Outcome after Computer-Assisted (Robotic) Nissen Fundoplication in Children Measured as Pre- and Postoperative Acid Reducing and Asthma Medications Use.

Purpose This study aims to report the clinical outcome of computer-assisted fundoplication (CAF) in children. Methods As our center changed policy to using computer-assisted surgery only, a prospectively studied cohort of 40 children underwent CAF, during the period from January 2006 through May 2013. The collected data include patient demographics and postoperative complications as well as medication, 24-hour pH measurements and DeMeester scores before and after surgery. Results In the studied group, the median percentage of the duration of the 24-hour pH < 4 decreased postoperatively from 11 (range, 5-39) to 1% (range, 0-12) (p < 0.001); the DeMeester score decreased from 40 (range, 17-137) to 5 (range, 1-42) (p < 0.001). All 40 patients required antireflux medication before the fundoplication. This number decreased significantly to 8 (20%) after the fundoplication (p < 0.001). Before the fundoplication, 22 children (55%) were using asthma medication and 12 (30%) after the fundoplication (p = 0.04). Conclusions The CAF significantly reduced the acid reflux from the stomach to the esophagus and the use of antireflux as well as asthma medication during the median observation period of 5 years. The evidence of advantages compared with conventional laparoscopic fundoplication remain to be confirmed

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Minimizing economical losses with the help of “real-time” algal surveillance

Cyanobacterial blooms covering almost the entire Baltic Sea is a yearly feature during July-August. For the tourism industry at Öland island, SE Sweden, the economical losses during the summer 2005 amounted to 17-23 million euros. Remote sensing satellite images show that all the Öland beaches are covered with decomposing algae. In reality, these blooms rarely reach the western side of the island. To more accurately inform the public on the quality of the water for swimming, with the help of volunteers, a daily real-time surveillance of the algal densities on the beaches was performed. The volunteers (from 15 years old to pensioners) were trained at the Linnaeus University, from simple laboratory techniques, to more complicated ones such as identification and enumeration of the toxic cyanobacteria species. By latest 9.00 a.m., the public had access to information on the algal situation on 17 beaches. We could show that: 1) although remote sensing images showed Öland being surrounded by the blooms, our surveillance showed no algal accumulations on the beaches 2) that the real-time warning system boosted public confidence in the local water quality and during the first “Miss Algae”-summer 2006, the economical losses by the tourism industry turned in profits, the gain amounting to 17 million euros, 3) this kind of real-time surveillance is economical feasible due to low-costs involved, but also, the project has a great social value for the volunteers who mostly were pensioners. The volunteers who participated in “Miss Algae” had a good knowledge about the area they monitored (as their houses are located nearby) and could disseminate knowledge to the public in these areas. This kind of project also render a lot of interest regional, national and international, and can be used in advertising campaigns to increase tourism in the areas affected by algal blooms

Clinical Examinations of the Rectoanal Inhibitory Reflex Correlated with Anography Findings, Histopathological Findings, and Clinical Outcomes

The diagnostic method for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) involves rectal biopsy to determine the presence of histopathological findings for aganglionosis. Contrast enema (CE) and anorectal manometry help to support the indication for biopsies. Patients with HD lack a rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) that can be studied using manometry, ultrasound, or a modified contrast enema (CE), which provokes the RAIR with an injection of cold fluid. A question that arises is whether the RAIR also could be visualized with only a specific clinical examination

Development of Frequency of Stools over Time in Children with Hirschsprung Disease Posttransanal Endorectal One-Stage Pull-through.

Background The transanal endorectal one-stage pull-through (TERPT) procedure in children with Hirschsprung disease (HD) is frequently used worldwide. To give the children's families realistic expectations and to plan the medical care for the period after TERPT, the outcome is of great importance. Aim The aim of this article is to collect information on the number of stools passed daily after one-stage TERPT procedure for HD. Patients and Methods A prospective follow-up study for collecting information on the outcome of planned TERPT from 2005 through 2012 was performed. A control group consisting of age and gender matched children was used. Results The results show an initial high frequency of daily stools, median 12 stools/day (range, 3-30 stools/day), reaching an acceptable situation with median 4 stools/day (range, 0-10 stools/day) after 1 year. After 4 years, the number of stools did not differ significantly from healthy controls. Conclusion This study shows that it takes 4 years after TERPT before the number of stools becomes normalized. To compare the long-term outcome, it would be desirable to have uniform regular reports on the daily frequency of passed stools, incontinence, and constipation during the years after TERPT

Self-Reported Effects of Diet on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Healthy Children

