Ibrahim Akkoyun

Advantages of abandoning abdominal cavity irrigation and drainage in operations performed on children with perforated appendicitis

PURPOSE This study evaluates the effect of peritoneal irrigation and drainage on postoperative morbidity when used together for perforated appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was conducted on children undergoing open appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. Sixty-one children with perforated appendicitis operated on with irrigation and drainage between July 1998 and September 2001 (group DI) and 173 children with perforated appendicitis who underwent surgery without irrigation and drainage (group NDI) between October 2001 and November 2011 were retrospectively evaluated (a total of 234 patients). All patients were treated and followed up by the same pediatric surgeon using the same protocol. Both groups were compared in respect to postoperative complications, including wound infection, wound dehiscence, intraabdominal abscess, prolonged ileus, the presence of small bowel obstruction requiring surgery, operative time, and length of postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS Of the total 234 patients, 151 were male and 83 were female with a mean age of 8.9 ± 3.7 years (range, 1.5-15 years). The wound infection rates were 4.9% in group DI and 1.7% in group NDI (P = .184). Wound dehiscence was seen in 1.6% vs 0%, prolonged ileus in 8% vs 2.3%, intraabdominal abscess in 4.9% vs 1.7%, and small bowel obstruction requiring surgery in 1.6% vs 0.6% of the patients (P = .261, P = .054, P = .184, and P = .454, respectively). No statistically significant difference in postoperative infectious complications was found between both groups. The length of postoperative hospital stay was 9.9 ± 4.1 days in group DI vs 6.3 ± 2.4 days in group NDI (P < .001). The operation times were 39 ± 8 and 31 ± 11 minutes, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that peritoneal irrigation and drainage in children with perforated appendicitis is not required, and in fact, these procedures cause an increase in operative time.

Laparoscopic Cystectomy for the Treatment of Benign Ovarian Cysts in Children: An Analysis of 21 Cases

STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcomes of treatment with minimal invasive surgery in children with benign ovarian cysts. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SETTINGS Maternity and children hospital. PATIENTS Between May 2007 and May 2011, 21 children were treated by laparoscopic method for ovarian cysts at our clinic. The age, symptoms, ultrasonographic findings, operation records and follow-up times were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS The mean age was 13.2 years. One patient presented with findings of torsion and another presented with findings of rupture; both were urgently operated on. The other patients presented with intermittent abdominal pain and were operated on under elective basis. The mean cyst size was 8.4 cm (5-13 cm). One patient with necrotic ovary and salpinx due to torsion underwent salpingo-oophorectomy while the others were administered ovary-preserving cystectomy. Only 4 patients required iv paracetamol as an analgesic in the postoperative period. Two patients were discharged on the second postoperative day while the remaining 19 patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. During a mean follow-up of 14 months, no recurrence was seen in this period. Cosmetic appearance was good in all patients. CONCLUSION The authors demonstrated that laparoscopic cystectomy was a technically feasible and safe method in the treatment of benign ovarian cysts, associated with short hospitalization, minimal analgesic requirement, and a good cosmetic appearance.

A new, easy, and safe suturing technique for laparoscopic repair of Morgagni hernias

Laparoscopic repair is gaining attention as a minimally invasive surgical option for children with Morgagni hernias. There are very few reports in the literature in which different suturing techniques are described. In this report, the authors detail a new, easy, and safe suturing technique used in the laparoscopic repair of a Morgagni hernia in a five-and-a-half-month-old baby.

Laparoscopic cystectomy for splenic hydatid cyst: a case report

Even in countries where it is considered endemic, splenic hydatid cyst is a very rare disease in childhood. Partial or total splenectomy has generally been the treatment of choice for this condition. This is the first report of laparoscopic cystectomy as treatment of isolated splenic hydatid cyst in childhood. A 10-year-old girl with isolated splenic hydatid cyst was successfully treated by laparoscopic cystectomy and splenic preservation. The authors have demonstrated that laparoscopic cystectomy for an isolated splenic hydatid cyst is technically feasible, safe, and is associated with a shorter hospital stay and good cosmetic appearance.

Effects of carbon dioxide insufflation on regional cerebral oxygenation during laparoscopic surgery in children: a prospective study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Laparoscopic surgery has become a popular surgical tool when compared to traditional open surgery. There are limited data on pediatric patients regarding whether pneumoperitoneum affects cerebral oxygenation although end-tidal CO2 concentration remains normal. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the changes of cerebral oxygen saturation using near-infrared spectroscope during laparoscopic surgery in children. METHODS The study comprised forty children who were scheduled for laparoscopic (Group L, n=20) or open (Group O, n=20) appendectomy. Hemodynamic variables, right and left regional cerebral oxygen saturation (RrSO2 and LrSO2), fraction of inspired oxygen, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO2), peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak), respiratory minute volume, inspiratory and end-tidal concentrations of sevoflurane and body temperature were recorded. All parameters were recorded after anesthesia induction and before start of surgery (T0, baseline), 15min after start of surgery (T1), 30min after start of surgery (T2), 45min after start of surgery (T3), 60min after start of surgery (T4) and end of the surgery (T5). RESULTS There were progressive decreases in both RrSO2 and LrSO2 levels in both groups, which were not statistically significant at T1, T2, T3, T4. The RrSO2 levels of Group L at T5 were significantly lower than that of Group O. One patient in Group L had an rSO2 value <80% of the baseline value. CONCLUSIONS Carbon dioxide insufflation during pneumoperitoneum in pediatric patients may not affect cerebral oxygenation under laparoscopic surgery.

Inguinal hernias containing the uterus: a case series of 7 female children.

