Ductus arteriosus aneurysm presenting as pulmonary artery obstruction: diagnosis and management

The occurrence of pulmonary artery obstruction in an 8 day old infant as a complication of an aneurysm of a nonpatent ductus arteriosus is reported, together with the echocardiographic and angiographic findings. To relieve the obstruction, the aneurysm and an intrapulmonary thrombus were successfully removed with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass when the infant was 3 months old.     

Comparison of hamstring lengthening with hamstring lengthening plus transfer for the treatment of flexed knee gait in ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy

Purpose

Children with spastic diplegic and hemiplegic cerebral palsy frequently ambulate with flexed knee gait. There has been concern that hamstring lengthening used to treat this problem may weaken hip extension. This study evaluates the primary outcome of hamstring transfer plus lengthening in comparison with traditional hamstring lengthening in treating flexed knee gait in ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.

Methods

A total of 47 children (67 lower limbs) ranging in age from 5 to 17 years old were included in this study. All subjects underwent a variety of additional surgeries at the time of the hamstring surgery as part of a multilevel treatment plan. All patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups, the hamstring lengthening alone group (HSL) and the hamstring transfer plus lengthening group (HST). Full gait analysis studies were done for all subjects pre-operatively and 1 year post-operatively.

Results

There were 25 patients (35 limbs) in the HSL group and 22 patients (32 limbs) in the HST group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, or the time from surgery to post-operative gait analysis between groups. On physical examination, both HSL and HST groups showed improvement in passive knee extension, popliteal angle, and straight leg raise. Maximum knee extension in stance phase was improved in both groups. The maximum hip extension in late stance phase was significantly improved only in the HST group. The peak hip extension power in stance phase showed significant improvement only in the HST group and a significant decrease for the HSL group.

Conclusions

The findings of this study demonstrated that both the HSL and HST procedures resulted in similar amounts of improvement in passive range of motion of the knee, as well in knee extension in stance during gait at 1 year post-operatively. However, with the HST procedure, there was better preservation of hip extension power and improved hip extension in stance. The HST procedure should be considered when hamstring surgery is performed.     

Effect of flumazenil on recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia in children premedicated with oral midazolam before undergoing herniorrhaphy with or without caudal analgesia

Purpose Oral midazolam is frequently used to treat children, but its effect on recovery from anesthesia is controversial. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of flumazenil on reversal of midazolam during recovery from sevoflurane-induced anesthesia in children who underwent caudal analgesia compared to those who did not.Methods A series of 60 children 1–8 years of age, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status of 1 or 2, who were scheduled to undergo herniorrhaphy were randomly assigned to one of four groups: group 1, control/placebo; group 2, control/flumazenil; group 3, caudal/placebo; group 4, caudal/flumazenil. After oral administration of midazolam 0.5 mg · kg⁻¹, anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen via a face mask with spontaneous ventilation. The time from the discontinuation of anesthetics to emergence was recorded, and at the time of discharge from the operating room each patient’s recovery characteristics were assessed using a three-point scale.Results Emergence from anesthesia was significantly less agitated in the group of children who underwent caudal analgesia without flumazenil compared to the other three groups. Flumazenil shortened the time to emergence regardless of the application of caudal analgesia, and caudal analgesia delayed the time to emergence regardless of flumazenil administration.Conclusion Caudal analgesia and avoiding the use of flumazenil synergistically resulted in the emergence from anesthesia in a less agitated state for children who underwent herniorrhaphy after oral midazolam premedication.This study was presented in part at the International Anesthesia Research Society’s 77th Clinical and Scientific Congress, New Orleans, March 22, 2003     

The Current Pediatric Surgery Job Market: A Perspective of Recent Fellowship Graduates

PurposeThis study describes the job market from the perspective of recent pediatric surgery graduates.MethodsAn anonymous survey was circulated to the 137 pediatric surgeons who graduated from fellowships 2019–2021.ResultsThe survey response rate was 49%. The majority of respondents were women (52%), Caucasian (72%), and had a median student debt burden of $225,000. Considering job opportunities, respondents strongly emphasized camaraderie (93%), mentorship (93%), case mix (85%), geography (67%), faculty reputation (62%), spousal employment (57%), compensation (51%), and call frequency (45%). 30% were satisfied with the employment opportunities available, and 21% felt strongly prepared to negotiate for their first job. All respondents were able to secure a job. Most jobs were university-based (70%) or hospital employed (18%) positions where surgeons covered median of two hospitals. 49% wanted protected research time, and 12% of respondents were able to secure substantial, protected research time. The median compensation for university-based jobs was $12,583 below the median AAMC benchmark for assistant professors for the corresponding year of graduation.ConclusionThese data highlight the ongoing need for assessment of the pediatric surgery workforce and for professional societies and training programs to further assist graduating fellows in preparing to negotiate their first job.Type of studySurveyLevel of EvidenceLevel V.     

