Developing a core outcome set for the health outcomes for children and adults with congenital oesophageal atresia and/or tracheo-oesophageal fistula: OCELOT task group study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Heterogeneity in reported outcomes of infants with oesophageal atresia (OA) with or without tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF) prevents effective data pooling. Core outcome sets (COS) have been developed for many conditions to standardise outcome reporting, facilitate meta-analysis and improve the relevance of research for patients and families. Our aim is to develop an internationally-agreed, comprehensive COS for OA-TOF, relevant from birth through to transition and adulthood. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A long list of outcomes will be generated using (1) a systematic review of existing studies on OA-TOF and (2) qualitative research with children (patients), adults (patients) and families involving focus groups, semistructured interviews and self-reported outcome activity packs. A two-phase Delphi survey will then be completed by four key stakeholder groups: (1) patients (paediatric and adult); (2) families; (3) healthcare professionals; and (4) researchers. Phase I will include stakeholders individually rating the importance and relevance of each long-listed outcome using a 9-point Likert scale, with the option to suggest additional outcomes not already included. During phase II, stakeholders will review summarised results from phase I relative to their own initial score and then will be asked to rescore the outcome based on this information. Responses from phase II will be summarised using descriptive statistics and a predefined definition of consensus for inclusion or exclusion of outcomes. Following the Delphi process, stakeholder experts will be invited to review data at a consensus meeting and agree on a COS for OA-TOF. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was sought through the Health Research Authority via the Integrated Research Application System, registration no. 297026. However, approval was deemed not to be required, so study sponsorship and oversight were provided by Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust. The study has been prospectively registered with the COMET Initiative. The study will be published in an open access forum.

Timing of neonatal stoma closure: a survey of health professional perspectives and current practice.

Optimal timing for neonatal stoma closure remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to establish current practice and illustrate multidisciplinary perspectives on timing of stoma closure using an online survey sent to all 27 UK neonatal surgical units, as part of a research programme to determine the feasibility of a clinical trial comparing 'early' and 'late' stoma closure. 166 responses from all 27 units demonstrated concordance of opinion in target time for closure (6 weeks most commonly stated across scenarios), although there was a high variability in practice. A sizeable proportion (41%) of respondents use weight, rather than time, to determine when to close a neonatal stoma. Thematic analysis of free text responses identified nine key themes influencing decision-making; most related to nutrition, growth and stoma complications. These data provide an overview of current practice that is critical to informing an acceptable trial design.

Laparoscopic inguinal herniotomy: Recreating the open operation optimises outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests simple laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy is associated with higher rates of recurrence and testicular ascent. We instigated a standardised approach to laparoscopic inguinal herniotomy (LIH), with circumferential sac division and 'purse-string' closure (4/0 monofilament polypropylene). An active follow-up programme was pursued. We reviewed our outcomes of this technique and compared them to an open herniotomy (OIH) cohort. METHODS: LIH patients were identified prospectively (2017-2021): OIH retrospectively from 2016. Risk factors for complications were defined: extremely to very preterm (< 32 weeks), emergency presentation with incarceration, and redo surgery for recurrence. Data are presented as median [IQR]. Comparisons used Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests: significance defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS: 192 inguinal herniae in 140 patients were included in the LIH group and 214 herniae in 179 patients in the OIH group. Groups were similar in age and gender. The LIH group had a significantly larger proportion of cases that were premature, had emergency surgery, or had redo surgery after previous OIH. Follow-up was 24.4 months [10.8-33.6] vs. 66.4 [64.5-68.5] (LIH vs. OIH). Hernia recurrence occurred in 2/192 (1.0%) vs. 4/214 (1.9%) (LIH vs. OIH), p = 0.69. There was one known case of testicular ascent after OIH but none in the LIH group. CONCLUSIONS: Recreation of the open herniotomy laparoscopically appears to confer excellent outcomes, with low rates of recurrence despite a high proportion of patients having known risk factors. Further long-term data on rates of testicular ascent after active follow-up are required.

Vasculitis as part of the fetal response to acute chorioamnionitis likely plays a role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis and spontaneous intestinal perforation in premature neonates.

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) are causes of bowel perforation in premature neonates. Studies have demonstrated that both are associated with acute chorioamnionitis (ACA) of the placenta. AIM: The aim of our study was to identify any histopathological links between placental histopathological abnormalities and the later development of NEC and/or SIP in premature patients presenting at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases with a diagnosis of NEC/SIP were identified. Entry criteria were the diagnosis of NEC/SIP was confirmed clinically and/or histologically, had been made within the first 7 days of life, neonates were premature, and the placenta had been submitted for histological examination. In those cases with ACA, CD34 immunohistochemistry and Martius scarlet blue staining was performed. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, clinical variables, and clinical outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher exact test. RESULTS: In total, 21 cases met defined inclusion criteria (12 NEC, 8 SIP, and 1 clinically indeterminate). Mean gestational age was 27 weeks. Median age of presentation was 5 days. Placental histology showed ACA in 16 of 21 cases (76.2%). Of those with ACA, 13 of 16 (81.3%) had umbilical phlebitis, 12 of 16 (75.0%) had umbilical arteritis, 6 of 16 (37.5%) funisitis, and 12 of 16 (75.0%) had chorionic vasculitis. No differences (p > 0.05) were seen between ACA and diagnosis or clinical outcome (Fisher exact test). Of the 16 cases, 14 with ACA that later developed either NEC or SIP showed vasculitis in the umbilical cord and/or chorionic plate and/or stem villi vasculature. The association between ACA and vasculitis was highly significant (p < 0.01). Of those with ACA on placental histology, 12 of 16 (75.0%) cases were found to have intermediate-advanced stage fetal inflammatory response (FIR), whereas 13 of 16 (81.3%) had grade 2 (severe) FIR. Of the 16 cases, 8 (50.0%) had evidence of fibrin deposition/early thrombus formation within placental and/or umbilical vasculature. These were associated with vascular endothelial injury in vessels with prominent vasculitis. CONCLUSION: NEC or SIP shows a significant association with ACA with presence of vasculitis as part of the FIR (p < 0.01). In a proportion of cases, the development of fibrin deposition in response to vasculitic endothelial damage of the placental vasculature may form part of the mechanism linking ACA and early postnatal development of NEC and/or SIP.