Katherine A. Barsness

The positive predictive value of rib fractures as an indicator of nonaccidental trauma in children

BACKGROUND Rib fractures have a strong association with nonaccidental trauma (NAT) and severe trauma. The purposes of this study were to evaluate rib fractures in children to determine (1) the positive predictive value of a rib fracture in defining NAT and (2) the frequency of rib fractures as the only skeletal manifestation of NAT. METHODS We reviewed the medical records and imaging of all children with rib fractures over a 6-year period. NAT was determined by the Child Advocacy and Protection team. RESULTS In children younger than 3 years of age, the positive predictive value (PPV) of a rib fracture as an indicator of NAT was 95%. The positive predictive value increased to 100% once historical and clinical circumstance excluded all other causes for rib fractures. CONCLUSION In this study, rib fracture(s) were the only skeletal manifestation of NAT in 29% of the children.

Cytokines for surgeons

All cells maintain continuous communication. Hormones derive constitutively from specialized cells to effect total body homeostasis. Conversely, cytokines are produced sporadically from almost all nucleated cells in response to surgical ischemia/septic challenge. Surgical patients are a stew of pulsating cytokines, which serve as the language between all surgically stressed somatic and myeloid cells. Therapeutic manipulation of cytokines has already generated some exhilarating success stories and some crushing disappointments. This introduction to surgically relevant cytokines is presented with the conviction that cytokine-based therapies of surgical patients will (in the future) prove as beneficial to our patients as antibiotics have in the past.

Postoperative complications in children undergoing gastrostomy tube placement.

BACKGROUND Gastrostomy tube placement is associated with frequent postoperative complications. The aims of this study were to 1) determine the incidence of postoperative gastrostomy complications and 2) determine if patient demographics, comorbidities, or operative technique could predict these complications. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted on children who underwent gastrostomy tube placement from June 2006 through August 2009. Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative technique, health care visits, and complications were collected. Data were analyzed by chi-squared analysis (P < 0.05 significant). RESULTS One hundred and fifty-nine patients were evaluated, with the majority of patients <5 years of age (129/159). Ninety-four patients underwent open gastrostomy, 31 laparoscopic gastrostomy, and 34 laparoscopic-assisted gastrostomy. Granulation tissue was the most common postoperative complication, occurring in 58% of patients (93/159). The majority of patients with granulation tissue had full resolution by the fourth postoperative month. Tube dislodgement was the second most common complication, occurring 69 times in 44 of the patients (28%) and resulting in 59 emergency department (ED) visits. Overall, gastrostomy complications resulted in 100 ED and 462 clinic visits. Ninety-three percent (93/100) of ED visits resulted in discharge home from the ED. Gender, age, insurance status, and operative technique were not predictive of complications. CONCLUSIONS Granulation tissue and tube dislodgement are the most common complications after gastrostomy placement in children. Gender, age, insurance status, and operative technique were not predictive of complications. Emergency department utilization is high in children with gastrostomy tubes.

Blunt diaphragmatic rupture in children.

BACKGROUND Although several series of blunt diaphragmatic rupture in adults have been published, this injury remains largely uncharacterized in the pediatric population. METHODS We queried our trauma registry for all children admitted with blunt diaphragmatic rupture over a 10-year period at a Level I pediatric trauma center. RESULTS Six children (aged 2-15 years; mean, 7 years) were identified with blunt diaphragmatic rupture (three right, two left, one bilateral), representing 0.4% of admissions. All of the children had associated injuries (4.5 per child), with a mean Injury Severity Score of 32. Four diaphragmatic injuries were identified during the initial evaluation. The two missed injuries were diagnosed at postinjury days 5 and 8. There were no deaths and all children were eventually discharged without sequelae. CONCLUSION Blunt diaphragmatic rupture occurs in children with a frequency and severity commensurate with that observed in adults. Our data suggest improved survival compared with adults with this injury.

