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Background: Although ultrasound is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of children with suspected appendicitis, there is still much debate about the most accurate ultrasound findings. The purpose of this study was to define the best ultrasound signs that could ultimately improve the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis, and to differentiate between simple appendicitis and complicated appendicitis. Patients and Methods: After approval by our Institutional Review Board, a prospective study was carried out from January 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, in a pediatric emergency department. We included all patients aged under 14 years with suspected appendicitis and ultrasound-visualized appendix. Results: A total of 550 patients presented with suspected appendicitis during the study period. Of these children, 411 had an ultrasound-visualized appendix. Our patients' mean age was 9.4 years. The best positive predictive value of ultrasound was found for appendiceal diameter ≥7.5 mm. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound rules out the diagnosis of appendicitis. The best diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, which was 92%, was achieved for appendix diameters ≥6.5 mm. The sonographic sign giving the best ultrasound accuracy for diagnosing complicated appendicitis was an appendix diameter ≥9 mm. Conclusions: In conclusion, our present study demonstrated that appendiceal diameter ≥6.5 mm is the gold standard for diagnosing appendicitis in pediatric patients. The combination of an appendiceal diameter <6 mm and the lack of peri-appendiceal free fluid on ultrasound would rule out appendicitis.

Purpose: To identify the risk factors for adverse outcomes after pediatric pyeloplasty., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all children under the age of 14 years who underwent primary pyeloplasty for unilateral ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction at a single teaching hospital in Tunisia between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022., Results: A total of 103 patients were included. Median age of patients at surgery was 27 months (interquartile range [IQR], 13-44). On ultrasound, median renal pelvic anteroposterior diameter was 3.2 cm (IQR, 2.3-4), and the median renal cortex thickness (RCT) was 2.5 mm (IQR, 2-3.5). Median differential renal function (DRF) on preoperative radionuclide renal scan was 40% (IQR, 30-46). Postoperative adverse outcomes occurred in 28 patients (27.2%). These included 19 cases of urinary tract infections (UTIs), 11 cases of UPJ restenosis, four cases of UPJ leakage, two cases of urinoma, and two cases of diversion-related complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed two factors significantly and independently related to postoperative negative outcomes: RCT <3 mm and DRF > 50%., Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that preoperative RCT on ultrasound of less than 3 mm and preoperative DRF on radionuclide renal scan of more than 50% were independent risk factors for adverse outcomes following pediatric pyeloplasty. These factors could be of interest in identifying, early on, patients who will develop postoperative negative outcomes, giving them more attention and support, and explaining the prognosis to the patient and family., (© 2023 The Japanese Urological Association.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a life-threatening congenital malformation of the esophagus. Despite considerable recent advances in perinatal resuscitation and neonatal care, EA remains an important cause of mortality and morbidity, especially in low-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for adverse outcomes following surgical repair of EA at a single center in Tunisia. We performed a retrospective analysis using medical records of neonates with surgical management of EA at our institution from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2021. In total, 88 neonates were included with a mortality rate of 25%. There were 29 girls and 59 boys. The diagnosis of EA was suspected prenatally in 19 patients. The most common associated anomalies were congenital heart diseases. Prematurity, low birth weight, outborn birth, age at admission >12 hours, congenital heart disease, postoperative sepsis, and anastomotic leak were risk factors for mortality following surgical repair of EA. Anastomotic tension was the only factor associated with short-term complications and the occurrence of short-term complications was predictive of mid-term complications. This study provides physicians and families with contemporary information regarding risk factors for adverse outcomes following surgical repair of EA. Thus, any effort to reduce these risk factors would be critical to improving patient outcomes and reducing cost. Future multi-institutional studies are needed to identify, investigate, and establish best practices and clinical care guidelines for neonates with EA., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) are rare borderline tumors with a variable histological appearance that may mimic multiple mesenchymal tumors. We present a rare case of a challenging abdominal mass discovered in a premature newborn. The histopathology showed a bland myofibroblastic proliferation associated with an inflammatory infiltrate that was positive for smooth muscle actin and desmin but negative for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein. The diagnosis of an ALK-negative IMT was established. The tumor was partially resected. After six months of follow-up, the residual tumor remained stable, and the patient was asymptomatic. The correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment of ALK-negative IMT require appropriate histopathological, immunohistochemical, and sometimes genetic examination. Further research has to be conducted to help clinicians make an appropriate treatment plan.

Competing Interests: Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ovarian adrenal rest tumors (OART) are tumors that develop in females with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). In contrast to their counterpart in testicles, they are exceptional and few cases have been reported in the literature. In this report, we present clinicopathological findings of a female patient with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency who was incidentally diagnosed with OART with a review of the literature. The 14-year-old patient, who was raised as a boy, developed a virilizing syndrome with high testosterone levels that were attributed to non adherence to her replacement corticosteroid therapy. She consulted for sex reassignment surgery. Pelvic ultrasound was normal. She underwent hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy. No abnormalities were noticed during the operation. Grossly, both ovaries were variegated with well circumscribed and lobulated, brownish-yellow nodules. Histologically, the nodules were composed of nests of large polygonal cells with centrally located nuclei and prominent nucleoli. There was mild atypia and no crystals of Reinke. Thus, the findings of the histopathological examination were consistent with bilateral OART. Histological differential diagnosis of OART can be challenging particularly with leydig cell tumor, stromal luteoma and steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified. OART must be considered in women with CAH and persistent virilizing symptoms despite negative imaging results.

