A cost-effective thoracoscopic treatment strategy for pediatric spontaneous pneumothorax

Background: Recent data suggest that children have a higher incidence of recurrence than adults after nonoperative treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) allows efficacious therapy with significantly less morbidity. We attempt to define the most cost-effective clinically efficacious strategy using VATS to manage pediatric PSP. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all admissions to a tertiary care children's hospital for PSP between January 1, 1991 and June 30, 1996. Results: Fifteen children had 29 primary or recurrent PSPs. Mean patient age was 14.8 ± 1.1 years, boy–girl ratio 4:1, median body mass index 18 (normal, 20–25), and 67% of pneumothoraces left sided. All patients were managed initially nonoperatively: 14 with tube thoracostomy drainage and 1 with oxygen alone. Of the children initially managed nonoperatively, 57% had a recurrent pneumothorax, and 50% of these patients eventually developed contralateral pneumothoraces. Nonoperative treatment for recurrence resulted in a 75% second recurrence rate. In contrast, eight children who underwent operative management had a 9% incidence of recurrence. The total for charges accrued in treating 29 pneumothoraces in these 15 patients was approximately $315,000. In the same population, the estimated charges for initial nonoperative therapy followed by bilateral thoracoscopy after a single recurrence would be $230,000. Conclusions: A cost-effective treatment strategy for pediatric primary spontaneous pneumothorax is tube thoracostomy at first presentation, followed by VATS with thoracoscopic bleb resection and pleurodesis for patients who experience recurrent pneumothorax. Received: 15 May 1998/Accepted: 15 January 1999     

Clinical application of the M-numbers of aortic cannulas during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatric patients

A standardized system to describe the pressure-flow characteristics of a given cannula has recently been proposed and has been termed the M-number system. Using 3 different sizes of aortic cannulas in 50 pediatric cardiac patients on hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, we analyzed the correlation between experimentally and clinically derived M-numbers and found it to be positive. Clinical M-numbers were typically 0.35 to 0.55 greater than experimental M-numbers and correlated inversely with a patient's temperature change; this was most probably due to increased blood viscosity arising from hypothermia. This inverse relationship was more marked in higher M-number cannulas. The clinical data obtained in this study suggest that the experimentally derived M-number correlates strongly with the clinical performance of the cannula and that the influence of temperature is significant.     

Timing of surgery for common pediatric surgical conditions

Depending upon various factors the surgical procedures in childhood are divided into three groups—immediate, intermediate and elective. The timing of surgery is probably the most important factor governing the outcome of surgical correction in pediatric surgery. With continuing research and clinical experience our understanding of the various conditions have improved and with that has come a change in the optimum timing of many surgical procedures. This paper highlights the best timing of surgery for some of the commoner pediatric surgical procedures and the reasons behind these so that the children may be referred to pediatric surgeons in time.     

Practical approach to recurrent respiratory infections

Respiratory diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Recurrent respiratory infections in children pose a great challenge to the pediatrician where he has to exercise his clinical acumen and methodical, approach, for correct diagnosis and treatment. It is a fact that children should suffer 7 to 8 upper respiratory infections per year until they are 5 years of age when their immune status reaches adult level. In this situation, it is essential to find out whether the frequencies are abnormal. Whenever a child has the following, problems, then only it needs to be investigated.—(a) repeated bacterial pneumonias; (b) a child less than 3 months old having repeated respiratory infections; (c) a child of 9 months old without a history of exposure infections; (d) infections, complicating into bronchiectasis and; (e) in a child where there is no history of allergy or asthma. Once the problem is established as a true recurrent respiratory infection, the clinician should pose questions—whether it is chronic, acute or recurrent, to find out the site of pathology, seriousness of the problem, response to previous medications, to establish the possible diagnosis which fall into six categories—congenital anamolies, aspiration syndrome, genital disorders, immunological, diseases, immune deficiency disorders and allergic diseases. The author discusses quoting some examples for various categories avoiding non pulmonary causes for recurrent respiratory infections in children.     

Pediatric surgery in the Renaissance period

The emergence of surgery during the Renaissance marked the birth of surgery as a discipline based on clinical observation and improvement of technical skill. Some of the most experienced surgeons dealing with pediatric problems were Paré, Phaer, Würtz and, especially, Hildanus, who described more than 150 cases in children. Some minor malformations were curable, and some major anomalies were described for the first time. Renaissance surgeons had no explanations for the etiology of diseases and malformations. In many instances, the imaginatio was considered to be responsible.     

小儿癫痫和智力低下的研究

我院小儿神经学组近年来对癫痫及智力低下进行了综合研究。在整体动物及神经细胞水平研究了神经肽(CCK,Som)与神经递质(GABA)之间的关系;初步探讨了铁诱发癫痫的化学机制;研究了抗癫痫药对发育中脑的影响;用双盲交叉法观察了新药“抗病灵”的疗效;利用24小时脑电图从临床电生理角度进一步探讨了癫痫的发病机制,解决了癫痫难以观察的问题。还在全国范围内进行了智力低下的流行病学调查,并分析其原因。     

Plasma vasopressin response to contrast medium during cardiac catheterization in infants and children

Fifteen infants and children (M = 7, F = 8), aged from 0 to 13 years, who underwent cardiac catheterization and cardioangiography under ketamine-diazepam anesthesia were the subjects of this study. The effect of a contrast medium, isolamate sodium (66.8%) on the plasma somolality and vasopressin concentration was studied. The plasma osmolality was significantly elevated after contrast medium administration (289 ± 3 vs. 303 ± 8mosmol·kg^–1) as well as plasma vasopressin (from 2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 4.7 ± 2.0 micro-unit·ml^–1).It is concluded that the administration of contrast medium for cardioangiography causes elevation of plasma osmolality, which leads to the elevation of plasma vasopressin concentration.(Yamashita M, Horigome H, Kudo T, et al.: Plasma vasopressin response to contrast medium during cardiac catheterization in infants and children. J Anesth 5: 203–204, 1991)     

Duodenal and jejunal atresia with agenesis of the dorsal mesentery: "apple peel" small bowel.

Two newborn infants with duodenal and jejunal atresia and agenesis of the dorsal mesentery represent our surgical experience with "apple peel" small bowel or "christmas tree" demormity. The first patient had the typical appearance of this condition. The postoperative course was complicated by hyperbilirubinemia, septicemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The infant is in satisfactory condition 1.5 years after operation. The second patient had agenesis of the dorsal mesentery without spiraling of the bowel around its vascular stalk. The child died after 1 month, with complete absence of extrahepatic bile ducts as seen at a second laparotomy. Neither child had been subjected to gastrostomy.