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Introduction: Pediatric patients with complex colorectal and genitourinary conditions often require coordinated multidisciplinary care; however, this coordinated care can be hard to structure and deliver. The purpose of this paper is to review the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary colorectal and pelvic health program, one year after the program's initiation., Methods: This is an observational retrospective 1-year study (10/1/2017 to 9/30/2018). In fiscal year (FY) 2018, a multidisciplinary colorectal and pelvic health program was initiated. The program development incorporated bimonthly team meetings, educational conferences, and initiation of three clinics: a complex colorectal and genitourinary reconstruction clinic, a bowel management clinic, and a colonic motility clinic. Conditions treated included complex anorectal and cloacal malformations, Hirschsprung disease, and idiopathic constipation. The fiscal year was selected to provide comparative administrative data after program implementation., Results: During the study period, 121 patients underwent comprehensive collaborative evaluation of which 58 (47%) were new to the institution compared to 12 (19%) new patients in the previous year (p < 0.001). In FY 2018, there were 130 procedures performed and 512 collaborative visits with an average of 47 visits per month. This was a 3.4-fold increase in visits compared to FY2017 (171 visits). Of the new patients, 60% (35/58), traveled a median of 181 miles, representing 33 statewide counties, and 4 states compared to a median of 93 miles in the previous fiscal year (p = 0.004)., Conclusion: The development of a colorectal and pelvic health program is feasible and requires a collaborative approach, necessitating multiple service lines within an institution. Program creation and implementation can result in rapid institutional clinical growth by filling a local and regional need through coordinated multidisciplinary care., Level of Evidence: IV., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastrostomy tube (GT) placement is a frequent procedure at a tertiary care children's hospital. Because of underlying patient illness and the nature of the device, patients often require multiple visits to the emergency room for GT-related concerns. We hypothesized that the majority of our patient visits to the ER related to gastrostomy tube concerns were not medically urgent. The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence and indications for GT-related emergency room visits and readmission rates in order to develop family educational material that might allow for these nonurgent concerns to be addressed on an outpatient basis., Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with GT placement in the operating room from January 2011 to September 2012. We evaluated our primary outcome of ER visits at less than 30 days after discharge and 30-365 days after discharge. The purpose of the ER visit was categorized as either mechanical (dislodgement, leaking) or wound-related (infection, granulation tissue). Additional outcomes assessed included readmission rates, reoperation rates, and the use of gastrostomy contrast studies., Results: During the study period, 247 patients had gastrostomy tubes placed at our institution at a median age of 15.3 months (range 0.03 months-22 years). Of the total patient population, 219 were discharged less than 30 days after their operation (89%). Of these, 42 (20%) returned to the emergency room a total of 44 times within 30 days of discharge for concerns related to their GT. Avoidable visits related to leaking, mild clogs, and granulation tissue were seen in 17/44 (39%). An additional 40 patients among the entire cohort of 247 (16%) presented to the ER a total of 71 times 31-365 days post-discharge; 59 (83%) of these visits were potentially avoidable. The readmission rate related to the GT was low (4%)., Conclusions: Few studies have attempted to quantify the amount of postoperative resources utilized post-GT placement in children. Our findings indicated this is not an insignificant quantity. In response to these findings, we have developed a series of educational materials and identified a dedicated nurse to perform inpatient gastrostomy education to these patients prior to discharge., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Individuals with bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) need long-term integrated medical/surgical and psychosocial care. These individuals are at risk for medical and surgical complications and experience social and psychological obstacles related to their genitourinary anomaly. This care needs to be accessible, comprehensive, and coordinated. Multiple surgical interventions, reoccurring hospitalizations, urinary and fecal incontinence, extensive treatment regimens for continent diversions, genital differences, and sexual health implications affect the quality of life for the EEC patient. Interventions must include psychosocial support, medical literacy initiatives, behavioral health services, school and educational consultation, peer-to-peer opportunities, referrals to disease-specific camps, mitigation of adverse childhood events (ACEs), formal transition of care to adult providers, family and teen advisory opportunities, and clinical care coordination. The priority of long-term kidney health will necessitate strong collaboration among urology and nephrology teams. Given the rarity of these conditions, multi-center and global efforts are paramount in the trajectory of improving care for the EEC population. To achieve the highest standards of care and ensure that individuals with EEC can thrive in their environment, multidisciplinary and integrated medical/surgical and psychosocial services are imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pediatric colorectal conditions require complex medical care and can require lifelong support. Caregivers often seek medical information on the internet. The aim of this study was to characterize the use of three social media platforms for information sharing about pediatric colorectal conditions. Methods: A systematic study of Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter was performed using standardized search terms. Accounts with activity within the last year were included. Quantitative data were collected. Accounts were qualitatively assessed and assigned a functional category. Group differences were tested via Kruskal–Wallis test and Fisher's exact tests for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Results: A total of 96 Instagram accounts, 57 Twitter accounts, 49 Facebook pages, and 45 Facebook groups were identified. Accounts originated from 24 countries and the greatest number of accounts was created in 2013. The most common source of information on Instagram was from personal accounts (74.0%), on Facebook was from support groups (45.7%), and on Twitter was from health care providers (35.1%), (p < 0.001). The most common functional categories on Instagram were personal story (69.8%), on Twitter were scientific information/medical research (57.9%), and on Facebook were supportive/story sharing (47.8%), (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Social media serves as a source for medical information and allows for supportive communities for pediatric colorectal patients and their families to exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Traditional methods for securing a laparoscopic gastrostomy (LG) involve the placement of two monofilament transabdominal (TA) sutures to be removed after a short interval of 5 days. A modified technique employing an absorbable suture tunneled subcutaneously has been adopted by many surgeons. The aim of this study was to compare wound complications between these techniques.Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent LG placement between 2010 and 2016 was conducted, dividing patients into two cohorts by securing stitch type, TA and subcutaneous (SC), and evaluating for complications.Results: A total of 740 children underwent laparoscopic gastrostomy tube (GT) placement, of whom 554 (75%) patients had a TA stitch and the remaining 186 (25%) had a SC stitch. Demographic data were comparable in both groups. The most common wound complication was granulation tissue (22%), dislodgement (19%), external drainage (16%), cellulitis (10%), erosion (3%), and abscess formation (2%). Seven patients required operative revision for dislodgement; TA patients comprised the majority of these patients. Operative times were significantly longer in the SC group (22 minutes versus 28 minutes, P < .05). Rates of granulation, erosion, external and internal leakage, and dislodgement were equivalent between cohorts. There were higher rates of cellulitis (7.3% versus 19%, P < .05) and abscess (0.8% versus 7.6%, P < .05) noted in the SC group. Time to external leakage was significantly earlier in the SC group (P < .05); however, all other complications occurred at comparable times following initial operation. Persistent gastrocutaneous fistula requiring surgical closure occurred at equal rates with no difference in times to closure from GT discontinuation in both groups.Conclusion: While both techniques are feasible, there was a significant increase in infectious complications and operative times observed in the SC stitch patients, suggesting this may not be the optimal securing method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]