Does epilepsy influence the outcome of antireflux procedures in neurologically impaired children?

In neurologically impaired patients (NIP), surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has become a widespread standard. Several follow-up studies have shown a high incidence of complications and recurrent reflux. As one of the possible causes epilepsy is mentioned repeatedly in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine the effective impact of epilepsy on the postoperative outcome by comparing results of our patients suffering from epilepsy to those without this disorder. From 1984 to 1999, a total of 45 NIP underwent antireflux surgery, including 20 patients suffering from epilepsy (EP) and 25 patients without this disorder (nEP). The existence of epileptic disorders, incidence of epileptic seizures and administration of anticonvulsatory drugs as well as results of diagnostic procedures, postoperative complications and incidence and time of recurrence of pathologic GER were recorded and analysed retrospectively. Preoperatively all patients had pathologic results in 24 h pH-monitoring. Median RI was 15.75 (EP, range 5.2–28.6) and 17.55 (nEP; range 7.2–26.5). 12-months-postoperative 24 h pH-monitoring showed a median RI of 3.8 (EP; range 1.3–25.6) versus a median RI of 3.3 (nEP; range 0.7–26.3). During the long-term follow-up evaluation of 3.9 years, 17 EP suffered from persistent epileptic seizures despite medical treatment. 19 patients (42%) developed recurrent reflux. This included seven EP (35%) and 12 nEP (48%). The necessity of reoperation was higher in nEP (n = 5, 20%) than in EP (n = 1, 5%). This analysis did not show a significant correlation between recurrence of pathologic GER after fundoplication and the incidence of epileptic seizures. We consider our findings to strongly question the widespread opinion considering this correlation. We conclude, that cerebral seizures alone do not alter the operative outcome of antireflux surgery in NIP.     

Sonographic measurement of renal length in children: Does the position of the patient matter?

Purpose. This prospective study was designed to determine the effect of patient positioning on sonographic measurements of renal length in children.Materials and methods. Two dedicated pediatric ultrasonographers (observers A and B) measured the sonographic lengths of 48 kidneys in 25 children (two had unilateral renal agenesis). Each observer obtained the two longest possible measurements for each kidney with the patient in three positions: supine, contralateral decubitus, and prone. Patients with myelomeningocele, hydronephrosis, and renal cysts were excluded.Results. Both examiners obtained significantly higher values for renal lengths with the children lying supine (observerA P 0.0017; observer BP 0.0409) or in contralateral decubitus (observerA P 0.0001; observerB P 0.0419) than with them lying prone. There was no significant difference between the supine and decubitus measurements. The mean difference between the supine and prone measurements for the observers was 3.0 mm for observer A and 1.8 mm for observer B. The mean difference between the contralateral decubitus and prone measurements was 3.0 mm for observer A and 1.6 mm for observer B.Conclusion. Sonographic measurements of renal length made with the patient lying supine or in contralateral decubitus yield slightly higher values than those made with the patient prone.     

Does breastfeeding influence the risk of developing diabetes mellitus in children? A review of current evidence

Objectivethe aim of this study was to perform a review to investigate the influence of breastfeeding as a protective agent against the onset of diabetes in children.Sourcesnon-systematic review of SciELO, LILACS, MEDLINE, Scopus, and VHL databases, and selection of the 52 most relevant studies. A total of 21 articles, specifically on the topic, were analyzed (nine related to type 1 diabetes and 12 to type 2 diabetes).Data synthesisthe duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding, as well as the early use of cow's milk, have been shown to be important risk factors for developing diabetes. It is believed that human milk contains substances that promote the maturation of the immune system, which protect against the onset of type 1 diabetes. Moreover, human milk has bioactive substances that promote satiety and energy balance, preventing excess weight gain during childhood, thus protecting against the development of type 2 diabetes. Although the above mentioned benefits have not been observed by some researchers, inaccuracies on dietary habit reports during childhood and the presence of interfering factors have been considered responsible for the lack of identification of beneficial effects.Conclusiongiven the scientific evidence indicated in most published studies, it is believed that the lack of breastfeeding can be a modifiable risk factor for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Strategies aiming at the promotion and support of breastfeeding should be used by trained healthcare professionals in order to prevent the onset of diabetes.     

