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Competing Interests: None declared.

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has dramatically affected global healthcare systems. We aimed to determine the response of our paediatric surgical fraternity to a disease that overwhelmingly affects adults., Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study over 6 weeks during a federally mandated lockdown. Using snowball sampling, we recruited paediatric surgeons, trainees and medical officers from paediatric surgical units in Malaysia. The anonymous online questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, changes in patient care, redeployment, concerns regarding family members, and impact on training. Mental well-being was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis was used, with significance level 0.05., Results: Of the 129 eligible participants, 100(77%) responded. Junior doctors had clinically higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Age <30 years was significantly associated with anxiety. Junior doctors believed that redeployment led to loss of surgical skills (p<0.001) and trainees felt that clinical application of knowledge had reduced (p<0.020)., Conclusion: Specific to our paediatric surgical community, this study highlights areas of concern, particularly among junior doctors. It is likely that recurrent cycles of the pandemic will occur soon. These issues must be addressed to preserve the mental and emotional well-being of all health care workers.

Pediatric surgeons are collectively passionate about prioritizing the healthcare needs of children. We contend that this passion is deeply ingrained in how we drive clinical care and influence scientific discovery. Thus, the future of clinical research in our field will be deeply embedded in our history as a "patient-centric" profession. Service to pediatric patients requires an understanding of their needs and expectations, and designing research that acknowledges both. In this article we detail how future pragmatic clinical research will look in the evolving and learning health system., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In 2014, a survey study of the Canadian pediatric surgery workforce predicted a need for 2 new pediatric surgeons/yr. in Canada. We sought to assess these predictions and evaluate the status of the workforce., Methods: With IRB approval, a web-based survey was sent to pediatric surgery division chiefs in Canada each year (2013-2017). The survey data included: number of practicing pediatric surgeons, full time equivalent (FTE) positions, and fellowship graduates., Results: There was a 100% response rate (18 divisions). From 2013 to 2017, the number of practicing pediatric surgeons and FTE positions increased (73 to 78, and 64.6 to 67.5, respectively). Eleven positions were vacated (4 retirement, 7 new practice), and 18 were filled. Eight were filled by new Canadian graduates, 7 by Canadians previously working in Canada or abroad, and 3 by European surgeons. Thirty-eight fellows completed training in Canada, including 24 non-Canadians who all left Canada. Nine Canadians who started practicing immediately after fellowship took positions in Canada (5) and the US (4)., Conclusions: Predictions made in 2014 were largely accurate. There has been modest growth in the Canadian pediatric surgery workforce over the last 5 years. A significant mismatch continues to exist between Canadian pediatric surgery graduates and attending staff positions., Type of Study: Survey., Level of Evidence: V., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive pediatric surgery has increased in breadth and complexity over the past several decades, with little data on minimally invasive surgery (MIS) training in US and Canadian pediatric surgery fellowship programs., Methods: We performed a time series analysis of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education pediatric surgery fellow case logs from 2003 to 2016. Proportions of cases performed in an MIS fashion as well as per-fellow MIS case averages were recorded over time., Results: There was a 30.9% increase in average number of MIS cases per fellow over the study time period. Twenty-three recorded procedures included MIS and open options (17 abdominal, three thoracic, and three genitourinary). The proportion of cases performed using a minimally invasive approach increased by an average of 29.0%, 14.6%, and 47.0% for each of these categories, respectively. Significant variability was observed in specific cases such as laparoscopic and open inguinal hernias, ranging from 0 to 85 and nine to 152 per trainee, respectively, in the final year of data collection. When examining pyloromyotomy, a high-volume procedure with a known increase in the MIS approach, the proportion of cases performed MIS increased by 83.3%. The minimum and maximum number of cases per fellow recorded ranged from 0 to 114 during the eight years in which MIS pyloromyotomy was recorded., Conclusions: MIS case exposure among graduating US and Canadian pediatric survey fellows increased substantially during the study period. More granular data, however, are needed to better define the current operative experience and criteria for determination of competency in advanced MIS., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None.

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Background: The ACGME requires general surgery residents (GSR) to perform 20 pediatric surgery cases as part of the total 750 cases before graduation., Study Design: We queried the ACGME General Surgery (1999 to 2014) and Pediatric Surgery (2003 to 2014) Case Logs for all pediatric operations performed during training. Means (±SD) and medians (10(th):90(th) percentiles) were compared, and R(2) was calculated for all trends., Results: The number of pediatric surgery fellows (PSF) increased 63% (23 to 39; R(2) = 0.82), while GSR numbers increased 12% (989 to 1,105; R(2) = 0.77). Total and average pediatric surgery case volume for GSR decreased from 39,309 to 32,156 (R(2) = 0.90) and 39.7 ± 13 to 29.1 ± 10 (R(2) = 0.91), respectively. Meanwhile, average PSF case volume increased from 980 ± 208 to 1,137 ± 202 (R(2) = 0.83). These trends persisted for inguinal/umbilical hernia (GSR 22.1 ± 13 to 15.6 ± 10; R(2) = 0.93; PSF 90.5 ± 17.6 to 104.4 ± 20.7; R(2) = 0.34), pyloric stenosis (GSR 3.9 ± 3 to 2.8 ± 3; R(2) = 0.60; PSF 29.6 ± 15 to 39.7 ± 16.8; R(2) = 0.69), and intestinal atresia (GSR 1.3 ± 2 to 1.1 ± 2; R(2) = 0.34; PSF 4.3 ± 4 to 11.8 ± 8; R(2) = 0.21). The mean number of GSR pediatric operations diminished for both junior (37.1 ± 20 to 27.3 ± 16; R(2) = 0.88) and chief (2.6 ± 5 to 1.7 ± 5; R(2) = 0.75) years. Teaching cases in pediatric surgery decreased at all levels. Although the percentage of GSR teaching cases performed during chief years fell modestly (6.6% to 4.7%; R(2) = 0.53), median teaching cases dropped from 2 (0:11 [10(th):90(th) percentiles]) to zero (0:0 [10(th):90(th) percentiles]). Mean PSF teaching cases declined (100.7 ± 396 to 44.5 ± 42; R(2) = 0.72), while the percentage of operations that were teaching cases decreased more sharply (10.3% to 3.5%; R(2) = 0.82)., Conclusions: Total pediatric surgery cases and PSF operative volume have increased, while GSR operative volume has decreased. Opportunities may exist to increase resident participation while providing further teaching opportunities for GSR, improving the quality of both resident and fellow training., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of this study is an analysis of the changing authorship patterns and publishing habits encountered in papers published in the European Journal of Pediatric Surgery (EJPS) over the past 10 years. Furthermore, it seeks to anticipate the trends in the years ahead., Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of articles published in the EJPS during a 10-year period (January 1, 2003-December 31, 2012). Each article was classified as an Original Report/Original Article (OR/OA) or as a Case Report/Case Gallery (CR/CG), and they were analyzed separately. For investigation of the percentage distribution of publications according to the number of authors per articles, papers were combined and into three groups (1-2, 3-5, and 6 ≤ authors). The analysis focused on whether the work was done by members of one institution, or in collaboration with other units of the same institution, or in collaboration with other national or multinational institutes., Results: In the past 10 years, the EJPS published 996 articles (616 ORs/OAs, 380 CRs/CGs). The one and two authored publications (125) have not decreased, the three to five authored articles (552) changed minimally, whereas the number of 6 ≤ authored publications (319) has increased. Of 996 publications, 348 were from single institutes and 648 were written in collaboration with two or more other institutes. In addition, in this 10-year period, the number of multinational articles has increased significantly from 24 to 59., Conclusion: Increase in cooperation within and between institutions is a positive trend, aiming with the goal of improving quality of publications., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Aims of the Study: We hypothesized that there has been an increase in the number of successful litigation claims in pediatric surgery in England. Our aim was to report the incidence, causes, and costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service (NHS) in relation to pediatric surgery., Materials and Methods: We queried the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) on litigation claims among children undergoing pediatric surgery in England (2004-2012). We decided a priori to only examine closed cases (decision and payment made). Data included year of claim, year of payment of claim, payment per claim, paid-to-closed ratio, and severity of outcome of clinical incident., Results: Out of 112 clinical negligence claims in pediatric surgery, 93 (83%) were finalized-73 (65%) were settled and damages paid to the claimant and 20 (18%) were closed with no payment, and 19 (17%) remain open. The median payment was £13,537 (600-500,000) and median total cost borne by NHSLA was £31,445 (600-730,202). Claims were lodged at a median interval of 2 (0-13) years from time of occurrence with 55 (75%) cases being settled within the 3 years of being received. The commonest reasons for claims were postoperative complications (n=20, 28%), delayed treatment (n=16, 22%), and/or diagnosis (n=14, 19%). Out of 73, 17 (23%) closed claims resulted in case fatality. Conclusion: Two-thirds of all claims in pediatric surgery resulted in payment to claimant, and the commonest reasons for claims were postoperative complications, delayed treatment, and/or diagnosis. Nearly a quarter of successful claims were in cases where negligence resulted in case fatality. Pediatric surgeons should be aware of common diagnostic and treatment shortfalls as high-risk areas of increased susceptibility to clinical negligence claims., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Paediatric surgeons remain paediatric clinicians who have the unique skill set to treat children with surgical problems that may require operative intervention. Many of the advances in paediatric surgical care have occurred outside the operating theatre and have involved significant input from medical, nursing and allied health colleagues. The establishment of neonatal intensive care units, especially those focusing on the care of surgical infants, has greatly enhanced the survival rates and long-term outcomes of those infants with major congenital anomalies requiring surgical repair. Educational initiatives such as the advanced trauma life support and emergency management of severe burns courses have facilitated improved understanding and clinical care. Paediatric surgeons have led with the non-operative management of solid organ injury following blunt abdominal trauma. Nano-crystalline burn wound dressings have enabled a reduced frequency of painful dressing changes in addition to effective antimicrobial efficacy and enhanced burn wound healing. Burns care has evolved so that many children may now be treated almost exclusively in an ambulatory care setting or as day case-only patients, with novel technologies allowing accurate prediction of burn would outcome and planning of elective operative intervention to achieve burn wound closure., (© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2013 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)

