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Results of a national retrospective survey on Hyalomatrix PA in burn patients are reported.A total of 11 burn centers were contacted.A total of 57 patients were available. Hyalomatrix PA was used on young and adult patients, mainly in deep partial thickness and full thickness burns. In most cases, Hyalomatrix PA was applied immediately after the wound cleaning (wound debridement or escharectomy for adults, dermabrasion or debridement in young patients). After 7 days, reepithelization processes were more frequent in deep partial thickness burns. One-half of the patient population underwent grafting. After 29 days, complete closure was achieved in almost all patients. The Vancouver Scar Scale showed better values for adults, while no differences were observed for burn depth or patients undergoing grafting. No adverse reactions were recorded.Hyalomatrix PA is used in young and adults, in deep partial thickness and full thickness burns, as a temporary coverage before grafting or alone for wound healing.

The authors present a case of pyloric and duodenal obstruction in an 8-year-old child, resulting from accidental ingestion of sulfuric acid. A marked pyloric and duodenal cicatrizing stenosis resulting from ingestion of sulfuric acid is seen infrequently, especially in pediatric age. Sulfuric acid produces a coagulation necrosis of the gastric mucosa and submucosa, and the process may involve the entire thickness of the gastric wall, with subsequent ulceration and fibrosis. This dynamic pathophysiologic event imposes postponement of surgical intervention because of various time length between ingestion of acid and onset of gastric outlet obstruction (17 days to 5 years). Clinical features included postprandial epigastric distress, repeated non-bilious vomiting, and marked weight loss. The authors also discuss the various surgical procedures that were employed to relieve the obstruction. Notwithstanding a potential risk of malignant evolution, a gastro-jejunostomy is the treatment of choice because of the age of the patient, and good postoperative results are confirmed by barium studies.

A retrospective study was performed over the children admitted to three regional pediatric burn units, over a 5-year period (1986-1990). Out of 695 pediatric patients, 270 (38.8%) were admitted with burns of the head and neck. This whole childhood age group (up to 14 years of age) was examined epidemiologically. The age group presenting the highest incidence was within 0-3 years (71%); scalds were involved in high percentage (68%) and many injuries occurred at home (93%). Epidemiological aspects of the report are discussed with particular consideration of preventive programs.

A general account of questions relating to neuroblastoma is followed by the presentation of 53 personal cases observed between 1955 and 1974. Appraisal of the salient data offers information relating to prognosis and treatment in line with the more extensive series presented in the U.S. literature and elsewhere. Cases diagnosed and treated in the first year of life have a distinctly encouraging prognosis. It is felt that accurate clinical, radiological and laboratory screening should be relied upon in individual cases to decide whether or not surgical management is indicated, whereas the high rate of intra- and post-operative mortality would seem to militate against the resort to desperate attempts to achieve total extirpation, accompanied by damage to essential structures, especially since the pratical results achieved are no more than comparable with those offered by conservative surgery. It is hoped that a strip test suitable for use in routine practice will be evolved, bearing in mind the peculiar features of neuroblastomas.

The authors report a case of a primary torsion of the omentum in an eleven-year old child who had been operated with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. They take the opportunity to re-examine this idiopathic lesion with a review of world literature and case reports and they discuss the etiology, pathogenesis and pathology. The importance for the surgeon to inspect the omentum in all the so-called "negative" acute abdomen is enhanced.

Lateral labial cleft is exceptionally rare. This malformation gives the opportunity to evaluate its origin (following the embryology of facial segments) and its association with other deformities. Surgical treatment must reconstruct an anatomic and functional situation which must give a good aestetic result.