Laparoscopy-Assisted Percutaneous Cholangiography in Biliary Atresia Diagnosis: Comparison with Open Technique.

Introduction. Biliary atresia is a surgical cause of prolonged jaundice, which needs to be diagnosed with cholangiography that has traditionally been performed via laparotomy. Laparoscopic assistance has lately been introduced to avoid unnecessary laparotomy. We aim to evaluate the benefits of the laparoscopy-assisted cholangiography and compare it to the traditional procedure via laparotomy. Patients and Method. The medical records of the cases who had undergone cholangiography for prolonged jaundice between 2007 and 2014 were analyzed. The patients were grouped according to cholangiography technique (laparotomy/laparoscopy). The laparoscopy and laparotomy groups with patent bile ducts were focused and compared in terms of operation duration, postoperative initiation time of enteral feeding, and full enteral feeding achievement time. Results. Sixty-one infants with prolonged jaundice were evaluated between 2007 and 2014. Among the patients with patent bile ducts, operation duration, postoperative enteral feeding initiation time, and the time to achieve full enteral feeding were shorter in laparoscopy group. Conclusion. Laparoscopic cholangiography is safe and less time-consuming compared to laparotomy, with less postoperative burden. As early age of operation is a very important prognostic factor, laparoscopic evaluation should be an early option in work-up of the infants with prolonged jaundice with direct hyperbilirubinemia, for diagnosis/exclusion of biliary atresia.

Renal sparing surgery using focus ultracision harmonic scalpel in patients with bilateral wilms' tumor: case report.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral Wilms' tumor is rare and surgical treatment requires an individual approach. Surgical approach to the tumors located in the central part of the kidney represents a major challenge and nephrectomy is usually essential. Renal sparing surgery is difficult in such cases. CASE REPORT: We describe a 3 year-old female patient with bilateral Wilms' tumor arising in the central localisation of the right and foci in the left kidney enucleated successfully with a simple and comfortable renal preserving operative technique using Focus Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel. CONCLUSION: In cases when tumors are located in the central part of the kidney and partial nephrectomy is consequently very difficult, the use of a Focus Ultracision Harmonic Scalpel provides easy dissecting, enucleation, and excision of the tumor.