Sigrid Bairdain

Comparison of laparoscopic-assisted and open total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic techniques have been applied to restorative proctocolectomy since the early 2000s. We have employed a technique for laparoscopic-assisted total proctocolectomy (TPC) and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for the treatment of children with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 68 laparoscopic-assisted TPCs and 39 open TPCs performed at our institution for UC between January 1997 and February 2011. Case duration, postoperative length of stay, and complications of the two groups were compared, and multivariable analysis was applied. RESULTS The two groups were comparable with respect to gender, age, and postoperative length of stay. Total abdominal colectomy (TAC) duration was significantly longer in the laparoscopic-assisted group (P < .001). Complications were similar in the laparoscopic and open group, although small bowel obstruction (SBO) was significantly less frequent in the laparoscopic group (log-rank test = 8.88, P = .003). Kaplan-Meier estimated freedom from SBO at 1 year follow-up is 99% for patients treated laparoscopically (95% CI: 98%-100%) and 76% for those undergoing an open surgical approach (95% CI: 64%-88%). CONCLUSIONS The significantly lower SBO rate, low complication rates, and equivalent length of stay favor use of the laparoscopic-assisted approach for TPC and IPAA in children.

Serious Congenital Heart Disease and Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates

BACKGROUND Infants with serious congenital heart disease (CHD) appear to be at increased risk for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This study aimed to quantify the incidence and mortality of NEC among very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates with serious CHD, and identify specific CHD diagnoses at the highest risk for developing NEC. STUDY DESIGN Data were prospectively collected on 257,794 VLBW (401 to 1,500 g) neonates born from 2006 to 2011 and admitted to 674 Vermont Oxford Network US centers. Entries were coded for specific CHD diagnoses and reviewed for completeness and consistency. Survival was defined as alive in-hospital at 1 year or discharge. RESULTS Of eligible neonates, 1,931 had serious CHD. Of these, 253 (13%) developed NEC (vs 9% in infants without CHD, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.80, p<0.0001). Mortality for neonates with CHD and no NEC was 34%, vs 55% for those with CHD and NEC (p<0.0001). Both groups of CHD patients had higher mortality than infants with NEC without CHD (28%, p<0.0001). Although NEC mortality overall decreases with higher birth weight, mortality for NEC and CHD together does not. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of NEC is significantly higher in VLBW neonates when CHD is present. The mortality of CHD and NEC together is substantially higher than that with each disease alone. Infants with atrioventricular canal appear to have higher risk for developing NEC than other CHD diagnoses. In addition to providing benchmark incidence and mortality data, these findings may have utility in the further study of the pathophysiology of NEC.

Direct tracheobronchopexy to correct airway collapse due to severe tracheobronchomalacia: Short-term outcomes in a series of 20 patients

PURPOSE Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is associated with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistulas, and congenital heart disease. TBM results in chronic cough, poor mucous clearance, and recurrent pneumonias. Apparent life-threatening events or recurrent pneumonias may require surgery. TBM is commonly treated with an aortopexy, which indirectly elevates tracheas anterior wall. However, malformed tracheal cartilage and posterior tracheal membrane intrusion may limit its effectiveness. This study describes patient outcomes undergoing direct tracheobronchopexy for TBM. METHODS The records of patients that underwent direct tracheobronchopexy at our institution from January 2011 to April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes included TBM recurrence and resolution of the primary symptoms. Data were analyzed by McNemars test for matched binary pairs and logistic regression modeling to account for the endoscopic presence of luminal narrowing over multiple time points per patient. RESULTS Twenty patients were identified. Preoperative evaluation guided the type of tracheobronchopexy. 30% had isolated anterior and 50% isolated posterior tracheobronchopexies, while 20% had both. Follow-up was 5 months (range, 0.5-38). No patients had postoperative ALTEs, and pneumonias were significantly decreased (p=0.0005). Fewer patients had tracheobronchial collapse at postoperative endoscopic exam in these anatomical regions: middle trachea (p=0.01), lower trachea (p<0.001), and right bronchus (p=0.04). CONCLUSION The use of direct tracheobronchopexy resulted in ALTE resolution and reduction of recurrent pneumonias in our patients. TBM was also reduced in the middle and lower trachea and right mainstem bronchus. Given the heterogeneity of our population, further studies are needed to ascertain longer-term outcomes and a grading scale for TBM severity.

