The history of enteral nutrition therapy: from raw eggs and nasal tubes to purified amino acids and early postoperative jejunal delivery

Although enteral feeding therapy has existed since ancient Egypt, most of the major advances in enteral feeding techniques and formulas took place during the 20th century, including postpyloric tube placement in 1910; continuous and controlled delivery of liquid nutrition in 1916; feeding during surgery and modification of macronutrients in 1918; feeding via a pump in 1930; recognition of the importance of nutrition therapy during injury recovery and the addition of micronutrients and early postoperative feeding in 1940; the introduction of commercial products during the 1950s with chemically defined formulas following a decade later; and the development of modern formulas during the 1970s. The purpose of this review is to provide a historical account of enteral nutrition, including modes and routes of delivery, types of diet, and refinements in delivery techniques and formulas and to offer the history of the therapy as a resource for developing and improving enteral feeding techniques and therapies and implementing optimal patient care strategies.     

Surgical procedures for posterior fossa tumors in children: does craniotomy lead to fewer complications than craniectomy?

OBJECT: Traditionally, access to the posterior fossa involved a suboccipital craniectomy. More recently, posterior fossa craniotomies have been described, although the long-term benefits of this procedure are not clear. The authors compared the postoperative complications of craniectomies and craniotomies in children with posterior fossa tumors. METHODS: From a total of 110 children undergoing surgery for posterior fossa tumors, 56 underwent craniectomy and 54 had a craniotomy. The mean duration of the hospital stay was longer in the craniectomy group (17.5 compared with 14 days). At operation, similar numbers of patients in both groups had total macroscopic clearance of the tumor, complete dural closure, and duraplasty. Postoperatively, more patients in the craniectomy group were noted to have cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (27 compared with 4%; p < 0.01) and pseudomeningoceles (23 compared with 9%; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the numbers of patients with CSF infections, wound infections, or hydrocephalus requiring permanent CSF drainage. Patients with CSF leaks had a longer duration of hospital stay (20.7 compared with 14.9 days; p < 0.01), and were more likely to have CSF infections (35 compared with 12%; p < 0.01) and wound infections (24 compared with 1%; p < 0.01) than patients without CSF leaks. Postoperatively, wound exploration and reclosures for CSF leakage were more likely in the craniectomy group (11 compared with 0%; p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that the only predictor of CSF leakage postoperatively was the type of surgery (that is, craniotomy compared with craniectomy; odds ratio 10.8; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Craniectomy was associated with postoperative CSF leaks, pseudomeningocele, increased wound reclosures, and thus prolonged hospital stays. In turn, CSF leakage was associated with infections of the CSF and wound. The authors propose mechanisms that may explain why CSF leakage is less likely if the bone flap is replaced.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in refractory epilepsy

Diffusion tensor imaging is an imaging method that is sensitive to the molecular movement of water, which indicates cellular integrity and pathology. A patient with refractory epilepsy and normal conventional MRI was examined with diffusion tensor imaging. An area of abnormal diffusion in the right frontal lobe was identified and surgically resected. The patient had a good clinical outcome. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue showed gliosis. Our findings may affect the investigation of similar patients, and provide histopathological confirmation of diffusion abnormalities.     

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt block: what are the best predictive clinical indicators?

AIMS: To evaluate the predictive value of symptoms, signs, and radiographic findings accompanying presumed ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunction, by comparing presentation with operative findings and subsequent clinical course. METHODS: Prospective study of all 53 patient referrals to a paediatric neurosurgical centre between April and November 1999 with a diagnosis of presumed shunt malfunction. Referral pattern, presenting symptoms and signs, results of computed tomography (CT) scanning, operative findings, and clinical outcome were recorded. Two patient groups were defined, one with proven shunt block, the other with presumed normal shunt function. Symptomatology, CT scan findings, and the subsequent clinical course for each group were then compared. RESULTS: Common presenting features were headache, drowsiness, and vomiting. CT scans were performed in all patients. Thirty seven had operatively proven shunt malfunction, of whom 34 had shunt block and three shunt infection; 84% with shunt block had increased ventricle size when compared with previous imaging. For the two patient groups (with and without shunt block), odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals on their presenting symptoms were headache 1.5 (0.27 to 10.9), vomiting 0.9 (0.25 to 3.65), drowsiness 10 (0.69 to 10.7), and fever 0.19 (0.03 to 6.95). Every patient with ventricular enlargement greater than their known baseline had a proven blocked shunt. CONCLUSIONS: Drowsiness is by far the best clinical predictor of VP shunt block. Headache and vomiting were less predictive of acute shunt block in this study. Wherever possible CT scan findings should be interpreted in the context of previous imaging. We would caution that not all cases of proven shunt blockage present with an increase in ventricle size.     

Surveillance neuroimaging in childhood intracranial ependymoma: how effective, how often, and for how long?

OBJECT: The authors examined images obtained in 52 children with intracranial ependymomas to determine risk factors for tumor recurrence and to assess the impact of surveillance imaging on patient outcome. METHODS: Data obtained in all children with intracranial ependymomas were prospectively entered into a database from January 1987 to June 2000. The imaging and clinical details in all patients were reviewed. Fifty-two children with histologically proven intracranial ependymomas were treated at the authors' institution; recurrences developed in 28 (54%) of them, with a median time from surgery to first recurrence of 14.5 months (range 3-65 months). Of these tumor recurrences, 43% were asymptomatic and were noted on surveillance imaging. Seventeen children died, all of whom had recurrences. Incomplete excision of the primary tumor was significantly associated with reduced time to recurrence (p = 0.0144) and time to death (p = 0.0472). The age of the patient, location of the primary tumor, histological findings, and the presence or absence of spinal metastases on preoperative imaging were not significantly associated with outcome. The risk of death at any given time was 12-fold greater in patients in whom a recurrence was identified due to symptoms rather than on surveillance images (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent childhood ependymoma has a poor prognosis. The extent of the initial local tumor resection is the factor most closely associated with outcome. Surveillance imaging reveals a substantial number of asymptomatic recurrences, and survival appears to be improved in these patients compared with those identified by symptoms. The improvement in survival is thought to be greater than that expected just from earlier diagnosis.     

Concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uridine and urate in amniotic fluid at caesarean section and the association of raised levels with prenatal risk factors and fetal distress

Samples of amniotic fluid were obtained at caesarean section from 33 of 80 consecutive unselected patients in whom the membranes were intact. Concentrations of the ATP metabolites, hypoxanthine and xanthine, as well as uridine and urate were determined using high pressure liquid chromatography. Independent 'clinical' factors associated with reduced fetal growth and well-being were identified and the patients were assigned to one of three groups: those with no recognized risk, those with moderate risk and a small group of four patients with high risk. The mean hypoxanthine concentration was higher in the moderate-risk group than in the group with no risk. Two of the three patients with proteinuric hypertension in the high-risk group had normal hypoxanthine concentrations. There were seven patients with fetal distress, and concentrations of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uridine and urate were significantly higher in the three patients who had meconium stained amniotic fluid in addition to abnormal fetal heart rate tracings than in the remaining four who had fetal heart rate abnormalities only. It is suggested that fetal distress at emergency caesarean sections might be quantitated by such analysis.