Pediatric intracranial aneurysms—clinical characteristics and outcome of surgical treatment

Object Intracranial aneurysms are rare in children and have different epidemiological, clinical, and morphological characteristics and outcome from those in adults. Materials and methods We analyzed demographic, clinical, radiologic features, treatment, and outcome in 55 patients <18 years of age, treated from Jan 1995 through December 2005. Results Intracranial aneurysms in children below 18 years constituted 4% of all intracranial aneurysms. Internal Carotid artery (ICA) bifurcation was the commonest location. About half of the aneurysms were complex. Three-fourth of the patients required surgical treatment. Two patients died, constituting 5% mortality. Two patients (5%) had poor outcome, whereas the majority (90%) had a favorable outcome. Conclusions Pediatric aneurysms have male predominance, higher incidence of clinical features of mass effect or seizures, high incidence of large, traumatic/mycotic aneurysms, associated illnesses and ICH/IVH and hydrocephalus, better Hunt and Hess grades at presentation, ICA bifurcation as the commonest site, and better outcome than their adult counterparts.     

Standardized quick en bloc technique for procurement of cadaveric liver grafts for pediatric liver transplantation

This paper describes a quick procedure for cadaveric liver graft retrieval during multiple organ harvesting. The technique is based on minimal preliminary dissection, absence of in situ direct portal perfusion, and en bloc removal of the liver and pancreas, with an aortic patch encompassing the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery. The results of 110 pediatric liver transplantations with 109 organs harvested using this technique are reported. There were no graft harvesting injuries. The liver graft primary nonfunction rate was 4.5% (5/110). The 3-month retransplantation rate was 10%. The actual patient survival rates were 93% at 3 months and 90% at 1 year; actual graft survival rates were 85.5% and 78%, respectively. The technique described was at least as safe as conventional procedures. A major advantage of the procedure is its flexibility, which allows for the easily combined procurement of other organs (whole pancreas and intestine).     

Pediatric cerebellar hemorrhages

Cerebellar hemorrhage is a devastating condition with morbidity and mortality related not only to the etiology of the hemorrhage, but also to the timing of the intervention. Sixteen consecutive pediatric patients with acute cerebellar hemorrhages are presented: 6 had vascular abnormalities, 3 had tumors, and 2 had hemorrhages of unknown etiology. Thirteen of the 16 patients survived with only 1 of the 13 having persistent vegetative state as a neurologic outcome. Six of 8 patients presenting in a moribund condition had good outcomes, and 3 of 4 patients presenting with fixed and dilated pupils also had good outcomes. Thus, in contrast to adults, rapid evaluation by CT scanning, followed by the judicious use of ventricular drainage and prompt surgical treatment, have resulted in favorable outcomes in pediatric patients despite their poor clinical presentations. None of the neonates having cerebellar hemorrhages required surgical intervention; their courses could be followed clinically and with transfontanel ultrasound.Presented as a poster at the 14th Congress of the European Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery, Lyon, France, 21–23 September 1994, and the XXII Annual Meeting of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Birmingham, UK, 25–28 September 1994     

Clinical pharmacokinetics of Neoral in pediatric recipients of primary liver transplants

Pediatric liver transplant recipients constitute a population characterized by a particularly unpredictable and poor bioavailability of cyclosporin (CyA). Even though several adult studies show that the new oral formulation of CyA, Neoral (NEO), produces better bioavailability and blood level predictability, few data describe its pharmacokinetics in children. We performed a complete analysis of the pharmacokinetics of NEO in ten small children after primary liver transplantation. Three pharmacokinetic profiles were set up with data obtained from tests taken during i. v. administration of CyA, after the first oral NEO dose, and after the last NEO dose before discharge from the hospital. The mean half-lives obtained were 8.1, 7.7, and 6.9 h, respectively, and the bioavailabilities were 22 % and 21 % for the first and last NEO doses. A large interpatient variability was observed. This was due, in part, to episodes of diarrhea that interfered with the pharmacokinetic evaluation and, in part, to the variability of post-transplant hepatic function. There was a good correlation between CyA trough levels and their related AUCs for both NEO profiles (r = 0.93 and r = 0.74, respectively). We conclude that, even though the pediatric OLT population remains more unpredictable than that of adults, NEO has a relatively rapid half-life and a remarkably improved bioavailability. Received: 29 November 1996 Received after revision: 10 April 1997 Accepted: 15 May 1997     

小儿肠套叠空气灌肠复位影响因素探讨

目的 分析空气灌肠治疗小儿肠套叠的各种影响因素。方法 对117例确诊肠套叠的患儿，采用双腔气囊外接压力计或不接压力计，在X线透视下行空气灌肠。结果 117例中，完全复位92例(78％)，复位失败17例(14．5％)，不完全复位8例(6％)。结论 空气灌肠是治疗小儿肠套叠的重要方法，其影响复位成功与否的因素，主要有套入时间、类型、复位方法等。     

