Search

BACKGROUND Hypospadias repair is a challenging type of urogenital reconstructive surgery for which different techniques are currently used. The purpose of this study is to determine the outcomes of distal, mid-shaft and proximal hypospadias repair using two new variations of tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty (TIP-δ and TIP-ελ) and to compare their complication rates with other already known operative techniques made from the same surgical team. METHODS This study included 269 boys with hypospadias. The preoperative meatal site was distal in 179 patients, mid-shaft in 44 and proximal in 46. The average age at the operation was 17 months. The technique applied in distal hypospadias was Mathieu in 77 patients, Snodgrass in 28 and (TIP)-δ in 74. The technique applied in mid-shaft hypospadias was a tubularized island flap (TIF) in 12 patients, onlay island flap (OIF) in 5 and TIP-ελ in 27. The operative technique for proximal hypospadias was TIF in 15 patients, OIF in 10 and TIP-ελ in 21. TIP-δ and TIP-ελ are two new variants of TIP operation that we have used in our clinic since 2010. Postoperative complications were recorded, and we compared the outcomes obtained by applying the techniques. RESULTS The use of TIP-δ in the distal hypospadias and long TIP-ελ in the mid-shaft and proximal hypospadias resulted in significantly fewer complications than the other surgical methods across all cases of hypospadias (p

Background From January 2020, coronavirus has caused more than three million deaths. Lockdown has been enforced in many countries worldwide, affecting the emergency department visits of many surgical specialties. Methods The purpose of this study was to present the difference in trends in pediatric emergency department visits from March 1 to May 30, 2020, compared to the same 3-month period in 2019 in a tertiary university hospital in Greece, which was one of the referral centers for COVID-19 patients. Results A 42.5% reduction in emergency department visits was observed. In 2020, only 196 patients visited the pediatric surgery emergency department, versus 341 patients in 2019 (p

Aim: The aim of our study is to evaluate the diagnostic ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in pediatric population with history of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). Materials and Methods: In an eight-year period (1/2012-1/2020) fifty-nine children (4-14 years old) were transferred to Emergency Department with referred BAT. The initial imaging method was ultrasound scan (US). Thirty-two children were discharged in good condition 24/hours after their admission. The rest 27 with moderate to severe injuries and according to their laboratory tests and US results, were evaluated with CEUS and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT).Results: Five children were confirmed with splenic injury, two with liver lacerations, one with liver lacerations and right kidney contusion, while in nineteen, no visceral pathology was found by US, CEUS and CECT. The CEUS and CECT were in complete agreement. In contrary, unenhanced-US showed in eleven children free peritoneal fluid and in two possible parenchymal lesions. In two of the patients with negative US-study splenic contusions in CECT and CEUS were revealed. The CEUS study was also used as follow-up method. No adverse reactions were observed from CEUS contrast agent in all patients (27) follow-up in 1-week and in 6-months period. Furthermore, in 27 patients no adverse reactions were observed from CEUS contrast agent in a 1-year period. Conclusion: CEUS is effective, easily performed, low cost and radiation free, imaging method. It is ideal both for initial and follow up evaluation of trauma and thus we encourage the usage of the method in paediatric BAT cases.

In this case, it is described the importance of ultrasound in children with sliding ovaries in inguinal hernias. If the child has no symptoms, an emergency ultrasound could suggest the manner of the operation, scheduled or emergency.

BACKGROUND The internet is a valuable tool for access to health-related information. There is limited literature regarding its use by parents of children with surgical conditions. AIM To investigate internet usage by parents seeking information about the surgical conditions of their offspring in relation to epidemiological factors such as family residential area and parental educational level and to subsequently review the literature regarding this topic. METHODS An anonymous questionnaire about internet usage was completed by eligible parents of children who were admitted to our clinic for minor surgical procedures during a six-month period. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that the internet has been mostly used by mothers for children’s health information. Google was the most commonly used search engine, while pediatricians were the first parental choice for ‘live’ information. Only one-quarter of the parents informed their doctor about the information found online. Nine of ten parents had a positive opinion of an official website managed by the doctors of our clinic. Our results mostly agreed with the international literature. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the establishment of official websites (designed and managed by specialists) that parents can access to receive appropriate health information is mandatory in the internet era.

