Multiple enteric duplication cysts in a twin fetus

Enteric duplication cysts are rare congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. These can be suspected if cystic lesions are noted in the fetal abdomen during an antenatal ultrasonogram. The differential diagnoses of fetal intra-abdominal cystic lesions include fetal omental cysts, fetal mesenteric cysts, meconium pseudocysts and fetal ovarian cysts. We report an antenatally diagnosed enteric duplication cyst in one of a set of twin fetuses which was managed successfully

Cost comparison between laparoscopic and open appendectomies in children

Laparoscopic appendectomy [LA] for children has become very popular and is routinely performed in most health care centres around the world. The cost of surgical procedures is always a concern for patients and health care providers. This study compares, the total cost of open appendectomy [OA] with LA in children who required an appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Suitable and safe cost-effective techniques were also explored to reduce the cost of these procedures. The medical records of all the children [ranging between 0 and 12 years] at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman, who required OA or LA from June 2009 to July 2011, were reviewed. LA were performed in 75 patients while OA were done in 34. Patients from the OA and LA groups were age- and gender-matched. The average operative time was 76 minutes for LA and 49 minutes for OA [P <0.001] while the average hospital stay was 3.14 days for LA and 2.15 days for OA [P = 0.08]. The average cost of the two procedures was Omani riyals [OMR] 534 for LA and OMR 343 for OA [P = 0.00]. The complication rate following procedures was lower in the case of LA, however this was not statistically significant [LA = 8% versus OA = 11.7%, P = 0.32]. LA are costlier procedures than OA, however they are as safe as OA, and do not increase morbidity or the duration of hospital stay