Effectiveness of Arndt endobronchial blockers in pediatric scoliosis surgery: a case series

BACKGROUND: Pediatric scoliosis surgery may require single lung ventilation for surgical access. Current methods of lung isolation are inadequate for some or all of these children. The Arndt endobronchial blocker (EBB) has been described for use in pediatric thoracic surgery to enable single lung ventilation (SLV). There are few data on its use in pediatric spinal deformity surgery. We report the successful use of the Arndt EBB in a series of these patients. METHODS: Any patient undergoing surgical correction of scoliosis involving a lateral thoracotomy for an anterior approach was managed with an Arndt EBB (5, 7 and 9 Fr gauge) to facilitate SLV. All cases were undertaken by a pediatric anesthetist trained in pediatric bronchoscopy; a 2.2 or 2.8 mm pediatric fiberoptic scope was used for placement and positional confirmation. RESULTS: Patients' ages and weights ranged from 18 months to 18 years, and from 9.4 to 71 kg. All had idiopathic or congenital scoliosis; one underwent a vertical expansion prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedure. In all 20 patients, placement was easily and quickly achieved with no incorrect placements. There was one displacement after inflation, quickly corrected. Right upper lobe deflation proved difficult in one patient with high take-off of the right upper lobe bronchus. The surgical field was excellent in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: In our case series, Arndt EBB provided a safe and highly effective means of single lung isolation for children undergoing pediatric scoliosis surgery.     

Jet ventilation for anterior paediatric scoliosis surgery

Single-lung anaesthesia for thoracotomy is usually achieved with endobronchial intubation, a double-lumen tube or an endobronchial blocker. High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) is seldom described for thoracotomy in children, although it is used for both laryngology procedures in the operating room and as a ventilation mode in intensive care. HFJV was used in three children, aged 10-12 years, who presented for scoliosis correction involving thoracotomy. The jet ventilation catheter was passed through a tracheal tube to reduce the risk of outflow obstruction and allow a smooth conversion to intermittent positive-pressure ventilation when required. Mean airway pressures measured at the tip of the HFJV catheter were at or below 4 cmH2O. Surgical opening of the nondependent lung pleura resulted in sufficient collapse of the pulmonary parenchyma with the patient in the lateral decubitus position for the surgical procedure. Arterial blood gas analyses performed during thoracotomy were within normal limits, with no CO2 retention. HFJV is an alternative ventilation strategy for thoracotomy in children because of its unique ability to deliver small tidal volumes at low mean airway pressures via a narrow catheter.     

The paediatric plastic surgery

Paediatric plastic surgery is a complex surgery. The management of traumatized or malformed children needs a lot of contributors: the paediatric plastic surgeon is often the "conductor" of a large team. Paediatric plastic surgery is a very nice but fragile speciality. This surgery needs a long experience, a large recruitment and a rigorous training. Good university education is necessary to know techniques and children's pathologies. An international recruitment is necessary for these rare pathologies. Surgical training is also important with a good training in microsurgery and minimally invasive surgery. The management of children needs to know physiologic particularities, specific pathologies, cicatrisation particularities and especially the outcome of growth and psychomotor development. Some French surgeons are references in the world for surgery of hand abnormalities, ear reconstruction or skin expansion. They changed techniques and indications to improve each day the live of children with abnormalities. Interviews of these surgeons are very useful to understand and improve the French creativity.     

支气管封堵器在电视胸腔镜手术单肺通气中的应用研究

目的 评估支气管封堵器(endobronchial blocker,EBB)在电视胸腔镜手术中的应用效果. 方法 选择100例拟行择期电视胸腔镜手术(video assisted thoracoscopic surgery,VATS),完全随机分为EBB组(E组)和双腔支气管导管(double-lumen tube,DLT)组(D组),每组50例.观察比较两组患者的定位时间、肺塌陷时间、导管或EBB移位次数、肺隔离效果、气道压及下气道损伤情况. 结果 与D组比较,E组定位时间和肺隔离效果差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).E组和D组肺塌陷时间分别为(8.5±3.5)、(4.5±2.9) min,套囊移位次数分别为23和5次,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);而D组患者单肺通气(one-lung ventilation,OLV)时压力显著高于E组,分别为(26±4)、(22±3) cm H20(1 cm H20=0.098 kPa);且其下气道中重度损伤例数也显著高于E组,分别为25和12例差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05). 结论 与DLT比较,EBB OLV术中肺萎陷时间长、位置易移动,但气道损伤小,能安全顺利地完成OLV,是满足VATS较好的OLV方法之一.     

