ABSTRACT
Introduction: Ladd's procedure, originally described in 1936 for the treatment of malrotation, does not traditionally include appendectomy as a standard step. We conducted a multinational survey to investigate the current consensus on the role of appendectomy in Ladd's procedure. Methodology: An anonymous online survey was distributed to pediatric surgeons worldwide. The survey collected demographic data and explored surgical preferences related to the management of malrotation. Open-ended questions were used to assess the opinions regarding the necessity of appendectomy, decision-making factors, and complications associated with appendectomy during Ladd's procedure. Results: A total of 343 responses were received from 46 countries. Of the respondents, 319 (93%) were consultants and 24 (7%) were residents/trainees. When asked about the choice between open and laparoscopic Ladd's procedure, 292 (85%) preferred open surgery. Overall, 184 (53%) respondents favored appendectomy in both open and laparoscopic Ladd's procedure. Furthermore, 172 (50%) surgeons advocated for appendectomy in all malrotation cases, citing concerns about potential future appendicitis. While differences existed between all comparisons, none of them reached statistical significance. The factors influencing the decision to preserve the appendix included the risk of postoperative complications and the potential future use of the appendix as a surgical conduit. The surgical complications following appendectomy included surgical site infections in 14 (33%) patients, adhesive obstruction in 13 (31%) patients, intrabdominal abscesses in 10 (24%) patients, and fecal fistulas in 5 (12%) patients. Conclusion: The majority of surgeons aim to perform appendectomy in all malrotation cases, considering the potential risks and benefits of this approach. These findings offer valuable insights for clinical practice and may inform future guidelines and decision-making algorithms.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To describe a laparoscopic surgical technique for ureterocystoplasty in pediatric patients with the Mitrofanoff procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The procedure was performed in 4 patients (2 females and 2 males), 8-11 years old (average, 9.5 years), with a history of myelomeningocele and secondary neurogenic bladder. The patients were evaluated before the surgery with renal ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography, and renal scintigraphy. All subjects reported left hydronephrosis with severe dilatation of ureter and the collector system, left megaureter with grade V vesicoureteral reflux, and left functional exclusion, with right renal normal function. The urodynamic investigations revealed low bladder size and bladder leak point pressure (BLPP) above 40 cm H2O. The laparoscopic ureterocystoplasty augmentation procedure and the Mitrofanoff procedure with the proximal ureter were performed in these patients. Complications and outcomes were recorded and compared with those of the postoperative urodynamic test. RESULTS: The 2-4 years of follow-up of the patients and its urodynamic postoperative evaluation reported at least 75% of the capacity according to their age, compliance that varied between 15 to 20 mL/cm H2O, and a BLPP of less than 40 cm H2O. This last parameter is considered of low risk to damage the upper urinary tract. There was no leaking of urine by the stoma over the 4 hours of catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: Even though enterocystoplasty is the gold standard to increase the capacity of the neurogenic bladder, it has an elevated morbidity. So the use of a dilative ureter to increase bladder size and create a Mitrofanoff stoma in patients with neurogenic bladder, pop-off phenomenon, and renal ipsilateral atrophy could be considered by the laparoscopic approach.