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on dietary effects on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in healthy children is lacking. Despite this, dietary advice is still common practice in the treatment of children's GI symptoms. The aim was to investigate self-reported dietary effects on GI symptoms in healthy children. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study on children, a validated self-reporting questionnaire including 90 specified food items was used. Healthy children aged 1-18 years old and their parents were invited to participate. Descriptive data were presented as median (range) and n (%). RESULTS: In total, 265 of 300 children (9 years [1-18]; 52% boys) answered the questionnaire. Overall, 21 of 265 (8%) reported that diet induced GI symptoms regularly. In total, 2 (0-34) food items were reported per child as inducing GI symptoms. The most frequently reported items were beans (24%), plums (21%), and cream (14%). More children with GI symptoms (constipation, abdominal pain, troublesome gases) than with No/Seldom GI symptoms reported that diet could potentially induce GI symptoms (17/77 [22%] vs 4/188 [2%], P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, they adjusted their diet to regulate GI symptoms (16/77 [21%] vs 8/188 [4%], P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Few healthy children reported that diet induced GI symptoms, and only a minority of food items were reported to induce GI symptoms. Children who had already experienced GI symptoms reported that diet impacted on GI symptoms to a greater, but still very limited, extent. Results can be used to determine accurate expectations and goals of dietary treatment of GI symptoms in children

Children with Hirschsprung’s Disease Report Dietary Effects on Gastrointestinal Complaints More Frequently than Controls

Hirschspung’s disease (HD) is a congenital gastrointestinal (GI) disorder frequently accompanied by GI complaints. Despite the lack of evidence regarding whether diet affects GI symptoms, advice on dietary changes is common. The aim was to investigate self-reported dietary effects on GI symptoms, comparing children with HD with healthy children. This was an observational, cross-sectional, self-reported case-control study using the validated Diet and Bowel Function questionnaire. All children with HD aged 1–18 years were surgically treated during 2003–2021 at a national HD center, and their parents were invited to participate. Healthy children served as controls. The data were presented as median (range) and n (%). 71/85 children with HD (6 years (1–17); 76% boys) and 265/300 controls (9 years (1–18); 52% boys) participated. Dietary effects on GI symptoms were reported more frequently by children with HD than controls (55/71 [77%] vs. 137/265 [52%], p ≤ 0.001), as were dietary adjustments to improve GI symptoms (49/71 [69%] vs. 84/265 [32%], p ≤ 0.001), and social limitations due to dietary adjustments (20/48 [42%] vs. 22/121 [18%], p = 0.002). Of 90 food items, children with HD reported that more of the items induced GI symptoms compared to controls (7 (0–66) vs. 2 (0–34), p = 0.001). Diet-induced GI symptoms and dietary adjustments’ impact on daily life are reported more frequently by children with HD than controls. Moreover, the number and types of food items causing GI symptoms differ. The results indicate the need for disease-specific dietary advice to improve support for families of children with HD

Perfusion monitoring using laser speckle contrast imaging during endorectal pull-through for Hirschsprung's disease

Surgical treatment of Hirschsprung's disease commonly involves resection of the aganglionic segment of the colon and endorectal pull-through. Postoperative complications include anastomotic leakage and/or stricture, both believed to be caused by inadequate perfusion of the mobilized bowel or high tension in the anastomosis, but this has never been investigated. In this case, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was used for the first time to monitor colonic perfusion during endorectal pull-through. A 6-week-old child with a 24-cm aganglionosis underwent laparoscopic-assisted endorecto pull-through with mobilization of the left colonic flexure to be able to reach the anus. LSCI perfusion monitoring showed that perfusion was 41% in the tip of the colon without tension, and was reduced 17% by a stretching force of 2 N. In conclusion, perfusion of the colonic end can be monitored by LSCI during surgery for Hirschsprung's disease. This provides new opportunities to evaluate the effects of such surgical interventions in the future

Diagnosis, Symptoms, and Outcomes of Hirschsprung’s Disease from the Perspective of Gender

Background/Aim. Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) has a skewed gender distribution, with a female to male ratio of 1 : 4. This study aims to examine differences between boys and girls with HD regarding preoperative features and postoperative treatment and outcome. Method. The first part of the study was conducted as a retrospective review of all HD patients who underwent transanal endorectal pull-through (TERPT). Pre-, peri-, immediate post-, and first-year postoperative data were collected. The second part was conducted as an observational cross-sectional study by comparing bowel function scores (BFS) determined by structured interviews of patients 4 years old and older. Results. Included were 39 boys and 12 girls. Of these, 25 boys and 9 girls were older than 4 years and participated in the BFS interview. Boys had a higher frequency of hospitalizations during the first postoperative year compared to girls (n=20 and n=2, p<0.05). At long-term follow-up, more boys reported abnormal frequency of defecation, 16 compared to 2 (p<0.05). There was no difference between genders in terms of preoperative symptoms and overall bowel function later. Conclusion. Boys with HD had more hospitalizations and a higher rate of abnormal frequency of defecation than girls with HD