Total colonic aganglionosis : multicentre study of surgical treatment and patient-reported outcomes up to adulthood

Background: Surgery for total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) is designed to preserve continence and achieve satisfactory quality of life. This study evaluated a comprehensive group of clinical and social outcomes. Methods: An international multicentre study from eight Nordic hospitals involving examination of case records and a patient-reported questionnaire survey of all patients born with TCA between 1987 and 2006 was undertaken. Results: Of a total of 116 patients, five (4 center dot 3 per cent) had died and 102 were traced. Over a median follow-up of 12 (range 0 center dot 3-33) years, bowel continuity was established in 75 (73 center dot 5 per cent) at a median age of 11 (0 center dot 5-156) months. Mucosectomy with a short muscular cuff and straight ileoanal anastomosis (SIAA) (29 patients) or with aJpouch (JIAA) (26) were the most common reconstructions (55 of 72, 76 per cent). Major early postoperative complications requiring surgical intervention were observed in four (6 per cent) of the 72 patients. In 57 children aged over 4 years, long-term functional bowel symptoms after reconstruction included difficulties in holding back defaecation in 22 (39 per cent), more than one faecal accident per week in nine (16 per cent), increased frequency of defaecation in 51 (89 per cent), and social restrictions due to bowel symptoms in 35 (61 per cent). Enterocolitis occurred in 35 (47 per cent) of 72 patients. Supplementary enteral and/or parenteral nutrition was required by 51 (55 per cent) of 93 patients at any time during follow-up. Of 56 responders aged 2-20 years, true low BMI for age was found in 20 (36 per cent) and 13 (23 per cent) were short for age. Conclusion: Reconstruction for TCA was associated with persistent bowel symptoms, and enterocolitis remained common. Multidisciplinary follow-up, including continuity of care in adulthood, might improve care standards in patients with TCA.Peer reviewe

Origin and insertion of the medial patellofemoral ligament: a systematic review of anatomy.

PURPOSE: The medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is the major medial soft-tissue stabiliser of the patella, originating from the medial femoral condyle and inserting onto the medial patella. The exact position reported in the literature varies. Understanding the true anatomical origin and insertion of the MPFL is critical to successful reconstruction. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine these locations. METHODS: A systematic search of published (AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Cochrane Library) and unpublished literature databases was conducted from their inception to the 3 February 2016. All papers investigating the anatomy of the MPFL were eligible. Methodological quality was assessed using a modified CASP tool. A narrative analysis approach was adopted to synthesise the findings. RESULTS: After screening and review of 2045 papers, a total of 67 studies investigating the relevant anatomy were included. From this, the origin appears to be from an area rather than (as previously reported) a single point on the medial femoral condyle. The weighted average length was 56 mm with an 'hourglass' shape, fanning out at both ligament ends. CONCLUSION: The MPFL is an hourglass-shaped structure running from a triangular space between the adductor tubercle, medial femoral epicondyle and gastrocnemius tubercle and inserts onto the superomedial aspect of the patella. Awareness of anatomy is critical for assessment, anatomical repair and successful surgical patellar stabilisation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review of anatomical dissections and imaging studies, Level IV

Appendicectomy in the elderly, incidence and operative findings.

The incidence during the last decades of acute appendicitis and the number of appendicectomies in the elderly, 60 years of age and older were studied. In addition, the incidence of the disease and of appendicectomy and the preoperative findings were studied in a well defined population during the twelve year period from 1969 to 1980. The results showed that there was no increase in the sex- and age-specific incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly. However, there has been a significant decrease in the incidence of acute appendicitis in the elderly during the last four decades. Furthermore, a significant difference was found in the findings in the elderly operated upon because of suspected acute appendicitis compared to the younger age groups. The percentage of perforated appendices and normal appendices was significantly higher in the elderly. This difference might be of importance to the surgeon in his approach to an elderly patient admitted because of suspected acute appendicitis

Laparoscopy for nonpalpable testis in childhood : Is inguinal exploration necessary when vas and vessels are not seen?

