Semire Serin Ezer

Predictability of outcome of caustic ingestion by esophagogastroduodenoscopy in children

AIM To assess the necessity of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to predict the outcome of caustic ingestion in children. METHODS The study included 206 children who underwent EGD because of ingestion of caustic substances between January 2005 and August 2010. Retrospective analysis of data of the patients was performed. RESULTS The male/female ratio was 1.6 and mean age was 38.1 ± 28.8 mo. The caustic substances were acidic in 72 (34.9%) cases, alkaline in 56 (27.2%), liquid household bleach in 62 (30.1%), and unknown in 16 (7.8%). Fifty-seven (27.7%) patients were symptom-free. Significant clinical findings were observed in 149 (72.3%) patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings of esophageal injury were grade 0 in 86 (41.7%) patients, grade 1 in 49 (23.8%), grade 2a in 42 (20.4%), grade 2b in 28 (13.6%), and grade 3a in 1 (0.5%) patient. 35 patients with grade 2a, 2b, and 3a injuries underwent esophageal dilation at second week of ingestion. Esophageal stricture, which necessitated a regular dilation program developed in 13 of the aforementioned 35 patients. There is no statistically significant difference in the rate of development of esophageal stricture between the patients who ingested acidic (15.3%) and alkaline (8.9%) substances (P = 0.32). Severe gastric injury was detected in 38 (18.5%) patients. The rate of development of gastric injury was significantly higher in the acidic group (14%) than in the alkaline group (2.9%) (P = 0.001). Out of 149 patients with clinical findings, 49 (32.9%) patients had no esophageal injury and 117 (78.5%) patients had no gastric lesion. Esophageal and severe gastric injuries were detected in 20 (35.1%) and 8 (14%) of patients with no clinical findings respectively. Pyloric stenosis developed in 6 patients. Pyloric obstruction improved with balloon dilation in 2 patients. Mean hospitalization time were 1.2 ± 0.5 d for grade 0 and 2.3 ± 5 d for grade 1 and 6.3 ± 6.2 d for grade 2a and 15.8 ± 18.6 d for grade 2b. It was significantly longer for patients with grade 2a and 2b injuries (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION Endoscopy is an effective technique for determining the presence of esophageal and gastric damage and to avoid unnecessary treatment in patients with no or mild injury.

Perianal abscess and fistula‐in‐ano in children: Aetiology, management and outcome

Aim:  We aimed to assess our experience in treatment and outcome of perianal abscess and/or fistula‐in‐ano in children.

Primary vaginal calculus secondary to urethrovaginal fistula with imperforate hymen in a 6-year-old girl

Primary vaginal stones are extremely rare in children and may be mistaken for bladder calculi on plain radiography. We present a case of a large vaginal calculus in a 6-year-old girl who had an imperforate hymen and urethrovaginal fistula. Hymenotomy and urethrovaginal fistula repair were performed, and the vaginal stone was extracted. It was postulated that the vaginal calculus originated from stasis of urine through the urethrovaginal fistula in the obstructed vagina. This is a unique case of a vaginal calculus with a congenital urethrovaginal fistula associated with an imperforate hymen.

Percutaneous treatment of portal vein thrombosis in a child who has undergone splenectomy

Thrombosis of the portal venous system is a well-recognized and potentially lethal complication after open or laparoscopic splenectomy. A 7-year-old girl with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura developed a portal vein thrombosis after open splenectomy. The portal vein thrombosis was diagnosed by color Doppler sonography. A percutaneous transhepatic thromboaspiration of the acute thrombus was done on the third postoperative day. Anticoagulation was continued for 6 months. The presented patient is the youngest patient to undergo percutaneous thromboaspiration of an acute thrombus via the transhepatic route. Percutaneous thromboaspiration via the transhepatic route is an effective means of treating a portal vein thrombosis.

Urinary NGAL, KIM-1 and L-FABP concentrations in antenatal hydronephrosis

INTRODUCTION The clinical tests currently in use for obstructive nephropathy (such as renal ultrasonography, differential radionuclide renal scans and urinary creatinine concentration data) are not efficient predictors of the subsequent clinical course. Novel and simple biomarkers are required which, if proven, could be clinically beneficial in determining if a patient is eligible for surgery or reno-protective therapy. More recently, the interest of clinicians has focused on the potential of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL), urinary kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) and urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding proteins (uL-FABP) as biomarkers for renal function in children with hydronephrosis (HN). OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate possible clinical applications of uNGAL, uKIM-1 and uL-FABP as beneficial non-invasive biomarkers to determine whether or not surgical intervention is required in children with HN. STUDY DESIGN Renal ultrasonography and radionuclide renal scans were used as diagnostic tools to detect HN. Patients were divided into two groups based on the antero-posterior diameter of their renal pelvis and the presence of dysfunction. Group 1 included 26 children with severe HN (with dysfunction), and group 2 consisted of 36 children with mild HN (without dysfunction). Urine samples were collected from 62 children with HN and 20 healthy children. RESULTS Hydronephrosis was more common in males than in females, with a male to female ratio of 9:1 in the study sample. The incidence of left kidney involvement (32 patients) was slightly higher than right kidney involvement (28 patients). Compared with controls and group 2, the ratio of uNGAL to creatinine was significantly higher in group 1 (p < 0.05). The biomarker uNGAL/Cr exhibited fairly good diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the curve of 0.68 [95% confidence interval 0.6-0.7] and an optimal cut-off value of 0.16 ng/mg Cr (sensitivity 58%, specificity 75%) (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between the uNGAL/Cr ratio and the uKIM-1/Cr ratio (r = 0.582, p < 0.05) and uL-FABP/Cr ratio (r = 0675, p < 0.05) in group 1. DISCUSSION The results clearly demonstrated that children with hydronephrosis and dysfunction had significantly increased uNGAL, and uNGAL/Cr concentrations. However, uKIM-1, uKIM-1/Cr, uL-FABP and uL-FABP/Cr concentrations were not significantly different when compared with controls. These results support the use of uNGAL concentrations as an early marker for renal dysfunction in HN. CONCLUSIONS The study clearly demonstrated that pediatric patients with hydronephrosis and dysfunction had significantly higher uNGAL to creatinine concentrations as compared with controls.