小儿巨大肾积水保留肾脏手术疗效观察

目的探讨小儿巨大肾积水保留肾脏手术的疗效。方法回顾性分析我院1995年3月至2006年8月收治的16例小儿巨大肾积水临床资料。男6例,女10例。平均年龄3岁（4个月～12年）。术前均行KUB,IVU,超声或CT确诊。肾盂输尿管连接部梗阻14例,下腔静脉后输尿管1例,输尿管异位开口1例。术中排出积水后测量肾皮质厚度和肾盂尿PH值,同时手术治疗原发病,患肾实质行内翻折叠成形术。结果16例均手术成功,术中测患。肾尿液PH〈6．1的1例1侧,PH在6．1～7．1的15例16侧。术后6-8d拔除输尿管支架管,术后2周拔除肾造瘘管。16例患儿均获得随访,随访时间中位数6年（6个月～11年）。所有患儿患肾功能有不同程度改善。无1例患儿因患肾功能丧失需再次行。肾切除术。结论小儿巨大肾积水不能作为。肾切除的指征,应结合肾皮质厚度和。肾盂尿PH值等选择外科手术治疗方法,尽可能保留肾脏。手术治疗原发病并行。肾实质折叠缝合是治疗小儿巨大肾积水的有效方法之一。     

Pediatric blunt vertebral artery injury: case report and treatment plan

Aggressive screening for blunt cerebrovascular injuries in patients with trauma has led to the identification and successful treatment of these injuries. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy who sustained a vertebral artery injury after a motor vehicle collision. Computed tomography angiogram showed an 8-mm thrombosed segment of the vertebral artery. The patient was initially anticoagulated with a heparin drip and transitioned over to treatment with enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox). With few reports in the literature of blunt cerebrovascular injuries in the pediatric population, a review of the appropriate screening parameters, treatment plans, and follow-up is helpful for the practicing physician.     

氯胺酮对小儿术后镇痛中吗啡作用的影响

目的　研究氯胺酮在小儿术后硬膜外自控镇痛中对吗啡作用的影响。方法　全麻下择期腹部手术病儿 37例 ,病人随机分为三组。负荷量 :Ⅰ组 (n =13)吗啡 10 μg/kg +氯胺酮 0 1mg/kg ;Ⅱ组 (n =10 )吗啡 10 μg/kg ;Ⅲ组 (n =14)吗啡 2 0 μg/kg。维持量 :Ⅰ组吗啡 1μg·kg-1·h-1+氯胺酮 0 0 3mg·kg-1·h-1;Ⅱ组吗啡 1μg·kg-1·h-1;Ⅲ组吗啡 2 μg·kg-1·h-1。单次给药剂量 :同各组每小时持续量 ;锁定时间 10min。按预定 6个时点记录疼痛、镇静评分、维持期吗啡耗量及不良反应发生率。结果　疼痛评分 :Ⅰ、Ⅲ组均为 0 0 0± 0 0 0 ,明显优于Ⅱ组 0 12± 0 17(P <0 0 1)。吗啡维持量 :Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别为 :5 1 0± 3 3μg/kg、6 3 4± 18 0 μg/kg、117 6± 2 0 1μg/kg(P <0 0 1)。镇静评分及不良反应发生率均无显著性差异。结论　小儿术后硬膜外自控镇痛中 ,微量氯胺酮明显增强吗啡的镇痛作用 ,减少吗啡用量     

The association of anemia and hypoalbuminemia with accelerated decline in GFR among adolescents with chronic kidney disease

We sought to describe rates of kidney function decline and to identify modifiable risk factors for CKD progression in a multicenter prospective cohort study of adolescents with CKD aged 11 to 18 years seen semiannually for up to three years. Of the 23 subjects meeting inclusion criteria, the average estimated GFR was 51 ± 27 ml/min/1.73 m² (0.85 ± 0.45 ml/s/1.73 m²) at entry. The overall annualized decline in GFR was 5.6 ml/min/1.73 m² (0.093 ml/s/1.73 m²) per year (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.9 to 9.3 [0.032 to 0.16]). The adjusted annualized decline in GFR was found to be accelerated in males, as well as among those over 15 years of age. The adjusted annualized decline in GFR was greater among those with either anemia (hematocrit below 36%), or hypoalbuminemia (albumin below 4 g/dl [40 g/L]). After adjustment, anemia was associated with an accelerated decline of 7.8 ml/min/1.73 m² (0.13 ml/s/1.73 m²) (95% CI: 3.3 to 12 [0.055 to 0.20]) and hypoalbuminemia was associated with an accelerated decline of 17 ml/min/1.73 m² (0.28 ml/s/1.73 m²) (95% CI: 11 to 22 [0.18 to 0.37]). Further study is needed to evaluate whether treatment of anemia or hypoalbuminemia, as outlined in current clinical care guidelines for CKD, may slow the progression of CKD in adolescents.