Efficacy of bladder neck incision on urodynamic abnormalities in patients with posterior urethral valves

Purpose

This study aims to study the efficacy of simultaneous endoscopic bladder neck incision (BNI) and primary endoscopic valve incision (PEVI) in patients with posterior urethral valves (PUV).

Materials and methods

Nine PUV patients underwent PEVI and BNI over a year. They were compared to nine comparable historical controls that had undergone only PEVI. Trends in renal function tests, urodynamics and changes in the upper urinary tracts were evaluated after 3 months during which no pharmacotherapy was given.

Results

The incidence of bladder dysfunction in the two groups was similar—55.5 % in case group and 66.6 % in control group. Hypocompliant, high-pressure bladder was the predominant cystometric finding in both groups. Three patients in the case group and two patients in the control group had high end infusion pressure (EIP) with poor compliance. Detrusor overactivity (DOA) was seen in 23.1 % patients in the case group as compared to 55.5 % patients in the control group (P = 0.3348). Five patients in both groups were later started on anticholinergics due to raised EIP, small capacity bladder and/or DOA.

Conclusion

Although BNI should theoretically improve the outcome of PUV patients, the current pilot study failed to demonstrate any significant difference. A larger sample size and longer follow-up are required to prove or disprove its efficacy.     

Single-stage surgical approach in complicated paediatric ureteral duplication: surgical and functional outcome

Purpose

Surgical approach to children with complicated ureteral duplication is discussed controversially. Our aim was to determine the outcome of children with complicated renal duplication undergoing a single-stage surgical approach with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and open bladder reconstruction.

Methods

Data of patients from 2004 to 2008 were investigated retrospectively. Outcome was analyzed in terms of postoperative course, renal function, urinary tract infection and functional voiding.

Results

Thirteen patients were treated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and reconstruction of the lower urinary tract in a single-stage approach. Median age at operation was 15 months (2–63 m). One girl had a renal triplication. 7/13 patients presented with an ectopic ureterocele, two with an ectopic ureter, severe vesicoureteral reflux occurred in 6 patients. All patients had non-functioning renal moieties. Mean operative time was 239 min (129–309; SD 50). One re-operation was necessary 4 years after primary surgery due to a pole remnant. All patients had uneventful recoveries without evidence of recurrent UTI. Postoperative 99mTc-MAG3 scans showed no significant reduction of partial renal function (p = 0.4), and no signs of obstruction (p = 0.188). During a median follow-up of 60 months (49–86), dysfunctional voiding occurred in one patient.

Conclusions

In children with complicated ureteral duplication a definitive single-stage procedure is feasible and shows excellent functional results.     

NICE guidelines for imaging studies in children with UTI adequate only in boys under the age of 6 months

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for imaging studies in children under the age of three with first urinary tract infection (UTI).

Methods

In our cohort of 112 patients, we gathered data regarding the occurrence of indications for ultrasonography (US) and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) according to the NICE guidelines, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy examinations, UTI recurrence, antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP), anti-reflux procedures, and other urological procedures.

Results

If the NICE guidelines had been applied, 13 of the 25 patients (52 %) with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), including 6 of the 12 patients (50 %) with dilating VUR and 3 of the 4 patients who underwent endoscopic anti-reflux treatment, would have been missed, and a negative VCUG would have been avoided in 25 of the 42 patients (60 %) with no VUR. None of the missed diagnoses occurred in the younger boys’ group.

Conclusion

Based on these preliminary analyses, we feel that the NICE guidelines for imaging studies in children under 3 years old with UTI may be applicable to clinical use only in boys under 6 months of age. For other patients the guidelines were unsuccessful.     

Vesicovaginal reflux: recognition and diagnosis using ultrasound

Background

Vaginal reflux is a functional voiding disorder seen in prepubertal girls without anatomical or neurological abnormality. When not associated with urinary tract infections (UTI), asymptomatic bacteriuria, post-void dribbling or daytime enuresis it may be considered a normal finding.

