Renal function and urine drainage after conservative or operative treatment of primary (obstructive) megaureter in infants and children.

UNLABELLED: We examined renal function and urinary drainage of children with primary megaureter (PMU) in dependence on conservative or operative treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective analysis covering the years 1994 to 2000 comprised children at an age of 0-7 years with 35 PMU. Sonography, dynamic MAG3 renography as well as endogenic creatinine clearance (GFR) were used to assess drainage and the renal function. Temporary urinary diversion was established in fourteen patients of both groups. In 14 children with 16 PMU a ureteroneocystostomy (UNC) was performed. The average observation period was 30 months (11-108). RESULTS: The children of the UNC group differed from the non-neoimplanted group in the age at diagnosis (10.5 vs. < 1 months), higher degrees of hydronephrosis on average, a more distinct dilatation of the ureter as well as renographically significant obstruction. Children of the non-UNC group, including four children with a type B drainage curve (O'Reilly), had an unimpaired differential renal function or improved during the observation period (initially 51% vs. 50.5% at the end). In neoimplantation group the differential function improved from 32.5% to 38.5% (p < 0.05) and obstruction resolved with one exception. CONCLUSION: Given a higher-grade PMU with a reduced function of the kidneys and a significant impaired drainage pattern and/or symptoms, neoimplantation without temporary diversion has proved to be an efficient renoprotective method. Furthermore, data clearly justify a conservative approach without urinary diversion in infants with large asymptomatic PMU.

Acute portal vein thrombosis after splenic embolization and splenectomy for autoimmune pancytopenia.

Postsplenectomy portal vein thrombosis for hematological diseases is uncommon in the pediatric population. The case summarized is, to our knowledge, the first manifestation of portal vein thrombosis in a child after preoperative splenic artery embolization and subsequent splenectomy for severe hypersplenism. We suggest that early routine diagnosis by Doppler ultrasonography and subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin therapy are useful steps for a successful outcome.

Idiopathic spontaneous pneumomediastinum: an uncommon emergency in children.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) occurs rarely in children. The diagnosis is based on physical examination and chest radiography. Conservative therapy usually leads to recovery. However, SPM in association with severe hypoxia, tachycardia, metabolic acidosis, and high ventilation pressures indicates clinically significant tension in the mediastinum. A collar mediastinotomy is the treatment of choice in these circumstances.

Congenital urethral cysts in boys with vesicoureteric reflux.

UNLABELLED: Four cases of congenital urethral cysts are reported. