Alejandro Garcia

Laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion with distal gastric preservation: technique and three-year followup.

BACKGROUND Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) has been used satisfactorily as one of several surgical treatments against morbid obesity in order to achieve long-term weight reduction. Our goal was to develop the BPD laparoscopically in humans in order to improve postoperative recovery and to reduce early and late complications, above all those derived from the abdominal wall, while maintaining the weight reduction results achieved. In addition, in order to reduce the laparoscopic difficulty of BPD technique and some complications associated with gastrectomy, we only carried it out in cases in which we considered it indispensable. PATIENTS AND METHODS Since October 2000 we have performed 50 laparoscopic BPD with distal gastric preservation (39 women and 11 men). We preserve the distal stomach if the upper digestive endoscopy with biopsy does not show pathological findings. RESULTS Two operations (within the first ten cases) were converted to open surgery. The average operating time was 177.7 minutes (range, 110-360 minutes). There were no immediate postoperative complications. There was no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSION It has been proven that BPD can be performed satisfactorily using laparoscopy, but this technique requires a very skilled and experienced laparoscopic surgeon. Avoiding gastrectomy is a very interesting option in order to reduce technical difficulties, surgeon stress, duration of the operation, patient stress, and, probably, postoperative morbidity and mortality. Laparoscopic BPD with distal gastric preservation is a very promising bariatric procedure with potential advantages over laparoscopic BPD with gastrectomy or open BPD.

Thoracoscopic Segmentectomy for Congenital and Acquired Pulmonary Disease: A Case for Lung-Sparing Surgery

PURPOSE Over the last 15 years thoracoscopic lobectomy for congenital and acquired lesions has become an accepted modality in pediatric thoracic surgery. There is still debate about the need to perform a complete lobectomy for some of these lesions, and some advocate observation rather than resection, despite possible long-term complications of untreated lesions. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans and physical findings at the time of surgery, along with new advanced techniques, now allow for discrete partial anatomic resections, which may preserve normal lung. This study evaluates the feasibility and early results using these techniques in selected cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS With institutional review board approval, the records of all patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection were reviewed. From January 2006 to December 2012, 23 patients, ranging from 1 month to 16 years of age and weighing 3.8-42 kg, underwent thoracoscopy for planned resection. Pathology was congenital cystic lung disease in 19 patients, bronchiectasis in 3 patients, and arteriovenous malformation in 1 patient. In each case findings on CT scan and at the time of surgery warranted consideration of lung-preserving surgery. Procedures were performed through three ports using single lung ventilation and CO2 insufflation to achieve lung collapse. The LigaSure™ device (Covidien, Norwalk, CT) was the primary instrument used to seal and divide the lung parenchyma and seal vessels. RESULTS All procedures were completed successfully thoracoscopically. An anatomic segmental resection was achieved in 22 of 23 cases. Operative time ranged from 30 to 300 minutes (mean, 120 minutes). Segmental resections included the left upper lobe apical/posterior (n=4), lingula (n=3), left lower lobe superior (n=5), medial or posterior basal (n=3), right middle lobe medial (n=1), right upper lobe apical (n=1), right lower lobe superior (n=4), and posterior basal (n=2). Two patients had more than one segment excised. Chest tubes were left in for 24 hours in 16 cases, 48 hours in 4 cases, and 5 days in 1 case. Hospital stay ranged from 1 to 6 days (mean, 2 days). Follow-up CT scans obtained at 1-6 years (mean, 28 months) show no residual disease in 20 of 21 patients. One patient underwent a nonanatomic resection and had evidence of recurrent congenital pulmonary airway malformation at the 4-year follow-up. This patient underwent a secondary thoracoscopic resection. CONCLUSIONS Thoracoscopic lung-conserving therapy is technically feasible and safe in infants and children. The magnification provided by a thoracoscopic approach makes identification of segmental anatomic planes easier, aiding in safe dissection and resection. Anatomic resection appears to be associated with a low morbidity. It may be appropriate in the case of bilateral or extensive disease or in cases where the diseased tissue is clearly limited to an anatomic segment. Continued long-term follow-up is needed.

Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and Protective Ventilation Strategies in Pediatric Surgery

Infants affected with congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH) suffer from some degree of respiratory insufficiency arising from a combination of pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Respiratory care strategies to optimize blood gasses lead to significant barotrauma, increased morbidity, and overuse of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Newer permissive hypercapnia/spontaneous ventilation protocols geared to accept moderate hypercapnia at lower peak airway pressures have led to improved outcomes. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation can be used in infants who continue to have persistent respiratory distress despite conventional ventilation. ECMO can be used successfully as a resuscitative strategy to minimize further barotrauma in carefully selected patients.

The use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in a newborn with an intracardiac thrombus developed during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support is often used to support infants and children with hemodynamic or respiratory failure. One of the major obstacles of safely treating a child with ECMO is balancing the risk of hemorrhage with the potential for thrombus development. Managing thrombosis in the setting of ECMO is challenging and has no defined algorithm. The use of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) for thrombolysis has been previously described in cases where thrombi have developed despite adequate anticoagulation. In such situations, the risk of hemorrhage must be carefully balanced with the benefit of dissolving the clot and reestablishing flow. We present a case of an infant who required ECMO because of severe primary pulmonary hypertension and subsequently developed a right atrial thrombus adjacent to the ECMO cannula. The patient was treated with tPA with immediate improvement but had fatal intracranial hemorrhage almost 3 days after the tPA was administered. In this report, we review the current literature on tPA use during ECMO support and suggest a rational approach.

Morio Kasai: A Remarkable Impact Beyond the Kasai Procedure

Morio Kasai is one of the most influential Japanese pediatric surgeons. He is best recognized in the United States for his pioneering efforts in the field of biliary atresia. His work revolutionized the treatment of infants born with biliary atresia throughout the world. Less is known about his remarkable impact in the fields of general surgery and pediatric surgery. This review highlights some of Dr Kasais major contributions and highlights the influence he had in the establishment of pediatric surgery as a field.

Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with concomitant ischemic stroke in a child

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common agents causing respiratory disease in children. The most common extra‐pulmonary manifestations of M. pneumoniae include central nervous system involvement, with stroke being an uncommon but devastating consequence. We present a 13‐year‐old girl with severe respiratory disease requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, who developed ischemic stroke associated with clinical and serologic evidence of M. pneumoniae. A case of M. pneumoniae causing this degree of respiratory failure associated with stroke has not been previously reported. Prompt recognition of severe mycoplasmal infection may allow for earlier treatment and concomitant evaluation of neurologic injury. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:98–101.

Thoracoscopic lobectomy for type I pleuropulmonary blastoma in an infant

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is a rare, aggressive, intrathoracic mesenchymal neoplasm associated with cystic lung lesions. The authors describe an 8-month-old male who underwent thoracoscopic left upper lobectomy for a cystic lung lesion initially diagnosed as congenital pulmonary airway malformation. Pathology revealed type I PPB.