Abstract Background Congenital vaginal obstruction commonly presents after puberty and presentation in infancy is uncommon. Due to lack of awareness, diagnosis may be missed in infants, sometimes ...with disastrous consequences. Method A retrospective review of 9 neonates and infants treated for congenital vaginal obstruction in 16 years. Results The patients were aged 2 days to 4 months (median 28 days) at presentation. The main presenting feature was a lower abdominal mass, producing intestinal and urinary obstruction in 7 patients. In 2 patients, other conditions were suspected and diagnosis made only intraoperatively and in one patient, diagnosis was incidental during treatment for another condition. The cause of vaginal obstruction were low transverse vaginal septum 6, imperforate hymen 2, high transverse vaginal septum one. Associated anomalies were present in 5 patients (persistent cloaca 3, Hirschsprung disease 1, polydactyly 1). Low vaginal septum was treated by incision and drainage of hydrometrocolpos, imperforate hymen by hymenotomy and drainage of hydrometrocolpos and high vaginal septum by excision. There was recurrence of hydrometrocolpos in one patient who had low vaginal septum, requiring repeat surgery. One patient, in whom diagnosis was missed, died from overwhelming infection. Short term follow-up was good. Conclusion Congenital vaginal obstruction is an uncommon presentation in this setting. Missing the diagnosis can lead to disastrous consequences. A high index of suspicion is required for prompt recognition and treatment.
There is a paucity of published studies on the management and outcome of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AAKS) in African children. In this study, we reviewed the management and literature of AAKS ...in Nigerian children.
A prospective review of children aged 1 to 14 years and adolescents aged 15 to 18 years who presented with AAKS. Following clinical evaluation and resuscitation, patients were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Stable patients were further treated with chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, doxorubicin, and bleomycin. Patients were monitored until death or loss to follow-up.
There were 9 patients: 6 children and 3 adolescents. Three children had vertical transmission of HIV infection. Kaposi's sarcoma was the AIDS-defining disease in 5 patients. One patient was on HAART at the time of diagnosis. There were multiple skin lesions in all patients, and cervical lymph nodes and oropharynx were frequently affected. The CD4 counts at the time of AAKS diagnosis ranged 78 to 601 cells/ uL, mean of 317. Five patients had best palliative care. Three had anticancer chemotherapy, of which 2 were alive 4 years after diagnosis. Three patients died at the initial hospitalization 2 to 6 weeks after diagnosis.
Children and adolescents with AAKS presented with generalized skin lesions and lymphadenopathy, which facilitated the diagnosis. The majority of the patients presented with advanced disease that was rapidly fatal. However, patients with good immunity may have a prolonged control of symptoms if treated with HAART and appropriate anticancer chemotherapy.
Abstract Most of the world is in a surgical workforce crisis. While a lack of human resources is only one component of the myriad issues affecting surgical care in resource-poor regions, it is ...arguably the most consequential. This article examines the current state of the pediatric surgical workforce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the reasons for the current shortfalls. We also note progress that has been made in capacity building and discuss priorities going forward. The existing literature on this subject has naturally focused on regions with the greatest workforce needs, particularly sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, wherever possible we have included workforce data and related literature from LMICs worldwide. The pediatric surgeon is of course critically dependent on multi-disciplinary teams. Surgeons in high-income countries (HICs) often take for granted the ready availability of excellent anesthesia providers, surgically trained nurses, radiologists, pathologists, and neonatologists among many others. While the need exists to examine all of these disciplines and their contribution to the delivery of surgical services for children in LMICs, for the purposes of this review, we will focus primarily on the role of the pediatric surgeon.
Abstract The body of literature addressing surgical and anesthesia care for children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is small. This lack of research hinders full understanding of the ...nature of many surgical conditions in LMICs and compromises potential efforts to alleviate the significant health, welfare and economic burdens surgical conditions impose on children, families and countries. This article will evaluate the need for improved global pediatric surgery research by (1) presenting the current state of surgical research for children in LMICs and (2) discussing methods and opportunities for improvement within the political context of current global health priorities.
Surgical aspects of bacterial infection in African children Ameh, Emmanuel A., MBBS, FWACS; Abantanga, Francis A., MD, Cert Paed Surg, PhD, FWACS; Birabwa-Male, Doreen, MB ChB, Dip Paed Surg, M Med, Fellow COSECSA
Seminars in pediatric surgery,
05/2012, Letnik:
21, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Infections and their complications requiring surgical intervention are a frequent presentation in African children. Surgical site infection (SSI) is common with rates over 20%, even after clean ...procedures. The high rates of SSI are due in part to lack of infection control and surveillance policies in most hospitals in Africa. SSI is attended by complications, long hospital stay, and some mortality, but the economic consequences are unestimated. Typhoid fever and typhoid intestinal perforation are major problems with perforation rates of approximately 10%, which is higher in older children. The ideal surgical treatment is arguable, but simple closure and segmental resection are the present effective surgical options. Because of delayed presentation, complications after surgical treatment are high with a mortality approaching 41% in some parts of Africa. Nutrition for these patients remains a challenge. Acute appendicitis, although not as common in African children, often presents rather late with up to 50% of children presenting with perforation and other complications, and mortality is approximately 4% is some settings. Pyomyositis and necrotizing fasciitis are the more common serious soft-tissue infections, but early recognition and prompt treatment should minimize the occasional mortality. Though common in Africa, the exact impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on the spectrum and severity of surgical infection in African children is not clear, but it may well worsen the course of infection in these patients.
