Pediatric Surgery International

Letter to the Editor concerning: “the non-visualized appendix and secondary signs on ultrasound for pediatric appendicitis in the community hospital setting”

Letter to the Editor concerning: “Inguinal hernia in neonates and ex-preterm: complications, timing and need for routine contralateral exploration”

Letter to editor re: Baba T, Mukai M, Masuya R, et al. (2019) The long-term health-related quality of life in patients operated for choledochal cyst. Pediatr Surg Int 35:539–546

Ultrasonography for diagnosis of appendicitis in children

Abnormal serum vitamin A levels and retinoic acid receptor α expression patterns in children with anorectal malformation Abstract Background Anorectal malformation (ARM) is known to be associated with maldevelopment of the enteric nervous system (ENS), and vitamin A (VA) and its metabolite retinoic acid (RA) play important roles in ENS development. Thus, our aim was to investigate serum VA levels in ARM newborns and RA receptor (RAR) expression in the rectum of ARM patients and animal models. Methods Serum VA concentrations were detected in newly diagnosed ARM neonates (n = 32) and neonates with non-alimentary tract malformations (n = 30). Intestinal specimens were divided into three groups: rectum from ARM patients (n = 30), colon from a stoma (n = 30) and rectum from controls (n = 4). RAR mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR. Rectum specimens from ARM patients were divided into two groups by postoperative pathology: the normal and lesion ganglion cell groups. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect RARα protein expression in rectum specimens. In addition, the ARM mouse model was induced by all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA), and the expression levels of RARα and the neuronal marker NeuN in the rectum of mice on embryonic day 16.5–18.5 (E16.5–18.5) were investigated. Results The serum concentration of VA in ARM neonates was lower than that in control neonates (P < 0.0001), and RARα mRNA expression was lower in the rectum specimens from ARM patients than in the colon specimens from a stoma and the rectum specimens from controls (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the colon from a stoma and the rectum from controls. RARα protein was expressed in the nucleus of ganglion cells and nerve fibers, and RARα protein expression in the lesion ganglion cell group was significantly lower than that in the normal ganglion cell group (P < 0.01). Compared with the control mice, ARM mice at E16.5–18.5 showed decreased fluorescence intensity of RARα and NeuN in the rectum. RARα and NeuN mRNA expression in the rectum on E16.5–18.5 was lower in ARM mice than in control mice (P < 0.05). Conclusion Serum VA concentration and the RARα expression pattern are abnormal in the rectum in ARM and may contribute to the ENS maldevelopment in ARM.

Intussusception in children: lessons learned from intestinal lymphoma as a rare lead-point Abstract Background Most cases of intussusception in children are idiopathic. Rarely, a malignant disease such as intestinal lymphoma may cause intussusception. Due to dramatic changes of expected outcome with chemotherapy regime alone, the surgical management of patients with intestinal lymphoma presenting with intussusception has to be reevaluated. Methods Retrospective chart review from May 2011 to February 2017. We included all patients with intestinal lymphoma presenting with intussusception. Results We found five patients with a mean age of 6.4 years (range 3–16). The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain for several weeks which had acutely worsened. In all but one patient an ultrasound before pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction showed a finding suspicious of a pathological lead-point. Pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction was attempted in all patients, no complications were noted. In one patient reduction was not successful. Recurrence after reduction occurred in two patients. Two patients needed surgery, three had a percutaneous ultrasound-guided biopsy for diagnostic purposes. All patients had aggressive mature B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Conclusion A high index of suspicion for the presence of a pathological lead-point in children older than 4 years and children with recurrent intussusception is necessary in patients presenting with intussusception. Malignant, highly aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, although rare, must actively be searched for. Pneumatic or hydrostatic reduction should remain the first line treatment in most cases.

Acid and bolus exposure in pediatric reflux disease according to the presence and severity of esophageal mucosal lesions Abstract Purpose The relationship between reflux index (RI) and bolus exposure parameters in multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) has not been examined sufficiently among children. The significance of acid and bolus exposure in evaluating pediatric reflux disease (RD) was explored by focusing on mucosal lesions. Methods We conducted MII-pH on 28 patients (median age 8 years) with suspected RD. We assessed relationships between RI and bolus exposure indices, and also compared acid and bolus exposures across patients grouped by endoscopic esophageal mucosal lesions. Results RI correlated significantly with distal acid reflux events (r = 0.60), acid bolus exposure time (BET) (0.55), and bolus clearance time (BCT) (0.48). Significant differences were observed among the control, non-erosive RD (NERD), and erosive RD (ERD) groups in all acid and several bolus exposure indices (distal and proximal frequencies, and BCT), while no significant difference was apparent between NERD and ERD. Acid exposure tended to be more severe in high-grade than in low-grade ERD, while no similar tendency was found in any bolus parameters other than BCT. Conclusions MII-pH showed great potential for investigating the pathophysiology of pediatric RD, with RI revealing different correlations with variable bolus exposure indices. However, no specific parameters allowing precise discrimination between RDs or mucosal severities were identified.

