Haluk Emir

Bronchoscopic removal of tracheobroncheal foreign bodies: value of patient history and timing.

Abstract Between 1990 and 1999, 741 bronchoscopic procedures were performed in 698 children, 594 of whom were evaluated for foreign-body aspiration (FBA) (mean age 3.9 years, male:female 287/307). Based on the presenting symptoms, clinical outcome, and complications, two major groups were identified. Group 1 consisted of 438 patients with a definitive history of FBA. Most were admitted soon after the aspiration with sudden onset of symptoms such as coughing, choking, wheezing, and respiratory distress. Group 2 comprised 156 patients with chronic pulmonary infections and/or atelectasis without a definitive history of FBA. The most common radiographic finding was emphysema of one lung in group 1 (61.1%) and pneumonia in group 2 (70%). Among the patients in whom a FB was removed, the percentage of normal radiography was 17%. The FB was identified and removed in 83% of cases in group 1. The complication rate in this group was 9.8%, and all the complications were treated medically. Only 2 patients required intercostal drainage. In group 2, a FB was identified in 25% of bronchoscopic examinations and 17% of the patients developed complications. One of these patients underwent an urgent thoracotomy due to bilateral tension pneumothoraces and 2 required tracheostomies. Patients with a definitive history of FBA, even with a normal physical examination and radiographic findings, must undergo bronchoscopic investigation. Cases with late presentation and chronic pulmonary infection are at high risk. In this group care should be take in determining the indication and timing of bronchoscopy in order to prevent life-threatening complications.

Esophageal replacement using the colon : a 15-year review

Abstract Colonic interposition is a treatment option in childhood when esophageal replacement (ER) is necessary. We reviewed 18 children who underwent ER by colon between 1984 and 1999. There were 5 with esophageal atresia and 13 with corrosive esophagitis; 15 had long-term follow-up (mean 38 months). Three procedures were performed by the Waterston technique and 12 by the retrosternal technique. ER was completed in a single stage in all but 1 patient. Pyloroplasty or antireflux surgery were not done routinely during colonic interposition. As early complications, we observed 11 cervical leaks and 2 pulmonary problems. As late complications, there were 4 redundancies, 3 gastrocolic refluxes, 2 cervical anastomotic stenoses, and 1 each intestinal obstruction due to adhesions, cologastric stricture, cosmetic deformity of the thorax, and bulging of the neck. Six patients with complications required secondary surgery. There were 4 deaths, 2 of them unrelated to the surgery. Cervical leakage, which was the most commonly observed problem, healed well. We believe the colon is still one of the best substitutes for the esophagus and that there is no need to perform a routine pyloroplasty or antireflux procedure as an adjunct to the primary surgery.

Congenital Imperforate Hymen with Hydrocolpos Diagnosed Using Prenatal MRI

WEB This is a Web exclusive article. mperforate hymen is a rare genital anomaly in which a layer of epithelized connective tissue that forms the hymen has no opening and completely obstructs the vaginal introitus. Hydrocolpos and hydrometrocolpos may occur secondary to this condition. Imperforate hymen usually does not cause symptoms until puberty [1]. This anomaly manifests as an abdominal mass that is detectable during the prenatal period only rarely [2]. We present a case of bilateral hydroureteronephrosis caused by hydrocolpos in a female fetus with an imperforate hymen that was diagnosed using prenatal MRI.

Quo vadis? Ureteric reimplantation or ignoring reflux during augmentation cystoplasty.

To decide whether antireflux surgery should be used in the presence of vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) in children, in whom an augmentation procedure is needed, because secondary VUR in children with a neurogenic bladder, infravesical obstruction and primary VUR in the exstrophy‐epispadias complex is expected to resolve after augmentation, which decreases the intravesical pressure and increases capacity.

Intestinal rotation anomalies in childhood: review of 22 years' experience.

