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Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. Lungs are the most frequent and often the only site of metastatic disease. The presence of pulmonary metastases is a significant unfavourable prognostic factor. Thoracotomy is strongly recommended in these patients, while computed tomography (CT) remains the gold imaging standard. The purpose of our study was to create tools for the CT-based qualification for thoracotomy in osteosarcoma patients in order to reduce the rate of useless thoracotomies. Methods: Sixty-four osteosarcoma paediatric patients suspected of lung metastases on CT and their first-time thoracotomies (n = 100) were included in this retrospective analysis. All CT scans were analysed using a compartmental evaluation method based on the number and size of nodules. Calcification and location of lung lesions were also analysed. Inter-observer reliability between two experienced radiologists was assessed. The CT findings were then correlated with the histopathological results of thoracotomies. Various multivariate predictive models (logistic regression, classification tree and random forest) were built and predictors of lung metastases were identified. Results: All applied models proved that calcified nodules on the preoperative CT scan best predict the presence of pulmonary metastases. The rating of the operated lung on the preoperative CT scan, dependent on the number and size of nodules, and the total number of nodules on this scan were also found to be important predictors. All three models achieved a relatively high sensitivity (72–92%), positive predictive value (81–90%) and accuracy (74–79%). The positive predictive value of each model was higher than of the qualification for thoracotomy performed at the time of treatment. Inter-observer reliability was at least substantial for qualitative variables and excellent for quantitative variables. Conclusions: The multivariate models built and tested in our study may be useful in the qualification of osteosarcoma patients for metastasectomy through thoracotomy and may contribute to reducing the rate of unnecessary invasive procedures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Current Pediatrics / Guncel Pediatri is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (CEPS) are rare anomalies connecting the portal system to the inferior vena cava. This report discusses a 10-year-old boy with Type II c CEPS, presenting cyanosis and dyspnea. Surgical ligation resulted in significant improvement in symptoms. Early identification and intervention are crucial, necessitating a protocolized approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archives of Hellenic Medicine / Arheia Ellenikes Iatrikes is the property of Athens Medical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Pediatric patients often undergo surgery during terminal admissions. However, the involvement and timing of palliative care consults in caring for these patients has not been readily described. Objective: To describe the presence and timing of palliative care consults for pediatric patients who undergo surgical procedures during terminal admissions. Design: Retrospective cohort study using data from the electronic health record. Setting and Participants: Pediatric patients who underwent at least one surgical procedure during a terminal admission at an urban, quaternary hospital in the United States from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Patients' medical, surgical, and admission-level characteristics were abstracted. Associations were evaluated between these characteristics and the occurrence and timing of a palliative care consult relative to surgery and death. Results: Of 134 patients, 84% received a palliative care consult during their terminal admission. Approximately 36% of consults occurred before surgery, and 12% were within one day of death. Children without a palliative care consult were more likely than children with a consult to die during surgery (19.1% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.02), have surgery within 24 hours of death (52.4% vs. 15.9%, p < 0.001), and undergo a full resuscitation attempt (47.6% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.002). Receipt of a palliative care consultation did not differ by patient sex, reported race and ethnicity, language, insurance, or income level. Conclusions and Relevance: Palliative care consults support high-quality end-of-life care for children and impact perioperative outcomes, including intensity of surgical care and resuscitation in the final hours of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adhesive small bowel obstruction is a significant cause of postoperative morbidity in children. There are limited studies on the epidemiology and scope of conservative management for adhesive small bowel obstruction in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the presentation, risk factors, and management, including the role of Gastrografin, for adhesive small bowel obstruction in children. Methods: Between June 2015 and June 2020, 90 patients with an adhesive small bowel obstruction presented to our pediatric surgery department. Out of these, 10 patients underwent upfront surgery and were excluded, while the rest were put on conservative treatment. Patients who failed to improve after 24 hours of conservative management in the absence of signs of strangulation were administered Gastrografin. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically to determine the resolution of the obstruction. Results: The mean age was 9.04 ± 3.89 with sex a ratio of 2.6:1. Vomiting was the most symptom (90% cases), followed by pain abdomen (87.5%). Appendectomy (50%) and enterotomy for worm obstruction (17.5%) were the most common previous surgical procedures leading to acute small bowel obstruction. Recurrent obstruction was seen in 7.5% of the cases. Thirty eight (47.5%) patients were successfully managed conservatively by standard decompression therapy. Oral administration of Gastrografin successfully resolved the obstruction in 43% patients who failed standard decompression therapy, whereas 24 (30%) patients with persistent obstruction required laparotomy. Conclusion: Adhesive small bowel obstruction is a common surgical emergency in children. It can occur at any age and after laparotomy for any surgical condition; however, history of appendectomy is associated with high incidence of adhesion obstruction. Vomiting and abdominal pain are constant symptoms. Conservative management with standard decompressive therapy followed by using water-soluble contrast agents (Gastrografin) is a safe and effective approach in managing adhesion obstruction in selected children without signs of bowel ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Die Anaesthesiologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The objective of this study was to present the results of a comprehensive single‐center study of the management and outcome of intussusception over a 10‐year period and to review the recent literature. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out of all children less than 16 years old, admitted with intussusception to our tertiary center between January 2007 and December 2016. Air enema was attempted routinely, with primary surgery reserved for selected cases. If air enema failed, open surgery was performed. The data collected included age, enema reduction rate, need for laparotomy, detail of bowel resection, hospital stay, and complications noted. Results: One hundred and ninety‐one children presented with intussusception, totaling 200 admissions. One hundred and seventy‐four patients (87%) underwent air enema. There was a complete reduction in 66% of these cases and a perforation rate of 1.1%. Twenty‐six patients (13%) underwent primary surgery. Of the 59 patients with incomplete enema reduction, 50.8% required bowel resection while 49.2% required only manual reduction. Bowel resection was necessitated in 26% of total admissions and 61.2% of those requiring surgery. Hospital stays ranged from 3–97 days (median 7 days). There were four complications (2%). Conclusion: This comprehensive study reveals a higher rate of surgical intervention and bowel resection than was anticipated from selective series in published literature. Institutional variation in outcome is likely multifactorial but incomplete data make comparisons difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the incidence of melanoma in children and adolescents have been reported in Europe and in the USA in the recent decades. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of paediatric and adolescent melanomas in Finland in 1990-2014, and the associated clinical and histopathological characteristics to reveal temporal trends, such as changes in diagnostic sensitivity of Spitzoid melanomas. Information on 122 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma at 0-19 years of age in Finland in 1990-2014 were retrieved from the Finnish Cancer Registry. 