Anal Tonometry in the Neonatal Period for the Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's Disease

ABSTRACT. A double balloon technique was used for anal tonometry in 22 infants. The weight was less than 2500 g in 10 of the infants. Ileus or delayed passage of meconium was seen in 9 infants. Thirteen infants had not revealed any symptoms of intestinal obstruction during the first week of life. In all cases, except one, it was possible to demonstrate reflexes from the internal anal sphincter. In 18 infants normal curves were registered from the internal anal sphincter. None of these developed Hirschsprung's disease. In 3 infants a pathological pattern of contractions of the internal anal sphincter was demonstrated. Two of them proved to have Hirschsprung's disease. In the third case normal reflexes were registered after one year. Possibly the innervation of rectum and the internal anal sphincter was disrupted during the neonatal period in connection with enterocolitis and ileus, thus representing a reversible case of achalasia.     

小儿先天性巨结肠42例手术疗效分析

手术治疗小儿先天性巨结肠４２例，其中Ｄｕｈａｍｅｌ术９例，Ｓｗｅｎｓｏｎ术１１例，Ｓｏａｖｅ术６例，Ｒｅｈｂｅｉｎ术１０例，直肠后壁肌切除４例，直肠肛管纵切心形斜吻合术２例。术后污粪、便秘、小肠结肠炎及肛门狭窄发生率２１％。认为：手术疗效是与术前充分准备，选择适宜术式，术中精细操作，术后加强护理，精心喂养等直接相关     

先天性巨结肠27例分析

目的 探讨先天性巨结肠的临床及钡灌肠表现。方法 回顾我院小儿外科近3年来经手术治疗的先天性巨结肠27例，并对其临床及钡灌肠表现进行分析。结果 具有典型X线表现的20例，不典型表现的7例，本组分型：超短型2例，短段型5例，中段型15例，长段型5例。结论 钡灌肠仍是先天性巨结肠的主要诊断方法，对不典型表现的患儿要密切结合临床，并注意24—48h复查。     

Duhamel术治疗先天性巨结肠临床体会

目的探讨直肠后结肠拖出,侧侧吻合术的临床应用价值,评价Duhamel术式的优缺点。方法对3例先天性巨结肠的患儿实行Duhamel术式。结果 3例患儿一般情况可,恢复良好,术后排便通畅。结论 Duhamel术式手术较简单,膀胱及生殖系神经损伤的发生率明显减少,术后排便佳,吻合口破裂的发生率较低,对婴幼儿手术相当安全。     

Mother-to-Child Transmission of Congenital Chagas Disease,Japan

We report a patient with congenital Chagas disease in Japan. This report reemphasizes the role of neglected and emerging tropical diseases in the era of globalization. It also indicates the need for increased vigilance for detecting Chagas disease in non–disease-endemic countries.     

先天性巨结肠及其同源病诊断热点讨论

目的 探讨先天性巨结肠及其同源病定义、病理诊断方法及标准.方法 记录2015年10月在武汉同济医院小儿外科召开的先天性巨结肠(Hirschsprung's disease,HD)及其同源病临床与病理国际高峰论坛峰会病理分会中的热点问题及展开的深入讨论,并进行归纳总结.结果 直肠黏膜活检AchE染色被一致认可为术前诊断的金标准.巨结肠切除术中活检是必需的,但染色方法的选择未有统一.作为传统方法,单纯HE染色的精确性受到了质疑,普遍认为需要同时进行其他染色,而具体染色方法因各自习惯而异.目前缺乏大样本的正常新生儿和儿童肠道发育各项数据,因此对于神经节细胞减少症,神经元发育不良的诊断标准尚有争论.肠神经元发育不良(intestinal neuro-nal dysplasia,IND)是不是一种疾病实体,是原发性还是继发性疾病未有定论.病理发现的各类非神经节病变目前还不清楚应该如何定义和归类,因此更要求病理专家应对其作出详尽描述.结论 国内外对巨结肠及其同源病在定义、病理诊断方法及标准上有一定共识,但部分争论热点由于缺乏理论和实践数据支撑而未有统一结论,而这些热点必将成为将来研究的新方向.     

Dyssynergic defecation may play an important role in postoperative Hirschsprung's disease patients with severe persistent constipation : Analysis of a case series

Background

After surgery for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) the majority of patients have satisfactory clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, a substantial number of patients remain who suffer from severe persistent constipation. Current consensus attributes these complaints to the hallmarks of HD. In non-HD patients a cause for severe constipation is dyssynergic defecation.

Methods

Retrospectively, we reviewed the medical records of ten postoperative HD patients with severe persistent constipation who had undergone extensive anorectal function tests to diagnose the reason for the constipation. We analyzed the results of these tests.

Results

During the last three years, ten postoperative HD patients with severe persistent constipation were given extensive anorectal function tests. All ten patients were diagnosed with dyssynergic defecation. The ages at the time of diagnosis ranged from 7 to 19 years with a median age of 12 years. Signs of an enlarged rectum were seen in all ten patients, with a maximum measured value of 845 mL.

Conclusions

Patients with HD may also suffer from dyssynergic defecation. It is important to consider this possibility when dealing with severe persistent constipation in postoperative HD patients. Viable options for treating dyssynergic defecation are available that could prevent irreversible long-term complications.     

Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) for Management of Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis with Toxic Megacolon

Leukocytapheresis (LCAP) is a method of therapeutic apheresis to remove patients peripheral leukocytes by extracorporeal circulation. Previous studies showed that LCAP for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) was more effective and had fewer adverse effects compared to high-dose steroid therapy. However, there are no reports on the application of LCAP for UC patients with toxic megacolon (TM). This study reports the effectiveness and safety of LCAP in treating patients with severe or fulminant UC with TM. Six patients were enrolled in this study and LCAP sessions were performed three times per week for 2 weeks, followed by four further times in the next 4 weeks. After completion of therapy, four patients improved in TM and went into the remission stage of UC. The average Rachmilewitz clinical activity index of these four patients improved from 19.5 to 1. The remaining two patients had to undergo colectomy, however, the symptoms had been mitigated by LCAP and the operations were completed without any problems. These results suggest that LCAP is an additional effective and safe option for TM management in preventing colectomy or for bridging to a safer operation.