Objective

To review the radiographic features of vesicovaginal reflux based on multiple imaging modalities.

Materials and methods

Three girls aged 11, 13 and 5 years were referred for pelvic US for daytime incontinence, post-void dribbling, frequency and urgency. One girl also had recurrent UTIs treated with antibiotics and was investigated for vesicoureteric reflux with US and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). All three were examined with MRI.

Results

Imaging appearance common to all three girls was a fluid-filled mass posterior to the bladder that disappeared after voiding. A previous VCUG in one girl had shown contrast medium refluxing into the vagina which disappeared after bladder emptying. Pelvic MRI confirmed the findings in all three girls.

Conclusion

US examination of a distended bladder followed by a post-void study easily provides the correct diagnosis of vesicovaginal reflux by identifying the vagina as the fluid-filled mass. Treatment involves behavioural modifications. Though well known to urologists, this may be a perplexing pathology for the inexperienced trainee radiologist.     

Abnormal voiding parameters in children with severe idiopathic constipation

Objective

It is suggested that idiopathic constipation may associate with abnormal voiding parameters. In this study, we investigate the voiding parameters in children with constipation.

Methods

Since 2010, seventeen consecutive children (12 boys, 5 girls) aged 5–17 (median = 14) with significant constipation according to Rome III criteria and who were not responding to conventional treatment (diet, laxatives & bowel training) for over 6 months were recruited. The rectal diameter (RD) was measured by transpubic ultrasonography (USG), RD >3.5 cm was considered as dilated. Each patient had uroflow measurement and bladder USG done to measure the maximal flow rate (Vmax), voided volume (VV), and post-void residual urine (PVR). Abnormal voiding parameters were defined as Vmax <12 ml/sec, VV <65 or >150 % of age-adjusted expected bladder capacity (EBC) and/or PVR >20 ml.

Results

Rectal diameter ranged from 1.7 to 8.2 cm (median = 3 cm) and was abnormally dilated in eight children. Vmax was normal in all children (median = 23.7 ml/sec). Voided volume ranged from 30 to 289 % of EBC and was abnormal in six children (35.5 %). Post-void residual urine varied from 0 to 85 ml and was abnormal in six (35.5 %) children. Three children (17.6 %) had both abnormal VV and PVR. On the whole, the prevalence of abnormal voiding parameters in constipated children was 52.9 %. Mean RD in normal and abnormal parameters groups was 2.8 and 4.7 cm, respectively. Rectal dilation was associated with abnormal voiding parameters (p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Abnormal voiding parameters including voided volume and post-void residual urine are prevalent in constipated children. Dilated rectum is associated with abnormal voiding parameters.     

Late renal sequelae in intravenously treated complicated urinary tract infection

Background

The treatment of complicated urinary tract infection in children is still a matter of debate. In our hospital, antimicrobial treatment is initiated intravenously, and the duration of this treatment is adapted according to the results of a Tc-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy.

Aim

This study was conducted to evaluate retrospectively the frequency and the importance of late renal sequelae when treating intravenously for 7 days those patients with an abnormal acute DMSA.

Methods

A review was conducted of the medical charts of all patients consecutively admitted between 2005 and 2008 with positive urine culture and clinical and biological evidence of complicated urinary tract infection (UTI).

Results

There were 144 patients (59 %) with abnormal early DMSA scintigraphy and 98 (41 %) with normal scintigraphy. The median duration of intravenous treatment was 7.0 days in the children with DMSA lesions and 5.0 days in those without lesions. Obvious renal sequelae were observed on late DMSA scintigraphy in 4 (6 %) out of the 65 patients with an abnormal early DMSA who came back for control scintigraphy.

Conclusion

Sequelae of acute DMSA lesions observed during complicated UTI treated 7 days intravenously were infrequent. Whether the mode and duration of antimicrobial treatment might explain the low rate of sequelae remains to be demonstrated.     