Costoplasty in scoliosis surgery

The rib hump is a protrusion of the apicals ribs of the convex side of the toracic scoliosis and it is due to the torsional deformity that appears in scoliosis. It originates a great cosmetic deformity that although improves with the correction of the scoliosis, it appears again by the costal elasticity. For this reason, in cases of important deformity it is necessary to associate a costoplasty for its definitive improvement. 10 cases of Idiopatic Scoliosis with 75.5 degrees of average and rib hump of 22.1 degrees were analysed. A resection of apicals ribs without stabilization in the same surgical act were done; the correction of the curve was 34.6 degrees (55%) and of the hump 8.1 degrees (64%); there were no important complications and the postoperative evolution was normal. The average follow up was 21,9 months, only in 1 case a slight deterioration of the hump was detected, although in all the cases the ribs recovered. In conclusion, costoplasty breaks the vertebro-bicosto-esternal ring. For that reason it is effective for the improvement of the costal hump without adding morbidity to the correction of the scoliosis.     

踝阵挛试验在脊柱侧凸手术中的监测价值

目的：探讨踝阵挛试验在脊柱侧凸手术治疗中的应用价值。方法：对５１例脊柱侧凸手术患者于麻醉苏醒期中行踝阵挛试验检查,共作６２例次,并与唤醒试验结果相比较。结果：６２例次检查均可引出双侧踝阵挛,唤醒试验均为正常结果,手术后均证实无脊髓损伤发生。结论：踝阵挛试验对于脊柱侧凸手术治疗中脊髓功能的监测具有明确的应用价值,应列为常规检查,并可补充或代替唤醒试验的作用。     

青少年特发性脊柱侧凸矫形术中应用氨甲环酸的有效性和安全性

【摘要】 目的：评估在青少年特发性脊柱侧凸（adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,AIS）矫形手术中静脉应用氨甲环酸（tranexamic acid,TXA）以减少出血的有效性及安全性。方法：回顾性分析2016年11月~2022年5月在南京鼓楼医院脊柱外科行后路矫形内固定融合术治疗的759例AIS患者的临床资料,女544例, 男215例; 年龄14.7±2.1岁。其中369例术中静脉应用TXA的患者纳入TXA组,390例术中未使用 TXA但输入等量生理盐水的患者纳入对照组。比较两组患者基本信息（年龄、性别比、侧凸Cobb角和侧凸类型）、术前和术后3天的血液实验室指标[血红蛋白（hemoglobin,Hb）、红细胞压积（hematocrit,Hct）、血小板计数（platelet,PLT）、凝血酶原时间（prothrombin time,PT）、D-二聚体、部分凝血活酶时间（activated partial thromboplastin time,APTT）及纤维蛋白原（fibrinogen,FIB）]、血液管理资料（术中出血量、术中输血量、术后引流量和拔管时间）及矫正手术相关指标（术前术后侧凸度数、矫正率）和术后并发症。结果：两组患者的基本信息、术前血液实验室指标均无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。TXA组患者术中出血量（551.7±130.3mL）、总输血量（551.3±96.3mL）、术后引流量（468.3±162.5mL）、术后引流天数（2.8±0.4d）均显著性低于对照组（666.7±166.8mL、650.0±138.3mL、550.0±135.1mL、3.1±0.8d,P<0.05）,术后D二聚体和PLT显著性低于对照组（P<0.05）,其余血液实验室指标两组间无显著性差异（P>0.05）。两组侧凸矫正率、术后并发症谱及发生率无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：术中应用TXA可以减少AIS患者围手术期的出血量、输血量,改善凝血指标,且不会增加相关并发症发生率。     

Safety and effectiveness of minimally invasive scoliosis surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a retrospective case series of 84 patients