73 primary melanoma archival samples were re-evaluated by two dermatopathologists to allow comparability over time. A 5.6% annual increase was observed in the incidence of melanoma among children and adolescents during the study period. Fifty-six tumours were confirmed as malignant melanomas in the re-evaluation. After correction for tumour misclassification in the Cancer Registry, the age-adjusted annual incidence was estimated to have increased from 1.4/1 000 000 in 1990-1994 to 5.8/1 000 000 in 2010-2014. The change in incidence was most prominent among adolescents and in Spitzoid melanoma subtype. Melanomas diagnosed 1990-2002 and 2003-2014 did not differ in terms of their clinicopathological characteristics or prognosis (hazard ratio for melanoma-related death 1.53, 95% CI 0.30 to 7.88). Spitzoid melanomas were diagnosed at a younger age, were of higher stage and had higher Clark level than other melanomas, yet the hazard ratio for death was 0.52 (95% CI 0.10 to 2.58) for Spitzoid versus other melanomas. The incidence of cutaneous melanoma has clearly increased among the young in Finland, especially among adolescents. No evidence for overdiagnosis of Spitzoid melanomas as the underlying cause of the increased incidence was observed. A nationwide retrospective re-evaluation of the cutaneous melanomas recorded in the Finnish Cancer Registry among patients aged 0–19 years in Finland in 1990–2014 revealed an approximately 4-fold increase in the incidence. The increase in the incidence was most prominent among adolescents and in the Spitzoid melanoma subtype. Our results contrast those reported in other countries, where the incidence of melanoma among adolescents has declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Pediatric interventional radiology (IR) is a growing subspecialty. Here, we review the current role of IR in children with cancer, which uses imaging such as ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography to perform minimally invasive procedures. These include biopsy, needle localization, central venous access, thermal ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90, non-tunneled/tunneled drainage catheter placement, and lymphatic interventions. Recent Findings: Although locoregional therapies for the treatment of cancer in adults are common, they are less common in children, perhaps due to the relative rarity of cancer in children, their typically better performance status, and paucity of comorbidities. Preliminary results from small-scale studies for ablation, transarterial chemoembolization, and transarterial radioembolization with yttrium-90 used in the front-line armamentarium of curative therapy are encouraging. Summary: Pediatric IR offers an array of minimally invasive procedures intended to diagnose and treat pediatric cancer patients. However, more research is required to determine the efficacy of locoregional therapy in children and to define the clinical scenarios where benefit is likely to be optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of routinely measured biochemical and complete blood count parameters as potential markers of the severity of paediatric acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: The retrospective study included children with AP hospitalised over a 3 years period. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected. Results: In total, 55 patients were enrolled in the study. Mild AP was diagnosed in 45 children (82%), moderately severe in 7 (13%), and severe in 3 patients (5%). Together 10 children (18%) were categorised into a single severe group. Children with severe AP had higher white blood cell and platelet counts on admission as well as a C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration after 48 h. The CRP concentration after 48 h (cut-off: 127.2 mg/L) and the white blood cell count on admission (cut-off: 13.5x10³/μl) were found to be statistically significant markers in predicting the severity of the disease. The CRP concentration after 48 h was demonstrated as an independent predictor. Conclusion: Severe AP is observed in a quite significant percentage of children. The white blood cell count on admission and the CRP concentration after 48 h (as an independent predictor) may be potential simple laboratory markers of the severity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Most acute appendicitis (AA) patients present first to physicians who are not paediatric surgeons. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the speciality of the first physician and delays in diagnosis and morbidity in AA. Methods: The study was planned prospectively. Patients who were operated on between 15 June 2017 and 2018 due to abdominal pain were included. Demographic data of the patients, speciality of the doctors who examined them and postoperative complications were recorded. The patients were divided into three groups: those who were diagnosed at the first examination, those who were diagnosed at the second examination and those who were diagnosed after three or more examinations. Results: A total of 414 patients were included in the study. There were 255 (61.6%) patients in group 1, 135 (32.6%) patients in group 2 and 24 (5.8%) patients in group 3. The mean age of the patients in group 3 was lower (P < 0.05). Postoperative complications and hospital stay were higher in group 3 (P < 0.05). While 91.8% of the patients in group 1 were examined by a paediatrician, this rate was significantly lower in the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: If children presenting with abdominal pain are evaluated primarily by paediatricians, consultation with paediatric surgeons is faster. The awareness of doctors of other specialities should be increased through regular periodic training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumor in children, with average age of onset being 5 years, and approximately 70% cases diagnosed below 10 years of age. It accounts for 37% of primary head and neck malignancies in children. Chemotherapy with surgery, and radiation is selected as the primary treatment. We report a rare case of rhabdomyosarcoma in the temporal bone presenting with glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve paralysis as well as facial palsy. Case report: The patient was a 6-year-old boy, and his initial symptom was dizziness followed by facial palsy and hoarseness. Although a severe type of otitis media was suspected in the first clinic, CT and MRI showed a temporal bone tumor with parameningeal extension. Biopsy with cortical mastoidectomy revealed an embryonal-type rhabdomyosarcoma. Pretreatment re-excision was abandoned because of parameningeal involvement. The tumor disappeared after a series of chemotherapy, however, meningeal dissemination occurred, and he eventually died even after an additional administration of anti-cancer agents and intensive modulated radiation therapy. Conclusion: In the case of facial palsy concomitant with other cranial nerve paralysis, care must be taken into neoplastic origin. Early image diagnosis may offer a chance of complete resection in addition to chemo-radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is the only method of fertility preservation (FP) in prepubertal girls, but the experience remains limited. This study investigates the effectiveness and feasibility of FP of OTC in children facing gonadotoxicity treatment in Chinese first ovarian tissue cryobank. Procedure: OTC and evaluation of 49 children ≤14 years old in the cryobank of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2017 to May 19, 2022, were analyzed retrospectively. We compared children's general characteristics, follicle numbers, and hormone levels with and without chemotherapy before OTC. Results: The age of 49 children at the time of OTC was 7.55 (1–14) years old. There were 23 cases of hematological non-malignant diseases, eight cases of hematological malignant diseases, four cases of gynecological malignant tumors, one case of neurological malignant tumors, one case of bladder cancer, five cases of sarcoma, three cases of mucopolysaccharidosis, one case of metachromatic leukodystrophy, two cases of dermatomyositis, one case of Turner's syndrome. The median follicular count per 2-mm biopsy was 705. Age and AMH were not correlated (r = 0.084, P = 0.585). Age and follicle count per 2-mm biopsy was not correlated (r = −0.128, P = 0.403). Log10 (follicle count per 2-mm biopsy) and Log10 (AMH) were not correlated (r = −0.118, P = 0.456). Chemotherapy before OTC decreased AMH levels but had no significant effect on the number of follicles per 2-mm biopsy. Conclusions: OTC is the only method to preserve the fertility of prepubertal girls, and it is safe and effective. Chemotherapy before OTC is not a contraindication to OTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the healing effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on experimental testicular torsion in rats. Materials and methods: Three groups consisting of 10 Wistar albino rats were created. In Group I, the left testicle was explored and relocated in the scrotum without any attempt to modify it. In Group II, the left testicle underwent torsion for three h and then was detorsed and relocated. In Group III, in addition to torsion and detorsion, BM-MSCs were administered intratesticularly. The rats were sacrificed on the seventh day, and the healing status of the testicles was investigated with histopathological and biochemical analyses. BM-MSC involvement was investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 15.0. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all variables. Results: Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that BM-MSCs were located around the Leydig cells in Group III. Under light microscopy, the mean Johnsen Score of Group III was significantly higher than that of Group II (p = 0.035). The interleukin-10 (IL-10) level was significantly higher in Group III compared to Group II (p = 0.003). While the malondialdehyde (MDA) values in Group I (the control group) were lower than in the other groups (p = 0.037), the superoxide dismutase (SOD) values were similar (p = 0.158). Although there was no statistically significant difference between Group II and Group III in terms of MDA, it was lower in Group III. Although the tissue SOD levels were higher in Group III than in Group II, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that BM-MSCs significantly corrected the Johnsen Score and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels after testicular torsion. BM-MSCs can be used in testicular torsion as supportive therapy to minimize tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although hypotension is a life-threatening complication of nephrectomy in children, risk factors for its development remain unknown. We evaluated the incidence, clinical course, and associated risk factors of pediatric post-nephrectomy hypotension in an observational study. Methods: This retrospective observational study included the clinical data of children who underwent nephrectomy in our center between 2002 and 2020. Patients undergoing nephrectomy at kidney transplantation and those who developed hypotension before nephrectomy were excluded. Results: The study included 55 nephrectomies in 51 patients, including 42 unilateral, 4 two-stage bilateral, and 5 simultaneous bilateral nephrectomies. The diagnoses were isolated Wilms tumor, neuroblastoma, congenital nephrotic syndrome, Denys-Drash syndrome, WAGR (Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary malformations, and mental retardation) syndrome, and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease in 24, 10, 9, 6, 1, and 1 patient, respectively. Post-nephrectomy hypotension developed in 11 (20%) patients. Two patients (3.6%) had persistent hypotension; both had their kidneys resected, and one patient (1.8%) died. Male sex, kidney disease, resection of both kidneys, low estimated glomerular filtration rate, increased left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole, hypertension before nephrectomy, antihypertensive use, hyperreninemia, and hyperaldosteronism were significantly associated with post-nephrectomy hypotension. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that hypertension before nephrectomy was the only significant risk factor for post-nephrectomy hypotension (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Hypertension before nephrectomy is a significant risk factor for pediatric post-nephrectomy hypotension. Life-threatening hypotension, which might occur after bilateral nephrectomy in infants, should be considered, especially in children with higher risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric acute pancreatitis has distinct etiologic, clinical and prognostic characteristics in contrast to the adult form of the disease. This review offers a comprehensive imaging update that emphasizes the importance of recognizing specific findings that are relevant from the clinical standpoint. Knowledge of these features facilitates communication among multidisciplinary team members and ultimately could lead to the improved care of pediatric acute pancreatitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To demonstrate the utility of ultrasound for predicting the outcome of pancreatitis in pediatric patients using the Balthazar score. Methods: Twenty-four children diagnosed with pancreatitis, who underwent computed tomography (CT) followed by ultrasound within 24 h, were included. The Balthazar score was calculated using both modalities based on the appearance of the pancreas (score 0–4). The association between the Balthazar scores with CT and ultrasound was evaluated using single linear regression analysis. To evaluate the sonographic accuracy, the ultrasound severity index and findings were compared with those of CT. Presence or absence of abnormal pancreatic parenchymal change on ultrasound was compared to the presence or absence of pancreatic necrosis on CT. The CT and sonographic findings were evaluated in eight intra-abdominal segments. Results: The Balthazar scores yielded by CT (2.2 ± 1.1, range 0–4) and ultrasound (2.0 ± 1.1, range 0–4) showed a significantly strong correlation (r = 0.918, p < 0.001). The accuracy of ultrasound in determining the CT Balthazar scores was 91.7% (95% confidence interval 73.0–99.0%, 22/24 patients). In the two cases with pancreatic necrosis on CT, only one case was detected as abnormal pancreatic parenchymal change. Sonographic diagnostic accuracy in the pancreatic head was lower than that in the body and tail (accuracy of the pancreatic head, body, and tail enlargement/edema = 83.3%/75%, 100%/100%, and 100%/100%, respectively). Conclusions: The total CT and ultrasound severity indices were significantly correlated. Ultrasound is a useful modality for evaluating not only the initial pancreatic condition but also the severity of pediatric pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Postoperative adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO) is a common complication especially in complicated appendicitis. This study aimed to analyze the risk factors for ABO following appendectomy in children with complicated appendicitis, and establish a scoring model for predicting postoperative ABO and treatment option to relieve the obstruction. Methods: From December 2014 to January 2020, all files of consecutive patients with complicated appendicitis underwent appendectomy were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to screen out the risk factors of postoperative ABO, and establish a scoring model for predicting postoperative ABO and surgical relief to relieve the obstruction. Results: Of the 780 patients, 87 (11.2%) had ABO following appendectomy, including 27 who underwent surgical relief. Age ≤ 6 years, overweight and obesity, duration of symptoms ≥ 36 h, C-reactive protein ≥ 99 mg/L, duration of operation ≥ 60 min, intraoperative peritoneal lavage, and postoperative flatus time ≥ 20 h were independent risk factors for postoperative ABO. The final scoring model for postoperative ABO included factors above, and exhibited a high degree of discrimination (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.937; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.913–0.960) corresponding to an optimal cut-off value of 6: 82.8% sensitivity, 92.6% specificity. Furthermore, the scoring model showed a sensitivity of 74.1% and a specificity of 91.7% for patients wo underwent surgical relief to relieve obstruction with the optimal cut-off value of 9. Conclusion: Risk factors for postoperative ABO should be taken seriously in children with complicated appendicitis. The scoring model is a novel but promising method to predict postoperative ABO and provide reference for clinical decision-making to relieve the obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the long-term results after Rex bypass (RB) shunt and Rex transposition (RT) shunt and determine the optimal approach. Methods: Between 2010 and 2019, traditional RB shunt was performed in 24 patients, and modified RT shunt was performed in 23 children with extrahepatic portal hypertension (pHTN). A retrospective study was conducted based on comparative symptoms, platelet counts, color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic portography of the portal system, and gastroscopic gastroesophageal varices postoperatively. The portal venous pressure was evaluated intraoperatively. Results: The operation in the RB group was notably more time-consuming than that in the RT group (P < 0.05). Compared to RT shunt, the reduction in gastroesophageal varix grading, the increases in platelets, and the caliber of the bypass were greater in the RB group (P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, higher morbidity of surgical complications was found after RT shunt (17.4%) compared with RB shunt (8.3%) with patency rates of 82.6 and 91.7%, respectively. Additionally, patients exhibited a lower rate of rebleeding under the RB procedure (12.5%) than under the RT procedure (21.7%). Conclusions: The RT procedure is an alternative option for the treatment of pediatric extrahepatic pHTN, and RB shunt is the preferred procedure in our center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the features of testicular torsion (TT) resulting from minor groin trauma and to raise the awareness of trauma-induced testicular torsion (TITT). Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients presenting with TT resulting from minor genital trauma that was performed from January 2010 to December 2018 at a single tertiary care institution. The demographic, clinical, and perioperative characteristics, as well as data on follow-up and complications, were analyzed. Results: Of the 155 patients treated for TT, 15 were included in this study. The average age of the patients was 10.3 years (range: 3.2–13.3 years). All patients experienced a direct scrotal trauma and subsequently presented with an ipsilateral scrotal or testicular pain secondary to the twisted testicle. Six patients were misdiagnosed as having scrotal inflammation or hematoma, and all were initially treated at local hospitals. The mean duration of symptoms before hospitalization was 138 h (range: 5–504 h). The mean degree of torsion was 390° (range: 180–720°). The testicular salvation rate, at 33%, was poor. No serious postoperative complications or recurrences of TT was observed. Conclusions: TITT is a rare entity and still has delayed diagnosis. This may subsequently lead to a low testicular salvation rate. Emergency surgeons, especially in local hospitals, should be aware of the possibility of TT following testicular trauma in pediatric patients. Improving the parents' awareness regarding TT is also important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many biliary atresia (BA) patients will eventually develop liver failure even after a successful Kasai portoenterostomy. A common complication of long-term BA survivors with their native liver is problematic portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to defend the view that portosystemic shunts can delay or negate the need for transplantation in these children.Methods: A retrospective single center review of the efficacy of portosystemic shunts in BA patients after a successful Kasai portoenterostomy was conducted.Results: From 1991 to 2017, 11 patients received portosystemic shunts. Median age of Kasai operation was 48 (36-61) days. Shunts were performed at the median age of 6.2 (4.1-6.8) years. Three of these eleven patients required subsequent liver transplantation. OS at 5 and 10 years were 90.9% and 81.8%, respectively. TFS at 5 and 10 years were 90.9% and 72.7%, respectively. Long-term complications included mild encephalopathy in 2 patients, hypersplenism in 3, and cholestasis in 1.Conclusion: Portosystemic shunt for the treatment of portal hypertension in carefully selected BA patients is an effective option in delaying or negating the need for liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Selcuk University Medical Journal is the property of Selcuk University Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and general edema. These symptoms may persist in children who reach ESRD, which is unfavorable for the patient's allograft outcome. In addition, this may hamper early diagnosis of a relapse after transplantation. Surgical bilateral nephrectomy is often considered for that reason, but medical nephrectomy may be a less invasive alternative. In this retrospective single‐center case series, we identified all children on dialysis with ESRD due to nephrotic syndrome in which a medical nephrectomy was attempted before kidney transplantation between 2013 and 2018. Outcome was measured by urine output and serum albumin levels. Eight patients with either congenital nephrotic syndrome or focal segmental glomerular sclerosis were included in the study. All patients received an ACE inhibitor as drug of first choice for medical nephrectomy, to which 5 patients responded with oligoanuria and a significant rise in serum albumin, and 3 patients responded insufficiently. In 1 of these 3 patients, diclofenac was added to the ACE inhibitor, with good result. In the other 2 patients, indomethacin was initiated without success, and surgical bilateral nephrectomy was performed. Overall, 6/8 patients had a successful medical nephrectomy and did not need surgical nephrectomy. No recurrence of nephrotic syndrome was found after kidney transplantation in all but one. Medical nephrectomy with ACE inhibitors and/or non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs is a safe and non‐invasive therapy to minimize proteinuria in children with ESRD due to nephrotic syndrome before kidney transplantation. We suggest that this strategy should be considered as therapy before proceeding with surgical nephrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Treatment of pneumothorax involves conservative treatment and surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the best approach of initial treatment and long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax in pediatric patients. Patients and Methods: From January 2009 until June 2019, 36 patients younger than the age of 18 who were treated for spontaneous pneumothorax were included into retrospective study. Patients were divided into 2 groups, non-VATS and VATS, depending on the way they were treated. The groups were compared regarding demographic and clinical data and outcomes of treatment (the length of hospitalization, the frequency of postoperative complications, and reoperations). Results: Out of 36 patients, there were 24 boys and 12 girls with median age of 16.5 years. Median duration of hospitalization was 8 days. Eight patients were treated by observation and 28 by chest tube insertion. In 14 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, VATS was performed [indications were persistent air leak in 8 (57%) and recurrent pneumothorax in 6 (43%) children]. Patients who underwent surgery had significantly higher length of hospitalization (P < .001) and lower rate of recurrences (P = .003) than those who did not. In 12 (86%) patients, blebs were found intraoperative, and in all of them, pleurodesis was performed. Duration of chest tube insertion was significantly longer in patients who experienced recurrent pneumothorax (P < .001). Conclusions: VATS is successful, efficient, and safe method of treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax, due to its significantly lower rate of recurrence in comparison with chest tube insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To our knowledge, no systematic study has been conducted on computed tomography (CT) imaging of mediastinitis in children post‐cardiovascular surgery. We aimed to assess the CT findings of pediatric patients diagnosed with mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery. Methods: We included 28 pediatric patients with suspected mediastinitis after undergoing cardiovascular surgery and who underwent CT. Patients were divided into a group with mediastinitis requiring antibiotic therapy (n = 15) confirmed by positive bacterial culture from the mediastinum and a group without mediastinitis (n = 13). Fisher's exact test was used to compare the following CT findings between the two groups: (i) mediastinal fluid collection; (ii) free gas bubble within fluid collection; (iii) sternal destruction; and (iv) capsular ring enhancement. The enhancement extent was categorized into the following four grades: whole rim enhancement, >50% of the rim enhancement, <50% of the rim enhancement, and no rim enhancement. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to establish a cut‐off point for obtaining the maximum diagnostic accuracy. Results: A significant difference was observed between patients, with and without mediastinitis in sternal destruction (73.6% vs 0%, P = <0.0001) and capsular ring enhancement (100.0% vs 38.5%, P = 0.0004). By using a cut‐off grade of the whole rim enhancement, the estimated sensitivity and specificity for mediastinitis diagnosis were 100% and 92.