PurposeWe review our experience of treating intestinal rotation anomalies in infants and children in the 22-year period between 1978 and 2000.MethodsThe type of operation performed, postoperative complications, and mortality were compared in three age groups. Group 1 consisted of neonates ≪1 month old, Group 2 consisted of infants aged ≪1 year old, and Group 3 consisted of children aged ≫1 year old.ResultsThere were 101 infants and children, with a female : male ratio of 2 : 1. Of the 101 patients, 72 (71%) were neonates, with a mean age of 11.8 days (range 1–28 days); 20 (19.8%) were under the age of 1 year, with a mean age of 6.7 months (range 1–12 months); and 9 (8.9%) were ≫1 year of age, with a mean age of 6 years (range 1–9 years). Eighty-five (84%) patients underwent emergency procedures. Ladd’s operation was performed in all patients, with various additional procedures. The most frequent postoperative complications were adhesive intestinal obstruction, stoma necrosis, evisceration, and short bowel syndrome. The mortality rate was 36% in Group 1, 20% in Group 2, and 0% in Group 3.ConclusionsIn this series surgery was usually performed as an emergency procedure, with higher morbidity and mortality in newborns than in older infants and children.

Arterial carbon dioxide markedly increases during diagnostic laparoscopy in portal hypertensive children.

Several factors are responsible for hypercarbia during laparoscopic procedures. This study was undertaken because we observed a sudden increase in Paco2 in children with portal hypertension (PHT), which was unusual in healthy children undergoing laparoscopic procedures. Fifty-seven children underwent laparoscopic procedures under general anesthesia and were mechanically ventilated. Arterial blood samples were obtained 5 min after intubation (T0), 15 min and 30 min after CO2 pneumoperitoneum (T15 and T30), 5 min after desufflation (Tend), and 10 min after extubation (Text) for blood gas analysis. The changes in Paco2, pH, and ETco2 were statistically significant during the study periods in both groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of Paco2 increase between T0 and T15 was 11.5% and 20.1%, respectively, in the control group and the PHT group (P < 0.05). This increase reached 36.8% at T30 in the PHT group, whereas the control group had a 17.2% increase (P < 0.05). ETco2 presented similar changes. The variability in base excess, bicarbonate, Pao2, arterial oxygen saturation, and Spo2 was not significant in either group (P > 0.05). The Paco2 increased remarkably in children with PHT undergoing laparoscopy, with no difference in intrahepatic or extrahepatic origin. Limiting the duration of CO2 pneumoperitoneum and intraabdominal pressure and adjusting ventilatory variables to accommodate hypercarbia are of the utmost importance for such cases.

The roles of extracellular matrix proteins, apoptosis and c-kit positive cells in the pathogenesis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction

AIM To investigate histopathological changes in ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) from an etiological perspective. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medical records of patients with UPJO were reviewed and pathological specimens collected. Nephrectomy materials from forensic autopsies were taken as controls. Specimens were assessed with light microscopy. Fibronectin, type 4 collagen, laminin, Bax and Bcl-2 expression for apoptosis, together with interstitial cells of Cajal determination with c-kit were determined immunohistochemically. Staining scores were evaluated semiquantitatively. Results were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS Control group comprised 14 children (median age, 3.5 years; 6 months-17 years). Study group comprised 22 children with UPJO (median age, 9 months; 1 month-10 years). Light microscopy revealed non-specific inflammation, epithelial proliferation and atrophy with fibrosis in the smooth muscle of the UPJ in all patients. Fibronectin, type 4 collagen and laminin were found to be significantly increased in UPJO at the intrafascicular space of smooth muscle and the matrix of stroma. Bcl-2 expression was increased in UPJO. c-Kit was unable to stain interstitial cells of Cajal, but staining for mast cells was significant. CONCLUSIONS High expression of fibronectin, laminin and type 4 collagen may indicate a relation to the pathogenesis of UPJO. Defective kidney morphogenesis, during branching and tubulogenesis of ureteric bud, may be responsible for this congenital pathology.

The effects of sucralfate and selective intestinal decontamination on bacterial translocation.

