Observations and experiences of pediatric surgeons working on the field in the first 7 days of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake

Purpose@#This study aims to share our experiences and problems, and to suggest solutions as pediatric surgeons who took part in the teams that went voluntarily to the region hit by the Kahramanmaraş earthquake during the first 7 days after the disaster. @*Methods@#This study conveys our observations made at Kahramanmaraş Sütçüimam University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, where we worked as a volunteer team between February 7 and 14, 2023. @*Results@#During the first few days, there were registration problems due to lack of electricity, water, and internet, as well as issues with sterile surgical environments. In the following days, a lack of auxiliary health personnel was revealed as the main difficulty. @*Conclusion@#Since coordination is important when working as a team in the aftermath of an earthquake, staff from the same center should be deployed together if possible, and a team leader should be selected. Alternative recording systems should be established in case of power outages and computer problems. Secretaries, auxiliary health staff, and technicians should be included in the team in addition to doctors and nurses.

Ileo-Ileal intussusception in a premature neonate: an unusual cause of NEC in premature babies

Intussusception is a rare entity in neonates. It may present with non-specific signs including abdominal distension, feeding intolerance, vomiting and bloody stools. Symptomatology is similar to Necrotizing Entero-Colitis [NEC]. Ultrasound can help to establish early diagnosis in neonate. A 27-week preterm newborn was initially suspected as NEC based on abdominal distention, bilious vomiting, worsening clinical condition and dilated loops of bowel on X-ray, which turned out to be ileo-ileal intussusception. Diagnosis was made by ultrasound obtained for a palpable mass to rule out intra abdominal abscess and lack of improvement in clinical condition despite 5 days of conservative treatment. Surgery was performed consisting of removal of the necrotic intussusception area and end-to-end anastomosis and patient was discharged from hospital on day 60 of life. As a conclusion, pathological abdominal findings in preterm newborns can also be due to conditions other than NEC and ultrasound may be a useful tool for timely and accurate diagnosis

A new method for the removal of safety pins ingested by children

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in children. Safety pin ingestion is common in Turkey. We describe a new method of removal for safety pins in our 2 cases.</p><p><b>CLINICAL PICTURE</b>A 9-month-old girl and a 6-month-old boy had each ingested a safety pin. Abdominal X-rays detected the safety pins in their stomachs. At the end of 3 months, the foreign bodies still remained in their stomachs and laparotomy was indicated.</p><p><b>TREATMENT AND OUTCOME</b>This technique consists of a limited midline upper laparotomy with vertical incision. Without the utilisation of a gastrotomy, an orogastric tube was inserted into the stomach and the open end of the safety pin was pinned to the tube from outside the stomach. The orogastric tube was gently pulled out to remove the safety pin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method provides shorter hospitalisation time and fewer complications.</p>