Rectal Atresia—Operative Management with Endoscopy and Transanal Approach: A Case Report

The aim of this study is to present the technique and outcome of the management of a newborn child with rectal atresia. A girl born with rectal atresia was diagnosed during physical examination and confirmed with X-ray. The anatomic appearance of the external anus, and lower pelvis was normal. The rectal ending was located 2 cm cranial from the anus and the distance between the rectal endings was 2 cm. A colostomy was established. At the age of five months the child was operated on with a rectal anastomosis using the endoscopic and transanal approach. Closure of the colostomy was performed at the age of ten months. The rectal anastomosis was treated with rectal dilatation weekly in order to avoid stricture. The patient was faecally continent at followup one and three months postoperatively. In conclusion, the endoscopic and transanal approach is an alternative to other surgical techniques in the management of rectal atresia

Dilations of anastomotic strictures over time after repair of esophageal atresia

Aim of the study: Anastomotic strictures commonly occur in patients undergoing surgery for esophageal atresia (EA). The primary aim of this study was to determine the age distribution of dilation procedures for anastomotic strictures over the patient’s childhood after reconstruction of EA. The secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of postoperative proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on the frequency of dilations. Methods: This observational study was conducted at a single tertiary center of pediatric surgery. The times that dilations of strictures were performed were assessed during three study periods: 1983–1995, 2001–2009, and 2010–2014. PPIs were not used during the first period, and then, respectively, for 3 and 12 months postoperatively. The indications for dilation were signs of obstruction and/or radiological signs of stricture. Primary results: A total of 131 children underwent esophageal reconstruction, and of those, 60 (46%) required at least 1 dilation procedure for strictures. There were no differences in the frequencies of dilation procedures between the three study periods (28/66, 18/32 and 14/33, respectively; P = 0.42). The overall median number of dilations per patient was 3 (range 1–21) with no differences between the study periods. The differences between ages at which the first dilation was performed during each study period were significant, as follows: 7, 2, and 8 months, respectively (P = 0.03). Fiftyone percent of all dilation procedures were performed during the first year of life, 16% during the second year, and 33% during years 2–15. Four children (2%) underwent >12 dilations. Conclusion: The first year of life was the time of greatest need for dilation of AS after reconstruction of EA; however, dilations were also performed several years later. PPIs did not affect the frequency of dilations during the first year of life

Two-trocar appendectomy in children – description of technique and comparison with conventional laparoscopic appendectomy

Background: The aim of the study was to describe the technique of two-trocar laparoscopic appendectomy and compare the outcome between two- and three-trocar techniques in children. Methods: All children who underwent laparoscopic surgery for suspected appendicitis from 2006 to 2014 in a center for pediatric surgery were included in the study. Converted surgeries and patients with appendiceal abscess or concomitant intestinal obstruction were excluded. A total of 259 children underwent appendectomy with either two (35 %) or three (65 %) laparoscopic trocars according to the surgeons' preference and intraoperative judgment. Patient demographics, clinical symptoms, surgery characteristics, and complications were reviewed. Results: The mean age of the children was 10.4 years (range, 1-14 years). The mean follow-up time was 41.2 months (SD ± 29.2). No significant differences in age, gender, weight, or signs and symptoms were found between the two- and three-trocar groups. The mean surgery time was significantly shorter in the two-trocar group (47 min) than in the three-trocar group (66 min; p < 0.001). The rates of surgical complications were 2 % vs. 4 %, (p = 0.501), and the rates of postoperative complications were 0 % vs. 5 % (p = 0.054), in the two- and three-trocar groups. The overall incidence of postoperative wound infection was low (<1 %) and did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Two-trocar laparoscopic appendectomy seems to be a safe and feasible technique with a low rate of postoperative wound infections. The present findings demonstrate that when the two-trocar technique could be applied, it is a good complement to the conventional three-trocar technique

Treatment and Patient Reported Outcome in Children with Hirschsprung Disease and Concomitant Congenital Heart Disease

. Purpose. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is reported to be associated with Hirschsprung disease (HD). The aim was to evaluate any differences between children with HD with and without CHD, respectively, with regard to patient characteristics, medical care, and patient reported bowel function. Method. This is a retrospective chart study and a cross-sectional long-term follow-up of patients older than 4 years old, including all children with HD operated on with transanal endorectal pull-through (TERPT) at a tertiary center of pediatric surgery. Information about patient characteristics, diagnostics, surgery, and medical care was compiled. At longterm follow-up, bowel function was assessed by Bowel Function Score. Results. Included were 53 HD-patients, 13 with CHD and 40 without CHD. Children with CHD more commonly presented with failure to thrive; 4 (23%) compared to those without CHD (0%) ( &lt; 0.01). In the long-term follow-up, including 32 patients (6 with CHD), constipation was more commonly reported by children with CHD 5 (83%) than by children without CHD 4 (27%) ( = 0.01). No differences were shown in the other parameters such as fecal control and incontinence. Conclusion. HD-patients with CHD more commonly presented with failure to thrive and more frequently reported constipation than HD-patients without CHD. The findings indicate that HD-patients with CHD might need special consideration in their initial care and long-term follow-up

