Is preserving the entire aganglionic colon reasonable in the surgical treatment of total colonic aganglionosis?

Clinical reports describe an increased incidence of severe enterocolitis in infants with total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) following the Martin extended Duhamel procedure using the entire aganglionic colon. This study evaluates the efficacy of this procedure in an experimental model of TCA in comparison with an antimesenteric aganglionic colon patch in rats. TCA was produced by serosal application of 0.1% benzalkonium chloride in 18 Sprague-Dawley rats (250 g). Five additional rats served as operated controls. Ileoanal pull-through was performed in 18 TCA rats, in conjunction with the Martin extended Duhamel procedure using the entire colon in six rats, with an aganglionic colon patch in nine (using the right [3 rats], transverse [3 rats] and left [3 rats] colon), and without other procedures in three rats. Animals were evaluated for survival, weight change, food intake, stool consistency and volume, barium enema, complete blood cell count (CBC), total protein, and serum electrolytes at 4 and 12 weeks. Survival was 83% (5/6) rats with the Martin procedure, 100% in the nine rats with various colon patches, zero in three rats with ileoanal pull-through alone, and 100% in controls. Rats with the Martin procedure gained 2.2 +/- 3.27% of preoperative weight, while controls gained 11.2 +/- 0.52% at 4 weeks. All other rats showed an early weight loss. At 12 weeks, right and transverse colon patched rats had weight gain. Blood count and laboratory studies were similar in each group. Barium enema showed rapid transit in rats with ileoanal pull-through, and slower transit in rats with colon patches or the Martin procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Obstructive jaundice. An unusual delayed presentation of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Most cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia present as acute respiratory emergencies in the newborn period. Delayed presentation may be heralded by symptoms referred to the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. An infant with unrecognized right-sided foramen of Bochdalek hernia presented with obstructive jaundice due to compression of the herniated common bile duct by the rim of the diaphragmatic defect. To our knowledge, this occurrence has not been previously observed in infancy or childhood.     

Bronchoscopy for aspirated foreign bodies in children. Experience in 131 cases

One hundred thirty-one children underwent rigid bronchoscopy under general anesthesia for suspected aspirated foreign bodies. There were 79 boys and 52 girls, with a mean age of 2.1 years. Physical examination showed decreased breath sounds (n = 130) and wheezing (n = 119) over the affected site. Chest roentgenograms were diagnostic or suggestive of aspirated foreign bodies in 127 cases (97%). Radiopaque lesions were noted on roentgenograms in ten cases. Four infants had a preoperative hypoxic arrest. Two patients had negative results of bronchoscopy (1.5%). Extraction of the aspirated foreign body was carried out at laryngoscopy in two patients and by forceps under direct vision at bronchoscopy in 97 patients. A Fogarty catheter was used in 12 cases. Postendoscopic complications included fever (n = 27), pulmonary infiltrate (n = 11), ventilatory support (n = 4), and pneumothorax (n = 2). Rigid bronchoscopy for aspirated foreign body in children is a safe, effective, and sometimes life-saving procedure. Morbidity is low and mortality is zero.     

Duodenal atresia and stenosis: Reassessment of treatment and outcome based on antenatal diagnosis,pathologic variance,and long-term follow-up

Duodenal atresia and stenosis was observed in 103 infants and children from 1972 to 1991. There were 59 girls and 44 boys. Atresia was noted in 79 instances and stenosis in 24. Maternal hydramnios was detected in 33 cases, 46 babies were premature, and 31 had Down's syndrome. Fifty-four infants had significant associated anomalies including 35 with cardiac defects. Diagnosis was achieved by prenatal ultrasound examination in 14 cases, observation of a double-bubble sign on abdominal radiograph in 73, and contrast studies in 30 infants including 24 with stenosis. At operation annular pancreas was noted in 37 cases, malrotation in 37 cases, anterior portal vein in 4, and a second web in 3. Surgical treatment included duodenoduodenostomy in 85, duodenotomy and web excision in 8, and duodenojejunostomy in 10. Operative survival was 95%. Deaths were related to complex cardiac defects. Despite antenatal diagnosis, prompt intervention, and apparent early surgical success (95% survival), late deaths (5%) and late complications including motility disorders, megaduodenum, gastroesophageal reflux, duodenal-gastric reflux, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, blind loop syndrome, and biliary-pancreatic conditions may be observed months to years after management during the neonatal period. Modifications in surgical technique including early tapering duodenoplasty may be useful, and close long-term follow-up is an essential component of patient care.