Can we alter the natural history of Crohn disease in children?

The natural history of Crohn disease is characterized by recurrent bouts of active disease, the consequences of which can severely impair sufferers' physical and social functioning. Not only does the illness cause day-to-day morbidity for children but the consequence of the chronic inflammatory process also commonly results in the need for major intestinal surgery. The present challenge facing physicians treating children with Crohn disease is to alleviate symptoms and prolong periods of remission via the use of specifically targeted therapies while minimizing toxicity and promoting normal growth and development. Although systemic corticosteroids are effective in inducing clinical remission, they are of little or no benefit in maintaining remission and can contribute to linear growth retardation. Immunomodulating drugs such as azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate have proved effective for inducing and maintaining remission of active Crohn disease. These agents are now commonly prescribed in children at diagnosis, after a severe attack or after surgery or in those who become corticosteroid-dependent or corticosteroid-resistant. Their use is not without potential adverse effects and not all patients respond well to these agents. With the introduction of biologic agents, notably the tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody infliximab, progress has been made in targeting specific pathogenetic mechanisms of Crohn disease and potentially altering the underlying disease process. Published experience in children is currently limited, but infliximab has been shown to improve symptoms and achieve corticosteroid independence in this age group. Unresolved issues with infliximab and other emerging biologic agents, including long-term safety, necessitate a degree of caution in selecting appropriate patients for treatment and with careful monitoring of their effects. The collection of contemporary natural history data is crucial to facilitate the better integration of current and emerging therapies in an attempt to alter the natural history of Crohn disease in children.     

Does family functioning affect outcome in children with neurological disorders?

Children with neurological disorders are at increased risk of poor psychological and social adjustment. Medical factors are insufficient to explain the individual variation in outcome, so family variables have been considered. This review evaluates studies which have investigated the effect of family functioning on outcome in children with traumatic brain injuries, epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Methodological problems include the cross-sectional nature of many studies and inadequate control for confounding variables. There is good evidence that family functioning influences behavioural adjustment and adaptive functioning after traumatic brain injury. The role of family functioning in epilepsy and other neurological disorders requires further investigation. The development of effective interventions to improve family functioning may lead to important clinical benefits for children and their families.     

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children: Is the outcome different in children under 2 years of age?

PurposeTo report the outcomes of a series of children younger than 2 years with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP), compared to children older than 2 years.Patients and methodsTwenty-three children (18 male) with UPJO underwent 24 Anderson–Hynes transperitoneal LPs between March 2003 and July 2007. The diagnosis of UPJO was confirmed on renal sonography and diuretic renogram. Nine children were younger than 2 years (Group 1) and 14 were older (Group 2). One child had bilateral UPJO and underwent two non-simultaneous procedures. All children were investigated with postoperative diuretic renogram and renal sonography, and the results were statistically analysed.ResultsLP was feasible without conversions or intraoperative complications in all 24 cases. Median age in Groups 1 and 2 was 11 months (4–24) and 74 months (27–204), respectively, (P < 0.00001). No differences were found between the groups regarding median operative time, complications, technical difficulties, discharge home and follow-up. All patients in both groups experienced resolution of symptoms or obstruction.ConclusionsThe LP in children younger than 2 years is highly successful with a low-rate of complications, and has the same outcomes as in older children.     