Background: Research concerning factors of death after neonatal surgery is scarce. Insight into mortality might improve perioperative care. This study aimed to identify predictive factors of mortality after neonatal surgery in a low income country (LIC)., Methods: Charts of all newborn patients who underwent surgical procedures under general anesthesia during the neonatal period in our department of pediatric surgery between January 2010 and December 2017 were reviewed. We used univariate and multivariate analysis to evaluate perioperative variables potentially predictive of early postoperative mortality., Results: One hundred eighty-two cases were included in the study: 41 newborns (28.6%) were premature (<37 weeks of gestation) and 52 (22.5%) weighed less than 2.5 kg. The most commonly diagnosed conditions were esophageal atresia (24%) and bowel obstruction (19%). Forty-four patients (24%) died during hospitalization. The highest rate of mortality was observed for congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Univariate analysis showed that perinatal predictive variables of mortality were prematurity, low birth weight, the necessity of preoperative intubation, and duration of surgery more than 2 h. Logistic regression showed three independent risk factors, which are the duration of surgery, low birth weight and the necessity of preoperative intubation., Conclusion: The overall mortality in infants undergoing neonatal surgery is still high in LICs. Knowledge of independent risk factors of early mortality may help clinicians to more adequately manage the high-risk population., Type of the Study: Clinical research paper., Level of Evidence: III., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to assess the place of prebiotics in the management of neonatal inguinal hernia. Boys with a diagnosis of unilateral non-complicated inguinal hernia, aged less than 40 days, were prospectively followed from January 2012 to December 2014. Clinical and psychiatric data and outcomes were collected before and after prebiotics (Primalac AC) administration. Ninety-eight patients were included. There were 75 inguinal hernias and 23 inguino-scrotal hernias. Before prebiotics administration 72.2% of infants had abdominal distention and 98% had colic. After prebiotics, abdominal distention and colic regressed in 85.2% and 73.2% of patients, respectively. Hernias disappeared clinically in 66.3% of cases. The factors associated with the disappearance of hernias were the type of the hernia (p<0.001), colic (p<0.001), and abdominal distention (p<0.001). Prebiotics would be a new adjunct in the management of neonatal inguinal hernia. They decrease colic and abdominal distention, which seems helpful to prevent strangulation and probably get spontaneous resolution of small hernias.

Purpose: To evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) level and ultrasound (US) results on admission could aid the diagnostic accuracy of Alvarado score., Methods: A prospective study was performed on children <14 years admitted for suspected acute appendicitis. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the Alvarado score: group I: score 7-10, group II: score 5-6, group III: score 0-4., Results: The difference between predictive values of Alvarado score alone and Alvarado score with CRP was not statically significant. The PPV increased from 74.29% (Alvarado score and CRP) to 93.75% (Alvarado score and US) in group 1 (P = .001) and the NPV increased from 64.86 and 79.69% (Alvarado score and CRP) to 82.6 and 88.2% (Alvarado score and US) in group 2 (P = .01) and group 3 (P = .001), respectively., Conclusions: Alvarado score and ultrasound taken together improve the predictive value of diagnosing acute appendicitis in children., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the single scrotal-incision orchidopexy (SSIO) technique in patients with an undescended testis palpable in the inguinal canal or below the external inguinal ring., Patients and Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2013 we performed 100 SSIOs in 89 patients. The mean (range) follow-up was 9 (3-36) months., Results: In 88 testes the SSIO was performed with no difficulties. In four patients an additional dissection by opening the external ring and canal was necessary; none of these patients developed an inguinal hernia after surgery. In eight patients conversion to an inguinal approach was necessary because of difficulty in controlling the hernial sacs and inadequate mobilisation. At the follow-up assessment, of the 89 patients, none developed testicular atrophy, one (1%) had wound dehiscence and four (5%) had a scrotal haematoma. There was no statistically significant difference between the testicular size at baseline and that during the follow-up. At 3 months after surgery the overall cosmetic result was excellent., Conclusion: The SSIO is minimal-access surgery allowing less dissection, less discomfort for the patient, rapid healing, excellent cosmetic results and a good success rate. This technique is safe and effective for undescended testes palpable in the inguinal canal or below the external inguinal ring.

Purpose: This study was done to identify risk factors for metachronous manifestation of contralateral inguinal hernia in children with unilateral inguinal hernia., Methods: This is a retrospective study of 565 patients with inguinal hernia during a nine-year period at a single institution. Age, sex, and side of the hernia at presentation were recorded. The incidence of metachronous inguinal hernia and its risk factors were analyzed., Results: Of 565 children, 62 (11%) were presented with synchronous bilateral hernias. Of the remaining 503, a metachronous contralateral hernia developed in 22 (4.4%). The age at hernia repair of the patients with contralateral manifestation (18 ± 3.67 months; mean ± SD), was significantly younger than observed in the control patients (34 ± 1.34 months; p = 0.000). There was no significant difference between the groups in other factors such as the age at hernia presentation, the initial side of the hernia, birth weight. and the percentage of patients who had experienced incarceration., Conclusion: We believe that the incidence is still too low to recommend routine contralateral exploration. Therefore, infants younger than 18 months appear to be a higher-risk subpopulation and should receive closer follow-up over this time period.