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Resumen Se encontró atresia duodenal y estenosis en 103 niños, 59 de sexo femenino y 44 de sexo masculino, en el período 1972–91: atresia en 79 casos y estenosis en 24. Se registró hidramnios materna en 33 casos; 46 niños fueron prematuros y 31 presentaban síndrome de Down; 54 exhibían anomalías de significación, incluyendo 35 con defectos cardiacos. El diagnóstico fue establecido por ultrasonido prenatal en 14 casos, mediante la observación de burbuja doble en la radiografía abdominal en 73 y por estudio con medio de contraste en 30, entre los cuales había 24 con estenosis. En la operación se encontró páncreas anular en 37 casos, malrotación en 37, vena porta anterior en 4 y segunda membrana en 3. El tratamiento quirúrgico incluyó duodenostomía en 85 pacientes, duodenotomía y resección de membrana en 8 y duodenoyeyunostomía en 10. La tasa de sobrevida operatoria fue de 95%. Las muertes estuvieron asociadas con los defectos cardfacos complejos. A pesar de su diagnóstico prenatal, una intervención quirúrgica precoz y un aparente éxito operatorio (sobrevida de 95%), se observan muertes tardías (5%) y complicaciones a largo plazo tales como desórdenes de la motilidad intestinal, megaduodeno, reflujo gastroesofágico, reflujo duodeno-gástrico, gastritis, enfermedad ulcerosa péptica, síndrome de asa ciega y alteraciones biliopancreáticas, meses a años después del tratamiento y manejo neonatales. Algunas modificaciones en la técnica quirúrgica, tales como duodenoplastia, pueden ser de utilidad; el seguimiento cuidadoso a largo plazo constituye un componente esencial de la atención de estos pacientes.

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Résumé Entre 1972 et 1991, on a observé 79 cas d'atrésie duodénale et 24 cas de sténose duodénale chez un total de 103 enfants, 59 filles et 44 garçons. Une hydramnios a été retrouvée chez 33 des mères, 46 enfants étaient des prématurés et 31 avait un syndrome de Down. Chez 54 enfants, il y avait des malformations associées, dont 35 cardiaques. Le diagnostic avait été établi dans 14 cas par une échographie anténatale, par l'existence du signe de la double bulle sur les abdomens sans préparation chez 73 patients et par une étude du transit intestinal en double contraste chez 34 enfants, dont 24 avec une sténose. A l'opération, on a retrouvé un pancréas annulaire chez 37 enfants, une malrotation chez 37, une veine porte antérieure chez 4, et une membrane intraluminale chez 3. Le traitement a été une anastomose duodénoduodénale chez 85 enfants, une excision de membrane après duodénotomie chez 8 et une duodénojéjunostomie chez 10. La mortalité opératoire était de 5%, en rapport essentiellement avec des malformations cardiaques complexes. En dépit d'un diagnostic anténatal, une intervention précoce et un succès chirurgical apparent, la morbidité tardive est toujours possible et comprend essentiellement des anomalies de la motilité duodénale, le mégaduodénum, un reflux gastroesophagien, un reflux duodénogastrique, une gastrite, la maladie ulcéreuse, un syndrome de l'anse borgne, et d'autres anomalies biliopancréatiques qui peuvent se voir des mois ou des années après la période néonatale. Les modifications de la technique chirurgicale et notamment la duodénoplastie précoce ainsi qu'une meilleure surveillance à distance, peuvent en améliorer le pronostic.

     

Increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus treated with indomethacin.

OBJECTIVE: The authors evaluated the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight infants receiving indomethacin (INDO) to close patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). BACKGROUND DATA: Controversy exists regarding the best method of managing very low birth weight infants with PDA and whether to employ medical management using INDO or surgical ligation of the ductus. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-two premature infants with symptomatic PDA were given intravenously INDO 0.2 mg/kg every 12 hours x 3 in an attempt to close the ductus. Patients were evaluated for sex, birth weight, gestational age, ductus closure, occurrence of NEC, bowel perforation, and mortality. RESULTS: There were 135 boys and 117 girls. The PDA closed or became asymptomatic in 224 cases (89%), whereas 28 (11%) required surgical ligation. Ninety infants (35%) developed evidence of NEC after INDO therapy. Fifty-six were managed medically; surgical intervention was required in 34 of 90 cases (37.8%) or 13% of the entire PDA/INDO study group. Bowel perforation was noted in 27 cases (30%). Factors associated with the onset of NEC included gestational age < 28 weeks, birth weight < 1 kg, and prolonged ventilator support. The overall mortality rate was 25.5%, but was higher in infants with NEC versus those without. The highest mortality was noted in perforated NEC cases. The PDA/INDO patients were compared with a control group of 764 infants with similar sex distribution, birth weights, and gestational ages without PDA who did not receive INDO. Necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in 105 of 764 control patients (13.7%), including 13 (12.3%) with perforation. The overall mortality rate of controls was 25%, which was similar to the overall 25.5% mortality rate in the PDA/INDO study group. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that there is increased risk of NEC and bowel perforation in premature infants with PDA receiving INDO. Mortality was higher in the PDA/INDO group with NEC than those PDA/INDO infants without NEC.     