Transabdominal re-do pouch surgery in pediatric patients for failed ileal pouch anal anastomosis: a case matched study Abstract Purpose Data regarding safety and feasibility of re-do ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for failed ileal pouch in children are limited. In this study, we compared the short- and long-term outcomes of re-do IPAA in pediatric and adult populations in a case-matched setting. Methods Between March 2007 and June 2017, pediatric patients undergoing a transabdominal re-do IPAA by single surgeon were reviewed and case matched with adult counterparts. Short- and long-term outcomes including complications, functional outcomes, and quality of life of the two groups were compared. Results 60 patients were included (pediatric, n = 30; adult, n = 30). Time between index IPAA and re-do IPAA was shorter in the pediatric group (30 ± 26 vs 86 ± 74 months, p = 0.001). In the pediatric population, the existing pouch was more commonly used to construct the re-do pouch (n = 19 vs n = 12, p = 0.07). There was a trend towards the presence of less postoperative complications in pediatric group (n = 13 vs n = 20, p = 0.07). There were no reoperations or mortality. Long-term pouch survival was comparable between two groups (p = 0.96). Six re-do IPAAs failed in the study period. Conclusion Re-do IPAA is safe and feasible in pediatric population with failed IPAA and can be performed with similar short- and long-term outcomes compared to adults in experienced hands.

Risk factors of hepatic artery thrombosis in pediatric deceased donor liver transplantation Abstract Purpose Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) remains a life-threatening complication in liver transplantation. We aim to investigate the risk factors of HAT in deceased donor pediatric liver transplantation. Methods 104 recipients from 2014 to 2016 were enrolled; donor and recipient characteristics, surgical variables, graft and recipient survival rate were compared between recipients with or without HAT. Univariate and multivariate analysis were applied to identify the risk factors of HAT. Results The recipient survival rate was 87.0% and 96.3% at 1 year, and 87.0% and 96.3% at 3 years in HAT and non-HAT groups without significant difference. The graft survival rate was 73.9% and 96.3% at 1 year, and 73.9% and 95.1% at 3 years in HAT and non-HAT groups; significant difference was observed between two groups at both 1 and 3 years. Donor age less than 8.5 months, graft weight less than 190 g and GRWR less than 2.2% were identified as independent risk factors for HAT. Recipients with HAT were associated with higher incidence of post-operative biliary complications. Conclusions Young donor age and small liver graft are risk factors for HAT in deceased donor pediatric liver transplantation.

Early complications after laparoscopic resection of choledochal cyst Abstract Purpose To investigate the causes and treatments of early complications involving laparoscopic radical resection of choledochal cyst and summarize the experience. Methods Children with choledochal cyst treated by laparoscopy in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children’s Hospital, and Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre, from March 2016 to May 2018, were retrospectively analysed. Demographics, causes and treatments of early complications, liver function analysis and ultrasonography were collected. Results In total, 231 cases were included; 204 were Type I (156 Type Ia and 46 Type Ic) and 27 were Type IV. No mortality was observed, and 224 cases were successfully laparoscopically operated, while 7 cases were converted to open surgery. Fifteen cases of postoperative developed biliary fistula. There were jejunal Roux loop obstruction in 2 cases and multiple intussusception, anastomotic stenosis after hepaticojejunostomy, residual of choledochal cyst and pancreatic fistula in one each. Patients were followed up ranging from 4 months to 48 months (12.6 ± 0.3 months on average). Postoperative ALT, AST, GGT, TBIL and DBIL all returned to normal during this time. Ultrasonography indicated 5 cases of widened Glisson’s sheath and 1 case of intrahepatic hyperdense shadow. Conclusion Early complications of laparoscopic radical resection of choledochal cyst can be minimized by properly managing preoperative indications and contraindications, carefully interpreting the magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography results and accumulating experience by the surgeons.