Jack H.T. Chang

The safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic lung biopsy for diagnosis and treatment in infants and children

Thoracoscopic techniques were used to perform lung biopsies and limited resections in 36 consecutively treated cases. Biopsies were performed for interstitial lung disease in 27 cases, presumed metastatic lesions in 5, and cavitary lesions in 4. Histological diagnosis was obtained in 35 of the 36 cases, and therapy was directly affected by the results in 30 of 36 cases. There were no postoperative complications, and the average hospital stay for patients admitted the morning of surgery was less than 2 days. Limited thoracoscopic resection provides a safe and effective means for diagnosing and treating parenchymal disease of the lung.

Experience with minimally invasive surgery in infants

BACKGROUND This study evaluates the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of performing advanced endoscopic procedures in infants under 5 kg. METHODS Over a 51-month period 183 infants weighing 1.3 to 5.0 kg underwent 195 procedures using minimally invasive techniques. The majority of the procedures were performed using 3.5-mm instruments and 2.7-mm scopes. Procedures include Nissen fundoplication, pyloromyotomy, colon pull-through, patent ductus arteriosus closure, Ladds procedure, colon resection, congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair, ovarian cyst excision, and exploration. RESULTS All but two procedures were completed successfully endoscopically. There were two intraoperative complications and no mortality. Days to discharge for patients admitted for their specific procedure were Nissen 2.1, patent ductus arteriosus 2, pyloromyotomy 1, and pull-through 3.4. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that advanced endosurgical techniques in infants is safe, effective, and associated with the same benefit as that seen in older patients.

Thoracoscopic closure of patent ductus arteriosus: A less traumatic and more cost-effective technique

The authors have developed a technique of thoracoscopic closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) that significantly reduces the surgical morbidity, recovery time, and hospital costs traditionally associated with the standard open procedure. Ten patients have undergone the procedure, with nine completed successfully. One patient required conversion to an open thoracotomy. There were no operative complications, and closure of the ductus was confirmed in all cases with a postoperative echocardiogram. Eight of ten patients were discharged in under 24 hours, and hospital charges were on the average 30% to 40% less.

Laparoscopic pull-through procedures using the harmonic scalpel in infants and children with Hirschsprung's disease

Hirschsprungs disease in infants has routinely been treated by a three- or four-stage process requiring a rectal biopsy, diverting colostomy, pull-through procedure, and then colostomy takedown. This algorithm requires multiple hospitalizations and surgeries over several months. The authors have adopted a laparoscopic approach that allows the surgery to be performed in one stage with a marked decrease in morbidity and hospital stay. From March 1995 to May 1996, 15 infants and children, ages 7 days to 8 years and weighing 2.3 kg to 40 kg, underwent laparoscopic pull-through procedures. Eleven underwent primary pull-through, while four underwent a previous diverting colostomy. The laparoscopic portion of the pull-through was performed using three or four ports, size 3.5 mm or 5 mm and an ultrasonic dissector. The final submucosal dissection was performed transrectally starting 1 cm above the pectinate line. The rectal anastomosis was hand sewn, and no patient was left with a diverting colostomy. Operative time averaged 2 hours and 50 minutes. Average time to feeds was 1.3 days and the average days to discharge was 3.4. There was one intraoperative pathology misdiagnosis and one patient with an anastomotic stricture. All patients are excreting stools spontaneously at least daily and there have been no episodes of colitis. This preliminary report shows that the one-stage laparoscopic pull-through is safe and effective.

A standard of comparison for acute surgical necrotizing enterocolitis

We reviewed 187 cases of documented neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) from 1976 to 1988. Of these patients, 111 infants underwent celiotomy for acute surgical complications. The following protocol of operative indications was employed: pneumoperitoneum, localized mass, abdominal wall erythema, portal venous air, and clinical deterioration, singly or in any combination. Clinical deterioration was defined as falling platelet count, rising or falling white blood cell count, left shift in the myeloid series, persistently or progressively low pH, and increasing frequency of apnea or bradycardia. Overall mortality was 15% (28 of 187). For the patients who underwent celiotomy, all had histologic confirmation of NEC. Ninety-five had localized disease, and 16 had diffuse disease. All of the former had resection and diverting enterostomy with 85 (89.5%) surviving; none with diffuse disease survived, P less than 0.0001. Forty-one infants with NEC weighed less than 1,000 g; 25 underwent surgery and 15 (60%) survived. Fifty-one of the 159 surviving neonates (32%) developed intestinal strictures. All neonates with strictures have had resection and successful reconstruction of their gastrointestinal tract. These indications and surgical principles resulted in a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and a low degree of surgical mortality.

Experience with esophageal stenting forcaustic burns in children

Seven children with deep circumferential esophageal burns were treated with antibiotics, steroids, and intraluminal silastic stents. Strictures did not develop if the esophagus was healed at the time the stent was removed. However, strictures developed if healing was incomplete. Esophageal stenting needs to be continued until healing has been demonstrated endoscopically.

Generalized lymphangiomatosis with chylous ascites— Treatment by peritoneo-venous shunting+

The case of a patient with generalized lymphangiomatosis of the retroperitoneum, spleen, mediastinum and bone with massive chylous ascites treated by peritoneo-venous shunting is described.

Complications of the martin procedure for total colonic aganglionosis

From 1976 to 1986 inclusive, 122 patients were cared for with Hirschsprungs disease. Sixteen of these were treated for total colonic aganglionosis, with or without small bowel involvement. The male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Two children died prior to definitive surgical therapy and two others were transferred following initial therapy. Twelve children underwent Martins procedure with a 0% mortality rate and an 81.8% morbidity rate. This study would indicate, as do others, that even though the Martin procedure can safely be performed, the long-term results require close scrutiny. A re-evaluation of this procedure and its alternatives is necessary in order to improve long-term results.

The effective use of intrapleural bupivacaine for analgesia after thoracic and subcostal incisions in children

Twenty-four patients having undergone thoracotomies and subcostal incisions were treated for 24 hours with intrapleural bupivacaine with epinephrine. Vital signs, pain scores, and serum bupivacaine levels were recorded. No patient required narcotic medications and all patients obtained adequate analgesia. There were no complications of the technique or toxicity of the drug. Further studies need to be performed to extend the duration of use, to determine pharmacokinetics, and to compare with other techniques.

Obstruction of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava as a complication of giant omphalocele repair

Obstruction of the inferior vena cava with resultant Budd-Chiari syndrome after giant omphalocele repair has not previously been reported. Such a case is presented. We hypothesize the mechanism of this blockage to be posterior displacement of the inferior vena cava during reduction of the viscera and closure of the anterior abdominal wall, thereby creating angulation and mechanical blockage of the inferior vena cava at the diaphragmatic hiatus.