Harshjeet Singh Bal

A retroperitoneal enteric duplication cyst communicating with the right upper ureter in an infant.

We report an extremely rare case of isolated retroperitoneal enteric duplication cyst with gastric mucosa causing haematuria and dysuria by communicating with the urinary system. A 9-month-old male child was admitted to our hospital with persistent haematuria, dysuria and anaemia. Investigations revealed a retroperitoneal cyst abutting the hydronephrotic non-functioning right kidney. At surgery an isolated retroperitoneal cyst communicating with the right pelviureteric junction was found. The kidney and associated cyst were excised. Histology of the cystic lesion revealed an enteric duplication cyst lined by ectopic gastric mucosa. Isolated retroperitoneal enteric duplication cyst communicating with the urinary tract has not been previously reported in the English literature. We propose that acid secretion into the right renal system was the cause of the haematuria–dysuria syndrome which promptly resolved postoperatively.

An assessment of quality of life of operated cases of esophageal atresia in the community.

Aims: To evaluate the outcome of the operated children of esophageal atresia (EA) focusing on their early and late morbidity and mortality and quality of life (QoL) of survivors. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional follow-up with retrospective analysis of available medical and surgical records of children who underwent repair for EA. Materials and Methods: The medical records of the children who underwent repair for EA during the period from 2000 to 2011 at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, were collected retrospectively. Patients with parents were invited to visit the hospital for follow-up and nutritional status, digestive and respiratory symptoms, status of associated anomalies and QoL assessment of children done. QoL assessment was done using the PedsQL™ 4.0 generic core scales questionnaire comprising 4 scale scores: physical, emotional, social functioning, and school functioning. Mean scores are calculated based on a 5-point response scale for each item and transformed to a 0-100 scale with a higher score representing better QoL. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 using Chi-square or Fisher′s exact test. Results: Of 79 patients operated during the said period, there were 10 deaths and a total of 69 (87%) children survived. Of the 66 patients available for follow-up, we interviewed 30 parents and children while for the remaining 36 children, out-patients charts were reviewed retrospectively. Mean follow-up duration was 3.56 years. The height and weight for age measurement showed 47% and 56% of children respectively as below the 5 th percentile. Main problems faced by operated EA children were of the respiratory (26%) and gastroesophageal (36%) tracts. In spite of the mentioned problems faced, the overall QoL of this group appeared good. In 23 of 30 patients, who answered PedsQL™ , more than 70% had scores >85 out of 100 in QoL scoring. Conclusions: While survivals of the children born with EA have improved, these children still face nutritional, respiratory, and gastroesophageal problems during their early childhood. In spite of this, the overall QoL of this patient group appears good.

Spontaneous rupture of a congenital diaphragmatic eventration in an infant.

Rupture of the diaphragm may be traumatic or spontaneous. A spontaneous rupture occurring in a congenital eventration of the diaphragm is extremely rare. Only one such case has been reported previously. We report a case of a 5-month-old male infant who presented with acute life-threatening respiratory distress secondary to spontaneous rupture of a congenital diaphragmatic eventration.

Urogenital management in cloaca: An alternative approach

Introduction: In the management of cloaca, there is concern that dissection of the urogenital sinus in early childhood with the aim of total anatomical correction is hazardous. Avoiding such mobilization and providing mitrofanoff channel, when needed, till peripubertal period reduces complications and is technically easier. Materials and Methods: Forty-three cases of cloaca were managed in the period 2004–2016. Case records and radiology were reviewed retrospectively. The follow-up evaluation was done by looking into voiding history, bowel movements, and menstruation history. Results: There were three groups of children, namely, those with no reconstruction done elsewhere except a diverting fecal stoma (Group I, n = 25), those who had undergone anorectal correction elsewhere with no attempt at urogenital reconstruction (Group IIA, n = 13), and tho with attempted bowel and genitourinary reconstruction elsewhere (Group IIB, n = 5). The Group I children (one still awaiting reconstruction) underwent early rectal reconstruction followed by expectant management of the urogenital apparatus. The 18 referred cases had multiple problems, chiefly urogenital, of congenital or iatrogenic origin. While urinary reconstruction included bladder augmentation, ileal neobladder, bladder neck closure, and ureteric reimplantation, the foundation of urinary management was intermittent catheterization through mitrofanoff stoma and the avoidance of any dissection of the cloacal common channel. Surgery on the genital tracts included drainage of hydrocolpos, perineal surgery for low vaginae and abdominoperineal vaginoplasty for high vaginae in the peripubertal period with or without bowel supplementation. Spontaneous voiding was maintained in 17 of 25 (68%) Group I girls (including one death later from intestinal complications), 7 of 13 (54%), Group IIA girls, and 1 of 5 (20%) Group IIB girls. Painless menstruation was noted in eight postpubertal girls, three through the cloacal channel (awaiting reconstruction) and five through the reconstructed vagina. Most of the children are on a bowel management program for fecal cleanliness with washouts through the neoanus or Malones stoma. Conclusion: We report a nonconventional approach to cloaca based on avoiding dissection of or around the common channel for urethrovaginal reconstruction, opting for mitrofanoff stoma for intermittent catheterization, when needed, and late vaginal reconstruction. We believe this approach has reduced the overall need for intermittent catheterization.