Surgical Treatment and Major Complications within the First Year of Life in Newborns with Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia Gross Type a and B – a Systematic Review

Background The surgical repair of long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) is still a challenge and there is no consensus on the preferred method of reconstruction. We performed a systematic review of the surgical treatment of LGEA Gross type A and B with the primary aim to compare the postoperative complications related to the different methods within the first postoperative year. Methods Systematic literature review on the surgical repair of LGEA Gross type A and B within the first year of life published from January 01, 1996 to November 01, 2016. Results We included 57 articles involving a total of 326 patients of whom 289 had a Gross type A LGEA. Delayed primary anastomosis (DPA) was the most applied surgical method (68.4%) in both types, followed by gastric pull-up (GPU) (8.3%). Anastomotic stricture (53.7%), gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) (32.2%) and anastomotic leakage (22.7%) were the most common postoperative complications, with stricture and GER occurring more often after DPA (61.9% and 40.8% respectively) compared to other methods (pPeer reviewe

Bowel function and associated risk factors at preschool and early childhood age in children with anorectal malformation type rectovestibular fistula:An ARM-Net consortium study

Background: Outcome of patients operated for anorectal malformation (ARM) type rectovestibular fistula (RVF) is generally considered to be good. However, large multi-center studies are scarce, mostly describing pooled outcome of different ARM-types, in adult patients. Therefore, counseling parents concerning the bowel function at early age is challenging. Aim of this study was to evaluate bowel function of RVF-patients at preschool/early childhood age and determine risk factors for poor functional outcome. Methods: A multi-center cohort study was performed. Patient characteristics, associated anomalies, sacral ratio, surgical procedures, post-reconstructive complications, one-year constipation, and Bowel Function Score (BFS) at 4–7 years of follow-up were registered. Groups with below normal (BFS < 17; subgroups ‘poor’ ≤ 11, and ‘fair’ 11 < BFS < 17) and good outcome (BFS ≥ 17) were formed. Univariable analyses were performed to detect risk factors for outcome. Results: The study included 111 RVF-patients. Median BFS was 16 (range 6–20). The ‘below normal’ group consisted of 61 patients (55.0%). Overall, we reported soiling, fecal accidents, and constipation in 64.9%, 35.1% and 70.3%, respectively. Bowel management was performed in 23.4% of patients. Risk factors for poor outcome were tethered cord and low sacral ratio, while sacral anomalies, low sacral ratio, prior enterostomy, post-reconstructive complications, and one-year constipation were for being on bowel management. Conclusions: Although median BFS at 4–7 year follow-up is nearly normal, the majority of patients suffers from some degree of soiling and constipation, and almost 25% needs bowel management. Several factors were associated with poor bowel function outcome and bowel management. Level of Evidence: Level III

Klinisk bedömning och vård av den amfetaminpåverkade patienten inom den prehospitala akutvården : En empirisk studie

Syftet med detta examensarbete är att få ökad kunskap om hur sjukskötare utför klinisk bedömning och vård av amfetaminpåverkade patienter inom den prehospitala akutvården. Examensarbetet är en intervjustudie med ett kvalitativt perspektiv. Respondenten har samlat material i form av intervjuer, intervjuerna utfördes med en semistrukturerad intervjumetod och som analysmetod valdes kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Studiens frågeställning är: Vad innebär klinisk bedömning och vård av den amfetaminpåverkade patienten inom den prehospitala akutvården? För examensarbetet valdes Eriksson (1995) Vårdandets idé som teoretisk utgångspunkt. Enligt Eriksson (1995) är vårdandets olika former; vårdande vård, medicinsk vård och själavård. Dessa tre vårdformer avspeglas i den prehospitala vården, där patientens vitala funktioner uppehålls av vårdaren t.ex. i form av dropp, patienten får medicinsk vård samt stöd, förståelse och hjälp för en fortsatt vård för sina missbrukarproblem. I resultatet presenteras två huvudkategorier; klinisk bedömning och vård. Den kliniska bedömningen delas in i underkategorierna; bemötande, anamnes, observation och mätningar. Huvudkategorin vård består av underkategorierna; vårdåtgärder och svårigheter. Resultatet visar att patientens eget beteende har en stor inverkan på vårdsituationen från början till slut.The aim of this thesis is to increase knowledge about how nurses in the prehospital setting preform clinical assessment and care for patients with an abuse of amphetamine. This is an interview study with a qualitative perspective. The respondent has collected data from interviews. The interviews were performed with a semi structured interview method and analyzed by using a qualitative content analysis. The research question is: What involves the clinical assessment and care for patient with an abuse of amphetamine in the prehospital emergency care? The study was based on the theory of Eriksson (1995) idea of caring. According to Eriksson (1995) the forms of caring is health caring, medical care and cure of souls. These three forms reflect to the prehospital setting where the patient’s vital signs are maintained by intravenous drip, the patient is given medical care and also support, understanding and help to a continues health care for their abusing problems. The results are presented as two main categories; clinical assessment and care. The clinical assessment is divined in subcategories; reception, anamnesis, observation and measures. The subcategories for care contains; care procedures and complications. The result shows that the behavior of the patient has a big impact on how the care is determined