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Computed tomography findings of sternal destruction and capsular ring enhancement were observed more in patients with mediastinitis than in those without mediastinitis, and should be assessed carefully to diagnose mediastinitis accurately in pediatric patients who have undergone cardiac surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Published data describing the endovascular treatment of dysfunctional mesoportal and portosystemic shunts in the pediatric population are limited.Objective: We sought to describe the treatment and follow-up of such shunts managed by interventional radiology at a single pediatric hospital. We hypothesized that stenotic and occluded pediatric portosystemic and mesoportal shunts can be maintained patent by interventional radiology in the moderate term.Materials and Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study at a tertiary pediatric hospital. We included children with surgical mesoportal (meso-Rex) or portosystemic (mesocaval, splenorenal or splenocaval) shunts treated with attempted angioplasty or stenting from 2010 to 2018. Technical success was defined as catheterization and intervention upon the shunt with venographic evidence of flow improvement. The primary outcome variables were shunt patency at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months post-procedure and freedom from reintervention.Results: Twenty pediatric patients (11 boys, 9 girls; mean age 8.25 years, range 1.3-17 years) met inclusion criteria. Fifty-two interventions (primary and reintervention) on 13 splenorenal, 3 meso-Rex, 2 mesocaval and 2 splenocaval shunts were performed because of evidence of shunt failure, including gastrointestinal bleeding, hypersplenism, or radiographic evidence of a flow defect. The 11 stenotic shunts were treated with 100% technical success, while the remaining 9 occluded shunts were treated with 66.7% technical success. The mean number of reinterventions was 1.9 (standard deviation [SD] = 3.1) per child, which did not differ between stenotic and occluded shunts (P=0.24). Primary patency at 1-month, 6-month, 12-month and 24-months follow-up visits was 17/17 (100%), 10/16 (62.5%), 7/15 (46.7%) and 4/10 (40%), respectively. However, 100% of shunts were either primary patent or primary-assisted patent by endovascular reintervention. There were no cases of shunt occlusion following initial technical success. Finally, the median freedom from reintervention duration was 387 days (SD=821 days).Conclusion: Dysfunctional portosystemic surgical shunts are effectively managed by endovascular methods. While many shunts require reintervention, combined primary patency and assisted primary patency rates are excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to review our 25-year experience with pediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to assess its long-term outcome. Materials and Methods: The records of 215 children (127 girls and 88 boys) who underwent LC for the past 25 years (1993-2018) were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had a symptomatic cholelithiasis. The cholelithiasis was idiopathic in 185 patients (86%) and secondary in 30 patients (14%). A four-trocar technique was always adopted and cystic duct and cystic artery were clipped using 10-mm clips in the first 35 cases (16.3%) and 5-mm clips in the following 180 patients (83.7%). In the last 15 cases, indocyanine green (ICG)-enhanced fluorescence was adopted intraoperatively for a better identification of the anatomy of gallbladder and biliary tree. Results: The average operative time was 69 minutes and fell down to 52 minutes after introduction of ICG fluorescence (P = .001). Fifteen anatomic anomalies (6.9%), involving bile duct in 5 cases and cystic artery in 10 cases, were recorded. Technical problems were reported intraoperatively in 6 cases (2.8%). We recorded 4 postoperative Clavien IIIb complications (1.9%): 1 bleeding from the cystic artery, 1 dislocation of the clips on the cystic duct, and 2 iatrogenic injuries to the main bile duct managed with choledojejunostomy in 1 case and suture of the choleducus over a stent in the second case. We also recorded 3 umbilical granulomas (1.4%) (Clavien II). Conclusions: LC is a standardized and effective procedure to perform in children. Our 25-year experience showed that major complications (Clavien IIIb) can occur even in experienced surgeons' hands. Age, weight, and preoperative cholecystitis were significantly associated with the risk of bile duct injury in our series. Considering its versatility and safety, we believe that ICG fluorescence technology may be adopted in every LC to ease the dissection and reduce the likelihood of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Abdominal pain is a common paediatric presentation to the ED. Accurate diagnosis of acute appendicitis is challenging, with the best‐performing clinical scoring systems having sensitivities between 72% and 100%. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of clinician gestalt according to seniority in diagnosing paediatric acute appendicitis in ED. Methods: This is a prospective multi‐centre observational study of clinician's prediction of appendicitis in children under the age of 16 years presenting to four EDs with abdominal pain over a 1 month period at each site. Clinician‐estimated likelihood of acute appendicitis was compared with the final diagnosis determined by histopathology or operative findings and supplemented by telephone follow up for those without an operation. The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of clinician gestalt according to clinician seniority in diagnosing appendicitis. Results: There were 381 children enrolled with completed clinician questionnaires, and 224 children had complete follow up or underwent appendicectomy. The median age was 9 years (interquartile range 6–12) and the incidence of appendicitis was 31/224 (13.8%, 95% confidence interval 9.3–18.4). The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of clinician gestalt were 0.84 (0.76–0.91), 81% (63–93%), 76% (69–82%), 35% (28–42%) and 96% (92–98%), respectively, giving an overall diagnostic accuracy of 76% (70–82%). AUC stratified by clinician seniority (junior, intermediate and senior) were 0.89 (0.80–0.98), 0.82 (0.69–0.95) and 0.76 (0.56–0.96), respectively. Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of ED clinician gestalt in paediatric appendicitis is comparable to current clinical scoring systems irrespective of seniority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPS) associated with hyperammonemia requires occlusion of the shunt vessels. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic ligation of a CEPS in children with hyperammonemia.Methods: The subjects of this retrospective study were seven children with hyperammonemia who underwent laparoscopic ligation of a CEPS. Their median age was 5.2 years (range 1-16 years). Before the laparoscopic procedure, a catheter was inserted through the femoral vein and placed in the portal vein via the shunt vessel. The shunt vessel was dissected and taped laparoscopically. After measuring the portal vein pressure under temporal occlusion, the shunt vessels were ligated.Results: The types of shunts according to location were patent ductus venosus (n = 2), splenorenal shunt (n = 2), gastrorenal shunt (n = 2), and superior mesenteric vein-inferior vena cava shunt (n = 1). Laparoscopic ligation of the shunt vessel was completed uneventfully in all patients. The median portal vein pressure was 19 mmHg after ligation. The median preoperative blood ammonia level was 94 µg/dL (range 71-259 µg/dL), which decreased after ligation in all patients. There was no incidence of postoperative liver failure.Conclusion: Laparoscopic ligation of a CEPS is safe and effective for children with hyperammonemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical repair is recommended for all children with inguinal hernia due to fear of incarceration. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of incarceration and strangulation of inguinal hernias in children treated with delayed surgery or no surgery.Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in three databases. We included studies reporting on children with inguinal hernia, with the majority ≤ 10 years old. The interventions were non-acute inguinal hernia surgery or no surgery. The main outcomes were incarceration and strangulation. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications. Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and observational studies were included.Results: We included 22 studies with 14,959 children. All studies reported on elective repairs. None of the studies specifically reported on watchful waiting. Of the studies reporting wait time as mean or median, the median wait time was 46 days (range 1-552). The crude incarceration rate across the included studies was 7% for all children and 11% for preterm children. The testicular atrophy rate was 1% and the recurrence rate was 1%.Conclusions: The risk of incarceration in children awaiting inguinal hernia surgery is substantial. In general, we cannot support delaying surgery unnecessarily. However, there may be benefits of delaying surgery in individual cases. In such cases, the surgeon should assess if the benefits may overrule the risk of incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The meso-Rex bypass restores blood flow to the liver in patients with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis. Stenosis occurs in some cases, causing the reappearance of portal hypertension. Complications such as thrombocytopenia present on a spectrum and there are currently no guidelines regarding a threshold for endovascular intervention. While Doppler ultrasound (US) is common for routine evaluation, magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with two-dimensional phase-contrast MRI (2-D PC-MRI) may improve the assessment of meso-Rex bypass function.Objectives: To determine the feasibility and utility of MR angiography with 2-D PC-MRI in evaluating children with meso-Rex bypass and to correlate meso-Rex bypass blood flow to markers of portal hypertension.Materials and Methods: MR