Current concepts in inguinal hernia in infants and children

Trends are changing in the management of infants and children with indirect inguinal hernias. Advances in neonatal intensive care have resulted in the survival of many small premature infants who have a high incidence of inguinal hernia. The rate of incarceration, strangulation, and gonadal infarction in these babies is twice that of the general pediatric age group. Respiratory immaturity, apnea, bradycardia, and associated neonatal conditions require special management at the time of hernia repair, usually performed just before discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. New information concerning volume loss and depletion of germ cells beginning at 6 months of age in boys with undescended testes has stimulated the performance of orchiopexy when the patient is 1 year of age. More than 90% of boys with cryptorchid testes at the age of 1 year have an associated hernia that requires concomitant repair at the time of orchiopexy. The use of the peritoneal cavity for fluid absorptive purposes in hydrocephalus treated by venticuloperitoneal shunts or of peritoneal dialysis for renal failure and metabolic diseases such as hyperammonemia and lactic acidosis causes increased intraabdominal pressure and results in the appearance of a previously unrecognized hernia. Recognition of these and other conditions associated with a high incidence of hernial occurrence should allow early diagnosis and treatment before the development of complications. Most elective repairs of hernias are safely performed in the outpatient setting; however, some infants and children with concurrent illnesses are best managed in a morning admissions program, in which hospital admission occurs postoperatively.

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Resumen Este artículo se refiere a las tendencias en el manejo de lactantes y niños con hernias inguinales indirectas. Los avances logrados en el cuidado intensivo neonatal han resultado en la supervivencia de muchos pequeños prematuros, quienes exhiben una elevada incidencia de hernia inguinal. La tasa de incarceración, estrangulación, e infarto gonadal en estos pacientes es dos veces la de la población pediátrica general. La inmadurez respiratoria, apnea, bradicardia, y otras condiciones neonatales asociadas requieren un manejo especial con ocasión de la reparación herniaria, la cual generalmente se realiza inmediatamente antes de la salida de la unidad de cuidado intensivo neonatal. Nuevos conocimientos sobre pérdida de volumen y depleción de las células germinales, lo cual comienza a los 6 meses de edad en niños con testículos no descendidos, ha estimulado la realización de orquidopexia cuando el paciente llegue a la edad de un ano. Más del 90% de los niños con testículos criptorquídicos a la edad de un año tienen una hernia asociada que requiere reparación concomitante con la orquidopexia. El uso de la cavidad peritoneal para efectos de absorción de fluidos en el caso de hidrocéfalos tratados con la implantación de sistemas valvulares ventriculoperitoneales, o de diálisis peritoneal para falla renal y enfermedades metabólicas tales como hiperamonemia o acidosis láctica, causa un aumento en la presión intraabdominal y resulta en la aparición de una hernia previamente inaparente. La identificación de estas y otras condiciones asociadas con una elevada incidencia de hernia debe hacer posible el diagnóstico y tratamiento tempranos, antes de que se presenten complicaciones. La mayoría de las reparaciones herniarias pueden ser realizadas en forma adecuada como procedimientos ambulatorios. Sin embargo, algunos infantes y niños con enfermedades concurrentes pueden ser mejor manejados en un programa de admisión matinal, en el cual la hospitalización se produce en el postoperatorio.

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Résumé Le traitement des hernies inguinales obliques externes chez le bébé et l'enfant évolue. Les progrès accomplis dans les soins intensifs des nouveau-nés ont permis la survie d'un plus grand nombre d'enfants prématurés qui présentent une fréquence plus importante de hernies inguinales. Le taux d'engouement, d'étranglement, et d'ischémie gonadale chez cette population est deux fois celui de la population pédiatrique générale. Le développement respiratoire inachevé, l'apnée, la bradycardie, et d'autres conditions néonatales associées sont autant de facteurs qui nécessitent le travail d'une équipe spécialisée au moment du traitement de la hernie qui se situe juste avant la sortie de l'unité de soins intensifs. Certaines études ayant montré une perte de volume et une déplétion de cellules germinales à partir de l'âge de 6 mois chez le garçon avec une ectopie testiculaire, on préconise une orchidopexie tôt, à l'âge d'un an. Plus de 90% de ces enfants présentent une hernie associée qui doit être réparée en même temps. L'utilisation de la cavité péritonéale pour dériver l'hydrocéphalie par shunt ventriculopéritonéal ou pour dialyse péritonéale en cas d'insuffisance rénale ou autres maladies métaboliques comme l'hyperammonémie et l'acidose lactique sont des causes d'hyperpression intra-abdominale avec augmentation du nombre de cas de hernies jusqu'alors méconnues. Une meilleure connaissance de ces conditions propices à augmenter le nombre de hernies symptomatiques devrait permettre d'en faire le diagnostic plus tôt et de les traiter avant l'apparition des complications. La plupart des hernies non compliquées sont traitées sans hospitalisation. Cependant, quelques bébés et enfants ayant d'autres maladies concomitantes sont mieux traités avec un programme d'hospitalisation de jour, c'est-à-dire que l'enfant est hospitalisé pendant 24 heures après son opération.

     

Comparison of selective media for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli

A comparison of Skirrow's, Butzler's, Blaser's, Campy-BAP and Preston media for Campylobacter spp was made using human, animal and environmental specimens. Butzler's medium gave the lowest isolation rate and Preston medium, which was the most selective, the highest isolation rate. Enrichment culture using Preston enrichment broth gave a higher isolation rate than direct plating onto Preston medium.