Susan Jehangir

Intussusception in southern India: comparison of retrospective analysis and active surveillance.

Surveillance for intussusception is a post marketing requirement for rotavirus vaccines following observation of a small increased risk of intussusception after rotavirus vaccination in some global settings. This study presents the clinical presentation and outcomes of children who presented with intussusception at a large tertiary care facility directly (non-surveillance) as retrospective analysis of a period where rotavirus vaccine was not in routine use, or as part of active surveillance in a phase III oral rotavirus vaccine trial. Hospital records of children under 2 years of age treated for intussusception between 1 January 2010 and 31 August 2013 at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India, were reviewed. Sixty-one cases of intussusception in children under two years of age presented at the hospital. An additional 16 cases of ultrasound diagnosed intussusception were identified through the active surveillance of a cohort of 1500 children participating in a rotavirus phase III trial in the same period. In the nonsurveillance group, median age at presentation was 214 days (IQR 153-321) with 52 events (85.3%) occurring in the first year of life. Cases were seen year-round with no definitive evidence of seasonality. Thirty-one (50.8%) intussusceptions required surgical reduction, 26 (42.6%) had pneumatic reduction and 2 (3.3%) barium enema reduction. Two intussusceptions (3.3%) resolved spontaneously. There were no deaths, all children were discharged after recovery. Active surveillance identified 16 children with a median age at event of 375 days (IQR 248-574). Nine (56%) children had small bowel or transient intussusception that resolved spontaneously. Seven intussusceptions were reduced radiologically; none required surgery. In summary, there were significant differences between presentation and outcomes in cases of intussusception identified by passive and active surveillance, likely related to enhanced and early detection of intussusception through active monitoring in the trial. The WHO recommendation of sentinel hospital based surveillance for post-marketing surveillance after rotavirus vaccine introduction is likely to a better approach than active surveillance.

Enteric duplication in children: Experience from a tertiary center in South India

Background: Enteric duplications (EDs) are rare aberrations of the embryonic gut. This study was undertaken to define the clinical characteristics and management challenges of this unusual entity in the Indian population. Materials and Methods: Hospital records of 35 children with 38 ED operated between 2003 and 2014 were analyzed and followed up. Results: The median age at presentation was 285 days (range 1-day to 16 years) with male preponderance (71%). Small bowel duplications were the most common (44%), and thoracoabdominal duplications were seen in 8% children compared to 2% in the literature. The median duration of symptoms was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR] 3-210 days). Associated anomalies were seen in 49% children with vertebral and spinal anomalies being the most common. Ultrasonogram (US) was done in 83% children and had a sensitivity of 55%. In the presence of a gastrointestinal bleed, Technetium 99m pertechnetate scintigraphy scan had a positive predictive value of 80%. Thirty-five lesions were completely removed. Mucosectomy was done in two children, and one total colonic duplication was left in situ after providing adequate internal drainage. There was no postoperative mortality. The follow-up was possible in 66% children. Conclusions: EDs are uncommon and have varied, nonspecific symptoms. Thoracoabdominal duplications are more common in the Indian population. The US is a good screening tool but requires a high index of suspicion where complete excision is not possible; the provision of adequate internal drainage is an acceptable alternative. The long-term prognosis of children with ED depends on the extent of physiological disturbance due to associated anomalies.

Clinical profile and management options of children with congenital esophageal stenosis: A single center experience

Aim: The aim of the study is to review 7 patients with congenital esophageal stenosis treated in our institution from a diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 7 patients treated in Christian Medical College, Vellore from 2008 to 2014. The data were analyzed with regards to age at onset of symptoms, investigative findings, age at definitive treatment, pathology, modalities of treatment, and outcomes. Results: Symptoms started within the 1 st year of life in all children with a median age of 4 months. The time of delay in diagnosis ranged from 8 months to 81 months with a mean period of 37 months. About 6 patients had a lower esophageal stenosis and 1 patient had a mid-esophageal stenosis. About 4 of the 7 children underwent endoscopic balloon dilatation from elsewhere, with 2 of the above 4 undergoing a myotomy for a wrongly diagnosed achalasia. The number of dilatations ranged from 2 to 7 with a mean of 4 dilatations. Resection of the stenotic segment with end to end anastomosis was employed in 6 of the 7 patients, and a transverse colon interpositioning was done in 1 patient. An antireflux procedure was performed in one patient. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed tracheobronchial remnant in 3 patients, fibromuscular thickening in 3 patients, and membranous web in 1 patient. Postoperatively, 2 of the 7 patients had asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and 1 patient had postoperative stricture requiring one session of endoscopic balloon dilatation. The mean follow-up period was 42 months (range 18-72 months). At the time of the last follow-up, all 7 patients were able to eat solid food, and none of the children were found to have symptoms suggestive of obstruction or gastroesophageal reflux. There was a statistically significant increase in the weight for age after the operation. Conclusion: Congenital esophageal stenosis is rare and often confused with other causes of esophageal obstruction. Although endoscopic balloon dilatation offers an effective temporary relief, we feel that definitive surgery is curative. Long-term results following definitive surgery have been good, especially with respect to symptoms and weight gain.