Is non-operative intussusception reduction effective in older children? Ten-year experience in a university affiliated medical center

Ileo-colic intussusception in older children is frequently caused by a pathological lead point. Therefore, in many cases, no attempts at hydrostatic or air reduction are performed in non-pediatric hospitals. This study summarizes our experience in management of intussusception in children aged 3 years or older, in order to determine its efficacy and safety in this age group. We retrospectively reviewed medical records and radiological images of 26 cases of intussusception in 24 children older than 3 years admitted to our hospital over a 10-year period. In one child no attempt of reduction was made. Three children underwent unsuccessful imaging-guided reduction and an underlying tumor was identified at surgery and resected. In 18 cases air reduction was successful and no pathological lead point was discovered. In four children hydrostatic or air reductions failed. Manual reduction was performed, with no predisposing cause found. No complications were observed in any of our patients. Older age is not a contraindication for imaging-guided intussusception reduction attempt. Most of these patients can benefit from such an attempt, thereby avoiding surgery. N. Simanovsky and N. Hiller contributed equally to this study.     

What is the outcome of rheumatic carditis in children with Sydenham's chorea?

We evaluated the echocardiographic features of 69 children diagnosed with Sydenham's chorea at the first attack of acute rheumatic fever. By echocardiography, carditis was detected in 71% of cases and silent carditis was shown in 28.9% of cases at initial presentation. Most patients had mild or moderate valvular regurgitation. Sixty-three cases were followed from 1-10 years. The improvement rate in valvulitis in cases with silent carditis (29.4%) was not different than in cases with clinical carditis (18.5%) (p > 0.05). Persistence of valvular pathologies occurred in 72.2% of cases with carditis in the long-term follow-up (> 2 years). Most patients (88.8%) complied with secondary prophylaxis, so relapse of carditis was exclusively prevented in our patients. Recurrence of chorea was identified in 20.6% of cases and was not associated with clinical or laboratory evidence for streptococcal reinfection. Patients with chorea usually had mild carditis, and carditis showed resolution. Relapse of carditis in our population was exclusively prevented with secondary prophylaxis. Recurrence of chorea was not rare, despite regular treatment with benzathine penicillin.     

Does the size of nasogastric tubes affect gastroesophageal reflux in children?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effects of nasogastric tube insertion and different nasogastric tube sizes on gastroesophageal reflux in children. METHODS: During a prospective randomized study, 29 patients aged 1 month to 4 years (median, 9 months) underwent 24 hours of continuous esophageal pH monitoring to rule out gastroesophageal reflux as the cause of severe pulmonary problems. Each patient was monitored without nasogastric tube for 16 hours (baseline), and thereafter the first nasogastric tube, small (8-Fr) or large (10-Fr or 12-Fr), was placed. Four hours later, the original nasogastric tube was replaced by a new one of large (instead of small) size or of small (instead of large) size. We selected the times of wakefulness in these study periods and compared the number of reflux episodes (NREs), the number of reflux episodes that lasted more than 5 minutes (NRE>5), and the percentage of time with esophageal pH less than 4 (PTP<4). RESULTS: The 12-Fr group in comparison with the 8-Fr group and baseline showed significant difference (P<0.05) in the NRE>5 and PTP<4 parameters. No significant differences were found when comparing 8-Fr versus 10-Fr groups and baseline. In children with (n = 20) and without (n = 9) gastroesophageal reflux, comparison of the various reflux parameters between baseline and the different sizes of nasogastric tubes showed the same results. CONCLUSIONS: Size of the nasogastric tubes is a significant factor in predisposing the child to gastroesophageal reflux. Large nasogastric tubes interfere with the clearance of the refluxed acid from the esophagus.     

Does machine learning have a role in the prediction of asthma in children?

Asthma is the most common chronic lung disease in childhood. There has been a significant worldwide effort to develop tools/methods to identify children’s risk for asthma as early as possible for preventative and early management strategies. Unfortunately, most childhood asthma prediction tools using conventional statistical models have modest accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value. Machine learning is an approach that may improve on conventional models by finding patterns and trends from large and complex datasets. Thus far, few studies have utilized machine learning to predict asthma in children. This review aims to critically assess these studies, describe their limitations, and discuss future directions to move from proof-of-concept to clinical application.     

