Right Phrenic Nerve Palsy following Long-gap Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula Repair.

Esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) are surgically correctable congenital anomalies with reported surgical common complications such as anastomotic leaks, recurrent TEF, and esophageal strictures; however, phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is a very rare but possible complication which we have highlighted in our case report. Here, we report a baby girl operated for long-gap EA and TEF having respiratory distress and failed attempts to wean off oxygen support. Serial chest X-rays showed elevated right hemidiaphragm, whereas ultrasound thorax confirmed our diagnosis of right PNI causing diaphragmatic palsy. Conservative management with the hope of spontaneous recovery failed, so diaphragmatic plication was done at 5 weeks from index surgery. Postplication, the baby was weaned off oxygen and pressure support the very 1st day and had improved respiratory physiology.

Endoscopic esophageal substitution for pure esophageal atresia and wide gap esophageal atresia: A report of five cases with minimum follow-up of twelve months.

AIM: The aim of the study is to report feasibility and safety of endoscopic esophageal substitution in infants with pure esophageal atresia and wide gap tracheoesophageal fistula with a minimum one year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted from January 2012 for twenty four consecutive months at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. All babies either followed up or referred for esophageal substitution without any history of mediastinitis or associated major congenital anomaly and weighing greater than 6kg were to be included in the study. The indication, intraoperative details, operative approach, conversion to open, esophageal substitute, postoperative ventilation, ICU and hospital stay, time to solid foods, morbidity and mortality were recorded. Informed consent was obtained from all the parents and ethical clearance was obtained for the study from the hospital ethical committee. Postoperatively babies were followed up monthly for first six months, 3 monthly for next six months and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Between January 2012 and December 2013, in the two year period six infants were admitted for laparoscopic gastric transposition. In five patients the procedure was completed by the laparoscopic approach and one required conversion to open surgery owing to dense adhesions. The age range at the time of surgery was from 8months to 12months with a mean age of 10months. Four patients had pure esophageal atresia (type A) and two had wide gap esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal atresia (type C). Five had primary esophagostomy and gastrostomy as a newborn, the sixth had postoperative anastomotic leak and required subsequent diversion. The mean operating time was 194minutes (range 170-210minutes). The mean stay in ICU was 7days with a range of 4-12days. All patients were ventilated in the postoperative period for an average of 5days with a range of 4-7days. One patient had prolonged gastric ileus which delayed the oral feeds by 14days. The mean time to start the oral feeds was 8days with a range of 6-14days. The mean hospital stay was 19.6days (range 16-23days). Early complications were pneumonia and pleural effusion in one patient. One patient developed anastomotic stricture which was amenable to dilatation. One patient had leak from esophagogastric anastomosis which healed spontaneously. All children are now orally fed, swallow without difficulty, and parents report an excellent cosmetic outcome. The follow-up ranges from 12 to 36months. CONCLUSION: The initial results of endoscopic esophageal substitution are encouraging and easily comparable to the outcome of open surgery with all the attendant benefits of minimally invasive approach.

Intestinal obstruction in a premature baby: Endoscopic diagnosis and management by minimal access surgery.

Neonatal intestinal obstruction is the most common surgical emergency in a newborn. Although, large numbers of newborns are operated in our country, limited published literature is available on advances in diagnosis, and management of this problem with outcome analysis in newborns. We report a premature (32 weeks) newborn who developed acute onset symptoms of small bowel obstruction in 3(rd)week of life, and discuss the approach to diagnosis and management with the minimal access surgery and successful outcome.

Neonatal screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to detect the incidence of erythrocytic Glucose-6 -Phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency, to compare the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in G-6-PD deficient neonates as compared to G-6-PD normal neonates and to asses the usefulness of neonatal screening for G-6-PD deficiency. METHOD: In a retrospective hospital based study 2,479 male and female neonates consecutively born at Indraprastha Apollo hospital between July 1998 to June 2003 who were screened for G-6-PD levels were evaluated for the incidence of G-6-PD deficiency. RESULTS: Incidence of G-6-PD deficiency was found to be 2.0%. Incidence in males was 283% and female was 1.05%. The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia was found to be 32% in G-6-PD deficient neonates which was significantly higher than the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates with normal G-6-PD, which was 12.3% (P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that neonatal screening for G-6-PD deficiency is a useful test for preventing and early treatment of complications associated with it.