Effect of sodium deficiency on growth of surgical infants: a retrospective observational study

Background/aim

Sodium is thought to be critical to growth. Infants who have an ileostomy may suffer from growth faltering, as sodium losses from stomas may be excessive. Urinary sodium measurements may indicate which patients could benefit from sodium supplementation; however, there is no consensus on what level of urinary sodium should be the cutoff for intervention. Our aim was to determine whether there is a relationship between urinary sodium and growth in infants undergoing ileostomy, colostomy and cystostomy.

Methods

Following audit approval, a retrospective observational study of patient notes and chemical pathology data was carried out. All infants <1 year of age that had an ileostomy, colostomy, or cystostomy procedure between February 1997 and January 2014 were included. Patients’ weights, urinary and serum sodium and potassium levels and clinical variables were recorded until discharge. Weights were converted to Z-scores for analysis.

Results

Forty patients were identified whose notes were available for review and who had at least three urinary sodium measurements. During their hospital stay, 11 (28 %) maintained weight within normal limits (Z-scores ?2 to +2, 15 (38 %) were moderately malnourished (?3 to ?2) and 14 (35 %) severely malnourished (30 mmol litre. Electrolyte data were not normally distributed so that correlations between electrolytes and growth were tested using the non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Urinary sodium levels positively correlated with growth (r = 0.3071, p < 0.0001), as did serum sodium levels (r = 0.2620, p = 0.0059) whereas there was no relationship between urine or serum potassium and growth.

Conclusions

Poor growth is frequent in this group of patients and appears to be linked with sodium levels. Further work is necessary to draw up guidelines for appropriate sodium supplementation.     

Paediatric urinary tract infections: a retrospective application of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines to a large general practitioner referred historical cohort

Background

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is a United Kingdom nondepartmental public body accountable to the Department of Health. Before the introduction of the NICE guidelines in the United Kingdom most children younger than 1 year of age had a urinary tract ultrasound, cyclic micturating cystourethrogram and dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy, the latter delayed 6 months post infection. Children older than 1 year had a urinary tract ultrasound only, and further imaging if necessary.

Objective

Identify who would have been investigated had the NICE imaging strategy been used and who would not. Compare the diagnostic yield and patient outcome with the previous imaging protocol using our prospectively collected historical data.

Materials and methods

We applied the new imaging strategy to a historic cohort of 934 patients with a urinary tract infection (UTI) referred by general practitioners to a specialist children’s hospital between 1996 and 2002.

Results

Of the 934 patients referred, 218 would have been investigated according to the NICE guidelines. In total, there were 105 patients with abnormal imaging findings, and 44 of these (42%) would have been investigated under the NICE guidelines.

Conclusion

Applying the NICE guidelines to children presenting with UTI will reduce the number imaged by 77% and will lead to missed identification of 58% of imaging abnormalities in the group. The majority of these abnormalities may be important. While supporting conservative investigation protocols, we are concerned that many abnormalities might go undetected.     

Blasenschulung bei Kindern mit funktioneller Harninkontinenz

Background

Daytime and/or nighttime wetting as a consequence of functional urinary incontinence is a common problem in childhood. Various treatment options exist, including cognitive-behavioural “bladder training.” The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a bladder training program.

Methods

Sixty children (ages 8–12 years) suffering from urge incontinence or dysfunctional voiding were evaluated. After a no-treatment control period (average length 6 months), patients underwent a 6-day bladder training course that was offered on either an inpatient or outpatient basis. Clinical assessments were recorded at the beginning of the control period, upon training entry, at training completion, and after 1 (inpatient training group only), 3, and 6 months.

Results

Six months after completion of training, 64.1% (inpatient training) and 64.7% (outpatient training) of children showing daytime wetting and 51.5% (inpatient) and 17.7% (outpatient) of children presenting with nighttime wetting were cured or had improved. The spontaneous cure rate during the 6-month control period was 0–20.5%. In inpatient patients with urge incontinence, the functional bladder capacity increased (+15%). Inpatient children aged 9–12 years showed significantly higher cure rates than 8-year-olds did.