angiography and 2-D PC-MRI in meso-Rex bypass patients were retrospectively analyzed. Minimum bypass diameter was measured on MR angiography and used to calculate cross-sectional area. Meso-Rex bypass blood flow was measured using 2-D PC-MRI and divided by ascending aortic flow to quantify bypass flow relative to systemic circulation. Platelet and white blood cell counts were recorded. Correlation was performed between minimum bypass area, blood flow and clinical data.Results: Twenty-five children (median age: 9.5 years) with meso-Rex bypass underwent MR angiography and 2-D PC-MRI. The majority of patients were referred to imaging given clinical concern for complications. Eighteen of the 25 patients demonstrated >50% narrowing of the bypass cross-sectional area. The mean platelet count in 19 patients was 127 K/μL. There was a significant correlation between minimum cross-sectional bypass area and bypass flow (rho=0.469, P=0.018) and between bypass flow and platelet counts (r=0.525, P=0.021).Conclusion: Two-dimensional PC-MRI can quantify meso-Rex bypass blood flow relative to total systemic flow. In a cohort of 25 children, bypass flow correlated to minimum bypass area and platelet count. Two-dimensional PC-MRI may be valuable alongside MR angiography to assess bypass integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Testicular torsion (TT) is one of the most common emergencies in pediatric urology. Family awareness of this condition could lead to early diagnosis and intervention and salvage of the effected testicle. The purpose of this study is to assess parental awareness about TT and their source of knowledge. We also evaluated the response of the parents to their children's scrotal pain. Methods: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2017 at our institution. The study target were parents attending the pediatric urology clinic and the comparison group included parents attending the general pediatric clinic in the same period. We distributed a questionnaire and then compared the results in both groups. Results: A total of 200 parents participated in this study (100 parents from each clinic). Nineteen percent of pediatric urology clinic parents were aware and 14% of general pediatric clinic parents were aware about TT with no statistically significant difference observed (P = 0.341). The parents in urology clinic choose doctor as their main source of knowledge (42.1%), while in general pediatric clinic, doctor and through a friend as the main source of knowledge had the same percentage (28.6%). Response of the parents to their children's scrotal pain during working hours in urology and general pediatric clinics was to drive their children to the emergency room immediately with 85% and 82%, respectively. The response of the parents after working hours in both clinics did not show difference, with 83% of parents in pediatric urology clinic and 85% in general pediatric clinic driving their children immediately to the emergency room. Conclusion: TT in boys is a common problem we face as pediatric urologists and it may lead to testicular loss if not diagnosed and treated early. We found that the awareness of TT in children is low in our community and it is our responsibility to raise it to improve our children's well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Testicular torsion (TT) represents a clinical challenge that needs emergency surgical assessment. It is common to have negative scrotal exploration due to confounding symptoms and signs which makes it sometimes difficult to differentiate from similar surgical emergencies that do not warrant surgery. At the same time, several occasions of misdiagnoses or late interventions occur with devastating effects. We aim at delineating the significance of the different clinical, laboratory, and radiological variables in the detection of TT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 52 patients who were surgically explored with a preoperative working diagnosis of suspected TT in our center over the period from 2011 to 2015. All the patients were examined by pediatric surgeons in the emergency room and had undergone ultrasound imaging of the testes. The ultrasound images were retrospectively reviewed by a pediatric radiologist who was blinded to the intraoperative findings. Univariate and multivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Of the studied group of patients, the majority (84.6%) had TT upon surgical exploration. The most frequently presented symptom was pain (80.8%), and only a minority (11.5%) presented with vomiting. Radiological findings with the highest sensitivity were heterogeneous echogenicity in favor of TT and enlarged epididymis indicating that TT is unlikely. However, the predictability of TT by any of the assessed clinical and imaging factors was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: It is important to gather all relevant data from clinical, laboratory, and imaging sources when assessing pediatric patients with suspected TT given the inaccuracy of each single one of them if used alone. Keeping this in mind, Doppler ultrasound has a significant role to aid in the accuracy of the diagnosis and hence the appropriate decision-making thereafter. However, we found no single clinical or imaging sign that is sensitive enough to prove or rule out TT. Therefore, surgical exploration should take place in a timely manner. Moreover, further research is necessary to construct scoring systems where different predictors collectively have higher reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Primary liver transplantation is recommended for central post‐treatment extent of disease (POST‐TEXT) III and IV hepatoblastoma. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the safety and oncological efficacy of aggressive non‐transplant extended hepatic resection in these patients. Methods: A prospective study involved 18 children with central pretreatment extent of disease (PRETEXT) III and IV: three had primary liver transplantation whereas 15 underwent hepatic resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Median tumor volume was 317 mL (range, 135–546 mL). After four cycles of chemotherapy, POST‐TEXT stage was III in 12 patients and IV in three patients. There was no perioperative mortality. Postoperative complications consisted of two bile leaks, one temporary decompensation and one sub‐phrenic collection requiring drainage. One and 3 year disease‐free survival was 93.3% and 73.3% respectively. The 3 year overall survival was 86.6%. Four patients developed recurrence, of whom two died. Early recurrence in 1 year occurred in one patient. All recurrences were distant metastases. Conclusions: Extended major hepatic resection for selected cases of POST‐TEXT III and IV hepatoblastoma is a technically challenging but feasible approach with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. Oncological outcomes are similar to liver transplantation without the long‐term commitment of immunosuppression or donor risk and morbidity, but a potential donor should always be organized on standby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is useful for the diagnosis of local complications in children with acute pancreatitis but its role as a prognostic tool remains controversial.Objective: To establish the correlation between the CT Severity Index and the Revised Atlanta Classification regarding unfavorable outcomes such as severe acute pancreatitis and need for Pediatric Special Care Unit attention in children with acute pancreatitis.Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and concordance cohort study in which we obtained abdominal CT scans from 30 patients ages 0 to 18 years with acute pancreatitis. Two pediatric radiologists interpreted the results using the CT Severity Index and the Revised Atlanta Classification. The kappa coefficient was determined for each scale. The association among severe acute pancreatitis, need for admission to the Pediatric Special Care Unit and CT systems were established using chi-square or Mann-Whitney U tests. The best CT Severity Index value to predict the need for admission to the Pediatric Special Care Unit was estimated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results: Mean CT Severity Index was 5.1±2.8 (mean ± standard deviation on a scale of 0 to 10) for the severe acute pancreatitis group vs. 3.8±2.7 for the mild acute pancreatitis group (P=0.230). The CT Severity Index for the children who were not hospitalized at the Pediatric Special Care Unit was 2.2±2.2 vs. 5.6±2.4 for the group hospitalized at the Pediatric Special Care Unit (P=0.001). Only parenchymal necrosis >30% was associated with severe acute pancreatitis (P=0.021). A CT Severity Index ≥3 has a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 72% to predict need for admission to the Pediatric Special Care Unit. None of the Revised Atlanta Classification categories was associated with severe acute pancreatitis or admission to the Pediatric Special Care Unit.Conclusion: A CT Severity Index ≥3 in children with acute pancreatitis who require CT