An Uncommon Presenting Sign of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: Focal Perianal Lesions Without Systemic Involvement

A 3-year-old boy presented with constipation and perianal lesions resembling condyloma latum. The results of a biopsy of the perianal lesions confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Although uncommon, LCH may involve the perianal region. In patients with functional constipation associated with perianal lesions that do not respond to conventional treatment, LCH should be part of the differential diagnosis. A simple biopsy of the external lesion and histologic examination of the mass are essential for diagnosis.

Evaluation of the results of eccentric circummeatal- based flap with combined limited urethral mobilization technique for distal hypospadias repair

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of patients with distal hypospadias who are operated using the eccentric circummeatal-based flap (ECBF) with combined limited urethral mobilization (LUM) technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who underwent distal hypospadias repair at our institution between January 2000 and December 2005. Seventy-one patients with distal hypospadias were operated. Eighteen cases were operated with glanular approximation and 11 cases using the Snodgrass procedure. Forty-two cases of distal hypospadias without a thin distal urethra were operated using an eccentric circummeatal-based flap with combined limited urethral mobilization. We reviewed these 42 patients according to age at surgery, position of meatus, presence of ventral curvature or glanular tilt, previous operations, duration of catheterization and hospitalization, and early and late postoperative complications. RESULTS The mean age at operation was 5.9+/-3.1 years. The position of the meatus was coronal in 29 patients (69%), glanular in seven (16.7%) and subcoronal in six (14.3%). Two patients had ventral curvature. Five patients had undergone previous unsuccessful hypospadias repair and five had undergone circumcision. The average length of catheterization was 4.64+/-1.07 days. All patients were discharged after stent removal. At follow up of 1-31 months (median 6 months, 22 patients over 6 months), three patients had a slightly glanular urethral meatus and six patients had a decrease in calibration during urination which responded to meatal dilatation. No fistula had occurred. All patients achieved a normally situated vertical slit-like glanular meatus. CONCLUSION This technique is simple with satisfying cosmetic results, and can also be applied to patients who have undergone previous failed operations. The absence of fistula formation and short duration of hospital stay are additional advantages.

A Rare but Serious Complication of Ladd’s Procedure: Recurrent Midgut Volvulus

An eighteen-month-old boy who had undergone a Ladd’s procedure for malrotation in the newborn period presented with acute onset of nausea, vomiting, rectal bleeding, and confusion. Laparotomy revealed midgut volvulus, mesenteric lymphadenopathy and massive chylous ascites. Recurrent midgut volvulus following Ladd’s procedure is extremely rare but should be borne in mind in cases of persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Timely surgery is necessary to avoid intestinal gangrene and decrease morbidity and mortality related to consequences of midgut volvulus.

Choledochal cysts in children: Intrahepatic ductal dilatation does not indicate true intrahepatic biliary duct disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS Choledochal cysts (CCs) are rare abnormalities of the biliary tract. Presenting our clinical experience with CCs herein, we aimed to identify if intrahepatic ductal dilatation indicates true intrahepatic biliary duct disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all cases of CCs in children diagnosed at a single center (Başkent University Fac-ulty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery) institution from 2005 to 2015. RESULTS Of 18 patients with CCs, 7 were males (39%). The age range was 3 months to 17 years (mean age, 6.2±3.8 years). Intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was detected in 13 (72%) patients by preoperative scanning. Type I, II, III, and IVA cysts were diagnosed in 13, 1, 1, and 3 patients, respectively. In all patients, total cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticoenterostomy were performed. CONCLUSION In this study, most intrahepatic ductal dilatations seen on preoperative imaging were thought to be caused by a distal obstruction, not true intrahepatic biliary duct disease. This study supports the hypothesis that preoperatively distinguishing between type I and type IVA CCs is not necessary; it does not affect the initial treatment. We consider that complete cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is safe and should be performed soon after diagnosis, irrespective of symptom severity to avoid future complications.

Meckel diverticulum in children: Evaluation of macroscopic appearance for guidance in subsequent surgery.

BACKGROUND The treatment of incidentally encountered asymptomatic Meckel diverticulum (MD) is controversial. We evaluated whether the macroscopic appearance correlates with clinical features, histopathological findings, future complications, and management decisions. METHODS Patients who underwent MD resection at a single institution from 2000 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of age, sex, clinical features, laboratory data, perioperative findings (diverticulum length, diameter, depth, thickening, and height-to diameter ratio [HDR]), pathology, and postoperative follow-up. RESULTS Fifty children were enrolled. Sixteen percent of the resected MDs were found incidentally. Of 42 complicated MDs, 17 (40%) were long (HDR ≥2), 14 (33%) were thickened, and 29 (70%) exhibited base widening. Histopathologically, ectopic mucosa was found in 32 (64%) of all MDs and in 5 (62%) of incidentally removed MDs. There was no statistical difference between the macroscopic appearance and clinical signs, sex, or presence of ectopic tissue based on palpation. CONCLUSION The macroscopic appearance of MD does not indicate the presence or absence of HGM and cannot be used to guide subsequent surgery. Additionally, 40% of symptomatic patients in our study had life-threatening complications requiring prompt fluid resuscitation. We consider that incidentally detected MD should be removed regardless of its macroscopic appearance.