A case of bilateral nonpalpable testes is described. Ultrasonography showed no testis. Laparoscopy revealed no intraabdominal testis, vas or vessels. Human chorionic gonadotrophine test suggested the presence of testicular tissue Computed tomography showed a testis present in each inguinal canal. Inguinal exploration confirmed the finding. This case stresses the importance of careful interpretation of the laparoscopic findings together with other diagnostic methods in localizing testicular tissue in patients with nonpalpable testes

Urinary tract anomalies and urinary tract dysfunction in children with Hirschsprung disease—Is follow-up indicated?

Background/Purpose: Urinary tract function in children with Hirschsprung disease (HD) is rarely considered. Aim: to evaluate the prevalence of urinary tract anomalies and dysfunction in children with HD compared to controls. Methods: This was an observational cross sectional case–control study. Children with HD who underwent transanal endorectal pull-through technique (TERPT) from 2005 to 2017 were invited to participate. Ultrasound of the urinary tract was performed postoperatively. Children > 4 years were asked to answer a urinary tract function questionnaire. Controls were age-matched healthy children. Ethical approval was obtained. Results: Seventy two children with HD and TERPT were included. Ultrasound was performed in 58 children (83%) post-TERPT. Ten anomalies were diagnosed in six children (10%). Structural anomalies included abnormal kidney size (7%), renal agenesis (2%), prominent calyces (2%) and renal pelvis anomaly (25). Probable acquired anomalies included hydronephrosis (2%), hydroureter (2%) and parenchymal damage (2%). One child had a prior nephrectomy owing to a Wilms’ tumor. All 37 children > 4 years (27 boys and 10 girls), median aged 8 years (range 4–12), answered the questionnaire as did 284 healthy controls (144 boys and 140 girls). Boys with HD reported a higher frequency of enuresis: 65% versus 9% (p = 0.001) and urinary tract infections: 18% versus 3% (p = 0.012). Girls with HD reported enuresis more frequently (60%) than healthy girls (7%) (p = 0.001). Children with HD with constipation reported enuresis more frequently (p = 0.038). Conclusions: Urinary tract anomalies and dysfunction deserve attention in the follow-up of children with HD. We suggest screening for urinary tract anomalies and urinary tract symptoms in follow-up of children with HD. Type of study: Treatment study. Level: III

Incidência comparativa da apendicite aguda em população miscigenada, de acordo com a cor da pele Comparative incidence of acute appendicitis in a mixed population, related to the skin color

RACIONAL: Apendicite aguda é uma emergência cirúrgica muito comum, mas sua etiopatogenia ainda permanece incompreendida. OBJETIVO: Avaliar aspectos epidemiológicos da apendicite aguda relacionados à cor da pele, sexo e idade. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 500 pacientes operados de apendicite aguda e outros 500 doentes aleatórios tratados por diferentes doenças no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG. Avaliaram-se sexo, idade e cor da pele. Os resultados foram comparados por meio do teste qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: Significativa prevalência de pacientes leucodérmicos (73,8%) foi verificada nessas séries. Não houve predominância por sexo. O número de homens leucodérmicos com apendicite aguda foi significativamente maior do que homens leucodérmicos do grupo-controle. A incidência de melanodérmicos com apendicite foi significativamente menor do que a de pacientes negros do grupo-controle. A idade média da apendicite aguda foi de 23,2 anos para os pacientes leucodérmicos e de 32,3 anos para os melanodérmicos. CONCLUSÕES: Foi nítida a relação entre apendicite aguda com a cor branca da pele.<br>BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is a very common surgical emergency, but its etiology and pathology remain incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate epidemiological aspects of acute appendicitis related to skin color, gender and age. METHODS: Five-hundred patients operated on for acute appendicitis, and other 500 patients treated for different diseases and considered as a control group were studied at "Hospital das Clínicas", Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Gender, age and skin color were investigated. The results were compared by chi-square test. RESULTS: There was no prevalence related to gender. A significant prevalence of white patients (73.8%) was verified in this series. The number of white men with appendicitis was significantly higher than white men in the control group. The incidence of black patients with appendicitis was significantly lower than black patients of the control group. The mean age was 23.2 years old for the white patients with appendicitis and 32.3 years old for the black patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper shows an evident relation between appendicitis and white skin color