Conclusions

In comparison to the control period, the bladder training program evaluated in this study showed significantly higher success rates. Cure and improvement rates for daytime wetting were higher than for nighttime wetting. Concerning nighttime wetting, the results lead to the assumption that children treated in the inpatient training succeeded better than those receiving outpatient training.     

家族聚集性原发性夜间遗尿症患儿尿动力学研究

目的 探讨家族聚集性因素对原发性夜间遗尿症(PNE)患儿影响.方法 选取PNE患儿115例,依据PNE先症者三代家族其他成员是否累及,分为家族聚集性(FPNE组,45例)和散发性(SPNE组,70例).填写调查表评估觉醒功能、记录排尿日记和完成白天尿动力学检查.结果 FPNE组重度PNE、非单症状性PNE和小容量膀胱发生率分别为27%、58%和44%,均显著高于SPNE组的7%、21%和21%(P＜0.05),而夜间多尿和觉醒障碍发生率在二组之间的差异无统计学意义.FPNE组逼尿肌过度活跃和尿动力学功能性膀胱出口阻力增加发生率为53%和60%,分别显著高于SPNE组的19%和37%(P＜0.05).最大排尿量和最大膀胱压测定容量在对照组、SPNE组和FPNE组之间逐渐降低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 家族聚集性因素可使PNE发生膀胱功能障碍风险增加,尿动力学检查为其治疗提供客观依据.     

Urinary stone disease in the first year of life: is it dangerous?

Purpose

We have evaluated the clinical, radiological and metabolic features of infantile urolithiasis (UL).

Materials and methods

We have reviewed the medical records of 93 children who were diagnosed as having UL before 1 year of age. We recorded patient demographics, the age at diagnosis, presenting symptoms, family history, the localizations and dimensions of stones, urinary metabolic examinations, as well as physical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. Our secondary objective was to compare some features of this group with those of older children with UL followed-up in the same clinic which were previously reported.

Results

We evaluated 93 children referred to our pediatric nephrology clinics. A family history of UL was 56.2 % in the study group. Resolution of stones was observed in 30.1 % of the cases. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were detected in 65.9 % of females and 46.2 % of males. At least one urinary metabolic abnormality was found in 79.5 % of all the children. Most commonly seen metabolic abnormality was hypercalciuria. In all patients stones were located in kidneys except one infant who had an ureteral stone together with a kidney stone. Fifteen (16.1 %) children had an accompanying systemic disorder.

Conclusions

Among pediatric urinary stone diseases infantile UL can be regarded as a separate clinical entity. Coexistence of systemic disorders and anatomic anomalies at high frequencies may indicate a role of distinct pathogenetic mechanisms. In addition, high rates of UTIs and metabolic abnormalities in this age group justify screening for these parameters during follow-up of these children.     

Postoperative complications in adults with anorectal malformation: a need for transition. German Network for Congenital Uro-REctal Malformations (CURE-Net)

Purpose

The aim of the German Network for Congenital Uro-REctal malformations (CURE-Net) is to collect data of affected patients with anorectal malformation (ARM) to investigate molecular causes, clinical implications and psychosocial outcome. The current issue was to examine the transition to adulthood in adults with ARM and to explore condition-related needs and skills required.

Methods

This qualitative study is part of a larger multi-center study of clinical queries and quality of life in patients with ARM. The guided interview focused on the analysis of medical data and personal questionnaires.

Results

Interviews were completed with 55 (23 females, 32 males) participants, age ranging from 18 to 56 years. Twenty-one patients suffered from mucosal prolapse, 18 patients had had megasigmoid/megacolon. Relevant stenosis of the neo-anus occurred in 13 (42 %) males and 4 (18 %) females, permanent neurogenic bladder dysfunction in 10 (32 %) males and 4 (18 %) females, recurrent urinary tract infections in 10 (32 %) males and 13 (59 %) females, latex allergy in 10 (32 %) males and 7 (32 %) females. Thirty-seven (70 %) patients had to be reoperated. Forty-one (75 %) patients needed means of aftercare to achieve social continence.

Conclusion

The study wants to contribute to a better understanding of the challenges of transition for adults with ARM.     

