The efficacy of conservative treatment for late term ovarian torsion.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Recent reports have focused on detorsion after ovarian torsion in the literature. The aim of the study was to investigate late term changes in both ovaries after delayed detorsion following ovarian torsion in rats. MATERIALS: Female, prepubertal, Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 6/group). The left ovaries were used for the study and the right ovaries were kept as the control. The groups were constituted as follows: Group 1: left ovarian fixation, bilateral oophorectomy 48 hours later; Group 2: left ovarian torsion and fixation, bilateral oophorectomy 48 hours later; Group 3: detorsion 48 hours after torsion and bilateral oophorectomy after another 48 hours; Group 4: detorsion 48 hours after torsion and bilateral oophorectomy after 21 days. The total injury score (TIS) was compiled histologically in a double-blind fashion. Congestion, edema, bleeding and polymorphonuclear lymphocyte infiltration were assessed for TIS. RESULTS: The TIS was found to be 8 points in Group 1; 38 in Group 2; 28 in Group 3 and 12 in Group 4, respectively. The TIS was based on results from the left ovaries in Group 1, whereas 31 points were attributable to the left ovaries and 7 to the right ovaries in Group 2. In Groups 3 and 4, TIS points were the same in both study and control ovaries. The difference between the left ovaries of Groups 1 and 2 and the left ovaries of Groups 2 and 4 was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Viable ovarian tissue can be detected even after 48 hours of torsion, which is a relatively long period of ischemia. Tissue injury decreases significantly after detorsion during late recovery. In view of previous case reports in the literature and the present findings, detorsion is recommended in children with ovarian torsion regardless of the ischemic period and/or macroscopic appearance.     

Spin on perinatal testicular torsion

We describe a recent case of perinatal testicular torsion at our institution. The presentation, management and outcome of perinatal testicular torsion are quite different to testicular torsion in the general paediatric population. The literature describes a variety of management options for perinatal testicular torsion and these are briefly reviewed. In cases of unilateral perinatal testicular torsin, there is controversy over whether surgery to fix the contralateral testis is required, and if so, the appropriate timing for the surgery. A good understanding of the issues unique to perinatal torsion will facilitate appropriate counseling of parents of affected neonates.     

Friedreich's ataxia presenting as cardiac disease

Summary Three male children with Friedreich's ataxia, from a single family, are described. The first patient presented as a cardiologic problem with anginalike chest pain. He was found to have echocardiographic evidence of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). He later developed ataxia. The younger brother also had LVH but was asymptomatic and later became ataxic. The elder brother was already ataxic at the time of diagnosis. To our knowledge this is the first report of echocardiographic concentric left ventricular hypertrophy preceding the neurologic syndrome of Friedreich's ataxia.     

新生儿睾丸扭转临床特点探讨

目的 探讨新生儿睾丸扭转发生的特点及治疗时机选择.方法 回顾性分析近10年新生儿睾丸扭转患儿可能的致病危险因素、临床特点、超声检查结果、治疗策略、病理结果及术后随访情况.结果 新生儿睾丸扭转共17例,左侧7例,右侧10例;其中剖腹产11例(65%),第二产程延长5例(29%),羊水过少2例(12%);术前体检均发现睾丸增大,多伴有阴囊色泽改变(94%).超声检查均发现患睾体积增大、回声不均或增强、血流信号减小或消失.术中探查打开肉膜组织后均发现精索睾丸扭转并已坏死而行患睾切除,其中14例行对侧睾丸固定术.所有患睾病理活检均提示睾丸坏死,7例(41%)可见钙化灶.所有随诊病例超声检查未发现对侧睾丸异常.结论 新生儿睾丸扭转失睾率极高;当发现阴囊色泽改变、睾丸增大等改变,即应考虑睾丸扭转可能;超声检查敏感性高,可作为首选检查方法;患儿出生过程出现异常可能是新生儿睾丸扭转的诱因.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and management of neonatal testicular torsion. Methods Neonatal testicular torsion were reviewed focusing on the possible risk factors, clinical features, ultrasonic characteristics, management, pathological outcome and follow-up results. Results A total of 17 neonatal testicular torsion (left side 7, right side 10) was diagnosed. 11cases of them were cesarean delivery (65 %). 5 cases were found a prolonged second stage of labor (29%), and 2 cases with oligohydramnios (12%) before birth. All patients presented an enlarged testes. Most of them presented with scrotal discoloration (94%). Ultrasound examination showed enlargment of testicular volum, heterogeneity and lacked of blood flow. The twisted testes and spermatic cord showed necrosis intra-operatively. Orchiectomy was carried out. Orchidopexy on contralateral testis was performed in 14 cases. Pathology of ipsilateral testes showed necrosis, and calcification occurred in 7 cases(41 %). All contralateral testes presented normal Ultrasound image during the followup. Conclusions The rate of testicular necreosis was high in neonatal testicular torsion. Testicular torsion should be suspected when neonatal testis presents scrotal discoloration and enlarged testicular mass. Ultrasound inspection is a sensitive method in diagnosing neonatal testis torsion, and should be recommended. Abnormal labor may lead to the neonatal testis torsion.     

