Long-term Outcomes and Health Perceptions in Pediatric-onset Portal Hypertension Complicated by Varices

Objectives: Outcomes of pediatric-onset portal hypertension are poorly defined. We aimed to assess population-based long-term outcomes of pediatric-onset portal hypertension complicated by varices. Methods: All children with esophageal varices (n = 126) were identified from 14,144 single nationwide referral center endoscopy reports during 1987 to 2013, and followed up through national health care and death registers. A questionnaire was sent to survivors (n = 94) of whom 65 (69%) responded. Results: Nineteen underlying disorders included biliary atresia (35%), extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (35%), autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (7%), and other disorders (23%). During median follow-up of 15.2 (range 0.5-43.1) years patients underwent median 9 (1-74) upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Esophageal varices were first observed at a median age of 4.0 (0.3-18.2) years, 112 (89%) patients underwent median 6 (1-56) sclerotherapy/banding sessions, and 61 (48%) experienced median 2 (range 1-20) variceal bleeding episodes. Forty-eight surgical shunt procedures were performed to 41 (36%) patients and 38% underwent liver transplantation. Portal hypertensive biliopathy was diagnosed in 4 patients. Hepatopulmonary syndrome necessitated liver transplantation in 2 patients, hepatic encephalopathy in 2, and hepatorenal syndrome in 1. No patient died of variceal bleeding. Patient-reported perception of health on a scale of 1 to 10 was 9 (range 4-10), and 86% reported no current symptoms attributable to esophageal varices. Conclusions: Pediatric-onset portal hypertension is a heterogeneous disease with significant long-term morbidity, requiring multimodal approach with considerable resources and continuation of follow-up in adulthood. Although mortality to variceal bleeding was avoided, bleeding episodes recurred also in adulthood, while patient-reported health of long-term survivors was encouraging.Peer reviewe

Giant inguinal hernia in a preterm child : Technical challenges and long-term outcome

Giant inguinal hernias are rare in children, and they represent a unique challenge for pediatric surgeons. The sparse literature includes variable definitions of the disease and different surgical techniques without significant difficulties with the decrease of abdominal domain. We present a prematurely born boy with a unilateral giant inguinal hernia which developed promptly after birth. This case highlights the multiple possible challenges related to giant inguinal hernias in children. We also discuss the possible treatment options and the advantages and disadvantages based on the current literature.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Synnynnäinen lonkkaluksaatio

Vertaisarvioitu.Lonkan epätukevuus on tavallisin vastasyntyneen tukirankapoikkeavuus. Suurin osa vastasyntyneiden epätukevista lonkista tukevoituu itsestään. Kuuden viikon pituinen lastahoito aloitetaan, ellei lonkka ole tukevoitunut kahden viikon ikään mennessä. Lastahoidolla lonkasta tulee yleensä normaali. Lonkkaluksaatio voi kehittyä syntymän jälkeen tai diagnoosi voi viivästyä, mikä vaikeuttaa ja pitkittää hoitoa. Vastasyntyneellä todetun lonkkaluksaation hoitotulokset ovat hyviä, myöhään todettu lonkkaluksaatio taas johtaa lähes puolella potilaista tekonivelleikkaukseen aikuisiässä

Reduced Number of Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma Requiring Operative Treatment during COVID-19 Restrictions: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Cited by: 28; All Open Access, Green Open AccessPeer reviewe

Reduced Number of Pediatric Orthopedic Trauma Requiring Operative Treatment during COVID-19 Restrictions: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Cited by: 28; All Open Access, Green Open AccessPeer reviewe