Residual terminal bowel fistulating into the alimentary tract: a hitherto unreported complication of surgery for anorectal malformation

The residual terminal bowel after pull-through surgery for anorectal malformation has been reported to cause urinary complications. We report two boys where residual bowel has fistulated postoperatively into the alimentary tract causing metabolic and septic complication in one and a large pelvic mass with urinary and rectal obstruction in the other.

The use of pedicled prepucial skin flap urethroplasty for proximal bulbomembraneous urethral stricture in children: an easy alternative to transpubic urethroplasty

Objective Pediatric urethral strictures are not uncommon, and a myriad of treatment options is available. The use of pedicled prepucial skin to augment a narrowed urethra is one of the useful methods. In this study, we describe the successful use of this technique in three children with stricture of the proximal bulbomembranous urethra. Materials and methods In this study, we reviewed three children aged 4, 7, and 10 years, respectively, with proximal bulbomembranous urethral stricture, who were treated at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, between 2012 and 2014, using a pedicled prepucial skin flap. Results The mean follow-up time was 28 months (range: 20–41 months). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. All three children were symptom-free with a good urinary stream at last follow-up. Conclusion The pedicled prepucial flap technique for proximal bulbomembranous urethral stricture in children is simple and easy to perform with good overall outcome.

The use of ileocolic segment for esophageal replacement in children

Aims: To evaluate and describe the procedure and outcome of ileocolic replacement of esophagus. Materials and Methods: We review 7 children with esophageal injuries, who underwent esophageal replacement using ileocolic segment in Christian Medical College, Vellore, India between 2006 and 2014. Results: The ileocolic segment was used in 7 children with scarred or inadequate esophagus. There were 4 girls and 3 boys, who underwent esophageal replacement using isoperistaltic ileocolic segment in this period. Age at presentation varied from 1 month to 14 years with an average of 4.6 years. The indications for ileocolic replacements were corrosive strictures in 5, failed esophageal atresia repair in one and gastric volvulus related esophageal stricture in another. The average follow-up duration was 37 months. One child with corrosive stricture lost to follow-up and died 2 years later in another center. Other 6 children were free of dysphagia till the last follow-up. Conclusions: Although the ileocolic segment is not commonly used for esophageal substitution, it can be useful in special situations where the substitution needs to reach the high cervical esophagus and also where the stomach is scarred and not suitable for gastric pull-up.

Use of congenital pouch colon for augmenting the neurogenic bladder in a child: a 13-year follow-up.

Congenital pouch colon is an anomaly always associated with anorectal malformation, where the colon is replaced by or terminates into a large aperistaltic intestinal pouch. Vertebral anomalies leading to neurogenic bladder are rare associated malformations. The pouch is aperistaltic and thus a poor rectal substitute but this very property makes it ideal for bladder augmentation. We report the first case where the pouch has been used to augment a high-pressure neurogenic bladder.

A giant lymphangioma of the body wall in a child: a heavy companion.

A 16-month-old boy presented with a painless swelling of the right chest wall that had been progressively increasing since birth. There was no fever or any other associated symptom. He had been initially evaluated at another centre and diagnosed as having lymphangioma, for which he had received intralesional sclerotherapy (details not available); as the swelling did not respond he was brought to our institute. On examination, a non-tender, well-defined large mass involving the right side of the chest and abdominal wall was found. The mass, measuring 40×38 cm, extended from the anterior midline of the body to the right paraspinal region posteriorly and from the right axilla to the right iliac crest vertically (figure 1). The ratio of the lesion to the total body length of the child was 0.5 in the vertical dimension. The overlying skin had an area of hyperpigmentation and the mass was soft and fluctuant. There was …