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate a prospective series of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who were treated with minimally invasive scoliosis surgery (MISS) technique with a minimum follow-up more than 1 year. We retrospectively analyzed the prospectively collected data of 84 patients with AIS treated with MIS technique using two or three coin hole size incisions and a muscle-splitting approach. The clinical and radiological data such as the correction of deformity, coronal and sagittal profile and record of the perioperative morbidity of the patients were analyzed. The mean primary Cobb angle was corrected from 59.8° preoperatively to 18.6° postoperatively with a mean correction of 68.9% (p < 0.001). The mean kyphosis at T2 to T12 was maintained within normal range with an increase from 31.2° preoperatively to 35.3° postoperatively (p < 0.001). The 30-day perioperative complication rate was 7.14% with one deep infection and five cases of hemothorax. The mean operation time was 312.8 min; mean estimated blood loss was 846.6 ml (range 420–2800); and mean length of stay was 8.5 days (range 5 to 14). All data of postoperative SRS-22 questionnaire were significantly improved (p < 0.001). MISS used for AIS provides adequate correction in both planes and acceptable rate of perioperative complications, with a low estimated blood loss and short length of stay. Considering all the positives, the application of MISS technique for AIS seems meaningful and can become a valid alternative to posterior approach in the routine use. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.     

The effectiveness of clonidine as an analgesic in paediatric adenotonsillectomy

PURPOSE: To compare the analgesic effects of preoperative oral clonidine with intraoperative intravenous fentanyl in children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: This randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 36 ASA I-II children, age 7-12 yr undergoing adenotonsillectomy was conducted at a tertiary care paediatric teaching hospital. Either 4 micrograms.kg-1 clonidine po was given 60-90 min preoperatively or 3 micrograms.kg-1 fentanyl i.v. was given intraoperatively. Postoperatively visual analog pain scores (VAS) were recorded at rest and on swallowing every 10 min for the first 30 min and then every 15 min for two hours. Morphine 0.05 mg.kg-1 i.v. was given for VAS > or = 5. If > 3 doses were required, 1.5 mg.kg-1 codeine po and 20 mg.kg-1 acetaminophen po were given. Sedation and anxiety scores were recorded preoperatively. Haemodynamic changes, blood loss, recovery scores, and the incidence of vomiting, hypotension, and airway obstruction were recorded. RESULTS: Children who received clonidine had a higher incidence of preoperative sedation (63%) than those receiving fentanyl (6%). Preinduction mean arterial pressure was lower in the clonidine group but required no intervention. VAS scores were similar throughout the observation period. There was no difference either in the number of morphine or codeine rescue doses administered or in the incidence of side effects. CONCLUSION: Oral clonidine is an effective analgesic and sedative for children undergoing tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy.     

The suprapedicle claw construct in anterior scoliosis surgery

Proximal screw pullout is a well-recognized problem in anterior scoliosis surgery, with a rate of pseudarthrosis or screw pullout ranging from 15 to 30%. To prevent screw pullout at the top of the construct, the authors have devised the concept of a claw for the top instrumented vertebra. The claw consists of a classic anterior vertebral body screw inserted parallel to the inferior end-plate and in the posterior portion of the vertebral body 8 mm in front of the spine canal. After rib desarticulation, a laminar hook of a small size is inserted over the superior aspect of the pedicle of the same vertebra. The rod is then inserted into the two side openings of the screw and the hook. Compression across the hook and the screw is then performed, making a claw construct. This concept can also be extended in the case of early revision for a proximal screw pullout, where it is possible to revise the instrumentation with an offset connector linking the rod to the superior portion of the pedicle where the suprapedicule hook has been inserted. We report two cases where a suprapedicle claw was successfully used in anterior scoliosis correction of a right thoracic curve. Such a concept may represent the solution to proximal screw pullout in anterior scoliosis correction.     

The use of allografts in paediatric orthopaedic surgery

Autograft harvesting in a growing child sometimes leads to disastrous consequences. Allograft can advantageously replace autograft in the majority of the cases. This overview presents the most frequently used allografts in paediatric orthopaedic surgery and discusses their benefits. Illustrative cases are presented to highlight specific indications.