Pediatric Onset Portal Hypertension : Surgical Management and Outcomes

Background In children various underlying diseases of the liver parenchyma and vasculature may increase portal pressure and eventually lead to complications of portal hypertension (PH). Clinically significant complications include gastroesophageal varices with the risk of variceal bleeding over time, splenomegaly and hypersplenism. The management and outcomes highly depend on the underlying liver disease. Endoscopic interventions, surgical shunt procedures and liver transplantation (LT) are the main treatment options. During the last few decades the outcomes of patients with pediatric onset PH have improved as management protocols of biliary atresia (BA) and LT have evolved and mesoportal bypass was introduced. Despite these advances the long-term outcomes of pediatric onset PH are insufficiently characterized, as are the incidence of underlying diseases and characteristics of disease progression. Aims The general aim of the thesis was to describe outcomes of patients with pediatric onset PH extending into adulthood. Special emphasis was set on surgical treatment, survival, long-term outcomes, and patient reported health. In addition, characteristics of underlying diseases and possible risk factors for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and sepsis after pediatric splenectomy were addressed. Patients and methods The thesis contains 4 studies with 4 separate study populations. All patients have been treated in the Helsinki University Children’s Hospital. 1) A retrospective hospital record review was performed on 24 consecutive children with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) referred for operative treatment during 2002-2010. The mesoportal bypass was constructed using both greater saphenous veins. The mphasis of the study was on long-term graft patency and resolution of PH. 2) A retrospective hospital record review was done on 33 consecutive patients diagnosed with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) during 1980-2011. The focus was on the clinical characteristics and management of ARPKD related liver disease in relation to renal failure. 3) A retrospective hospital record and nationwide registry review was done on 141 consecutive children having undergone splenectomy during 1991-2010, out of these 52 patients (37%) were operated laparocopically. The focus was on septic infections, PVT, and causes of death. Out of the 114 survivors, 66 patients (58%) replied to the structured questionnaire, 64 patients (56%) underwent clinical assessment with ultrasonography of the portal venous system and blood tests. 4) The fourth study population includes 126 consecutive patients treated for pediatric onset PH complicated by gastroesophageal varices during 1972-2013. Overall, 14144 upper gastrointestinal endoscopy reports from 1987-2013 were reviewed to identify patients with the underlying condition. Their outcomes were assessed through hospital records and nationwide registries. A questionnaire was sent to all survivors (n=94) of whom 65 (69%) responded. Main results The mesoportal bypass constructed using the greater saphenous veins proved to be a valuable alternative to the internal jugular vein (IJV) graft, allowing long-term resolution of splenomegaly and hypersplenism, and elimination of gastroesophageal varices. Clinically evident PH developed in half of the long-term ARPKD survivors necessitating endoscopic and/or surgical interventions in 30%. After pediatric splenectomy none of the patients developed PVT and sepsis was associated almost exclusively with an underlying immunodeficiency with a high mortality rate. Overall, the fourth study population (n=126) contained 19 underlying disorders including BA (35%), EHPVO (35%) and ARPKD (7%). During the median follow-up of 15 (range 6 months – 43 years) years patients underwent median 9 (1-74) upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Esophageal varices were first observed at the median age of 4 (4 months – 18 years) years, 112 (89%) patients underwent median 6 (1-56) sclerotherapy or banding sessions, and 61 (48%) experienced median 2 (range 1-20) variceal bleeding episodes. Forty-eight surgical shunt procedures were performed to 41 (36%) patients and 38% underwent LT. Portal hypertensive biliopathy was diagnosed in 4 patients. LT was necessary due to hepatopulmonary syndrome in two patients, hepatic encephalopathy in two patients and for one patient due to hepatorenal syndrome. The overall survival was 75% and the median age at death was 9 (6 months – 29 years) years. None of the deaths were related to variceal bleeding and all EHPVO patients survived. The patient reported perception of health on a scale of 1-10 was 9 (range 4-10), and 86% reported no current symptoms attributable to esophageal varices. Conclusions Various heterogenous diseases cause PH in children, BA and EHPVO being the most common underlying diseases accounting for 2/3 of the patients in Finland. The management and outcomes highly depend on the underlying disease. Despite a multimodal interdisciplinary approach with prophylactic endoscopic treatment combined with surgical procedures long-term morbidity remains high and continues in adulthood. Mortality was related to complications of advanced liver disease and its treatment, but not to variceal bleeding. The patient reported health of long-term survivors was good.Lasten maksasairauksien kirjo on laaja ja käsittää määritelmästä riippuen jopa 100 eri sairautta. Osa sairauksista nostaa porttilaskimopainetta ja häiritsee siten maksan verenkiertoa. Maksasairauden edetessä ja porttilaskimopaineen noustessa erityisesti ruokatorven ja mahalaukun ympärille kehittyy laskimolaajentumia, jotka ovat alttiita vuotamaan verta. Vuodot voivat olla henkeä uhkaavia. Vuotojen ennaltaehkäisemiseksi tarvitaan usein kirurgisia toimenpiteitä. Äärimmäisenä hoitovaihtoehtona on maksansiirto. Potilaiden ennusteeseen vaikuttaa maksasairauden tyyppi ja ratkaiseva tekijä on maksan toiminnallinen tila. Lapsuusiässä porttilaskimopainetta kohottavien sairauksien pitkäaikaistuloksista on vain vähän tietoa. Helsingin Lastenklinikalla lapsille tehtiin 14144 ruokatorven ja mahalaukun tähystystutkimusta vuosina 1987-2013. Tutkimuksissa 126 lapsella todettiin ruokatorven laskimolaajentumat merkkinä kohonneesta porttilaskimopaineesta. Väitöskirjatutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin takautuvasti näiden potilaiden hoidon tuloksia aina aikuisikään asti. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin potilasasiakirjoista ja Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitoksen sekä Tilastokeskuksen rekistereistä. Ajankohtaista terveydentilaa ja oireita selvitettiin kyselytutkimuksella. Pernan poistoleikkauksen jälkeisen porttilaskimotukosriskin selvittämiseksi toteutettiin seurantatutkimus. Seurantatutkimukseen osallistuneille suoritettiin vatsan ultraäänitutkimus ja tarkastettiin perusverenkuva. Väitöskirjassa todettiin 19 porttilaskimopainetta kohottavaa maksasairautta. Kolmasosalla aiheuttaja oli sappiteiden umpeuma (sappitieatresia) ja kolmasosalla maksan ulkoinen porttilaskimotukos. Ruokatorven laskimolaajentumat todettiin keskimäärin 4 vuoden iässä. Laskimolaajentumia hoidettiin ruiskutuksella (skleroterapia) tai kumilenkein (ligaatio) keskimäärin 6 kertaa. Noin puolella potilasta ruokatorven tai mahalaukun laskimolaajentumat vuosivat verta. Porttilaskimon verenkiertoon kajoava kirurginen toimenpide (sunttileikkaus) tehtiin 36%:lle potilaista ja maksansiirto 38%:lle potilaista. Neljäsosa menehtyi seuranta-aikana. Yksikään potilas ei menehtynyt porttilaskimopaineen nousuun liittyvään verenvuotoon. Kaikki potilaat, joilla oli todettu porttilaskimotukos olivat elossa tutkimusjakson lopussa. Tulosten perusteella näiden potilaiden ennuste on erinomainen ohitusleikkauksen (mesoportal bypass) kehittymisen myötä. Sappitieatresiapotilaiden sairastavuus ja kuolleisuus on merkittävä, mutta hoitotulokset ovat parantuneet vuoden 2005 hoidon keskittämisen jälkeen. Maksa-munuaissiirtoa tulee harkita potilaille, joilla on merkittävä maksasairaus polykystiseen munuaistautiin (ARPKD) liittyen. Lapsilla pernan poistoleikkaus ei ole merkittävä porttilaskimotukoksen riskitekijä, eikä näin altista kohonneen porttilaskimopaineen kehittymiselle. Nykyisillä hoitomenetelmillä potilaiden sairastavuus lapsuus- ja aikuisiässä on merkittävä. Kyselytutkimuksen perusteella potilaiden kokema terveydentila on kuitenkin hyvä ja valtaosa elää oireetonta elämää