New insights into perinatal testicular torsion

Perinatal testicular torsion is a relatively rare event that remains unrecognized in many patients or is suspected and treated accordingly only after an avoidable loss of time. The authors report their own experience with several patients, some of them quite atypical but instructive. Missed bilateral torsion is an issue, as are partial torsion, possible antenatal signs, and late presentation. These data are discussed together with the existing literature and may help shed new light on the natural course of testicular torsion and its treatment. The most important conclusion is that a much higher index of suspicion based on clinical findings is needed for timely detection of perinatal torsion. It is the authors’ opinion that immediate surgery is mandatory not only in suspected bilateral torsions but also in cases of possible unilateral torsions. There is no place for a more fatalistic “wait-and-see” approach. Whenever possible, even necrotic testes should not be removed during surgery because some endocrine function may be retained.     

Testicular torsion: sonomorphological appearance as a predictor for testicular viability and outcome in neonates and children

Introduction  

Testicular torsion in children is found both in neonates [perinatal testicular torsion (PTT), <30th day of life] and in older children [testicular torsion (TT)]. Prediction of testicular viability is essential for deciding whether to perform emergency exploration surgery. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to investigate the sonomorphological parameters as predictors for testicular viability.     

Testicular torsion: potential pitfalls in its diagnosis and management

Torsion of the testis is a surgical emergency. Within the paediatric population, peaks in incidence occur in the perinatal and adolescent age groups. There exist traps that can make torsion of the testis a difficult diagnosis to make and once made a tricky condition to manage, in some instances. It is becoming clear that perinatal torsion should serve as an umbrella term for what is increasingly being regarded as two separate entities: prenatal and post-natal torsion. Evidence suggests that the management for each of these may be different. While management of testicular torsion in the adolescent is universally agreed upon, the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult to make. This notwithstanding, early diagnosis is imperative for ensuring the best possible outcome.     

Prenatal bilateral extravaginal testicular torsion—a case presentation

A newborn male presented at birth with findings consistent with bilateral testicular torsion. Preoperative ultrasound demonstrated no flow to either testicle, and he underwent surgery, during which bilateral extravaginal testicular torsion was confirmed. The right testicle was grossly necrotic and orchidectomy was performed, whereas the left testicle was indeterminate and underwent detorsion and orchidopexy. At 6-month follow-up, the left testicle remained within normal clinical limits with good flow on ultrasound examination.     

Splenic torsion in the presence of renal agenesis

A 14-year-old male with left renal agenesis presented with a history of intermittent abdominal pain for over 1 year. At laparotomy, the cause was found to be splenic torsion. The case is presented with a literature review. A theory of the cause is also presented based on the regional anatomy and embryology. Accepted: 2 May 1997     

A Tale of Two Brothers: Anomalous Coronary Arteries in Two Siblings

We report a case of a 10-year-old boy with aberrant left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva, whose presenting sign was cardiac arrest. The patient's asymptomatic younger brother was found to have aberrant right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva. This is the first report of a familial clustering of coronary artery anomalies in which the initial presentation of one subject was sudden cardiac death and a sibling harboring a similar lesion was identified while asymptomatic.     

The current state of surgical practice for neonatal torsion: A survey of pediatric urologists