Background: There is significant lack of information regarding the Canadian pediatric surgery workforce., Methods: An IRB-approved survey aimed at assessing workforce issues was administered to pediatric surgeons and pediatric surgery chiefs in Canada in 2012., Results: The survey was completed by 98% of practicing surgeons and 13 of the 18 division chiefs. Only 6% of surgeons are older than 60 years, and only a fifth anticipate retirement over the next decade. The workforce is stable, with 82% of surgeons unlikely to change current positions. Surgical volume showed essentially no growth during the 5-year period 2006-2010. The majority of surgeons felt they were performing the right number or too few cases and anticipated minimal or no future growth in their individual practices or that of their group. Based on anticipated vacancies, the best estimate is a need for 20 new pediatric surgeons over the next decade. This need is significantly surpassed by the current output from the Canadian training programs., Conclusions: The Canadian pediatric surgery workforce is currently saturated. The mismatch between the number of graduating trainees and the available positions over the next decade has significant repercussions for current surgery and pediatric surgery residents wishing to practice in Canada., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Little data exists on temporal changes in the care of children with common surgical conditions. We hypothesized that an increasing proportion of procedures are performed at pediatric hospitals over time, and that outcomes are superior at these centers., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Washington State discharge records for children 0-17years old undergoing appendectomy (n=39,472) or pyloromyotomy (n=3,500). Pediatric hospitals were defined as centers with full-time pediatric surgeons. Outcomes were examined for two time periods (1987-2000, 2001-2009)., Results: From 1987 to 2009, the proportion of procedures performed at pediatric hospitals steadily increased. The percentage for appendectomies increased from 17% to 32%, and that for pyloromyotomies increased from 57% to 99%. For pyloromyotomy, care at a pediatric hospital was associated with decreased risk of postoperative complications (OR=0.36, p<0.001) for both time periods. Appendectomy outcomes did not differ significantly in the early time period, but in the later time period specialist care was associated with lower risk of complications in children <5years (OR=0.54, p=0.03)., Conclusion: There has been a shift towards pediatric hospitals for certain procedures, with a widening disparity in outcomes for younger children. These results suggest that procedures in younger patients may best be performed by providers familiar with these patient populations., (© 2014.)

Pediatric surgery focuses not on an anatomic region or organ system, but on the development of a growing human being according to age. Recently, a tendency to reduce and to downgrade pediatric surgery could be observed which is due to economic reasons and an alarming lack of trained surgeons. Just as 60 years ago, general surgeons continue to operate on infants and children. However, this is a step backwards and an anachronism. Children are not small adults and pediatric surgery can be distinguished from adult surgery in many aspects, such as the spectrum of surgical diseases, the congenital malformations and frequently the indications and techniques of surgery. Pediatric surgeons, however, by themselves should specialize in centers which are focused on rare and complex diseases. Pediatric surgery should not be separated in the hospital, but integrated in a network with general surgery, traumatology, pediatrics, neonatology and specialists of the other surgical disciplines. Strict patient age limitations are not compatible with the individuality of adolescents and should be avoided. A well-equipped clinic for pediatric surgery is expensive, but a mandatory investment in the future!

Laparoscopy is considered today the highlight of modern surgery, the forerunner of the fascinating world of video and robotic surgery, both of them derived from the sophisticated areas of aeronautic industry. Remarkably, Romanian specialists keep up with the pace of worldwide technological developments, assimilating one by one each and every video endoscopic procedure. In the early 90s, the Romanian laparos-copic school was founded with the contribution of many important personalities; their activities and achievements have been an inspiration for the following generation of laparoscopic surgeons. In this last decade, the newest branch of laparoscopic surgery in our country, pediatric laparoscopy, managed to evolve from its "shy" beginnings to become an important method of improving the quality of surgical procedures, to the benefit of our "small patients". The purpose of this article is to encourage and promote minimally invasive video endoscopic surgery training, emphasizing its crucial role in the education and professional development of the next generation of pediatric surgeons, and not only. The modem concept of laparoscopic training includes experimental scientific practices, as well as the newest technical acquisitions such as virtual reality video-electronic simulation.