A dedicated quality improvement programme can increase access to paediatric minimal access surgery in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: In this project, we reviewed our experience in minimal access paediatric surgery (MAPS) at Greys Hospital over the last decade. This information would provide an overview of our experience and would enable us to identify areas where we can strengthen our surgical service and our training programme. METHODS: All surgical patients are captured in the hybrid electronic medical registry (HEMR). All patients aged 18 years or less who underwent a MAPS procedure between 2012 and 2021 were reviewed. Data collected included demographic information, type of surgery, nature of the surgery (elective or emergency), organ system operated on, whether trainees or consultants performed the surgeries and the morbidities and mortalities experienced. Statistical analysis included linear regression and ANOVA, which was performed using Jamovi software. RESULTS: A total of 1 328 MAPS procedures were performed on 994 patients over nine years. There were 359 female and 635 male patients. There was a steady increase in the number of cases performed per year. The age of the patients ranged from one day of life to 18 years, with a median of 8 years. The multiple linear regression results indicated a very strong collective significant effect between the courses performed, the number of consultants, and the MAPS cases performed. The ANOVA test for the individual factors was not statistically significant, but there was a very strong combined correlation with an r-value of 0.87 and a p-value of 0.014 using the overall model test. The consultants' training also directly impacted on the teaching and training of registrars, with progressively more cases being performed by trainees over the years. Postoperative morbidity was reported in 40 patients. The morbidity rate was three per cent. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to deliver MAPS to children in our environment. A comprehensive quality improvement strategy has yielded satisfying results. The increased use of MAPS has resulted in a general transfer of skills to junior staff. Ongoing efforts to support the rollout of MAPS in children are warranted.

A case of bowel perforation secondary to burn conversion.

SUMMARY: Burn conversion is a process by which superficial partial-thickness burns spontaneously progress into deep partialthickness or full-thickness wounds. Factors that influence this process centre around poor perfusion which can be related to either too much or too little fluid resuscitation, infection, free radical damage, and metabolic or nutritional derangements. Therein lies the role of preventative strategies, i.e., adequate fluid resuscitation, prompt identification and management of sepsis, correction of electrolyte derangements and early institution of feeds. Prevention of burn conversion could prevent the need for surgical intervention and improve the morbidity and mortality of burns patients.

Laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suturing for paediatric inguinal hernias: a South African tertiary centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is routine in many paediatric centres. One of several techniques described in 2006 is the laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suturing (PIRS) technique. This technique which is not widely used in South Africa has been adopted for paediatric inguinal hernias at our institution, and this is a review of the experience. METHOD: The study is a retrospective review of the patients who underwent PIRS (a single port combined percutaneous procedure used to close the internal ring) at our hospital from October 2018 until March 2020. We describe the technique in our setting and review our cohort of patients, demographics, clinical presentation, operative duration and complications. RESULTS: One hundred and ten laparoscopic PIRS procedures were performed on 94 patients; 15 had bilateral inguinal hernias. Polydioxanone and Prolene were the sutures used for the procedures. Average operative time was 12 minutes for unilateral hernias and 33 minutes for bilateral hernias. All operations were completed laparoscopically. Follow-up was for a minimum of three months, but up to 21 months. Complications included three intraoperative haematomas, three hydrocoeles and two umbilical granulomas postoperatively. There were two recurrent hernias of which one was managed with redo PIRS; the other required open herniotomy for an irreducible obstructed hernia. CONCLUSION: This review is supportive evidence that the PIRS technique for managing paediatric inguinal hernias in a tertiary institution in South Africa can be performed safely with few complications.