Abstract Sucralfate is widely used as a cytoprotective agent in patients with peptic ulcer and other intestinal mucosal damage. In this study, the effects of sucralfate and/or selective intestinal decontamination with gentamycin on bacterial translocation (BT) in rats with experimentally-induced mechanical jaundice were investigated. Seventy-five adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups of 15 each. In all except a sham group, we performed ligation of the common bile duct (CBD) via a vertical laparatomy. After surgery, the rats in group 1 were treated with oral sucralfate (5 mg/kg per day); those in group 2 underwent oral gentamycin therapy (5 mg/kg per day) for 5 days. Group 3 rats were treated with sucralfate and gentamycin for 5 days subsequent to the operation. The rats in group 4 served as controls, and received only 0.9% saline solution. Group 5 was a sham group. After 5 days of surgery, all rats were killed; the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and a segment of terminal ileum were harvested aseptically. The collected tissues were cultured in McCaunkey medium and chocolate agar. For each specimen, the colony-forming units (CFU) were calculated and the percentage of viable translocated micro-organisms was counted. In all rats who had ligation of the CBD, high numbers of bacteria were demonstrated in the liver, MLN, and ileum. In the liver of rats with sucralfate and/or gentamycin treatment, there was a marked reduction in CFU compared to the control group. Similarly, in the MLN measurements of CFU were higher in the control rats than the study groups. In both McCaunkey and chocolate media, the numbers of bacteria in control rats were significantly higher than in the study groups (P < 0.001). However, among the study groups themselves there was no significant difference in CFU in any of the specimens or culture media (P > 0.05). Experimentally-induced mechanical jaundice from ligation of the CBD causes significant BT in rats. Sucralfate and/or gentamycin may reduce the degree of BT from the bowel mucosa. We did not find any difference in protection from BT between sucralfate and gentamycin or both in rats with experimentally-induced mechanical jaundice.

Comparison of urodynamic investigations before and after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty for anorectal malformations

METHODS The authors evaluated 21 patients (10 boys, 11 girls) who had anorectal malformations (ARM). Ten of them had infralevator (low-group I) and 11 of them had supralevator (high-group II) type ARM. All of the patients underwent urodynamic investigation before and after posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) operation. RESULTS Sacral and spinal anomalies were found in 54% (6 of 11) patients who had supralevator type ARM. None of the patients with infralevator type ARM had additional sacral or spinal anomalies. Before PSARP operation urodynamic investigations of all infralevator type ARM patients were within normal limits, whereas 82% (9 of 11) of patients with supralevator type ARM showed neurovesical dysfunction (NVD). There was no significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative urodynamic findings. The possibility of additional sacral or spinal anomalies and NVD in supralevator type ARM was high. After PSARP operation no additional lower urinary tract dysfunction was detected in the urodynamic evaluation of ARM patients.

Emotional effects of hypospadias surgery on Turkish boys

PURPOSE The aim of this study is to investigate in Turkish boys the emotional effects of hypospadias repair before and after the optimal age for repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty hypospadias patients treated in our department were included in this study. Group 1 consisted of 13 patients operated on at less than 30 months of age. Group 2 consisted of 27 patients operated on at over 30 months of age. Age at time of study, severity of hypospadias, age at repair and number of operations were evaluated for both groups retrospectively. Socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics of these patients including place of residence, educational level of their parents and parental occupations were determined. The Turkish versions of the Childrens Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children A-State scale were used to evaluate the emotional effects of hypospadias surgery. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, Students t test and Chi-squared test were used. RESULTS There was a significant difference in the age at repair between Groups 1 and 2. No significant differences existed in severity of hypospadias and number of operations between the two groups. All 40 patients had the same socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics. Group 1 did not significantly differ from Group 2 in regard to the educational level of their parents and parental occupations. Age at repair, which was the only difference between the two groups, did not affect the level of depression and anxiety-state symptoms. CONCLUSIONS There is a close relationship between emotional effect of hypospadias surgery and age at repair. Possibility of depression and anxiety, which were dominating emotional symptoms among boys operated on for hypospadias, was found not to be high after the recommended age. It is concluded that, as hypospadias surgery creates a circumcised penis, the degree of emotional trauma is lower in Turkish boys than in other nationalities.