assessment based on clinical criteria is associated with the need for admission to the Pediatric Special Care Unit. We found that pancreatic necrosis greater than 30% is the only tomographic parameter related to severe acute pancreatitis. New studies with a greater sample size are necessary to confirm this result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although Rex shunt is an effective treatment for extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO), 4-20% children develop rebleeding postoperatively. This study was used to evaluate the surgical treatment of rebleeding after Rex shunt in our center.Method: From June 2008 to Jan 2017, 12 of 122 children with EHPVO underwent a second operation due to graft stenosis and occlusion after Rex shunt in our center. The abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) showed the occlusion of bypass vein in nine children, stenosis of bypass vein in two children, and the patency of bypass vein in one child with dysplasia of intrahepatic portal vein. A re-Rex shunt was performed in eight children, of which one child required conversion to Warren shunt due to postoperative rebleeding. Five children underwent Warren shunt due to a narrowed left portal vein shown by intraoperative portal angiography and surgical exploration. All patients were followed up in this study.Results: The postoperative incidences of re-bleeding and esophageal varices in children with Warren shunt were significantly lower than those in children undergoing re-Rex shunt (P = 0.027 and 0.015). After a second operation, the rate of bypass vein patency in children with re-Rex shunt was lower than that in children with Warren shunt (50 vs. 100%). The postoperative reduced size of spleen in children undergoing Warren shunt was significantly higher than that of children undergoing re-Rex shunt (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Comparing to re-Rex shunt, Warren shunt was a better treatment for rebleeding caused by bypass failure after Rex shunt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary liver malignancies are rare in children. Hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) together represent the overwhelming majority of cases. Overall survival of hepatoblastoma approaches 80% with multimodal treatment approaches that include chemotherapy, surgery and transplantation. However, there remains a subset of children with hepatoblastoma in whom resection or transplantation is not possible. The 5-year survival for children diagnosed with HCC is less than 30% and remains a significant therapeutic challenge. The poor outcomes for children with primary liver tumors motivate investigation of new therapeutic alternatives. Interventional oncology offers a broad scope of percutaneous and transcatheter endovascular cancer therapies that might provide clinical benefits. Minimally invasive approaches are distinct from medical, surgical and radiation oncologic treatments, and in adults these approaches have been established as the fourth pillar of cancer care. Transarterial chemoembolization is a minimally invasive locoregional treatment option performed by interventional radiologists with level-I evidence as standard of care in adults with advanced liver malignancy; transarterial chemoembolization in adults has served to prolong disease-free progression, downstage and bridge patients for surgical and transplant interventions, and improve overall survival. However, while several groups have reported that transarterial chemoembolization is feasible in children, the published experience is limited primarily to small retrospective case series. The lack of prospective trial evidence has in part limited the utilization of transarterial chemoembolization in the pediatric patient population. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the role of interventional radiology in the diagnosis and endovascular management of hepatic malignancies in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of all the intra-abdominal solid organs, the liver is the most vulnerable to blunt abdominal trauma. The majority of liver ruptures present in combination with other abdominal or extra-abdominal injuries. Over the last three decades, the management of blunt liver trauma has evolved from obligatory operative to non-operative management in over 90% of cases. Penetrating liver injuries more often require operative intervention and are managed according to adult protocols. The greatest clinical challenge remains the timely identification of the severely damaged liver with immediate and aggressive resuscitation and expedition to laparotomy. The operative management can be taxing and should ideally be performed in a dedicated paediatric surgical centre with experience in dealing with such trauma. Complications can occur early or late and include haemobilia, intrahepatic duct rupture with persistent biliary fistula, bilaemia, intrahepatic haematoma, post-traumatic cysts, vascular outflow obstruction, and gallstones. The prognosis is generally excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study reviewed the medical records of very low-birthweight infants (VLBWI) followed up to adolescence, with emphasis on inguinal hernia (IH), to discuss the ideal time for IH repair in VLBWI. Methods Medical records from 274 VLBWI treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 1994 and 1999 were collected retrospectively. Outpatient data after NICU discharge were included. Additionally, a follow-up study was undertaken via questionnaire sent to the families of VLBWI in 2011. Results During NICU hospitalization, IH was diagnosed in 39 of 274 VLBWI, and two developed incarceration. Thirty-eight VLBWI were discharged with known hernia, and elective repair was performed in 19. Three developed incarceration before elective repair at the mean age of 316 days. In the remaining 18 cases of IH, spontaneous regression occurred at a mean age of 180 days and repair was not performed. New IH appeared in 25 VLBWI after NICU discharge. Conclusions The high incidence of IH in VLBWI was confirmed during follow up to adolescence. The rate of incarceration was low and the incidence of spontaneous regression was high. Observation up to 6 months without surgery, with the expectation of spontaneous regression, is one option to avoid unnecessary surgery, but repair should be performed before 10 months to reduce the risk of incarceration. Further large, prospective, and randomized controlled studies with a long follow up are necessary to validate the present results and to define the ideal time for IH repair in VLBWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated extrahepatic biliary injury in children is extremely rare and there are no previous reports of such an injury or its management in newborns. We present a case of iatrogenic extrahepatic biliary injury in a newborn and describe a technique to treat it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Insufficient information is available on the relationship between obesity and outcome of paediatric patients with acute pancreatitis. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of obesity on outcomes of paediatric patients with acute pancreatitis based on a national administrative database. Methods: A total of 500 cases in 416 paediatric patients with acute pancreatitis (aged 5–17 years) were referred from 260 hospitals between 2010 and 2012 in Japan. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of obesity: with obesity (n = 65) and without obesity (n = 435). Patient data were collected from the administrative database to compare the prevalence of severe acute pancreatitis, in‐hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS) and medical costs between the groups. Results: Both prevalence of severe acute pancreatitis and in‐hospital mortality were significantly higher in paediatric patients with obesity than those without (36.9% vs. 16.3% and 3.1% vs. 0.0%; P < 0.001, respectively). Longer LOS and higher medical costs were also observed in paediatric patients with obesity (25.7 vs. 15.2 days, P < 0.001 and 14 169.5 vs. 7457.7 US dollars, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that obesity significantly influenced the outcomes of paediatric acute pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laparoscopic surgery for malignant solid tumors is still in the stage of clinical exploration. Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor in children. The present study discussed significance and feasibility of complete resection of stage III neuroblastoma by laparoscopic surgery and its safety and effectiveness was compared with traditional surgery. For children suffering from neuroblastoma with large tumor volume and vascular invasion, preoperative chemotherapy can be given and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery can be one option to be considered when the tumor volume is <6 cm. During the operation, the tumor tissue can be removed by segmental resection and the removal of as much tumor tissue as possible is an important factor in improving the prognosis. Laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery is associated with minimal surgical trauma and quick recovery of patients, and children can receive postoperative chemotherapy as early as possible, which is conducive to good recovery. Basically, the prerequisite and requirements for performing this operation are professional laparoscopic skills and an experienced team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The lack of an accurate scoring system for pediatric acute pancreatitis could cause delays in appropriate clinical management and increase the risk of progressive life-threatening complications. We investigated a modified Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan ( JPN) scoring system that uses pediatric systemic inflammatory response syndrome ( SIRS) score, age, and weight to establish a more useful scoring system for children. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted to Juntendo University Hospital between 1985 and 2011. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the pediatric JPN scoring system were calculated and then compared with those of previously developed scoring systems. Results The patient group consisted of 145 patients (88 girls, 57 boys). The pediatric JPN score had greater sensitivity (80%) than the Ranson (60%), modified Glasgow (50%), and De Banto (60%) scores. The specificity was 96% for the pediatric JPN score, 94% for the Ranson score, 99% for the modified Glasgow score, and 86% for the De Banto score. Conclusion The pediatric JPN score can be used to predict severe acute pancreatitis during the initial medical assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although there are several studies focusing on pancreatitis etiology and clinical outcome, no previous report has examined the risk factors for death in children. Patients and methods: We reviewed the medical records of all children (ages 0-18 years) admitted to West China Hospital with acute pancreatitis between 2002 and 2012. Independent predictors for death following acute pancreatitis in children were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Biliary diseases (23 %), medications (20 %), idiopathic (19 %), and trauma (11 %) were the most common etiologies for acute pancreatitis in children. The death rate was 5 % and the mean duration of hospital stay was 13 days. Organ failure during admission occurred in 24 of 371 patients and most of them started in 3 days of onset (19/24). Multivariate analysis with logistic regression confirmed that occurrence of SIRS in the first week of onset (OR = 2.12, 95 % CI 1.14-6.32, P < 0.001), occurrence of organ failure within 3 days of onset (OR = 8.0, 95 % CI 2.2-12.3, P < 0.001), occurrence of MOF in the first week of onset (OR = 9.4, 95 % CI 2.3-14.6, P < 0.001), infected necrosis (OR = 1.28, 95 % CI 1.08-1.52, P = 0.02), and idiopathic cause (OR = 17.3, 95 % CI 2.0-60.5, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for death in cases with pancreatitis. Conclusions: Mortality rate and complication rate of acute pancreatitis in children remains low. Patients with SIRS, early organ failure, MOF, infected necrosis, or idiopathic cause should be well evaluated because they have higher risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the results of PTA for late-onset PV complications after pediatric LDLT and to assess whether a meso-Rex shunt is a viable option for treating restenosis of the PV after PTA in selected cases. Seventy-five children who underwent adult-to-child LDLT were included in this study, and there were six late-onset PV complications (8.0%). The initial therapeutic approach was PTA, with or without stent: PTA with balloon dilation for three children, PTA with stent placement for one child, and failure to cannulate the occluded PV for two children. A meso-Rex shunt was performed in the two children after failed PTA: One suffered complete obstruction of the main PV, and the other, restenosis with total thrombosis after PTA with stent. The PTA was a technical and clinical success in four with PV stenosis of the six patients (66.7%), and successful application of a meso-Rex shunt in the other two children resulted in restoration of PV flow. In conclusion, PTA is a safe and effective procedure for treating late-onset PV stenosis after pediatric LDLT. However, in growing pediatric recipients with restenosis of the PV after PTA or chronic PV thrombosis, a meso-Rex shunt may be a better choice for late-onset PV complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To test the clinical and sonographic predictors of testicular torsion ( TT) with the aim of reducing negative exploration rates., Patients and Methods We performed a prospective study of all boys treated for 'acute scrotum' at our institute between January 2001 and April 2012 and clinical findings were documented., If available, ultrasonography ( US) was added to the diagnostic evaluation., A prediction of the diagnosis was based on clinical and sonographic features, and was followed by surgical exploration in all patients., Results A total of 104 patients were included in the 16-month period of the study., No single finding excluded TT. The clinical features (pain <24 h, nausea/vomiting, abnormal cremasteric reflex, high position of the testis) appeared predictive (100% sensitivity) and the clinical scoring system was proven to be reliable, reducing the negative exploration rate by >55%., Ultrasound predictors alone were not able to identify all boys with TT., Conclusions It is safe to refrain from routine surgical exploration in every child with acute scrotum if the clinical score is applied, which results in a marked reduction of negative explorations., A reliable diagnosis could not be obtained based on US alone. As scrotal US is unpleasant for the child, we propose to refrain from this if the clinical score is positive. Patients with a negative clinical score are suitable candidates for US to establish and secure diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) is a feared complication after abdominal operations in both children and adults. The optimal management of ASBO in the pediatric population is debated. The aim of the present study was to examine the safety and effectiveness of non-operative management in ASBO. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of 33 patients who were admitted for ASBO over a 5-year period was carried out. Followup data were available for 29 patients. Demographic, clinical, and operative details and outcomes were collected for these patients. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 15.0. P = 0.05 was regarded as signifi cant. Results: Out of 618 abdominal surgeries within the 5-year period, 34 admissions were recorded from 29 patients at the follow-up period of 1-28 months. There were 19 boys (65.5%). The median age of patients was 4.5 years. Typhoid intestinal perforation (n = 7), intussusception (n = 6), intestinal malrotation (n = 5), and appendicitis (n = 4) were the major indications for a prior abdominal surgery leading to ASBO. Twenty-fi ve patients (73.5%) developed SBO due to adhesions within the fi rst year of the primary procedure. Of the 34 patients admitted with ASBO, 18 (53%) underwent operative intervention and 16 (47%) were successfully managed non-operatively. There were no differences in sex (P = 0.24), initial procedure (P = 0.12), age, duration of symptoms, and time to re-admission between the patients who responded to non-operative management and those who underwent operative intervention. However, the length of hospital stay was signifi cantly shorter in the non-operative group (P < 0.0001). Five (14.7%) patients had small bowel resection. A 43-day-old child who initially underwent Ladd's procedure died within 15 h of re-admission while being prepared for surgery, accounting for the only mortality (3.4%). Conclusion: Non-operative management is still a safe and preferred approach in selected patients with ASBO. However, 53% eventually required surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital portosystemic shunts are present in one in 30,000 children. Among the associated risks of severe complications are neonatal cholestasis, benign and malignant liver tumors, hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and encephalopathy. They can be detected on prenatal ultrasonograms, during the investigation of a positive galactosemia screening test in neonates or of a complication, or be found fortuitously on an abdominal ultrasound. Small intrahepatic shunts may resolve spontaneously within one year of age, but other shunts such as extrahepatic, persistent ductus venosus or persisting intrahepatic shunts, must be closed in one or two steps, by interventional radiology techniques or surgically. The plasticity of the intrahepatic portal system allows revascularization of the liver after shunt closure, even when no intrahepatic portal structures can be detected on imaging studies. This leaves little or no place for liver transplantation in the management of these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]