Does low birthweight influence the nutritional status of children at school age? A cohort study in northeast Brazil

Birthweight is recognized to be a determinant of a full term infant's early growth pattern; however, few studies have explored whether this effect is sustained into school age, especially in developing countries. We have used a cohort study from North East Brazil to investigate factors determining the anthropometric status of eight-year-old children born at full-term with low or appropriate weight. A cohort of 375 full-term infants was recruited at birth in six maternity hospitals between 1993 and 1994, in a poor region of the interior of the State of Pernambuco. At the age of 8 years, 86 born with low birthweight and 127 with appropriate birthweight were traced. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify the net effect of socioeconomic conditions, maternal nutritional status and child factors on weight-for-age and height-for-age. An enter approach was used to estimate the contribution of different factors on child anthropometry. Birthweight had little influence on child nutritional status at school age. Maternal BMI and height together were the biggest contributors to variation in child weight-for-age (12.3%) and height-for-age (13.2%), followed by family socioeconomic conditions. Maternal height as a proxy of maternal constraint was the single factor that best explained the variation in both indices (6.2% for weight-for-age and 11.1% for height-for-age). Haemoglobin level measured at eight years made a small but significant contribution to variation in height-for-age (5.6%) and weight for age (1.4%). Maternal nutritional status, reflecting genetic inheritance and the poor socioeconomic conditions of this population, was the most important determinant of the nutritional status of children at school age, rather than birthweight.     

Air enema for intussusception: Is predicting the outcome important?

Air enema is the treatment of choice for childhood intussusceptions. Although peritonitis is the established contraindication, studies have attempted to identify factors that affect the outcome of air enema. In our series we studied the impact of such factors on the clinical scenario to determine if it was important to predict the outcome of air enema. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 179 children who underwent air enema for intussusception at our institution over a 5-year period. Abdominal colic was present in 144 children, vomiting in 139 and rectal bleeding in 108 children. The duration of symptoms was less than 24 h in 131 children. An abdominal mass was present in 121 children, rectal prolapse of intussusception in 14, dehydration in 31 and small bowel obstruction in 27 children. The success rate of air enema was calculated. All clinical features were analyzed for impact on outcome using univariate and multivariate analysis. The extent of this impact on the clinical scenario was examined. Air enema was successful in 157 cases (89%). One child developed a perforation during the procedure (0.6%). The recurrence rate was 8%. Using χ² test, success of air enema was reduced in the presence of rectal bleeding, rectal prolapse of intussusception, dehydration, and small bowel obstruction. This reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Using logistic regression analysis, the success of air enema was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) only in the presence of prolapsing rectal intussusception (57%) and small bowel obstruction (52%). Small bowel obstruction and prolapsing rectal intussusceptions merely reduce the success of air enema and do not increase the complications. Since the success of air enema is very high, it must be attempted in all children with the exception of peritonitis. Predicting the outcome is not crucial because of the high success rate and low complication rate.     

Does diverting ileostomy improve the outcome in children with tuberculous small bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention?

Introduction

Abdominal tuberculosis is fairly common in children. The most common clinical presentation is bowel obstruction. Depending upon the presentation, the intestinal obstruction can be either managed conservatively or by operative intervention. There are various options in patients who undergo operative treatment. This study was undertaken to analyze the results of operative intervention with and without ileostomy.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective study carried out over a period of 10 years on 32 children who were operated for small bowel obstruction due to abdominal tuberculosis. The patients were divided into two groups (A: with ileostomy and B: without ileostomy). The relevant data and the defined outcome measures were statistically analyzed.

Results

A total of 32 children with tuberculous bowel obstruction requiring surgical intervention were studied. The patient of group A had mean duration of postoperative ileus for 2.55 days, restoration of enteral feeding within mean period of 3.55 days and had a primary hospital stay for a mean period of 9.0 days. These outcomes when compared with group B patients were statistically significant.

Conclusion

In children with bowel obstruction due to tuberculosis, diverting ileostomy decreases the morbidity by allowing early return of enteral motility, early institution of feeding and first-line ATT and decreasing the primary hospital stay.