in each patient was documented. Review of the literature identified 34 published studies including 269 patients (94% prepubertal). Pathologic lesions here were mainly mature teratoma(s)-(62%) with a follow-up period of 4 years. Recurrent tumors were observed in only three patients (1.1%) notably two Leydig Cell Tumors and one Teratoma. Testicular atrophy reportedly occurred in only one single case (0.37%)., Discussion: TSS is a feasible alternative to radical orchidectomy in pediatric male patients with localized TT and negative tumor markers. Long term follow-up is essential to monitor testicular growth, puberty with sexual development and psychological male health.

Objective: To determine whether combined ultrasonography and parathyroid scintigraphy improves hyperplastic parathyroid gland detection in the pediatric population for parathyroidectomy planning in patients with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism., Material and Methods: An observational and analytical retrospective cohort study was carried out. Patients diagnosed with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism from 2011 to 2018 undergoing total or subtotal parathyroidectomy were included - provided there was information available on pathological examination and surgical protocol., Results: N = 15 patients. A total of 53 parathyroid glands diagnosed with hyperplasia using either of the imaging methods were analyzed. For each method (ultrasonography and scintigraphy) and the combination of both, sensitivity and area under the curve were calculated, using pathological examination result as a reference. Ultrasonography and scintigraphy diagnostic match was 66%., Discussion and Conclusions: The intraoperative difficulty of parathyroid gland identification as well as the anatomical variation that these present is well-known. Ultrasonography detected more glands than scintigraphy when diagnosing parathyroid hyperplasia. The combination of both methods allows patients with a first negative study to be detected.

Juvenile polyposis syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by multiple hamartomatous polyps throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Juvenile polyposis of infancy is a generalized severe form of juvenile polyposis syndrome associated with a poor prognosis. A 47-month-old female infant presented initially with gastrointestinal bleeding and protein-losing enteropathy at 4 months of age. At the age of 12 months, the condition worsened, requiring albumin infusions every 24 to 48 hours and red blood cell transfusions every 15 days. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, colonoscopy, and small-bowel enteroscopy revealed diffuse polyposis that was treated with multiple endoscopic polypectomies. Despite subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, protein-losing enteropathy and bleeding persisted, requiring continued blood transfusions and albumin infusions. A chromosomal microarray revealed a single allele deletion in chromosome 10q23, involving both the PTEN and BMPR1A genes. Loss of PTEN function is associated with an increased activation of the protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway involved in cell proliferation. Treatment with sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, was initiated with the aim of inhibiting polyp growth. Soon after initiation of treatment with sirolimus, blood and albumin infusions were no longer needed and resulted in improved patient growth and quality of life. This case represents the first detailed report of successful drug therapy for life-threatening juvenile polyposis of infancy., Competing Interests: POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2019 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

Case Report: Gastroschisis is the most frequent congenital abdominal wall defect. When associated with intestinal atresia (complex gastroschisis), short bowel syndrome may occur. Complicated gastroschisis is the most frequent cause of short bowel syndrome in our series. The serial transverse enteroplasty procedure has been used to lengthen the bowel and achieve intestinal rehabilitation in patients with dilated gut. The use of this technique in the newborn period, for tailoring the bowel while preserving absorptive mucosa, has been recently described. We present a video showing the surgical treatment of an intestinal obstruction produced by a complex intestinal atresia in a newborn baby in whom a primary closure of a gastroschisis had been done at birth. During laparotomy at the 21st day of life, a type IVa intestinal atresia was found, associated with a colonic stenosis. Proximal dilated jejunum was tailored with a serial transverse enteroplasty procedure, as shown in the video. End-to-end jejunal-ileal anastomosis was performed. Postoperative entero-cutaneous fistula occurred and was treated with vacuum-assisted therapy. Enteral feedings were initiated at 15 days after surgery. Parenteral nutrition was withdrawn at 30 days. After 16 months follow-up, actual weight was 8.7 kg (percentile 10% to 25%). The patient remained on full enteral feedings., Conclusions: In cases of intestinal atresia, short bowel syndrome, and proximal dilated bowel, we propose an aggressive surgical approach to preserve bowel mucosal surface while tailoring the jejunal loop to improve motility. The serial transverse enteroplasty procedure is an acceptable alternative to tailoring methods that resect a segment of the bowel wall., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Five years overall survival in osteosarcoma patients is around 70%, although in patients with metastatic disease it is only 10-30%. The objective of this study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors in a group of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma treated with surgical removal of the lung metastases. A retrospective review from our oncology data base revealed 38 patients treated between 1992 and 2006. The mean age at diagnosis was 18 ± 9.4 years (3-45) and mean follow-up was 57 ± 53.8 months (12-231). All patients were treated with chemotherapy and oncologic resection of the primary tumor and surgical removal of the lung metastases. We analyzed overall survival and prognostic factors: age, gender, site, time of metastasis, local recurrences, number of lung metastasis and chemotherapy response (necrosis). Overall survival of the entire series was 29% at 5 years (CI 95%: 14.5-43.5) and 26% at 10 years (CI 95%: 12-40). Significant difference in 5 year overall survival was found between good and bad responders to chemotherapy, 53% (IC 95%: 28-78) vs. 8% (IC 95%: 0-20) (p = 0.0008). No statistically significant relationship between other prognostic factors analyzed was observed. Five and ten years overall survival rates in osteosarcoma patients with lung metastasis treated with chemotherapy and surgically resection is poor. Patients with good response to chemotherapy have better prognosis.

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare entity, characterized by lymph node follicles hyperplasia. It rarely occurs in children. We present a case of a 9 year old girl with CD in the parotid region. This disease, although it's low incidence in pediatric population, may mimic a malignant neoplasm and should be a differential diagnosis in cervical masses.