Fire in the Operating Room During Hypospadias Repair

Fire in the operating room (OR) is a very distressful and shocking occurrence with potential dramatic consequences. Despite safety rules and rigorous recommendations, such unintentional events do occur every so often. Notably, the vast majority of cases have been reported in the adult population, with very few pediatric cases described to date. Herein, we report on a 16-month-old boy undergoing reconstructive surgery for penoscrotal hypospadias, who experienced an OR fire most likely related to the use of alcohol-based solution ignited by monopolar electrocautery

Case Report: Simil-Appendicitis Presentation May Precede Cardiac Involvement in MIS-C Patient

Introduction: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new clinical entity characterized by a systemic hyperinflammation triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents. This condition could potentially involve all organs with main complications concerning cardiovascular system. Despite up to 90% of patients complain gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomit, and diarrhea), a presentation mimicking acute appendicitis has rarely been reported, and can be the presenting feature of the disease, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Case Description: A 15-year-old boy presented to the Emergency Department for a 2-day history of fever, vomiting, and mild abdominal pain. One month before, the patient complained ageusia and anosmia while his mother tested positive for Sars-CoV2 nasopharyngeal swab. At admission, laboratory tests showed leukocytosis with lymphopenia and elevation of inflammatory markers, while cardiac enzymes, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were unremarkable. An abdominal ultrasound displayed a thickening of terminal ileus and cecum with ascites. Because of the worsening abdominal pain and a physical examination suggestive of acute appendicitis, a laparoscopy was performed but no surgical condition was found. After surgery, fever and generalized malaise persisted, so a cardiac evaluation was repeated, showing a relevant increase in inflammatory markers and cardiac enzymes. Electrocardiogram demonstrated a QTc prolongation with mild decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction at echocardiogram. A MIS-C was diagnosed and intravenous immunoglobulin along with a steroid treatment started. After 36 h, the patient presented a complete clinical recovery with fever cessation. Cardiac anomalies normalized in 3 weeks. Conclusion: MIS-C has been defined as a systemic inflammation, involving at least two organs, after a previous SARS-CoV2 infection in children and adolescents. Physicians should be aware that while gastrointestinal manifestations are common, a pseudo appendicitis presentation may also occur, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. This report suggests that in patients with symptoms suggestive of an acute appendicitis, the presence of lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia and ultrasound images of terminal ileus inflammation, should raise the suspect for MIS-C even without initial overt signs of cardiac involvement

Nocturnal cough and difficulty breathing during exertion in a young boy: Do not miss the forest for the trees

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Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Neonates: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis

Purpose: Surgical site infections (SSI) contribute to postoperative morbidity and mortality in children. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and identify risk factors for SSI in neonates.Methods: Using a defined strategy, three investigators searched articles on neonatal SSI published since 2000. Studies on neonates and/or patients admitted to neonatal intensive care unit following cervical/thoracic/abdominal surgery were included. Risk factors were identified from comparative studies. Meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using RevMan 5.3. Data are (mean ± SD) prevalence.Results: Systematic review—of 885 abstracts screened, 48 studies (27,760 neonates) were included. The incidence of SSI was 5.6% (1,564 patients). SSI was more frequent in males (61.8%), premature babies (77.4%), and following gastrointestinal surgery (95.4%). Meta-analysis—10 comparative studies (16,442 neonates; 946 SSI 5.7%) showed that predictive factors for SSI development were gestational age, birth weight, age at surgery, length of surgical procedure, number of procedure per patient, length of preoperative hospital stay, and preoperative sepsis. Conversely, preoperative antibiotic use was not significantly associated with development of SSI.Conclusions: Younger neonates and those undergoing abdominal procedures are at higher risk for SSI. Given the lack of evidence-based literature, prospective studies may help determine the risk factors for SSI in neonates

Successful treatment of Neuroblastoma in an adolescent with intra-arterial embolization before surgery

Abstract Introduction Neuroblastoma in the adolescent is characterized by indolent growth and poor outcome. Surgical resection of the tumor is an essential part of the multimodality treatment. Surgical complications depend on the presence of Image Defined Risk Factors (IDRFs). Methods We present an adolescent with pelvic neuroblastoma and epidural compression. To facilitate tumor resection, the patient underwent preoperative selective embolization. Results After selective embolization a subsequent complete resection etraspinal localisation was performed without complication with complete remission after 2 years. Conclusions Preoperative embolization is a safe and feasible technique that can help pediatric surgical oncologist to reduce complications IDRFs-related

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Lipoblastoma as a cause of secondary omental torsion in children: report of the first case

Acute abdominal pain remains a major diagnostic challenge to date. Omental torsion is an infrequent cause of abdominal pain in children, which usually presents with non-specific symptoms. Herein, we report a case of persistent abdominal pain after a minor abdominal trauma. A solid mass was found in the lower abdomen at ultrasound imaging evaluation. Surgical exploration demonstrated an omental torsion secondary to a rare neoplasm of childhood

Adolescent Male With Severe Renal Trauma

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Pathogenetic and Prognostic Factors for Neonatal Gastric Perforation: Personal Experience and Systematic Review of the Literature

IntroductionNeonatal gastric perforation (NGP) is a rare entity. Our aim was to report our experience and review the recent literature to characterize NGP, describe associated factors, and define prognostic factors.Materials and methodsRetrospective review of all consecutive patients with NGP treated between June 2009 and December 2017 in a third level pediatric hospital. In addition, a systematic review of Medline and Scopus database was performed using a defined strategy. All articles referring to NGP published between 2005 and 2017 were retrieved. Variables considered: prematurity (<37 weeks gestation), birth weight (BW), Apgar score, prenatal complications, age at diagnosis, bag ventilation, pathogenetic events, site of perforation, treatment of perforation, sepsis, and outcome. Mann–Whitney or Fisher’s test were used as appropriate. Results are median (range) or prevalence.ResultsBetween 2009 and 2016 we treated 8 consecutive patients for NGP and 199 further cases were retrieved from the systematic review (total of 207 patients). Overall survival was 73%. Most frequently reported pathogenesis: iatrogenic (20 patients), hypoxic/ischemic or infection stress (13 patients), duodenal/jejunal obstruction (11 patients), drugs (11 patients), esophageal atresia (10 patients). 60% patients had only primary repair of the perforation as gastric surgery. Sepsis developed in 56 patients (34%).ConclusionAlthough the pathogenesis of NGP is pleomorphic, prematurity and low BWs are frequent in these patients. Reviewing our experience and the available literature, none of the variables considered, but sepsis was associated with mortality