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

Características clínico epidemiológicas de gastrosquisis en el Instituto Especializado de Salud del Niño, entre 1995-2004

INTRODUCCIÓN La gastrosquisis es un defecto congénito de la pared abdominal que constituye una urgencia quirúrgica en pediatría. La sobrevida de estos pacientes ha aumentado con el advenimiento de las unidades de cuidados intensivos, las técnicas de cierre diferido y la nutrición parenteral total. Se busca determinar las características clínico epidemiológicas de esta entidad, relacionándolas a mortalidad, en el Instituto Especializado de Salud del Niño (IESN), principal centro de referencia para patologías quirúrgicas pediátricas y neonatales en Perú. METODOS Se realizó un estudio descriptivo comparativo, de revisión de casos, de los pacientes con diagnóstico de gastrosquisis operados en el IESN durante un periodo de 10 años (1995-2004). La unidad de muestreo usada fue la Historia Clínica . RESULTADOS Se revisaron 32 historias clínicas de neonatos con Gastrosquisis, de los cuales 56,3% eran de sexo femenino. La tasa de mortalidad fue de 56,3%. El 56,3% tuvieron bajo peso al nacer. La edad materna promedio fue de 21,21 años. La edad gestacional promedio fue de 36,53 semanas. Las madres de 68,8% de los neonatos tuvieron control prenatal. El 51,6% recibió tratamiento quirúrgico dentro de las primeras 12 horas de vida. Se realizó colocación de Silo en 71,9% y el cierre primario en 28,1%. Se encontró asociación entre falta de control prenatal, requerimiento de ventilación mecánica y ausencia de cierre quirúrgico de pared abdominal con mortalidad por gastrosquisis. Las principales causas de muerte fueron shock séptico, bronconeumonía y peritonitis. CONCLUSIONES La tasa de mortalidad es bastante alta en nuestra medio. Se debe mejorar el control prenatal. El cierre primario de pared demostró mayores ventajas que otras opciones quirúrgicas.-- BACKGROUNG Gastroschisis is a congenital defect of the abdominal wall considered a surgical urgency in pediatrics. Survival has improven with intensive care units, delayed surgical repair and total parenteral nutrition. The aim is to determine the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of Gastroschisis in the Instituto Especializado de Salud del Niño (IESN), main referral center for pediatric and neonatal surgical entities in Peru. METHODS This is a descriptive, comparative study, case review of patients with Gastroschisis operated in IESN in a period of 10 years (1995-2004). The patient reports were used as the muestral unit. RESULTS Thirty two reports were reviewed. The 56,3% were female. Mortality was of 56,3%. Newborns with low birth weight were 56,3%. Average maternal age was 21,21 years old. Average gestational age was of 36,53 weeks. There were lack of prenatal control in 68,8%. Surgical repair was done in 51,6% among the first 12 hours of life. A Silo was placed in 71,9% and a primary repair in 28,1%. There was found association between lack of prenatal control, mecanical ventilatory support and lack of surgical closing of abdominal wall with mortality for Gastroschisis. Main causes of death were septic shock, pneumonia and peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality is very high in our society. It is important to ameliorate prenatal control. Primary repair of abdominal wall has more advantages than other surgical options.Tesis de segunda especialida

Infección del tracto urinario recurrente en pediatría

El presente trabajo estudia la recurrencia de la infección del tracto urinario en el Servicio de Nefrología del Instituto de Salud del Niño (ISM). Se busca determinar las características relacionadas con la recurrencia tales como factores asociados, número de recurrencias, grupo etario de prevalencia, agente causal y tratamiento empleado. Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 50 niños entre 1 y 13 años de edad atendidos en consulta externa de dicho servicio durante el mes de Agosto de 1999, quienes reunían los criterios de recurrencia. Por los resultados hallados se confirma que el sexo femenino es más afectado y masculino que el masculino en una proporción de 5 a 1, en menores de 6 años mayormente, teniendo como factores principales asociados a la parasitosis y anomalías congénitas, existiendo un significativo grupo donde no se identifica factor alguno. Asimismo, el germen más común implicado es E. Coli, destacándose la importancia del urocultivo para iniciar un adecuado tratamiento. Finalmente, la terapia más utilizada en el ISN es la Nitrofurantoina.This is a study of the recurrenceof urinary tract infections during August 1999 in the Service of Nefrology of the Instituto de Salud del Niño (ISN). In tries to determine the caracteristic related with recurrence such as associated factors, number of recurrences, etarian groups, causal agents and treatment chosen. There were reviewed the clinical records of 50 children from 1 to 13 years old assisted in external consultories od the mentioned service during the month of August 1999 who fulfill the inclusion criteries. Results confirm that females are more implicated than males in a ratio of 5 to 1, preodminantly in children from 1 to 6 years old, being the most important associated factor identified. Moreover, the most frequent etiological agent was the E. Coli, remarquing the importance of cultures to initiate an adequate therapy. Finally, the most used therapy in the ISN was the Nitrofurantoin

Strengthening public health policies for childhood cancer: Peru’s achievements through the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer

Objective. To report the progress in Peru, since June 2019, in the implementation of the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer using the CureAll framework, which can be replicated in low- and middle-income countries. Methods. A mixed method was used of participatory and documentary evaluation. The participatory evaluation included stakeholders from various government institutions, nonprofit organizations, and international partners. The documentary aspect consisted of a review of data on the regulatory environment, national projects, and interventions implemented. The Ministry of Health engaged more than 150 participants to form working committees, which have developed policy and regulatory documents to strengthen care services. Results. Achievements include a decrease in the national treatment abandonment rate from 18.6% to 8.5%, the approval of the Childhood Cancer Law, improvements in the management of patients with febrile neutropenia, and a reduction in rates of events of clinical deterioration and mortality of hospitalized patients. The Cure All implementation framework allows local teams to implement specific strategies and monitor early outcomes in pediatric oncology. Conclusions. The results obtained reflect the teamwork, the leadership of the authorities, the technical support of professionals, and the support of involved organizations. Further actions will be needed to guarantee sustainability, and monitoring tools are needed to assure success in the planned activities