ObjectiveThe evaluation and treatment of perinatal testicular torsion is controversial. We performed a survey to assess practice patterns among pediatric urologists regarding treatment of perinatal torsion.MethodsAn internet survey was administered to members of two pediatric urology societies. Cases of prenatal, postnatal and bilateral prenatal torsion were outlined. Respondents were asked about use of ultrasound, timing of surgery, incision, and management of the contralateral testicle. A case with a non-palpable testicle and blind ending vessels was also presented.ResultsWe had 121 respondents. In a neonate with prenatal torsion, 34% percent would operate immediately, 26% urgently within 72 h, 28% electively and 12% would not explore; 93% would perform a contralateral orchiopexy. In a neonate with postnatal torsion, 93% would operate immediately, 5% urgently, 1% electively and 1% would not explore; 96% would perform a contralateral orchiopexy. In both cases, 75% would use a scrotal incision and 25% would use an inguinal incision. When presented with bilateral prenatal torsion, 90% would operate immediately, 1% urgently, 2% electively and 7% would not operate. In the case of a non-palpable testicle with blind ending vessels 28% would perform a contralateral orchiopexy, 12% would explore the ipsilateral canal for a “nubbin”, 56% would perform no intervention and 4% would perform some other form of management.ConclusionWe documented variability of timing for intervention of prenatal torsion and confirmed that most view postnatal torsion as a surgical emergency. Most perform a contralateral orchiopexy for prenatal torsion despite the fact that most cases are extravaginal. The surgical approach via a scrotal incision appears to be preferred at this time.     

Acute scrotum in a neonate caused by renal vein thrombosis

The authors report on a rare case of neonatal scrotal oedema occurring concurrently with pain upon palpation of the spermatic cord on the first day of life. An ultrasound examination showed poor perfusion of the left testicle and a thrombosis of the left renal vein; intraoperative exploration indicated necrosis of the left testicle without signs of torsion. Gorged vessels with paravasal bleeding were found in the spermatic cord. The authors hypothesise that necrosis of the testicle may result from haemorrhagic infarction caused by renal venous thrombosis. Acute scrotal discolouration with pain upon palpation in neonates is usually attributed to testicular torsion. The authors report a case where these symptoms had a different cause.     

A family with X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth caused by a connexin32 mutation.

A family with a hereditary peripheral neuropathy is presented. Pedigree analysis suggested X-linked dominant mode of inheritance. The index patient became symptomatic at the age of 12 years. Clinical examination at 14 years revealed footdrop on the left, bilateral pes cavus, slight atrophy of thenar eminences, decreased muscle strength in both legs and brisk deep tendon reflexes. Electrophysiological studies were compatible with an axonal neuropathy. A novel point mutation located in codon 126 of the connexin32 gene, substituting a histidine for a tyrosine, was found in the index patient, in the mother, in two sisters and in a brother. The mother and the eldest sister had pes cavus bilaterally although they were asymptomatic. The younger brother and sister showed no signs of the disease.     

Right testicular necrosis and left vanishing testis in a neonate

We describe a rare case of right testicular necrosis and left vanishing testis in a neonate. The patient presented with a right swollen testis and left non-palpable testis at birth. Exploratory laparotomy was performed at 23 days after birth, and the right testis was extirpated because of extensive necrosis due to torsion of the spermatic cord. Histopathological examination revealed a massively necrotic testicular structure with hypertrophy of Leydig cells. Hypergonadotropinemia was also recognized before operation. On laparoscopy at the age of 5.3 years, a normal left vas deferens and spermatic vessels exiting through the internal inguinal ring were confirmed, although the patient's left testis was not found in the intraperitoneal cavity. An hCG test demonstrated no response of serum testosterone. These findings suggested a diagnosis of left vanishing testis due to testicular regression. We therefore speculated that bilateral asynchronous testicular torsion had occurred prenatally in this patient.     

Atrial natriuretic factor during the perinatal period: equal depletion in both atria

Data in the literature concerning atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) physiology in the fetus and newborn, although limited, suggest significant activity during the perinatal period. To characterize further ANF physiology during this time, we documented immunoreactive ANF (IR-ANF) concentrations in the right and left atria before and immediately after birth as well as in the hearts of immature and adult rats. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of IR-ANF in both right and left atria on the d before birth that persisted for the first 48 h of life [d 20 fetal right 570 (106, 90), left 580 (86, 75); d 21 fetal right 270 (70, 55), left 214 (117, 75); 1 d right 206 (39, 33), left 229 (41, 35); 2-d right 352 (35, 32), left 237 (26, 23) [geometric mean (upper SE, lower SE) in ng ANF/mg protein]. Repletion of ANF stores began in the right atrium on d 2 of life and in the left atrium between d 2 and 5. The highest levels of IR-ANF were observed at d 15 [d 5 right 1439 (53,51), left 1547 (83,79); d 15 right 2034 (90,86), left 1943 (108, 102); adult right 1380 (119, 109), left 963 (118, 105)]. In contrast to normal adult animals, factors mediating the observed change affect both atria equally during the perinatal period. The concentration of IR-ANF in the right and left atrium of the fetal, newborn, and immature animals was equal. These data document significant alterations in intraatrial IR-ANF concentrations in the perinatal period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fetal ovarian cysts: postnatal evolution and indications for surgical treatment

