Abstract
Aim
The data of the Turkish Esophageal Atresia Registry (TEAR) was evaluated to define the survival rate and risk factors of mortality in infants with esophageal atresia (EA).
Methods
The ...data of 389 cases registered by 23 centers between 2014 and 2018 were evaluated for demographic features, associated anomalies, surgical treatment and mortality-related outcome. Each parameter was evaluated for cases with mortality (CM) and compared with the results of survivors. Also, prognostic factors were investigated in CM.
Results
The overall survival rate was 81.09% and the mortality was 19.02% (n = 74). The male/female ratio was 1:1 in CM and 1.2:1 in survivors. The mean weight and height measurements in CM were lower than in survivors (1956 ± 658 g- 43.2 ± 5.7 cm vs 2534 ± 609 g-46.4 ± 4.3 cm) (P < 0.05). The incidence of associated anomalies was 90.6% in CM and significantly higher than survivors (59.6%) (P < 0.05). Neurological, cardiovascular, vertebral, and extremity anomalies were significantly higher in CM (P < 0.001). The most common type of anomaly was EA with distal fistula 89.2% in CM and 74.6% in survivors. The rate of primary anastomosis was also significantly lower in CM (67.6% vs 84.3%, P < 0.05). The gap length did not show statistical difference between CM and survivors (P > 0.05). Tube feeding was more common in CM and the incidence of full oral feedings was significantly higher in survivors (P < 0.01). According to the Spitz classification, the survival rate was 87.1% in Class I, 55.3% in Class II, and 16.7% in Class III. The most common causes of mortality were associated with cardiovascular disease, pneumonia, and sepsis.
Conclusion
The majority of national TEAR data comes from tertiary healthcare centers in Turkey. Therefore, the slightly increased mortality rates could be related to the inclusion of more complex and complicated cases. Birth weight–height, associated anomalies, and Spitz classification are significant risk factors of mortality in cases with EA.
A 13-month-old patient with Jeune's thoracic asphyxiating dystrophy, was surgically treated using a methyl-methacrylate (acrylic) prosthesis. Although postoperative recovery was fast, the patient ...died of respiratory distress two months following surgery. Limitations of currently available surgical techniques and the need for long-term results will be discussed.
We review our experience of treating intestinal rotation anomalies in infants and children in the 22-year period between 1978 and 2000.
The type of operation performed, postoperative complications, ...and mortality were compared in three age groups. Group 1 consisted of neonates <1 month old, Group 2 consisted of infants aged <1 year old, and Group 3 consisted of children aged >1 year old.
There were 101 infants and children, with a female : male ratio of 2 : 1. Of the 101 patients, 72 (71%) were neonates, with a mean age of 11.8 days (range 1-28 days); 20 (19.8%) were under the age of 1 year, with a mean age of 6.7 months (range 1-12 months); and 9 (8.9%) were >1 year of age, with a mean age of 6 years (range 1-9 years). Eighty-five (84%) patients underwent emergency procedures. Ladd's operation was performed in all patients, with various additional procedures. The most frequent postoperative complications were adhesive intestinal obstruction, stoma necrosis, evisceration, and short bowel syndrome. The mortality rate was 36% in Group 1, 20% in Group 2, and 0% in Group 3.
In this series surgery was usually performed as an emergency procedure, with higher morbidity and mortality in newborns than in older infants and children.
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and benefits of diagnosis and interventional laparoscopy in those paediatric patients with nonpalpable testes (NPT).
Between 1992 and 1999, 75 ...patients with NPT (mean age 3 years, range 6 months to 14 years) were treated. 86 testes were evaluated.
According to the laparoscopic findings 4 groups of testes were identified: Vanishing testis (n = 32), low abdominal testis (< 2 cm to the internal ring) (n = 26), high abdominal testis (> 2 cm to the internal ring) (n = 24) and intersex patients (n = 4). Of the first group, 19 testes (one bilateral) had blind-ending spermatic cord and vessels and if an atrophic testicular tissue was identified, it was removed laparoscopically. For those with spermatic cord and vessels beyond the internal ring (13 testes), atrophic testes were removed through a high scrotal incision. 19 testes of the second group had a laparoscopy-assisted orchidopexy. In the same group a laparoscopic orchidopexy was performed on 7 testes. 24 testes in the 3rd group had a Fowler-Stephens (FS) stage 1 and 18 testes had a laparotomy performed for FS stage 2 procedure (laparotomy and orchidopexy) after 6 months. At laparotomy there was no evidence of testicular atrophy in all but one testis, which was removed and the FS stage 2 procedure was completed in 17 testes. The follow-up period was between 6 months and 4 years, and two more testicular atrophies were noted after FS stage 2. The results were satisfactory in 15 out of 18 testes (83%). In the intersex group, the patient with testicular feminization underwent laparoscopic orchiectomy. The other patient with bilateral nonpalpable testis was identified as having an uterus and two intraabdominally located gonads on laparoscopy and gonadal biopsies were obtained for diagnosis. Histology demonstrated bilateral ovotestes, confirming the diagnosis of a true hermaphrodite.
We are of the opinion that laparoscopy decreases the number of laparotomies in NPT, allows a single-stage procedure in low abdominal testis, and facilitates clip ligation of the testicular artery in high abdominal testis. Laparoscopy also provides diagnostic and therapeutic options for vanishing testis and intersex patients.
Wandering spleen is a rare cause of abdominal pain in children, and an accurate diagnosis is seldom made preoperatively. A splenectomy is the treatment of choice in cases of splenic torsion and ...infarction, while in patients with chronic symptoms splenopexy may also be attempted. We herein report three patients with wandering spleen, of whom two presented with acute torsion of the splenic pedicle and one demonstrated an asymptomatic mobile abdominal mass. In the first case splenopexy was attempted, but during follow-up the spleen was found to have undergone atrophy. The presentation, diagnostic procedures, and treatment modalities in pediatric wandering spleen are reviewed.
The study's objective was to evaluate the results of surgical modalities for children with ambiguous genitalia. The records of 55 patients who were reared as females between 1985 and 2001 were ...reviewed regarding diagnosis, age at surgery, operative procedures, and outcome. The mean age at surgery was 3.5 years, and the follow-up period averaged 4.1 years with a range of 2 months-17 years. The types of reconstructive surgical techniques were clitorovaginoplasty in 29, staging clitoral surgery and vaginoplasty in seven, clitoroplasty in five, total urogenital mobilization (TUM) in three, vaginal bowel substitution in two, clitoridectomy in one, and gonadectomy in six, and two are waiting for vaginal substitution surgery after gonadectomy. The main complications were vaginal stenosis in four patients. All of the TUM patients had good appearances of their urethral orifice and vagina, all of them were continent, and none of them had urinary tract infections. With our limited experience with the TUM procedure, we feel that it is possible to obtain a better cosmetic and functional result with an easier technique. Among the 10 patients of postpubertal age, none of them had had sexual experience. Eight of the postpubertal patients asked questions about their reproductive status. Patients with an intersex disorder should be informed about their problems, especially about their reproductivity.
This case report details the clinical presentation and surgical management of a neonate with idiopathic perforation of the biliary tract. A three-day-old baby girl presented with a ...right-upper-quadrant mass and signs of peritonitis following a prolonged, difficult vaginal delivery. At surgery, she was found to have a perforation at the junction of the cystic and common bile duct. Simple drainage of the right upper quadrant was performed, and the patient recovered uneventfully. Early presentation and the nature of delivery suggests the possibility of birth trauma as an etiological factor in this condition.