History of recurrent urinary tract infection is not predictive of abnormality on voiding cystourethrogram

Purpose

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended against routine voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs) in children 2 to 24 months with initial febrile UTI, raising concern for delayed diagnosis and increased risk of UTI-related renal damage from vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). We assessed factors potentially associated with higher likelihood of abnormal VCUG, including UTI recurrence, which could allow for more judicious test utilization.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all initial VCUGs performed at Children’s Hospital of Michigan between January and June, 2010. History of recurrent UTI was ascertained by evidence of two or more prior positive cultures or history of “recurrent UTI” on VCUG requisition. Outcomes assessed included rates of VUR or any urologic abnormality on VCUG.

Results

Two hundred and sixty-two patients met inclusion criteria. VUR was detected in 21.3 %, urologic abnormality including VUR in 27.4 %. Degree of bladder distension, department of referring physician, study indication, positive documented urine culture, and history of recurrent UTI or UTI and other abnormality were all not associated with increased likelihood of VUR or any urologic abnormality on VCUG.

Conclusion

VUR and VCUG abnormality are no more likely when performed after recurrent UTI or for UTI plus other abnormality. This reasons against postponing VCUG until after UTI recurrence, as positive findings are no more likely in this setting.     

Safety and adverse effects during 24 hours after contrast-enhanced MRI with gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance®) in children

Background

Gadolinium-based MR contrast agents have long been considered safe for routine diagnostic imaging. However, the advent of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) among certain patients with severe renal insufficiency has brought the issue of safety into question. Nowhere is safety of greater concern than among children who frequently require multiple contrast-enhanced MRI examinations over an extended period of time.

Objective

To retrospectively evaluate the safety of gadobenate dimeglumine for contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI across a range of indications.

Materials and methods

Two hundred pediatric inpatients (age: 4 days to 15 years) underwent CE MRI as part of clinical routine. The children received a gadobenate dimeglumine dose of either 0.05 mmol/kg body weight (liver, abdominal imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, brain and other rare indications) or 0.1 mmol/kg bodyweight (cardiovascular imaging, MR-urography). Young (< 8 years) children with congenital heart disease were intubated and underwent MRA evaluation with controlled ventilation. Monitoring for adverse events was performed for at least 24 h after each gadobenate dimeglumine injection. Depending on clinical necessity, laboratory measurements and, in some cases, vital sign and ECG determinations were made before and after contrast injection. Safety was evaluated by age group, indication and dose administered.

Results

No clinically adverse events were reported among children who had one MRI scan only or among children who had several examinations. There were no changes in creatinine or bilirubin levels even in very young children.

Conclusions

No adverse events were recorded during the first 24 h following administration of gadobenate dimeglumine in 200 children.     

Endoscopic correction of complex cases of vesicoureteral reflux utilizing Vantris as a new non-biodegradable tissue-augmenting substance

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of Vantris as a new non-biodegradable tissue-augmenting substance in children with complex cases of VUR.

Materials and methods

Over the last 4 years, 37 children (28 female and 9 male) with a mean age of 5.8 ± 3.1 years (mean ± SD) underwent endoscopic correction of complex VUR. A total of 38 renal refluxing units (RRU) was treated as 5 had persistent reflux after open surgery, 16 had duplication, 4 had Hutch diverticulum, 6 had small poorly functioning kidneys (less than 20 % of relative renal function) with grade V VUR, 2 had ureterocele after puncture, 3 had persistent stump reflux, 1 had prune belly syndrome, and 1 had urogenital sinus. VUR was Grade I in 2, Grade II in 9, Grade III in 11, Grade IV in 10, and Grade V in 6 RRU, respectively.

Results

The reflux was corrected in 34 (89.4 %) RRU after a single injection, after second injection in 2 (5.3 %) RRU. In 2 (5.3 %) RRU, VUR downgraded to Grade I (1RRU) and Grade II (1RRU) and they were taken off antibiotic prophylaxis. VCUG was performed in 11 (73.3 %) of 15 children who completed 1 year and in 3 (33.3 %) of 9 who completed 3 years of follow up as a part of the routine protocol. None showed VUR recurrence. US demonstrated normal appearance of kidneys in all patients.