Fetal ovarian cysts are an increasingly common finding during routine prenatal ultrasonography (US). These lesions were occasionally diagnosed in the past, but only on the basis of a palpable abdominal mass or, rarely, because a twisted ovarian cyst caused an acute abdomen. Surgery is currently recommended for neonates after prenatal diagnosis, even in asymptomatic cases, when the cyst has a diameter larger than 5 cm or echographic findings suggest torsion or intracystic hemorrhage. In our 12 cases of suspected fetal ovarian cysts, wide variations in diameter were seen in 6 during pre- and postnatal follow-up. Two of these were not confirmed at birth; 7 were treated conservatively and excluding 1 perinatal death from multiple associated anomalies and 1 case lost to follow-up, the remaining cases showed uneventful, spontaneous regression of the cyst. Postnatal US signs suggesting necrosis secondary to torsion in a previously uncomplicated cyst and requiring surgery were seen in only 3 cases. Conservative treatment must be recommended in most prenatally diagnosed cysts; indications for surgery cannot be based only on dimensions. The incidence of complications has been overemphasized and the risk of associated malignancy is negligible in newborns, while possible size reduction and resorption can be expected in most cases. Nonoperative management may also be recommended when signs of torsion are seen before birth and spontaneous asymptomatic involution of the cystic ovary is documented in early postnatal life. Accurate clinical and US follow-up is mandatory in all cases. Surgery must be reserved for symptomatic cases or when an alteration of the cystic structure is documented by US in a previously uncomplicated cyst.     

Effect of a popular Chinese herb on neonatal bilirubin protein binding

A study on the effects of a popular Chinese herb commonly given to newborn infants was undertaken. 'Chuen-Lin', Coptis chinensus/japonicum, which is consumed by 28-51% of Chinese infants, was found to have a significant effect in displacing bilirubin from its serum protein binding as assessed by the peroxidase oxidation method. Taking this herbal tea may thus increase the risk of brain damage by free bilirubin in jaundiced infants. As neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia is highly prevalent among Southern Chinese, the use of Chuen-Lin in the perinatal period must be strongly discouraged.     

Infarction of an accessory spleen presenting as acute abdomen in a neonate.

An accessory spleen is a relatively common condition, but the torsion thereof is extremely rare, with only nine pediatric cases reported in the literature. This paper describes a case of an accessory spleen that was found to be necrotic during an emergency laparotomy in a 14-day-old female infant with signs of acute abdomen. To our knowledge, this is the youngest reported patient. The etiology of the necrosis was thrombosis of its trophic vessels, secondary to its pedicle torsion. The literature is also reviewed.     

腹腔镜治疗新生儿卵巢囊肿

目的探讨新生儿卵巢囊肿的治疗方法。方法对腹腔镜手术治疗的13例新生儿及小婴儿卵巢囊肿进行了回顾性总结。7例年龄小于1个月,单侧12例,双侧1例,产前B超发现12例;单纯型6例,复杂型7例。结果手术证实单纯型均无并发症发生,其中5例为新生儿。复杂型中6例并发扭转,其中1例病理诊断双侧卵巢颗粒细胞瘤;另1例复杂型实为卵巢囊性畸胎瘤。所有患儿无术中和术后并发症。结论产前B超发现的卵巢囊肿,复杂型及囊肿大于5cm的单纯型应及时腹腔镜手术。     

母亲妊娠期糖尿病对新生儿左心功能的影响

目的：评估妊娠期糖尿病（GDM）母亲的新生儿左心功能状况。方法：GDM母亲娩出的新生儿40例（GDM组）及正常新生儿40例（对照组）作为研究对象,应用超声二维斑点追踪成像技术检测室间隔厚度、左室后壁厚度、射血分数,并计算左室旋转和扭转参数。结果：GDM组新生儿室间隔舒张厚度（0.45±0.06 mm）较对照组（0.34±0.05 mm）增大;GDM组左室后壁舒张厚度（0.45±0.17 mm）亦较对照组（0.31±0.02 mm）增大,差异均有统计学意义（P0.05）。GDM组新生儿内膜旋转峰值、外膜旋转峰值、平面旋转峰值、跨壁扭转峰值均较对照组升高,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：GDM母亲的新生儿左心室的形态和旋转及扭转运动发生变化,心功能虽受到损害,但处于代偿状态,能维持正常的射血功能。超声二维斑点追踪成像技术可作为早期检测新生儿左心功能的良好手段。