Effect of Population Lockdown on Pediatric Emergency Room Demands in the Era of COVID-19.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and population lockdown on pediatric ED consultations. Methods: A cross-sectional study on pediatric emergency department consultations before and during the current COVID-19 pandemic (March-May 2019 vs. March-May 2020) was performed in two hospitals in the Campania region (Southern Italy) [i.e., Salerno University Hospital (Salerno) and Pediatric Regional Referral Emergency Hub "AORN Santobono-Pausillipon" (Naples)]. Results: 29,368 consecutive ED pediatric patients (13,430 females; mean age ± SD = 5.4 ± 4.7 years) were seen in March-May 2019 and 9,133 (4,494 females; mean age ± SD = 5.9 ± 4.2 years) in March-May 2020. Resuscitation/emergency and urgent care pediatric ED consultations were 1,388 (4.7%, 95% CI 4.5-4.9) in the 2019 trimester, while they were 648 (7.1%, 95% CI 6.6-7.6) in the 2020 trimester (p < 0.01). Mean pediatric ED daily consultations were 326.3 (95% CI 299.9-352.7) in the considered period of 2019 and 101.4 (95%CI 77.9-124.9) in the same period of 2020 (p < 0.001). COVID-19 nasal swabs were performed for 385 children; of those, six resulted positive and four of them were hospitalized. Conclusions: This work provides a unique snapshot of the pediatric EDs demands in the era of COVID-19. We witnessed a significant reduction of non-urgent health care demands during the pandemic but an increase of more severe urgent cases. The COVID-19 pandemic and the following lockdown unveiled the inappropriateness of the majority of pediatric ED consultations. Nevertheless, the current scenario highlighted the need for appropriate and timely clinical evaluations in the pediatric primary care to tackle late and more severe diagnoses in EDs.

"Spaghetti maneuver": a useful tool in pediatric laparoscopy - our experience.

AIMS: The laparoscopic "Spaghetti Maneuver" consists in holding an organ by its extremity with a grasper and rolling it up around the tool to keep the organ stable and facilitate its traction within a small space. We describe our experience with the "Spaghetti Maneuver" in some minimally invasive procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We successfully adopted this technique in 13 patients (5F : 8M) aged between 6 and 14 years (average age, 10) on whom we performed 7 appendectomies, 2 ureteral reimplantation and 4 cholecystectomies. In all cases, after the first steps, the appendix, the gallbladder and the ureter were rolled around the grasper and easily isolated; hemostasis was thus induced and the organ was mobilized until removal during cholecystectomy and appendectomy, and before the reimplantation in case of ureteral reimplantation. RESULTS: We found that this technique facilitated significantly the acts of holding, isolating and removing, when necessary, the structures involved, which remained constantly within the visual field of the operator. This allowed a very ergonomic work setting, overcoming the problem of the "blind" zone, which represents a dangerous and invisible area out of the operator's control during laparoscopy. Moreover the isolation maneuvers resulted easier and reduced operating time. CONCLUSION: We think that this technique is easy to perform and very useful, because it facilitates the dissection of these organs, by harmonizing and stabilizing the force of traction exercised.

Pneumovesicoscopic treatment of congenital bladder diverticula in children: our experience.

AIM: In this article, we report our experience with diverticulectomies of symptomatic congenital bladder diverticula in children, which was performed by utilizing pneumovesicoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six boys, 4-8 years of age (mean, 5.6) underwent pneumovesicoscopic diverticulectomy at our institution from June 2007 to June 2008. There were 4 right-single diverticula and 2 double-left diverticula. Under cystoscopic control, after the cystopexy to the abdominal wall, a midline 5-mm trocar for a 0-degree telescope and two lateral 3-mm reusable trocars through the anterolateral wall of the bladder in the midclavicular line were introduced, insufflating the bladder with carbondioxide to 10-12 mm Hg pressure. The diverticulum/a were inverted into the bladder and the mucosa around the neck was circumcized by using scissors and a monopolar hook. The defect was sutured with interrupted sutures and the bladder was drained with a Foley catheter, which was introduced at the site of the 5-mm port, and a urethral catheter. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 110 minutes. No major peri- or postoperative complications were recorded, except that the displacement of one of the lateral trocars that resulted in gas leakage in 1 case. The trocar was replaced and the procedure was completed. An ultrasound and a voiding cystourethrogram, performed from 3 to 6 months after the operation, showed the disappearance of the diverticulum/a. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, pneumovesicoscopic diverticulectomy is an easy, safe procedure and can be considered a valid alternative to the open or laparoscopic procedures. It also provides no postoperative discomfort and a good cosmetic result.

Decreased recurrence rate in the laparoscopic herniorraphy in children: comparison between two techniques.

AIM: The laparoscopic herniorraphy in children is still associated to a high recurrence rate. The aim of this study was to assess whether the addition of the lateral incision of the sac to the sole suture of the inner inguinal ring could reduce the recurrence rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of the collected data of 248 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs in 224 children (175 males, 49 females) between 8 months and 11 years of age (mean age, 5 years; median, 4) in our institution from January 2004 to December 2007. The hernia was unilateral in 204 patients (133 on the right side, 71 on the left) and bilateral in 20 patients. A 5-mm umbilical camera port for a 0-degree laparoscopic optics and two operative 2- or 3-mm reusable trocars inserted in the lower right and left quadrants of the abdominal wall were utilized. In a group of 123 patients, the inner inguinal ring was closed, adopting a W-shaped suture (inguinal ring suture; IRS). In the other group of 101 patients, a lateral incision of the sac of 1-2 cm was carried out before the W-shaped suture of the inner inguinal ring (inguinal ring incision suture; IRIS). RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 24 months (range, 6-36), 5 of 133 (3.76%) hernias recurred between 6 and 12 months after surgery in the IRS group. In the IRIS group, none of the patients presented with recurrence. The rate of recurrences in the two groups was compared and analyzed with the x2 test. The resulting difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our experience, the incision of the peritoneum lateral to the internal inguinal ring and the W-shaped suture, compared to the sole W-shaped suture, is safe and effective in preventing hernia recurrence.

LigaSure vessel sealing system in laparoscopic Palomo varicocele ligation in children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: We review our experience with laparoscopic Palomo varicocele ligation using the LigaSure device in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2003 and December 2004, 25 varicoceles were treated by laparoscopic Palomo varicocele ligation using LigaSure vascular sealing. Patient ages ranged from 10 to 19 years (mean, 14.5 years). Indications for surgery included grade II-III varicocele or ipsilateral testicular hypotrophy. One patient was affected by recurrent contralateral inguinal hernia and 2 presented with an ipsilateral patent processus vaginalis. We placed a 5-mm umbilical port for access, and kept pneumoperitoneum below 15 mm Hg. Under laparoscopic guidance, two additional ports of 3 and 5 mm were inserted in the lower right and left quadrants, respectively. Once the vessels were isolated, the vascular sealant was applied 3-4 times to ensure coagulation of the spermatic vessels; the vessels were then divided with laparoscopic 5-mm scissors. Inguinal hernia and patent processus vaginalis were treated according to Schier's technique. All procedures were performed in our day surgery facility. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 18 minutes, which is significantly less than the time required in a similar group of 12 patients who underwent laparoscopic clip ligation. There were no perioperative complications. Eleven of 16 patients recovered testicular size. Two patients had postoperative hydrocele: the first was treated successfully with scrotal aspiration, while the other patient required scrotal hydrocelectomy. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic Palomo varicocele sealing can be performed safely and rapidly and is highly successful in correcting varicoceles in young males. We also found it to be the ideal technique to correct the associated inguinal hernia or patent processus vaginalis.