Conclusion

Our data show that Vantris injection provides a high level of reflux resolution in complex cases of VUR.     

Contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography with intravesical administration of a second-generation ultrasound contrast agent for diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux: prospective evaluation of contrast safety in 1,010 children

Background and objective

To evaluate the safety of intravesical administration of a second-generation ultrasound (US) contrast agent for the diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux in children.

Materials and methods

One thousand and ten children (563 girls, 447 boys; mean age: 2.9 years, range: 15 days-17.6 years) with 2,043 pelvi-ureter-units underwent contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ce-VUS) to rule out vesicoureteral reflux. A second-generation US contrast agent (SonoVue®, Bracco, Milan) was administered intravesically through transurethral bladder catheterization at a dose of 0.5 ml/bladder filling. Possible adverse events were monitored during the examination and followed up for 7 days after ce-VUS by phone calls. Urine analysis and culture were performed 3–5 days before ce-VUS in all children and 24–48 h in any patient who reported with adverse events.

Results

No case of serious adverse event was recorded. Minor events were reported in 37 children (3.66% of the study population). These included dysuria (n?=?26, 2.57%), urinary retention (n?=?2, 0.2%), abdominal pain (n?=?2, 0.2%), anxiety (n?=?1, 0.1%) and crying (n?=?1, 0.1%) during micturition, blood and mucous discharge (n?=?1, 0.1%), increased frequency of micturition (n?=?1, 0.1%), vomiting (n?=?1, 0.1%), perineal irritation (n?=?1, 0.1%), and an episode of urinary tract infection 10 days after ce-VUS (n?=?1, 0.1%). Of these adverse events, 91.9% were subacute in onset and 8.1% were delayed. All events were self-limited and none required hospitalization.

Conclusion

There were no serious adverse events. Only a few minor events were reported, most likely due to the catheterization process. Thus, ce-VUS with intravesical administration of the second-generation US contrast agent (SonoVue®) for vesicoureteral reflux detection or exclusion had a favorable safety profile in our study group.     

Botulinum toxin use in paediatric colorectal surgery

Purpose

To evaluate outcomes of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin injection (ISBTI) in children with intractable constipation.

Methods

Retrospective case-note review of patients ≤16 years of age undergoing ISBTI between January 2010 and February 2014. Data collected included patient demographics, diagnosis, complications, follow-up duration and functional outcomes. Successful outcome was defined as resolution/improvement in symptoms and failed when there was no change in symptoms. Statistical analyses were performed using PRISM (GraphPad, CA, USA). p values <0.05 were considered as significant.

Results

43 patients [male 29, median age 5 years 9 months (range 13 months–13 years 5 months)] underwent 86 ISBTIs. Underlying diagnoses were idiopathic constipation (67 %), Hirschsprung disease (26 %), anorectal malformation (5 %), gastrointestinal dysmotility (2 %). 72 % (31/43) reported improvement in symptoms after the first ISBTI. 39 % of patients had recurrence of symptoms at 12-month median follow-up. 10 patients non-responsive to ISBTI required an antegrade continence enema or stoma. There was no correlation between age (p = 0.3), gender (p = 0.7), diagnosis  (p ?=?0.84), or number of ISBTIs (p = 0.17) with successful outcome.

Conclusion

Successful outcomes occurred in 72 % patients after the first ISBTI. 25 % required further surgical management of their symptoms. Further work is required to help predict which patients will benefit from ISBTI.     

Esophageal atresia in patients with anorectal malformations

Purpose

The presence of esophageal atresia (EA) in patients with an anorectal malformation (ARM) is well known. The purpose of this work is to find out the most common type of ARM associated to EA and the functional prognostic implication of this association, which has not been described in previous publications.