Effect of resident postgraduate year on outcomes after laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis in children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine if the postgraduate level of resident in the operating room correlates with outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The charts of all children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis from 2007 to 2011 at a free-standing childrens hospital were reviewed. Outcomes of interest were compared between patient groups based on postgraduate level of the junior-most surgeon in the operating room: (1) junior resident (postgraduate year [PGY]-1, -2, and -3); (2) senior resident (PGY-4 or -5); (3) fellow (PGY-6 or -7); or (4) attending surgeon only. RESULTS Junior resident (n=327), senior resident (n=129), fellow (n=246), and attending (n=73) groups were similar in terms of age (P=.69), gender distribution (P=.51), race (P=.08), and perforation status (P=.30). Operative time was shorter for senior residents (P=.002), fellows (P<.001), and attending surgeons operating without a resident (P<.001) compared with cases with junior residents. The rate of conversion to an open operation was similar among groups (P=.46). Resident level was not predictive of complications, which occurred in 26 junior resident cases (8.0%; referent), 17 senior resident cases (13.2%; odds ratio [OR] 1.73; P=.11), 33 fellow cases (13.4%; OR 1.71; P=.06), and 8 attending cases (11.0%; OR 1.62; P=.27). Fellow involvement was associated with an increased rate of postoperative percutaneous abscess drainage or re-operation for abscess or bowel obstruction (9.8%; OR 2.31; P=.020). CONCLUSIONS Involvement of junior residents in pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with increased operative time but no higher rate of complications.

Hazardous complications of multiple ingested magnets: report of four cases.

Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence in the pediatric population. Frequent culprits include coins, toys, sharp objects and bones, which most often pass spontaneously. Magnet ingestion, however, can be a serious matter, especially when more than one is taken in. The extremely strong magnetic force between multiple magnets may result in numerous complications including bowel necrosis, perforation, obstruction, fistula formation, volvulus and death. We present the largest series reported to date, with four cases of multiple magnet ingestion at our institution with varied presentations and findings. We review the literature, and discuss the importance of having a high index of suspicion.

Ischemic Preconditioning: Fact or Fantasy?

Abstract  Fifteen years ago, an experimental effort to magnify a myocardial infarction, with preinfarction episodes of transient ischemia, proved paradoxically protective. In the ensuing years, surgeons have learned to discriminate a biochemical/metabolic/functional spectrum of cardiac states ranging from healthy myocardium to “stunned” or “hibernating” heart to the modes of “apoptotic” or “necrotic” cardiomyocyte death. It is now clear that “protective cardiac preconditioning” influences all of these cardiac states. The cellular mechanisms of preconditioning (PC) are now sufficiently understood to permit clinical application. Ligation of adrenergic, adenosine, bradykinin or opioid receptors involves signaling via both tyrosine and calcium‐dependent protein kinases (PKC), which activate mitochondrial ATP‐dependent potassium channels. Subsequently, the release of oxygen radicals induces nuclear translocation of transcriptional regulators, which transform the cardiomyocyte into a more resilient cell. Although preconditioning was initially recognized as protecting only against infarction, PC also limits postischemic dysrhythmias and enhances contractile function. Phase I (safety) and phase II (efficacy) clinical trials now persuasively support pharmacological preconditioning as a safe mode of preventing postcardiac surgical complications. Indeed, preconditioning is currently being proposed as adjunctive to hypothermic perfusates in protecting against the obligate organ ischemia during transplantation.

IL-1β induces an exaggerated pro- and anti-inflammatory response in peritoneal macrophages of children compared with adults