BACKGROUND Hernia uteri inguinale (HUI), or uterus-containing inguinal hernia, is an extremely rare condition in which the uterus and uterine adnexa are found in the inguinal hernial sac in female infants. The uterus may be free within the sac adherent to the wall by adhesions or a true sliding component. However, in true sliding-type HUI, one of the walls of the hernia sac is formed by the uterus itself. PATIENTS AND METHODS The medical records for all female children with inguinal hernia who were operated from 1999 through 2010 were reviewed retrospectively (n = 3100). RESULTS Among these patients, we identified seven cases of HUI in infants with a normal female karyotype. The incidence of HUI was 0.23%. Patients were discharged on the postoperative 1st day with no complications. CONCLUSIONS Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of presence of the uterus or another organ in the hernial sac in phenotypic female children, and sliding components should be replaced carefully into the abdomen to prevent any damage.

Closing the appendicular stump with a polymeric clip in laparoscopic appendectomy: analysis of 121 pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and other advantages of closing the appendicular stump with a polymeric clip in laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). METHODS In this study, 121 pediatric patients who underwent LA between July 2009 and July 2011 were included. Age and gender of the patients, the number of clips, operative time and length of hospitalization, complications, and follow-up periods were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Of appendicular stump of a total of 121 patients who were underwent LA, 71 were closed with double polymeric clips and 50 were closed with a single polymeric clip. Patients were between the ages of 3 and 15 years (mean 8.3 years). Out of the 121 patients, 54 were female and 67 were male. The duration of the operation was ranged from 13 to 55 minutes (mean 28 minutes). Of these, 83 patients were discharged in less than 24 hours. The cost of a single clip was 10 USD. The follow-up period of patients were ranged between 1 and 23 months (mean 13 months). No operative or postoperative complications occurred depending on the application of the polymeric clip. CONCLUSION LA using polymeric clip/s to close appendicular stump in children is a safe, feasible, and inexpensive method.

The use of digital photos and video images taken by a parent in the diagnosis of anal swelling and anal protrusions in children with normal physical examination

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that digital photos and video images taken by a parent can provide a definite diagnosis and makes some diagnostic procedures (eg, air contrast enema, sigmoidoscopy) unnecessary for anal swelling and anal protrusions in children with normal physical examination. METHODS In a 41-month period (September 2007-January 2011), 23 parents brought their children to the clinic, stating that they saw a swelling in the anal region and/or that something protruded from the anus while their children were defecating. If the visual inspection of the anal region and digital rectal examination of the patients were normal, parents were asked to take photos or record videos when the lesion occurred to make a diagnosis and avoid the need for air contrast enema and/or sigmoidoscopy. The parents were also asked either to send these images to the surgeon via e-mail or bring an image or the camera to the surgeons office. The patients age, sex, symptoms, medical history, results of their first physical examination, photos and video records, and the diagnosis and treatment were recorded. All of these information were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS The photos provided by 20 parents and the video records from 3 parents were assessed, and the diagnoses of all patients were confirmed. Of these 23 patients, a definitive diagnosis of rectal prolapse in 8, hemorrhoids in 10, rectal polyps in 3, and sentinel skin tag in 2 was made. In addition, the photographic and video evidence gave the clinicians an idea of the degree of rectal prolapse in patients for whom this was a problem. Three patients diagnosed with a rectal polyp underwent polyp excision. One patient with rectal prolapse who was unresponsive to medical treatment underwent laparoscopic posterior rectopexy, and all other patients received medical treatment. CONCLUSION When a swelling or protruding anal lesion in a child is discovered by parents and visual inspection of the anal region and digital rectal examination is normal, parents should be encouraged to take photos or videos of the anal region before performing air contrast enema and/or sigmoidoscopy. These photos and videos can provide a definitive diagnosis and prevent unnecessary diagnostic procedures.

Efeitos da insuflação de dióxido de carbono sobre a oxigenação cerebral regional durante cirurgia laparoscópica em crianças: um estudo prospectivo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Laparoscopic surgery has become a popular surgical tool when compared to traditional open surgery. There are limited data on pediatric patients regarding whether pneumoperitoneum affects cerebral oxygenation although end-tidal CO2 concentration remains normal. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the changes of cerebral oxygen saturation using near-infrared spectroscope during laparoscopic surgery in children. METHODS The study comprised forty children who were scheduled for laparoscopic (Group L, n=20) or open (Group O, n=20) appendectomy. Hemodynamic variables, right and left regional cerebral oxygen saturation (RrSO2 and LrSO2), fraction of inspired oxygen, end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PETCO2), peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak), respiratory minute volume, inspiratory and end-tidal concentrations of sevoflurane and body temperature were recorded. All parameters were recorded after anesthesia induction and before start of surgery (T0, baseline), 15min after start of surgery (T1), 30min after start of surgery (T2), 45min after start of surgery (T3), 60min after start of surgery (T4) and end of the surgery (T5). RESULTS There were progressive decreases in both RrSO2 and LrSO2 levels in both groups, which were not statistically significant at T1, T2, T3, T4. The RrSO2 levels of Group L at T5 were significantly lower than that of Group O. One patient in Group L had an rSO2 value <80% of the baseline value. CONCLUSIONS Carbon dioxide insufflation during pneumoperitoneum in pediatric patients may not affect cerebral oxygenation under laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic Excision of Omental Infarction Mass: A Case Report

Omental infarction is a very rare cause of an acute abdomen in children. Symptoms, in particular, display a great similarity to those of appendicitis. A 10-year-old boy with omental infarction was successfully treated by laparoscopic excision. The authors have demonstrated that laparoscopic excision is a technically feasible and safe method associated with a shorter hospital stay, no requirement for analgesics and a good cosmetic outcome.