Recurrent ACTG2 gene variation in African degenerative visceral leiomyopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Visceral myopathies remain difficult and frustrating clinical entities, a distinctive form of acquired degenerative visceral myopathy, African degenerative leiomyopathy, a myogenic functional intestinal obstruction without aganglionosis which affects smooth muscle of the intestine, in young indigenous African children. The Actin G2 gene is the main gene encoding smooth muscle actin found in enteric tissues. Recent research has identified Actin G2 alpha gene variation as an important causative biomarker in visceral myopathies and megacystis microcolon. This study of the Actin G2 gene (ACTG2) in an African population explores a possible molecular basis abnormal muscle function in a visceral myopathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following ethical permission and informed consent, DNA was extracted from whole blood samples in five patients with histologically proven African degenerative leiomyopathy. PCR amplification of ACTG2 alpha gene products by semi-automated bi-directional sequencing analysis. Results were analysed using FinchTV Sequence Alignment Software and predicting bioinformatic investigation by PolyPhen 2 software. RESULTS: Five new patients with the ADL phenotypes were prospectively investigated for variation in the Actin G2 gamma gene (ACTG2). ACTG2 gene variation occurred in exon 5 (c.463 A>G K119R), in three (60%). In addition, intronic variation t > c-IVS3 was identified in three with the K119 mutation plus further g > c -IVS12 and t > c + IVS16(2), suggesting a possible haplotype. Bioinformatic modelling showed that these ACTG2 gene variations are highly non-conservative altering protein expression. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent Actin G2 smooth muscle gene variation in African degenerative visceral leiomyopathy is associated with abnormal muscle actin development.

An audit of ingested and aspirated foreign bodies in children at a university hospital in South Africa: The Pietermaritzburg experience.

BACKGROUND: The ingestion or aspiration of foreign bodies (FBs) by children is a common problem around the world. Our centre in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, has a dedicated paediatric surgical service, and all patients with an ingested or aspirated FB are managed under the direct care of a paediatric surgeon. OBJECTIVES: To review our centre's experience with this problem by means of a retrospective audit and use the data to develop and refine appropriate local management guidelines. METHODS: Grey's Hospital has a hybrid electronic medical registry (HEMR) that captures patient data on admission, after a procedure and on discharge. The HEMR was reviewed and all patients with an appropriate International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD-10) code indicating an ingested or aspirated FB were identified and retrieved for review. RESULTS: A total of 105 cases of FB ingestion or aspiration in children <12 years of age from January 2012 to December 2014 were identified from the HEMR. The patients' ages ranged from 4 months to 10 years (mean 3 years and 6 months), and 59.0% (n=62) were male and 41.0% (n=43) female. A total of 107 FBs were removed (two patients each had two coins removed). The commonest FBs were coins (n=77, 71.9%), followed by batteries (n=6, 5.6%), plastic toys (n=5, 4.7%), buttons (n=5, 4.7%), screws/washers (n=3, 2.8%), seeds (n=2, 1.9%), needles (n=2, 1.9%), bones (n=2, 1.9%), a marble (n=1, 0.9%), a rubber eraser (n=1, 0.9%), a curtain hook (n=1, 0.9%), a nail (n=1, 0.9%) and a wood speck (n=1, 0.9%). Of the FBs, 67 (62.6%) were in the oesophagus, 17 (15.9%) in the respiratory system, 14 (13%) in the intestine and 9 (8.4%) in the oral cavity. The average time from ingestion/aspiration to presentation was <48 hours. Of the FBs, 67 (62.6%) were removed via rigid oesophagoscopy and 13 (12.1%) via rigid bronchoscopy, 13 (12.1%) were passed rectally, and 9 (8.4%) were removed via grasping forceps in the oral cavity, 4 (3.7%) via thoracotomy and 1 (0.9%) via emergency laparotomy. A total of 15 complications included mucosal ulceration/slough (n=6, 40.0%), oesophageal perforation (n=3, 20.0%), aspiration pneumonia (n=3, 20.0%), and tracheal perforation, lung collapse and contact bleed (n=1 each, 6.7%). No patient presented in respiratory distress or needed emergency airway management, and there were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a dedicated paediatric surgery service and the implementation of management protocols have resulted in excellent outcomes for this problem.