Biliary hyperkinesia in adolescents-it isn't all hype!

BACKGROUND: Biliary dyskinesia generally refers to a hypofunctioning gallbladder with an ejection fraction (EF) of <35% on hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan with cholecystokinin stimulation (CCK-HIDA testing). In adults, biliary hyperkinesia has a defined association with biliary colic symptoms and can be relieved with surgical intervention. This clinical entity has not been well described in children or adolescents. In fact, only recently have we seen biliary hyperkinesia on HIDA at our centers. To that end, we reviewed our recent experience with adolescents who have presented and been treated for this unusual clinical entity. METHODS: With IRB approval, we retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with abnormally high HIDA EFs (>80%) cared for by the pediatric surgery services at two tertiary care centers over the span of a three-year period. Age, sex, BMI, CCK-HIDA results, and preoperative testing and post-operative pathology were noted. Resolution of symptoms was determined by subjective patient self-reporting at postoperative visit. RESULTS: Eighteen patients met inclusion criteria. Average age 15.7 (range, 10-17 years), median BMI 27.3 (±8.2). Fifteen patients were female and 3 were male. Average CCK-HIDA EF was 91.6% (±5.2), 82.4% of the patients had evidence of chronic cholecystitis and/or cholesterolosis on pathology. Postoperatively, 82.4% of the patients available for follow up (n=17) reported complete or near complete resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Biliary hyperkinesia is an emerging clinical entity in children and adolescents and has a similar presentation to biliary hypokinesia. While the pathophysiologic mechanism of pain is not fully elucidated, laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to provide a surgical cure for these patients and should be considered in the differential for the patient with an unremarkable workup and history suggestive of biliary colic.

Balloon sphincteroplasty in pediatric laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.

The management of choledocholithiasis in children and teenagers is often a two-procedure process with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and either pre- or post-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The addition of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) during LC can provide definitive treatment for choledocholithiasis during a single anesthetic event. In an effort to minimize sedation and radiation exposure from fluoroscopy, we have employed dilating balloons via a transcystic approach to stretch the sphincter of Oddi with subsequent ductal flushing. We describe the technique of balloon sphincteroplasty as a straightforward adjunct within the pediatric surgeon's skill set to manage choledocholithiasis during LC and our clinical experience.

Umbilical Negative Pressure Dressing for Transumbilical Appendectomy in Childern.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy (TULAA) carries a high risk for surgical site infection. We investigated the effect of a bio-occlusive umbilical vacuum dressing on wound infection rates after TULAA for patients with acute appendicitis and compared to it with a conventional 3-port appendectomy with a nonvacuum dressing. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review of 1377 patients (2-20 years) undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis in 2 tertiary care referral centers from January 2007 through December 2012. Twenty-two different operative technique/dressing variations were documented. The 6 technique/dressing groups with >50 patients were assessed, including a total of 1283 patients. RESULTS: The surgical site infection rate of the 220 patients treated with TULAA and application of an umbilical vacuum dressing with dry gauze is 1.8% (95% CI, 0.0-10.3%). This compares to an infection rate of 4.1% (95% CI, 1.3-10.5%) in 97 patients with dry dressing without vacuum. In the 395 patients who received an umbilical vacuum dressing with gauze and bacitracin, the surgical site infection rate was found to be 4.3% (95% CI, 2.7-6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Application of an umbilical negative-pressure dressing with dry gauze lowers the rate of umbilical site infections in patients undergoing transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy for acute appendicitis.