Children have a lower incidence of acute lung injury (ALI) compared with adults. Because ALI appears to be the end result of systemic hyperinflammation, children may either have 1) an attenuated pro-inflammatory response or 2) an augmented anti-inflammatory response compared with adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the IL-1-induced pro- and anti-inflammatory response of pediatric vs. adult peritoneal macrophages (PMs). We hypothesized that pediatric PMs would have an enhanced anti-inflammatory response compared with adult PMs. Human PMs were collected during elective laparoscopic procedures, cultured, and stimulated with IL-1β. IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNFα production were determined by ELISA. Statistical analyses were by ANOVA; a P <0.05 was significant. Our results showed that IL-1β induced an 11-fold increase in IL-10 production in pediatric PMs (659±103 vs. 60±25 control, P <0.05). There was no IL-10 production in IL-1β-stimulated adult PMs. IL-1β-induced TNF production was greater in children compared with adults (2152±166 vs. 592±188, P <0.05). Similarly, IL-1β-induced IL-6 production was greater in pediatric PMs compared with adults (532±3 vs. 444±52, P <0.05). There was no difference in IL-1β-induced IL-8 production in children compared with adults. The IL-10:TNFα ratio after IL-1β stimulation was 0.306±0.056 in pediatric macrophages and 0.020±0.015 in adult macrophages ( P <0.01). In conclusion, IL-1β-induced IL-6 and TNFα production were greater in pediatric than adult PMs. Furthermore, pediatric PMs had an 11-fold increase in IL-1β-induced IL-10 production, while adult PMs did not produce IL-10. Therefore, IL-1β induces both a pro- and an anti-inflammatory response in pediatric PMs, whereas adult PMs produce only pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to IL-1β. The exaggerated anti-inflammatory IL-10 response in children may be an important factor in the observed differences in ALI between children and adults.

Should We Be Concerned About Jejunoileal Atresia During Repair of Duodenal Atresia

INTRODUCTION During repair for duodenal atresia, it has been emphasized that inspection of the small bowel to identify a second atresia is required. The laparoscopic approach for repair of duodenal atresia has been criticized for its limitation to perform this step. Given that duodenal atresia and jejunoileal atresias do not share common embryologic origins, we question the validity of this concern. Therefore, we conducted a multicenter retrospective review of duodenal atresia patients to quantify the incidence of jejunoileal atresia in this population. METHODS After institutional review board approval (IRB #07-12-187X), a retrospective review was conducted on all patients who have undergone duodenal atresia repair at seven institutions over the past 7-12 years. Demographics and the presence or absence of a jejunoileal atresia were recorded. RESULTS Four hundred eight patients with duodenal atresia were identified. The mean gestaational age was 36.3 ± 2.9 weeks, and the mean weight was 2.5 ± 0.8 kg. Mean age at operation was 19 days (range, 1-1314). There was a 28% incidence of trisomy 21. Two patients (0.5%) were identified as having a second intestinal atresia, and both were type IIIb. One patient was diagnosed at the time of duodenal atresia repair; the other was a delayed diagnosis. Both patients did well after repair. CONCLUSIONS In this, the largest series of duodenal atresia patients compiled to date, the rate of a concomitant jejunoileal atresia is less than 1%. This low incidence is not high enough to mandate extensive inspection of the entire bowel in these patients, and a second atresia should not be a concern during laparoscopic repair of duodenal atresia.

Laparoscopic fundoplication after previous open abdominal operations in infants and children

BACKGROUND There have been multiple reports in the adult literature stating that previous open operations should no longer be considered a contraindication to the laparoscopic approach. However, there are little data on this topic in the pediatric population, particularly in patients with neonatal abdominal pathology unique to the newborn population. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with laparoscopic fundoplication after a variety of previous abdominal conditions and operations in the pediatric population. METHODS An institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review was performed on all patients undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication after a previous open operation between October 2000 and December 2007. The data collected demographics, comorbid conditions, previous abdominal operations, gastrostomy tube placement, time interval between the initial operation and laparoscopic fundoplication, conversions, and complications. RESULTS Forty-five patients underwent a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication after an open operation during the study interval. Mean age was 41.3 months (range, 1-233) with a mean weight of 14.3 kg (range, 2.9-63.6), and 31 were (78.9%) male. A total of 61 previous abdominal operations were performed (range, 1-4). Mean time between last open operation and laparoscopic fundoplication was 27.3 months (range, 0.5-147). Mean operative time was 161 minutes (range, 73-420). There were no conversions and 3 perioperative complications occurred (splenic hematoma, clogged gastrostomy tube, and liver bleed). Early reoperations were performed in 2 patients (4.4%): 1 for bleeding on day 2 and the other for leaking gastrostomy day 12. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that laparoscopic fundoplication after a previous open operation is feasible and safe.