Cellular and Molecular Foundation for Fracture Healing in Children

Abstract Dealing with pediatric fracture patients requires a funded knowledge of complications and remodeling capability of the youth skeleton to find the accurate therapy decision and to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures. Due to the different mechanical environment, fractures in children occur at specific fracture-vulnerable areas. One of those is the growth plate, which on one hand gives rise to the unique ability of correcting angular deformities by specifically increasing the growth rate in definite regions, and on the other hand leads to complications like growth arrest or angular deformity. The pediatric diaphysis presents the exclusive greenstick fracture, only seen in the growing skeleton, which occurs because of the different composition of the pediatric bone. To understand these very specific features of the youth skeleton, the molecular and cellular basis should be taken into consideration. Therefore, this review will present the common characteristics of skeletal development and fracture healing. An insight into the mechanotransduction as part of the remodeling and self-correcting ability of pediatric bone is given to span the bridge between clinical treatment options and scientific background.     

Significance of beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs in children with isolated sagittal synostosis

Aims and Objectives The significance of beaten copper appearance (BCA) on skull radiographs in children following surgery for isolated sagittal craniosynostosis has not been studied. This study was designed to look for any correlation between BCA and symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension in this group of patients. Materials and Methods Forty-eight consecutive children, who were operated for isolated sagittal synostosis from1987 to 2000 and had postoperative skull radiographs, were included. Patients were divided into: (a) BCA group (n = 20), consisting of children who had beaten copper appearance on skull radiographs at last follow up, and (b) Non-BCA group (n = 28), consisting of children who did not have this finding. Records were reviewed to look for symptoms suggestive of intracranial hypertension, such as headache, head banging, and irritability. Results Median age at surgery was 4.8 months for BCA group and 4 months for the non-BCA group. Follow up ranged from 4 to 156 months with a mean of 36.2 months. Total of 28.6% (n = 6) of the children with follow up radiographs done at ≤18 months of age had BCA. The incidence of BCA increased to 83.3% in children with skull radiographs performed after 48 months of age. In 18 (90%) children, the BCA was ‘diffuse’ with 5 (25%) children having the maximum possible score of 8. In the BCA group, 45% (n = 9) had symptoms compared to 10.7% (n = 3) in the control group (p = 0.0068). Conclusions This study suggests a significant number of children with BCA on radiographs develop symptoms suggestive of raised ICP following surgical treatment in infancy and prolonged follow up may be warranted in this group of patients.     

对儿童X线体检中减少照射剂量的探讨

目的:探讨儿童在X线体检中减少照射剂量的方法。方法:应用东芝500mA遥控X线机、FJ-427型热释光剂量仪等设备,对100名3~5岁儿童体检时,随机分成两个对照组、每组50名,分别接受胸透或平片检查,对检查测得数据均进行统计学处理。结果:胸透时胸部接受的照射剂量是平片的22倍多,其它部位接受的X线散射剂量平均值之比亦在20~30倍之间。结论:在儿童X线体检中应采用常规胸片替代胸透,可以有效地降低其辐射危害。     

腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤26例

目的探讨腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤的效果及安全性。方法2000年1月~2005年3月,我们对26例小儿卵巢肿瘤行腹腔镜手术。气管插管全麻或静脉复合麻醉,行卵巢肿瘤剥除术或一侧附件切除术。对直径<5 cm的肿瘤,在肿瘤的外侧缘线形电凝囊肿包膜;直径>5 cm的肿瘤,在其中部或距基底部3 cm处环形电凝囊肿包膜,钝性分离肿瘤与囊壁,完整剥出肿瘤,残余囊壁创面彻底电凝止血,不缝合。卵巢冠囊肿切除。影响术野的大卵巢囊肿,先穿刺吸净囊液,帽状电凝卵巢囊肿包膜一周,再剥出肿瘤。结果所有患儿卵巢肿瘤手术都在腹腔镜下完成,肿瘤剥除术24例,一侧附件切除2例。手术时间(50±20)m in,术中出血量(30±10)m l,术后住院2~4 d,无手术并发症,无伤口感染。24例随访1年,未见复发。结论腹腔镜手术治疗小儿卵巢肿瘤是一种安全、有效的手术方法。     

小儿疳证源流考

疳作为一个病名，最早见于隋《诸病源候论》。首先将疳证作为儿科专有疾病者，为宋初《太平圣惠方》。本病分类最全面，收集方剂最丰富当推宋《幼幼新书》。南宋出版的《小儿卫生总微论方》首次将疳证归类为五疳。本草文献中对本病贡献最大的为明《本草纲目》。清《温病条辨》首次将本病治法作全面总结。１９９４年国家中医药管理局颁布的《中医病证诊断疗效标准》首次以法规的形式将本病作了统一规范