[Alimentary tract duplication in children]

Duplications of the alimentary tract are a rare congenital anomalie in children, characterized by an important anatomoclinical polymorphism. Diagnosis suspected on clinics and evoked by radiology, requires histological confirmation. Thirty four children with duplications were managed in our department, from 1991 to 2009. Their hospital chart was retrospectively studied. Clinical signs consisted on pain and abdominal mass. The radiological investigations depended on the location of the digestive duplication. There was four oesophageal duplication, five on the stomach, the pylorus was involved in two cases, the duodenum in three cases, the jejuno-illeum is seventeen cases, the colon in two cases and the rectum in one case. All cases benefited from surgical treatment, and resection procedure was chosen according to duplication type and site. Histological study showed six cases of ectopic gastric mucosa. Diagnosis and surgical precocious treatment of digestive duplications are the only warn complications of this benign pathology

[Long terms result of surgical treatment of intestinal malrotation]

The total volvulus of small intestine [TVSI] on intestinal malrotation [IM] is a rare pathology. The incidence is 16 for one thousand neonatal occlusions. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the long-term results of the Ladd procedure in the treatment of the TVSI on IM. It's a retrospective study concerning 36 cases of TVSI on IM treated in the unity of pediatric surgery "B" in Tunis children's hospital over a period of 18 years. This study was about 26 boys and 10 girls, old from one day to 9 years at the time of the diagnosis. Twenty nine children were of less than 1 year old [80,5 per cent], among which 24 cases [66,6 per cent] before 1 month. The bilious vomits were the most frequent mode of revelation [91 per cent]. The diagnosis was realized by the ultrasound in 63 per cent of the cases [19/30] and by the oesogastroduodenal enema in 92 per cent of the cases [13/14]. All the patients were treated according to the Ladd procedure with immediate simple consequences operating in 80 per cent of the cases. Among 33 operated and alive patients, the distant evolution was favorable in 90 per cent of the cases with an average recession of 8 years. No patient presented a second recurrence of the volvulus. A single patient presented an occlusion on brides and two patients have a chronic constipation. The treatment of intestinal malrotation is based on the Ladd procedure which is a safe and effective surgical technique

Is there an age for a testicular torsion?

Classically, testicular torsion occurs in neonates or during puberty. Between these two ages, is really an exception? In order to answer the question, we reviewed the charts of the patients referred to the department of pediatric surgery of children's hospital between 2000 and 2008. We studied the preoperative examinations, the operative data and the long term evolution. Cases of torsion occurring during neonatal or pubertal periods were excluded. During nine years, 85 patients with 'acute scrotum symptoms" underwent surgery. The ages of patients ranged from one month to 11 years [average age: 70 month in 49 patients, among which 12 had true testicular torsion. Consultation at the emergency room occurred after one to 72 hours [average of 17]. The localization of the pain was on the left in eight cases and on ectopic testicle in two. The testicular volume was increased in 11 cases. Cremasteric reflex was absent in four cases. The doppler flow was normal in four cases and absent in two. During surgery, the testis appearance was considered as normal in six testicles, as necrotized in three [and an orchidectomy was performed] and as ischemic in three. In seven cases, a peroperative controlateral testicle fixation was performed and later one in two. The postoperative course was simple, without infection and with a normal testicular volume in eight cases, increased in one ischemic testis. Testicular atrophy was noted in an ischemic testis, after several months. Whatever the age, testicular torsion remains a surgical emergency even with a normal doppler flow

[ epidemiological data of children burns in Tunis. about 134 cases]

Burns injuries represented the most children common domestic accident which can be responsible of a dramatic consequences. To analyse the epidemiological data and preventive aspects of this victims, a retrospective study is reported between 1 January and 31 December 2006 concerning 134 children who were examined during this period in the emergency of the surgery department [B] of the children Hospital of Tunis. In 43 cases, a hospitalisation was necessary. The mean age of the patients was 36 months. The accident occurs in the house in 99 per cent of cases, especially in the kitchen in 93 per cent. The most common agents were scalding liquid in 89.5 per cent followed by flames in 8 percent. The mean total burns surface areas was 4 per cent for the non-hospitalised children and 14 per cent for those whose been hospitalised, 16 per cent of this children developed an infection of the burns injuries during their hospitalisation. In 3 cases an amputation was necessary due to a third degrees burn with carbonisation of the members. One patient died 48hrs after his admission by a respiratory distress. The children burn injuries can be considerably reduced by preventive measures and active public health programs to promote immediate cooling of burns with cool water which is at least as important as subsequent medical and surgical treatment in determining the outcome of burns in children

[ splenic angioma in children: a case report]

The splenic angioma is a rare benign tumor, not very symptomatic and often of fortuitous discovery. The surgical treatment is essential for the bulky lesions which involve a significant risk of rupture and hemoperitonium. We report the observation of a eight years old girl at which the splenic angioma was discovered in a fortuitous way at the time of an ultrasonography required in the assessment of a urinary tract infection. The abdominal computed tomography scan confirmed the diagnosis by showing an hypodense lesion well limited with intense raising aftercontrast injection. The fear of a rupture made pose the indication of a partial splenectomy with simple continuations

[Neurological diseases in the "triple a" syndrome]

Introduction: The 3A syndrome or Allgrove syndrome is an autosomic recessive disease characterized by the association of oesophagus achalasia, alacrymie and suprarenal insufficiency. Neurological disorders can appear at any time of the course's disease and would be due to a neuropathy affecting the central nervous system as well as the peripheral nervous system

Patient and methods: From1991 to 2005, we noticed 22 cases of Allgrove syndrome. The follow-up of these patients enabled us to notify the neurological abnormalities appear later in the evolution

Results: neurological symptoms appear at any time of the course's disease. All cases were backward pupil. 8 patients had a nasal voice due to palate paralysis. 7 patients had xerostomia wich is included in the dry syndrome due to the degeneration of salivary glands. One patient had a neurological motor disorder and 3 patients had a sensitive disorders with loss of cold feeling and vasomotor disorders in the hands and feet. These symptoms appear after 4 years on average after diagnosis. An orthostatics hypotension was noticed among three patients as a dysautonomic sign

Conclusion: All of these data approve that neurological disorders appear at a variable time of the course's disease. This polyneuropathy affects the oesophagus and always leads to the recurrence of the digestives signs