A case of a 2-month-old boy with constipation and a localized abdominal distension in the right abdomen and hypogastrium is presented. Plain radiograph, ultrasound exam as well as a barium enema were suggestive of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) (ultrashort segment disease). Nevertheless, rectal suction biopsy was negative for neuronal abnormalities and unexpectedly on plain radiograph vertebral abnormalities were noticed. Subsequently magnetic resonance imaging of the spine and abdomen was performed, to evaluate possible spinal cord lesions and potential abnormalities of the perineal region musculature. A syringe throughout medullary cone was noted. The well-known issue, that the diagnosis of HD does not depend on the imaging (radiological) findings, was confirmed. The step-bystep diagnostic approach from the initial thought of ultrashort segment HD to the later imaging-based diagnosis of syringomyelia is discussed in this present paper.

A case of a 42-year-old female patient with a two-days diffuse colicky abdominal pain, nausea and three episodes of vomiting is presented. Furthermore, patient complained for inability to eat for almost a week. In addition, patient had a history of subtotal gastrectomy Billroth II-type, due to gastric ulcer six years ago. There were no other known co-morbidities. Except for a distended, somewhat painful abdomen and sluggish bowel sounds, the rest clinical examination was unremarkable. Plain abdominal X-ray and ultrasound findings agreed with the clinical suspicion of sub-acute small bowel obstruction probably due to post-operative adhesions. A conservative management was decided. However, the patient after an initial clinical improvement, had a relapse of symptoms with the first feeding attempt. A followed computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a well define, oval, mass-like containing mostly air bubbles lesion, occupying for approximately six centimeters long the jejunum lumen. The diagnosis of jejunal phytobezoar was set. In accordance of computed tomography diagnosis were the intra-operative findings and the post-operative histopathology.

Handlebar hernias are very rare and occur after a blunt abdominal trauma by a bicycle handlebar or a handlebar-shape object. As a result the abdominal wall musculature and fascia are disrupted while the skin is still intact. A good history of the injury and physical examination are usually enough to pose a diagnosis. We report the case of bicycle-handlebar hernia in a 6-year-old boy who presented to our emergency department because of a reducible swelling above the left iliac crest after falling from his bicycle 3 days ago. The patient was treated conservatively with a weekly follow-up. Four weeks later the muscle disruption was healed. In pediatric patient in the absence of internal organ injuries, a handlebar hernia can successfully be managed conservatively.

Background : The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA ploidy and Ki67 expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Methods : This prospective study included 96 patients with stages I–IIIA NSCLC who underwent surgical excision. DNA image analysis cytometry was applied on imprints. Calculation of the DNA index (DI) and the 5c exceeding rate (5cER) was performed and the histograms were classified as peridiploid, peritetraploid, and x-ploid–multiploid. The Ki67 immunoreactivity was determined according to the avidin–biotin complex immunoperoxidase method. Results : DNA histogram classification disclosed 30 peridiploid cases, 15 peritetraploid and 51 x-ploid–multiploid. Forty-eight cases (50%) had 5cER>5%. The Ki67 immunoreactivity was below 25% in 53 tumors (62.4%) and above 25% in 32 (32.6%). Our results revealed the existence of a statistically significant relationship of DNA ploidy with nodal status ( p =0.042) and grade ( p =0.005). Adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas were more frequently encountered in x-ploid–multiploid tumors as compared to squamous cell carcinomas, which were more frequently peridiploid ( p =0.003). 5cER showed statistically significant association with nodal status ( p =0.037). Univariate analysis with respect to survival revealed significant association with stage ( p p p p =0.008) and 5cER ( p =0.0124). Multivariate analysis revealed stage and ploidy status as independent factors: peridiploid tumors were associated with better survival as compared to x-ploid–multiploid tumors ( p =0.022). Conclusion : Our results suggest that DNA ploidy, as determined by image analysis, provides an independent prognostic parameter for patients with NSCLC and thus, could be used to identify a subset of patients with more aggressive tumors.