Retained Wireless Capsule Endoscope in a Girl with suspected Crohn's Disease.

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) is one of the great milestones in the field of gastroenterology. It is versatile in image acquisition, painless and can reach parts of the small bowel not amenable to conventional endoscopy. The commonest complication with WCE is retention of the capsule. We report a case of retained capsule in a child who was being investigated for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Operative intervention was required for its retrieval after two weeks of expectant management.

Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of Common Bile Duct in a Girl

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare, low grade malignant lesion which can occur anywhere in the body. In children it is usually found in the visceral soft tissues with a potential for local invasion and recurrence, and rarely distant metastasis. We report the diagnostic dilemma faced in the management of a 12-year old girl who presented with obstructive jaundice with a mass lesion at the distal end of the common bile duct. She underwent a tumor resection with a bilio-enteric bypass followed by a course of oral steroids and celecoxib.

Intussusception hospitalizations before rotavirus vaccine introduction: Retrospective data from two referral hospitals in Tamil Nadu, India

Background The indigenous oral rotavirus vaccine Rotavac® was introduced into the public immunization system in India in 2016 and will be expanded in phases. This data will describe the epidemiology of intussusception in India in absence of rotavirus vaccination and will help in setting up or designing a safety monitoring system. Methods Medical records of intussusception cases between 2013 and 2016 in two major referral hospitals in Tamil Nadu, India were reviewed, and data on clinical presentation and management and outcome were collated. Results A total of 284 cases of intussusception were diagnosed and managed at the two centers of which 280/284 could be classified as level 1 by the Brighton criteria. Median age at presentation was 8 months (Inter Quartile Range, IQR 6–17.2) with a male to female ratio of 2.1:1. Over half (57.7%) required surgical intervention while the rest underwent non-surgical or conservative management. Conclusions Retrospective data from referral hospitals is sufficient to classify cases of intussusception by the Brighton criteria. These baseline data will be useful for monitoring when rotavirus vaccination is introduced.

Knotted urethral catheter: a twist in the tail

Inadvertent knotting of infant feeding tubes used for clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) is a rare complication in paediatric patients. The small flexible tubes used in infants if advanced too far into the bladder may form a knot as the bladder empties. Surgical intervention is required especially if it is lodged in the urethra. We present a case of a baby boy aged 4 months on CIC with a 6 Fr feeding tube, which required a meatotomy for removal. Education while instituting CIC must emphasise the length of catheter insertion, the chance of knotted catheter and steps to take if it occurs. A dedicated urotherapy nurse would be ideal.

Gastrocolic fistula in a child following corrosive acid ingestion

Gastrocolic fistulas in children are most commonly seen after placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. We present a 14-year-old girl who developed a gastrocolic fistula following accidental corrosive acid ingestion. On evaluation of her symptoms, a barium swallow identified the gastrocolic fistula. It healed spontaneously in 3 months. This was both unexpected and remarkable. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of a gastrocolic fistula occurring following corrosive ingestion.

Coexistent duplication of urethra and a refluxing ectopic ureter presenting as recurrent epididymo-orchitis in a child

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUTs) occur in 3–6 per 1000 live births, accounting for most cases of paediatric end-stage kidney disease.1 However, the molecular basis of CAKUT and anomalies of the external genitalia is poorly understood. We, herein, describe a case with left recurrent epididymo-orchitis with a coexistent urethral duplication and an ectopic ureter with an ipsilateral non-functioning kidney, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case of its kind. This case may bring about a paradigm shift in our comprehension of the development of the two entities. Understanding the pathogenesis may help develop preventive and renal preservation strategies. The Sonic hedgehog gene and bone morphogenetic protein 4 play crucial roles in preventing anomalies of the ureters and the external genitalia. In this article, we look at possible molecular pathways that could explain the synchronicity of this rare entity.

Novel use of tendon tunneler to create space with minimal dissection in endoscopic head and neck operations

Sir, Endoscopic surgery for benign head and neck lesion is effective and has cosmetically superior results. This technique, however, carries the risk of inadvertent injury to neural and vascular structures due to the extensive sub-cutaneous working space that is required to be created along the port tract in order to afford access to the lesion. We present an improvization that creates the working space around the lesion using an inexpensive tendon tunneler thus minimizing dissection and consequent tissue damage.