Experience of 100 solid organ transplants over a five‐yr period from the first successful pediatric multi‐organ transplant program in India

To analyze the clinical profile and outcome of pediatric patients who had undergone a liver and/or RT at our center over a five yr period, case records of all the patients who had undergone a liver or RT were analyzed retrospectively. One hundred solid organ transplants were performed at our center between January 2007 and January 2012. These included 50 liver, 44 renal, one sequential liver and renal, and two CLKT. BA was the most common indication for an LT (38%). At a median follow‐up of two yr three months, the patient survival was 88%. The most common indication for an RT was chronic glomerulonephritis (54.5%). At a median follow‐up of three yr, the survival was 91%. The CLKT were performed for hyperoxaluria. Two yr post LT, a sequential RT was performed for ESRD resulting from transplant associated microangiopathy. All patients received a living related graft. The common post‐operative complications were infections, vascular complications, and graft dysfunction. Survival rates for liver and RT at our center are comparable to those in the established centers in the West.     

Percutaneous direct endoscopic pancreatic necrosectomy

Approximately 10%-20% of the cases of acute pancreatitis have acute necrotizing pancreatitis. The infection of pancreatic necrosis is typically associated with a prolonged course and poor prognosis. The multidisciplinary, minimally invasive “step-up” approach is the cornerstone of the management of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). Endosonography-guided transmural drainage and debridement is the preferred and minimally invasive technique for those with IPN. However, it is technically not feasible in patients with early pancreatic/peripancreatic fluid collections (PFC) (< 2-4 wk) where the wall has not formed; in PFC in paracolic gutters/pelvis; or in walled off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) distant from the stomach/duodenum. Percutaneous drainage of these infected PFC or WOPN provides rapid infection control and patient stabilization. In a subset of patients where sepsis persists and necrosectomy is needed, the sinus drain tract between WOPN and skin-established after percutaneous drainage or surgical necrosectomy drain, can be used for percutaneous direct endoscopic necrosectomy (PDEN). There have been technical advances in PDEN over the last two decades. An esophageal fully covered self-expandable metal stent, like the lumen-apposing metal stent used in transmural direct endoscopic necrosectomy, keeps the drainage tract patent and allows easy and multiple passes of the flexible endoscope while performing PDEN. There are several advantages to the PDEN procedure. In expert hands, PDEN appears to be an effective, safe, and minimally invasive adjunct to the management of IPN and may particularly be considered when a conventional drain is in situ by virtue of previous percutaneous or surgical intervention. In this current review, we summarize the indications, techniques, advantages, and disadvantages of PDEN. In addition, we describe two cases of PDEN in distinct clinical situations, followed by a review of the most recent literature.     

Reliability of Different Facial Measurements for Determination of Vertical Dimension of Occlusion in Edentulous Using Accepted Facial Dimensions Recorded from Dentulous Subjects

The study was undertaken to evaluate the reliability of different facial measurements for determination of vertical dimension of occlusion in edentulous subjects using accepted facial dimensions recorded from dentulous subjects. The hypothesis was that facial measurements can be used to obtain the vertical dimension of occlusion for edentulous patients where no pre-extraction records exist. A total of 180 subjects were selected in the age groups of 50–60 years, consisting of 75 dentate male and 75 dentate female subjects for whom different facial measurements were recorded including vertical dimension of occlusion and rest, and 15 edentulous male and 15 edentulous female subjects for whom all the facial measurements were recorded including the vertical dimension of rest and occlusion following construction of upper and lower complete dentures. The left outer canthus of eye to angle of mouth distance and the right Ear–Eye distance were found to be as valuable adjuncts in the determination of occlusal vertical dimension. The Glabella–Subnasion distance, the Pupil–Stomion distance, the Pupil–Rima Oris distance and the distance between the two Angles of the Mouth did not have a significant role in the determination of the occlusal vertical dimension. The vertical dimension can be determined with reasonable accuracy by utilizing other facial measurements for patients for whom no pre-extraction records exist.     

Epibulbar schwannoma in a 12-year-old boy: A case report and review of literature

Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated, primary neurilemmal tumors composed of proliferating Schwann cells. Schwannomas are commonly seen in the orbit, but are rare on the epibulbar surface. Herein, we report a case of a 12-year-old boy who presented to us with a slow-growing painless subconjunctival mass in the left eye. There was no intraocular extension of the mass and intra-operatively, the mass could be clearly delineated and was excised off the underlying sclera. Histopathological examination of the mass showed typical features of schwannoma and immunohistochemistry helped to confirm the diagnosis. There was no recurrence of the lesion observed at follow-up 26 months after surgery. Here, we describe this uncommon tumor and review the available literature. Although rare, an epibulbar schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an amelanotic, painless subconjunctival nodular mass. Excision of the lesion is the recommended treatment.