Evaluation of Esophageal Motility Using Multichannel Intraluminal Impedance in Healthy Children and With Gastroesophageal Reflux
Abstract OBJECTIVE: : Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) directly evaluates esophageal bolus transport. There is a good correlation between MII and manometry in healthy adults, but there are no reports concerning children.The aim of the present study was to determine normal values of esophageal motility using only impedance measurements in healthy children and in a pediatric population with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). PATIENTS AND METHODS: : We described in the present study 60 children submitted to pH-MII for 24 hours for suspected GER. Patients were divided into 2 different groups on the basis of their pH-MII report. Group 1 patients showed acid GER, whereas group 2 patients had…
Predictors of testicular viability in testicular torsion
Abstract Aim Testicular torsion (TT) requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to avoid testicular loss. Most studies have focused on the ideal work up to rule TT out in cases of acute scrotum. We attempted here to define objective criteria to select between orchidopexy and orchidectomy in patients undergoing surgery for TT. Patients and methods Fifteen boys with a median age at presentation of 7.8 (range 6.4–12) years undergoing surgical treatment for TT underwent color-Doppler ultrasound (CDU) preoperatively, and a bleeding test intraoperatively. Duration of preoperative history, degree of torsion, CDU findings and degree of bleeding were analyzed. Results Salvageability was independent of …
Ileocecal duplication cysts: is the loss of the valve always necessary?
Abstract Background Ileocecal (IC) duplication cysts are enteric duplications located at the IC junction, not clearly identified in all the published series. The reported treatment is IC resection and ileocolic anastomosis. It is well known that the loss of the IC valve has several adverse effects. This study is aimed at demonstrating that cyst removal together with the common ileal wall and following enterorrhaphy is possible, safe, and effective in preserving the IC region. Methods Medical records of 3 patients who underwent surgery for IC duplication between 2003 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed evaluating follow-up results. Results All patients had an antenatal diagnosis of intraa…
A simple technique of oblique anastomosis can prevent stricture formation in primary repair of esophageal atresia
Abstract Background Anastomotic stricture is an important problem after esophageal atresia (EA) repair. This study evaluates a technique of oblique esophageal anastomosis without use of a flap in order to prevent stricture formation. Methods Medical records of 16 patients (14 with EA type III and 2 with EA type IV Ladd-Gross classification) who underwent primary repair of EA at birth without anastomotic tension were reviewed, evaluating long-term follow-up results. All patients were studied with esophageal contrast study, pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance, and endoscopy. The incidence of complications and their management were analysed. Results Contrast esophagogram and esophagoscopy a…
ONE-TROCAR VIDEO-ASSISTED STRIPPING TECHNIQUE FOR USE IN THE TREATMENT OF LARGE OVARIAN CYSTS IN INFANTS
Abstract Background Management of ovarian cysts in infants is controversial; it can be conservative or surgical, and the management is determined by the cyst's size and sonographic features. Methods A surgical approach using a 10-mm umbilically placed operative laparoscope was taken in 3 female infants with antenatally diagnosed large, simple ovarian cysts. The contents of the cysts were partially aspirated and the cyst walls were stripped off the remaining ovarian parenchyma. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were recorded. Conclusions The one-trocar video-assisted stripping technique for large ovarian cysts in infants appears to be an ovarian-tissue-preserving procedure, an…
Correlation between hypertrophy and risk of hypertension in congenital solitary functioning kidney
Purpose: Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) may be associated to hypertrophy, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. We evaluated blood pressure (BP) of children with congenital SFK comparing agenesis to multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) and correlated BP profiles with renal dimensions of affected and contralateral kidney. Methods: We compared 40 patients with MCDK, grouped for either treatment options (A: conservative vs B: nephrectomy) or involution time (A1: before 4 years-of-age vs A2: persistence-of-MCDK), to 10 unilateral agenesis (C). Patients were evaluated with ultrasound, scintigraphy, office-ambulatory BP monitoring. Results: Compensatory hypertrophy was demonstrated in most …
Different types of intestinal atresia in identical twins
The authors present a previously unreported association of different types of intestinal atresia in identical low-birth-weight twins. Both babies were affected by duodenal atresia, associated in the first case with a complete mucosal duodenal membrane and in the second one with an "apple-peel" jejunal atresia. These occurrences may suggest that they were either the consequence of linkage of 2 genes or a pleiotropic expression of a single gene responsible for such rare conditions.
Unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney in infants exposed to antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy
Prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) increases the risk of major congenital malformations (MCM) in the fetus. AED-related abnormalities include heart and neural tube defects, cleft palate, and urogenital abnormalities. Among the various congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) disease is one of the most severe expressions. Although prenatal ultrasound (US) examination has increased the prenatal diagnosis of MCDK, the pathogenesis is still unclear. We report on four cases of MCDK in infants of epileptic women treated with AEDs during pregnancy. From October 2003 to June 2006, we observed four infants with unilateral MCDK bo…
Is rectal disimpact always necessary in children with chronic constipation? Evaluation with pelvic ultrasound
PURPOSE: The aim of study was to evaluate if pelvic ultrasound can be useful in managing children with chronic idiopathic constipation. METHODS: A total of 270 children with idiopathic chronic constipation were enrolled in the study. At baseline and at monthly checkups children were evaluated by clinical score and pelvic ultrasound (US). Patients have been divided in 2 groups, based on pelvic US results: group A with a rectal diameter >3 cm, group B with a rectal diameter <3 cm or rectum not visualized. Both groups were subsequently randomly divided in two subgroups (A1, A2, B1, B2) on the basis of the prescribed treatment (disimpaction for the first week and daily laxative or only daily la…
Esophageal atresia in newborns: a wide spectrum from the isolated forms to a full VACTERL phenotype?
Background: VATER association was first described in 1972 by Quan and Smith as an acronym which identifies a non-random co-occurrence of Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Tracheoesophageal fistula and/or Esophageal atresia, Radial dysplasia. It is even possible to find out Cardiovascular, Renal and Limb anomalies and the acronym VACTERL was adopted, also, embodying Vascular, as single umbilical artery, and external genitalia anomalies. Methods: Data on patients with esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between January 2003 and January 2013 were evaluated for the contingent occurrence of typical VACTERL a…
Evaluation of esophageal motility and reflux in children treated for esophageal atresia with the use of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring.
Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and dysmotility are frequent in patients treated for esophageal atresia (EA). This aim of this study is to evaluate GER and dysmotility in young EA patients using pH–multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII). Methods Fifteen patients with a mean age of 7.5 years (group 1) have been studied and compared with 15 children without congenital malformation, submitted to pH-MII for suspected GER (group 2). These latter patients serve as a control group of healthy subjects. The following impedance reflux and motility parameters have been studied on 10 standardized swallows: number of reflux episodes, mean acid clearing time, median bolus clearing…
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Evaluation of Dysphagia and Inhalation Risk in Neurologically Impaired Children Using Esophageal High-Resolution Manometry with Swallowing Analysis
Background: Dysphagia in neurologically impaired children is associated with feeding difficulties, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. Esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) has been used in the diagnosis of motility disorders affecting the swallowing process. The aim of this study was to analyze swallowing functions in NI children by using HRM in order to establish swallow parameters identifying inhalation risk. Methods: Twenty-five NI children with cerebral palsy were submitted to esophageal HRM with UES analysis, comparing the results with non-NI children. The following parameters were evaluated: maximum pressure and duration of contraction of the velopharynx (VP) and tongue base …
Gastroesophageal reflux in young children treated for esophageal atresia: evaluation with pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance
Objectives: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and dismotility occur frequently after repair of esophageal atresia (EA). GER-associated complications can manifest either early or later; then precocious diagnosis and treatment are essential. The aim of the study was to evaluate characteristics of GER and esophageal clearance in children treated for EA with distal tracheoesophageal fistula, using pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII). Patients and Methods: Twenty-two children (ages 3‐40 months) treated for EA at birth, and 20 normal children of similar age with suspected GER disease were included in the study. Impedance parameters were analyzed according to age and symptoms. Results: Ref…
Evaluation of esophageal motility and reflux in children treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia with the use of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring.