Methods

We reviewed our database for demographic, functional, and associated anomalies data in our patients with EA and ARM, and then compared them with those of our general series of ARM without esophageal atresia.

Results

Out of 1,995 ARM patients, 167 had a concomitant EA (8.3 %). Prostatic fistula was the most common type of defect in the male EA patients (45.9 %) and cloacas were on the female group (57.9 %). EA patients had worse bowel (47 vs. 67 %) and urinary control (56.6 vs. 79.4 %) when compared to the general series (GS). Functional prognosis was significantly worse in cloacas and in patients subjected to re-operations (p < 0.001). EA patients had a 0.52 average sacral ratio and in the GS was 0.65 (p < 0.001). EA patients had a significantly higher incidence of tethered cord (32.3 vs. 17.6 %), cardiac anomalies (32.3 vs. 22.5 %) including VSD (12.5 vs. 4.5 %), hydronephrosis (36.5 vs. 15.4 %), absent kidney (26.3 vs. 10.5 %), duodenal atresia (7.7 vs. 1.7 %), vertebral anomalies (28.1 vs. 14 %), extremity defects (11.3 vs. 3.1 %), tracheal anomalies (6.5 vs. 0.4 %), and developmental delay (5.9 vs. 1.4 %).

Conclusions

The presence of esophageal atresia in ARM patients has a significant, probably coincidental, impact on bowel and urinary control. This association is also related with worse types of ARM defects and with more severe associated anomalies. This association should increase the awareness on the provider in terms of what to expect on functional prognosis and a throughout search for associated anomalies.     

Valved shunt as a treatment for obstructive uropathy: does pressure make a difference?

Purpose

A valved ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (V-P shunt) as a vesico-amniotic shunt (V-A shunt) preserves the filling/emptying cycle and normal bladder development in fetal lambs with bladder outlet obstruction. The optimal pressure for such shunts is unknown.

Materials and methods

We created obstructive uropathy in 60-day gestation fetal lambs. A V-A shunt was placed 3 weeks later, using a low-pressure (Group L: 15–54 mmH₂O) or a high-pressure (Group H: 95–150 mmH₂O) V-P shunt. We included non-shunted (obstructive uropathy, Group O) and control lambs (Group C). All were delivered at 130 days. Bladder volumes, bladder thickness, renal and bladder histology were compared.

Results

Seventeen lambs had an obstructive uropathy created. Five Group L (four survived), four Group H (three survived) and five Group O survived. Body weight and crown-to-rump lengths of the three groups were not significantly different. Group H lambs had a dilated urachus, urinary ascites and severe ureteral dilatation similar to Group O lambs. There were four Group C lambs. Bladder volume was 10, 15 and 1,150 ml in Group H, 115 ± 67.9 ml in Group L, 128 ± 99.8 ml in Group O and 24.5 ± 3.84 ml in Group C. Unlike Group O lambs, Group L did not have urinary ascites, urinomas or renal dysplasia.

Conclusion

Low-pressure shunts preserved both bladder volume and renal development. High-pressure shunts did neither.     

Beneficial effects of Etanercept on experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Purpose

Tissue damage in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of infants occurs as a result of an uncontrolled inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate any potential anti-inflammatory effects that Etanercept may have on the inflammatory response in an experimental NEC model in newborn rats.

Methods

Newborn pups were randomized into three groups immediately after birth (Control, NEC + Placebo and NEC + Etanercept). Pups in the NEC + Placebo and NEC + Etanercept groups were subjected to an NEC-inducing protocol (hypercarbia, hypothermia and hyperoxia) twice a day for 3 days. Pups in the NEC + Etanercept group were given an intraperitoneal injection of Etanercept. Rats were harvested for biochemical and histopathological examinations.

Results

The histopathological injury score of rats in the NEC + Placebo group was significantly higher compared to the NEC + Etanercept and Control groups (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and malondialdehyde were higher in the placebo group compared to the Etanercept group.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that Etanercept attenuates intestinal tissue damage in NEC by reducing inflammation and blocking the production of free-oxygen radicals, while also reducing tissue levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β.