Foker process for the correction of long gap esophageal atresia: Primary treatment versus secondary treatment after prior esophageal surgery

PURPOSE The Foker process (FP) uses tension-induced growth for primary esophageal reconstruction in patients with long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). It has been less well described in LGEA patients who have undergone prior esophageal reconstruction attempts. METHODS All cases of LGEA treated at our institution from January 2005 to April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who initially had esophageal surgery elsewhere were considered secondary FP cases. Demographics, esophageal evaluations, and complications were collected. Median time to esophageal anastomosis and full oral nutrition was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox-proportional hazards regression identified potential risk factors. RESULTS Fifty-two patients were identified, including 27 primary versus 25 secondary FP patients. Median time to anastomosis was 14 days for primary and 35 days for secondary cases (p<0.001). Secondary cases (p=0.013) and number of thoracotomies (p<0.001) were identified as significant predictors for achieving anastomosis and the development of a leak. Predictors of progression to full oral feeding were primary FP cases (O.R.=17.0, 95% CI: 2.8-102, p<0.001) and patients with longer follow-up (O.R.=1.06/month, 95% CI: 1.01-1.11, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS The FP has been successful in repairing infants with primary LGEA, but the secondary LGEA patients proved to be more challenging to achieve a primary esophageal anastomosis. Early referral to a multidisciplinary esophageal center and a flexible approach to establish continuity in secondary patients is recommended. Given their complexity, larger studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and discern optimal strategies for reconstruction.

Nutritional outcomes in survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-factors associated with growth at one year.

BACKGROUND Malnutrition is prevalent among congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors. We aimed to describe the nutritional status and factors that impact growth over the 12-months following discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in this cohort. METHODS CDH survivors, who were discharged from the PICU from 2000 to 2010 with follow-up of at least 12months, were included. Nutritional intake, anthropometric, and clinical variables were recorded. Multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors associated with weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) at 12months. RESULTS Data from 110 infants, 67% male, 50% patch repair, were analyzed. Median (IQR) WAZ for the cohort was -1.4 (-2.4 to -0.3) at PICU discharge and -0.4 (-1.3 to 0.2) at 12-months. The percentage of infants with significant malnutrition (WAZ<-2) decreased from 26% to 8.5% (p<0.001). Patch repair (p=0.009), protein intake<2.3g/kg/day (p=0.014), and birth weight (BW)<2.5kg (p<0.001) were associated with lower WAZ at 12-months. CONCLUSIONS CDH survivors had a significantly improved nutritional status in the 12-months after PICU discharge. Patch repair, lower BW, and inadequate protein intake were significant predictors of lower WAZ at 12-months. A minimum protein intake in the PICU of 2.3g/kg/day was essential to ensure optimal growth in this cohort.

Cost-effectiveness of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery

Background: The current estimates of the prevalence of adolescent morbid obesity and severe morbid obesity are about 21% and 6.6%, respectively. Obesity, if left untreated, may result in a variety of comorbid conditions and earlier mortality. Adolescent bariatric surgery is an effective, but expensive means to ameliorate these conditions and the risk of earlier mortality. We aimed to develop a model to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery. Methods: All adolescents who participated in our bariatric surgery multidisciplinary program from January 2010 to December 2013 were included if they had at least 12 months follow-up after their surgery. Intervention costs included all operative as well as preoperative and 12-month postoperative care. We used the US Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) to estimate the association between reductions in BMI after surgery with future savings from reduced medical care use and with increased health-related quality of life (HRQL). We linked BMI with life expectancy using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Markov cohort model was then used to project health care-related costs (2013 US

Characteristics of Hospitalized Children With a Diagnosis of Malnutrition United States, 2010

), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over time starting at age 18. Incremental costs per QALY of surgery vs. no surgery from a health care system perspective were then estimated. Results: At one year follow-up, mean weight loss was 37.5 (std. = 13.5) kg and the corresponding BMI was 35.4 (reduction of 13.2, p<0.01). Mean total intervention costs/person were

Effect of vagotomy during Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on weight loss outcomes

25,854 (std. = 2,044). A unit change in BMI was associated with future medical care savings of

Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome in Children

157/year (p<0.01) and with an increase in HRQL of 0.004 (p<0.01) and life expectancy. At a threshold of a 100,000/QALY, bariatric surgery was not cost-effective in the first three years, but became cost-effective after that (

Twenty-years of splenic preservation at a level 1 pediatric trauma center.

80,065/QALY in year four and