Laparoscopic Duhamel Procedure for Hirschsprung's Disease: The first two cases in Korea

The Duhamel procedure has been the authors' treatment of choice for children with Hirschsprung's disease over the last 15 years. Owing to advancements in instrumentation and technique, laparoscopic correction of some congenital anomalies, including congenital megacolon, have become possible. In March and May of 1997, laparoscopic Duhamel procedures were performed on a girl and boy aged 7 months and 2 years and 9 months, respectively. The primary diagnosis in both patients was Hirschsprung's disease, which was confirmed by barium-enema and mucosal suction biopsy. The boy did not need construction of a loop colostomy, while the girl had a colostomy made neonatally. Using 4 trocars, the sigmoid colon, proximal rectum, and posterior rectal wall were mobilized laparoscopically. Immdeiately after severing the proximal resection line, the proximal end was pulled down posterior to the dentate line for side-to-side anastomosis with GIA and Endo-GIA staplers perineally. The colonic remnant was then resected with staplers and harvested through the right lower quadrent port site. Operative time was 210 minutes for the boy and 200 minutes for the girl. No perioperative complications were noted, and conversion to laparotomy was never required. Regular diet was resumed 4 days (boy) and 2 days (girl) after the operations. Postoperative hospital stay was 7 days in the two cases. We successfully performed laparoscopic Duhamel procedures for the first time in Korea, and think it feasible, safe, andminimally invasive owing to size reduction of the incision and avoidence of intraperitoneal opening of the bowel.

Treatment of Severe Equinus Deformity Associated with Extensive Scarring of the Leg and Ankle with the Hinged Ilizarov and Free Tissue Transfer / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We evaluated the results following the use of hinged Ilizarov and free tissue transfer to correct the eqinus deformity of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle in nine patients. The deformity was secondary to ischemic and neuropathic changes after trauma to the leg, ankle and foot. The average age of the patients was seventeen years (range, thirteen to thirty-four years). The average duration of follow-up was twenty-one months (range, twelve to thirty-eight months). Free tissue transfer was done in all cases, parascapular flap was done in seyen cases, groin flap was done in two cases. Among the nine cases, free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizaov were done at the same time in four cases, The average interval of the other five patients between free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizaov was three months (range, two to four months). The duration of distraction was four to six weeks, and the apparatus was kept in place for an additional two months after the desired position of correction had been achieved. The results were evaluated using two criteria, dorsiflexion and range of motion of ankle joint. Criteria on dorsiflexion of ankle, the results were good in seven cases, fair in two cases. Criteria on range of motion of ankle, one case being performed ankle fusion was not evaluated. Total eight cases were evaluated for range of motion of ankle. The results were good in six cases, fair in two cases. On the basis of our results, we believe that severe eqinus deformities of the foot associated with extensive scarring of the leg and ankle can be corrected with heel cord lengthening, free tissue transfer and hinged Ilizarov.