Impact of Spleen Size on Outcomes in Laparoscopic Splenectomy in Children

Background. The aim of our study is to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) between enlarged spleens and normal sized spleens. Methods. From June 2006 to September 2012, 50 patients underwent LS. The patients consisted of 24 girls and 26 boys with the mean age of 8.64 years (1–18). The patients are divided into two groups according to spleen’s longitudinal length on the ultrasonography. Group I consisted of the normal sized spleens; Group II consisted of spleens that are exceeding the upper limit. Groups are compared in terms of number of ports, operative time, rate of conversion to open procedure, and length of hospital stay. Results. The mean number of ports was 3.27 and 3.46, the mean length of the operation was 116.36 min and 132.17 min, rate of conversion to open procedure was 9.09% and 10.25%, and the mean length of hospital stay was 3.36 days and 3.23 days, respectively, in Group I and Group II. Although there is an increase in the number of the ports, the operative time, rate of conversion to open procedure, and the length of hospital stay, the difference was not significant between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion. LS is safe and effective in enlarged spleens as well as normal sized spleens

The protective effects of sesamol in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis

Background and aim: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal inflammatory disease associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Its pathophysiology includes hypoxic-ischemic injury that may be related to oxygen-derived free radical formation. Sesamol is considered to be an antioxidant and free radical scavenger with anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of sesamol in a neonatal rat model of NEC. Materials and methods: The study included 1-day-old Wistar albino rat pups (n = 34) that were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1 (NEC), group 2 (NEC + intraperitoneal sesamol), group 3 (NEC + oral sesamol), and a control group. NEC was induced by exposure to hypoxia/reoxygenation, following cold stress and hyperosmolar enteral formula feeding. Sesamol 100 mg kg(-1) dose(-1) was administered intraperitoneally to group 2 and orally to group 3 for 3 days. On day 4 all rats were sacrificed. Histological injuries, the Bcl-2, caspase-3, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were measured in intestinal samples. Results: The grade of intestinal damage, and Bcl-2 and caspase-3 levels in group 1 were significantly higher than in groups 2 and 3 and the control group, and intestinal damage was significantly more severe in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. The MDA activity was significantly lower in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1 (112, 89, and 144 nmol mL(-1), respectively). Groups 2 and 3 had significantly higher SOD and GSH-Px activities than group 1 (SOD: 1.75, 1.74, and 0.89 U mg(-1); GSH-Px: 114, 121, and 110 nmol of NADPH min(-1) mg(-1), respectively). Conclusions: The present findings highlight that sesamol has beneficial effects on intestinal injury in a rat model of NEC through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

The role of nitric oxide in an experimental necrotising enterocolitis model

Background: Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) causes a significant life-threatening gastrointestinal system (GIS) disease with severe mortality and morbidity, particularly in premature infants. Nitric oxide (NO) has many functions in the GIS. Therefore, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of NO in experimentally induced NEC of newborn 1-day-old rats following hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR). Materials and Methods: Thirty Wistar albino rats (weight, 5-8 g) were randomly divided into three groups: group 1 (HR), group 2 (HR + nitroglycerine), and group 3 (control). HR was achieved by placing the rat in carbon dioxide (CO2) for five minutes at 22°C, which was followed by five minutes of 100% oxygen. After HR, nitroglycerine was administered for three days at 50 μg/Kg/day. On day 4, the rats were decapitated and the intestines between the duodenum and sigmoid colon were resected and histopathologically examined. Results: The histopathological findings of groups 1 and 2 were characteristic of NEC. Intestinal injury in group 1 was significantly more prevalent than that in group 2 (χ2 = 21.55, P = 0.000). The intestinal injury score in group 3 was significantly lower than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions: NO treatment was effective for treating experimentally induced NEC

Laparoscopic repair of morgagni hernia in children

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate our patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted transabdominal repair for Morgagni hernia (MH). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair using loop sutures for MH between March 2010 and April 2021. Demographic data, symptoms, operative findings, operation methods, and postoperative complications of the patients were reviewed. Results: A total of 22 patients with MH were treated with laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair using loop suture. There were 6 girls (27.2%) and 16 boys (72.7%). Two patients had Down syndrome, and two patients had cardiac defects (secundum atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale). One patient had a V–P shunt due to hydrocephalus. One patient had cerebral palsy. The mean operation time was 45 min (30–86 min). The hernia sac was not removed, and a patch was not used in any of the patients. The mean hospitalization time was 1.7 days (1–5 days). One patient's defect was very large, and another patient's liver was densely attached to the liver sac, causing bleeding during dissection. In total, two patients were converted to open surgery. There was no recurrence during the follow-up. Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted transabdominal repair is an efficient and safe choice for the repair of MH. Leaving the hernia sac does not increase the recurrence, so there is no need to dissect the sac

Role of dissemination of microorganisms during laparoscopic appendectomy in abscess formation

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential contributory role of laparoscopic appendectomy in the occurrence of postoperative intra-abdominal infections

Laparoscopic repair in children with traumatic bladder perforation

Here, we report two patients with a traumatic intraperitoneal bladder dome rupture repaired by laparoscopic intracorporeal sutures. The first patient was a 3-year old boy was admitted with a history of road accident. He had a traumatic lesion on his lower abdomen and a pelvic fracture. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed free intraabdominal fluid. The urethragram showed spreading contrast material into the abdominal cavity. Laparoscopic exploration revealed a 3-cm-length perforation at the top of the bladder. The injury was repaired in a two fold fashion. Post-operative follow-up was uneventful. The second case was a 3-year-old boy fell from the second floor of his house on the ground. He had traumatic lesion on his lower abdomen and a pelvic fracture. Due to bloody urine drainage, a cystography was performed and an extravasation from the dome of the bladder into the peritoneum was detected. On laparoscopy, a 3-cm long vertical perforation at the dome of the bladder was found. The perforation was repaired in two layers with intracorporeal suture technique. The post-operative course was uneventful. Laparoscopic repair of traumatic perforation of the bladder dome is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method. The cosmetic outcome is superior

The first endoscopic resection of a colonic granular cell tumor in a child

Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are rare, generally benign, soft tissue tumors characterized by large, granular, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive eosinophilic cells that are S-100 and neuron specific enolase positively stained. They are mostly located in the oral cavity and skin. GCTs are not common in the gastrointestinal tract, where the most common location is the esophagus. These tumors are usually seen in the 4th and 6th decade of life and are rare in children. To our knowledge, only one case report exists regarding the endoscopic resection of a cecal GCT in a child. Herein, we report an endoscopic resection of a colonic GCT in a child

The first laparoscopic resection of an aldosterone-secreting adrenocortical oncocytoma in a child

Oncocytomas of the adrenal cortex are usually benign and nonfunctional, consisting of oncocytes in which the cytoplasm becomes eosinophilic due to the accumulation of abnormal mitochondria. Oncocytomas can exist in many organs and are frequently found in the salivary gland, kidneys, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, and hypophysis. Functioning oncocytomas are very rarely observed in children, and no more than ten cases have been reported in the literature. Here, we present the first report of laparoscopic excision of an aldosterone-secreting adrenocortical oncocytoma in a child