10-year experience of Paediatric varicocele embolization in a tertiary centre with long-term follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric varicocele embolization has many benefits over surgical ligation, but lacks published long-term data. We investigated technical and clinical outcomes in this under reported patient group. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate technical success, complications and recurrence rates following varicocele embolization in paediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-centre retrospective review of procedural data and electronic notes of consecutive patients referred for varicocele embolization over a 10-year period was performed (February 2010-March 2020). The primary outcomes were technical success and clinical efficacy (lack of symptom recurrence). Secondary outcomes included complications, testicular vein size reduction and procedural parameters including radiation exposure. Chi-square analysis was used to identify predictors of clinical success. Follow-up involved outpatient clinical assessment and telephone interview. RESULTS: 40 patients (median age 15) were referred for left-sided symptomatic varicocele. Technical embolization success was achieved in 36/40 patients (90%), with 4 procedures abandoned (inaccessible vein). Embolization technique was platinum-based coils ± sclerosant. There were no immediate or long-term procedural complications. 32/36 patients completed short term follow-up at a median interval of 2.8 months. 30/32 (93.78%) experienced early clinical success. We found a significant reduction in peritesticular vein size following embolization (pre-3.70 vs post-2.56 mm, p = 0.00017) and a significant relationship between varicocele grade and early clinical success (χ2 = 4.2, p = 0.04), but not pre-treatment peritesticular vein size (χ2 = 0.02, p = 0.88). 33/36 patients completed long-term follow-up (median 4.2 years, range 0.36-9.9 years) producing a late clinical success rate of 93.9% (31/33). No post procedural complications including hydroceles were identified. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates technical success, matching rates described in adult patients which is reassuring and in support of embolization in the younger patient cohort. More importantly, the overall clinical success rate is comparable with previous embolization studies. Reassuringly, all symptom recurrences occurred early in follow-up, and there is a cogent argument for a single follow-up appointment at this juncture. Our long-term average follow-up duration, primarily gained via telephone interview, exceeds other studies. Although our study has the longest follow-up for varicocele embolization in children, it is limited by a few patients being lost to early and long-term follow-up. This is a recognised issue faced by studies attempting to follow-up benign conditions with a high clinical success rate. CONCLUSION: Paediatric varicocele embolization is a successful alternative to surgical ligation, with no complications and good clinical outcomes over a long-term follow-up.

The challenge of maintaining dialysis lines in the under twos.

INTRODUCTION: Hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are essential adjuncts in the management of children with established renal failure (ERF), but complications are common, particularly in the younger age groups. We reviewed catheter life and catheter-related complications in children who began chronic dialysis before the age of 2 years. METHOD: From the case notes of the children, born between 1990 and 2008, the data gathered included etiology of ERF, age at first dialysis catheter, complications, catheter life, and number of PD and HD. RESULTS: Ninety lines were inserted (40 PD and 50 HD) in 22 children with ERF. Eleven children were aged <6 months when commencing dialysis, six of whom were neonates. PD, the preferred modality, was offered to all but two children. Four children were managed with PD alone. One child died of overwhelming sepsis secondary to PD peritonitis. Average catheter life for HD was 3 months and PD 9.1 months. Luminal blockage and infection were the commonest reasons for change of HD catheters. Peritonitis was the commonest factor leading to PD removal. CONCLUSIONS: Children younger than 2 years can be dialyzed successfully by HD or PD but complications are frequent, leading to >2 catheters in the majority. Chronic dialysis in the very young is achievable and useful, but a high incidence of catheter changes must be anticipated.

Evidence-based change of practice in the management of unilateral inguinal hernia.

PURPOSE: Contralateral inguinal exploration in children with unilateral inguinal hernia is still controversial. Only 20% of patients with patent processus vaginalis would develop a clinically apparent hernia [Miltenburg DM, Nutctern JG, Jaksic Tkozinetz CA. Meta-analysis of the risk of metachronous hernia in infants and children. Am J Surg 1997;174:741-4]. In 1999, our unit changed the practice of performing routine contralateral inguinal exploration of male children younger than 2 years and female children younger than 5 years to inguinal herniotomy of the symptomatic side only based on a meta-analysis published by Miltenburg et al [Meta-analysis of the risk of metachronous hernia in infants and children. Am J Surg 1997;174:741-4]. We explored the contralateral inguinal area only in babies with a history of prematurity. METHODS: A prospective study of patients subjected to unilateral inguinal herniotomy from 1999 to 2001 was performed. Age, sex, side of the hernia, and incarceration at presentation were recorded. The incidence of metachronous inguinal hernia (MIH) and its risk factors were analyzed. The follow-up ranged from 36 to 72 months. RESULTS: Of the 409 patients who presented with inguinal hernia, 264 underwent unilateral inguinal herniotomy. The rest were either children with bilateral inguinal hernia or premature babies who were offered bilateral inguinal herniotomy. Of these 264 patients, 180 (68%) had right-sided inguinal hernia and 84 (32%) had left-sided inguinal hernia. Fourteen (5%) patients subsequently presented with MIH. Of these 14 patients, 8 were younger than 2 years at the initial presentation and 11 originally presented with left-sided inguinal hernia. No female child presented with MIH. Twelve (85%) re-presentations with MIH occurred within 1 year of the original operation. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of only the symptomatic inguinal hernia has not significantly increased the incidence of MIH. This evidence-based change of practice has avoided 152 operations in 264 patients. Presentation with incarceration and age at presentation have no significant impact on the incidence of MIH. Left-sided presentation has a statistically significant high incidence of MIH.