Long-term outcomes after pediatric splenectomy

Background. Splenectomy is performed frequently for various and primarily hematologic indications in children and adolescents. We analyzed the long-term outcome after splenectomy (median, 8.7 years) focusing on sepsis, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), and retained accessory spleen. Methods. In total, 141 consecutive children after open (n = 89; 63 %) or laparoscopic (n = 52; 37%) splenectomy from 1991 to 2010 were followed up through nationwide registries for septic infections, PVT, and causes of death. Sixty-six patients (58% of survivors) answered a structured questionnaire on infections, abdominal symptoms, and general health, and 64 (laparoscopic n = 26, open n = 38) consented to ultrasonography of the portal venous system. Results. Median operation age was 8.8 years (range, 1.0-22). Reoperations were required for bleeding after open procedures (n = 1) and retained accessory spleen after laparoscopic procedures (n = 3). Postsplenectomy sepsis occurred after a median of 1.7 years (range, 0.2-5.9) in 11 patients (8%), of whom 10 had an underlying immunodeficiency. No cases of PVT were observed, although the median portal vein flow was 1,130 mL/min (range, 440-2200) and diameter was 9.9 mm (range, 7-15) at a median follow-up of 9.5 years (range, 2.0-22) after splenectomy. Twenty-seven patients (19%) died after 8.7 years (0.03-23.00). The most common cause of death was the underlying malignancy (n = 15), with sepsis being an additional cause of death in 5 patients. Conclusion. Postsplenectomy sepsis was associated almost exclusively with an underlying immunodeficiency with a high mortality rate. No PVT was observed. The overall risk of retained accessory spleen was around 7%, and was slightly greater after laparoscopic operation,.Peer reviewe

A randomized, controlled multicenter feasibility pilot trial on imaging confirmed uncomplicated acute appendicitis : Appendectomy vs. symptomatic treatment in pediatric patients (the APPSYPP) trial study protocol

Peer reviewe

Global attitudes in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: ACIE Appy Study

Background: Surgical strategies are being adapted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the management of acute appendicitis have been based on expert opinion, but very little evidence is available. This study addressed that dearth with a snapshot of worldwide approaches to appendicitis. Methods: The Association of Italian Surgeons in Europe designed an online survey to assess the current attitude of surgeons globally regarding the management of patients with acute appendicitis during the pandemic. Questions were divided into baseline information, hospital organization and screening, personal protective equipment, management and surgical approach, and patient presentation before versus during the pandemic. Results: Of 744 answers, 709 (from 66 countries) were complete and were included in the analysis. Most hospitals were treating both patients with and those without COVID. There was variation in screening indications and modality used, with chest X-ray plus molecular testing (PCR) being the commonest (19\ub78 per cent). Conservative management of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was used by 6\ub76 and 2\ub74 per cent respectively before, but 23\ub77 and 5\ub73 per cent, during the pandemic (both P < 0\ub7001). One-third changed their approach from laparoscopic to open surgery owing to the popular (but evidence-lacking) advice from expert groups during the initial phase of the pandemic. No agreement on how to filter surgical smoke plume during laparoscopy was identified. There was an overall reduction in the number of patients admitted with appendicitis and one-third felt that patients who did present had more severe appendicitis than they usually observe. Conclusion: Conservative management of mild appendicitis has been possible during the pandemic. The fact that some surgeons switched to open appendicectomy may reflect the poor guidelines that emanated in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2