Abstract Background Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is frequently observed in children treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) at birth, as well as esophageal dysmotility, that has been hypothesized to be caused by innervatory anomalies. The aim of this study is to evaluate GER and dysmotility in young patients with CDH using pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance. Methods Thirty children (17 boys and 13 girls) who underwent repair for CDH between 2002 and 2007 with a median age of 5.2 years (range, 3-10 years) were included in the study. All patients were operated on with a subcostal laparotomy incision and had a left-sided diaphragmatic defect. The defect repair required an artifi…
Efficacy of Periportal Infiltration and Intraperitoneal Instillation of Ropivacaine After Laparoscopic Surgery in Children
Postoperative pain is less intense after laparoscopic than after open surgery. However, minimally invasive surgery is not a a pain-free procedure. Many trials have been done in adults using intraperitoneal and/or incisional local anesthetic, but similar studies have not yet been reported in the literature in children. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of periportal infiltration and intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in children undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery were randomly allocated to one of three groups. Group A (n 10) received local infiltration of port sites with 10 mL of ro…
Posterior One-Trocar-Assisted Pyeloplasty
Introduction Ureteropelvic junction obstruction is the most common pediatric obstructive uropathy. Retroperitoneal lap- aroscopic-assisted dismembered pyeloplasty (OTAP) combines the advantages of a retroperitoneal approach with the high success rate of the open technique. A modification of the OTAP, using a posterior muscle-sparing incision to approach the kidney, is described. Surgical technique With the patient placed in prone position, a transverse 15-mm-long skin incision is made. A 12-mm bal- loon Hasson trocar with operative telescope is inserted after the Gerota’s fascia has been opened. The ureteropelvic junction is exteriorized and a traditional dismembered pyeloplasty is performe…
The hairy elbows syndrome: clinical and neuroradiological findings.
The hairy elbows syndrome (HES) is a rare congenital phenotype characterized by an abnormal increase in long hairs localized on the upper limbs extensor surfaces. This feature is often associated with short stature, facial asymmetry, dysmorphisms, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and mental and speech delay. We report a case with hypertricosis cubiti associated with infantile spasms, behaviour disorders and cerebral hemisphere asymmetry. Although these findings have not been previously described we are uncertain whether they are unusual or underestimated. However, it is likely that these neurological findings are strongly interrelated leading to a more severe phenotype of the syndrom…
Preemptive hydrocelectomy in subinguinal varicocelectomy
<i>Background/Aims:</i> The hydrocele rate is very low after microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy, but microsurgical expertise is not always available in pediatric centers. We describe a modified technique to reduce the hydrocele rate after subinguinal varicocelectomy performed without an operating microscope. <i>Methods:</i> A retrospective review was performed of 142 non-microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomies performed at a single pediatric center. In 96 patients, varicocelectomy was combined with the excision and eversion of the tunica vaginalis (‘pre-emptive hydrocelectomy’) while in the remaining 46 cases the vaginalis was left untouched. <i>Resu…
Gastroesophageal reflux in patients treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia: short- and long-term evaluation with multichannel intraluminal impedance.
The incidence of GER, related symptoms and complications in patients treated for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are poorly defined. The aim was to evaluate incidence and development of GER in children treated for CDH in a short- and long-term follow-up period, identifying potential risk factors of morbidity. Thirty-six patients were evaluated with pH-MII at a median age of 6 months (T1) and re-evaluated with pH-MII and endoscopy at a median age of 5 years (T2). The incidence of reflux was 83 % in T1 and 61 % in T2; the incidence of symptoms was 62 % in T1 and 38 % in T2. In both groups the reflux was mainly non-acidic. Patch, intrathoracic stomach and esophageal dysmotility were risk…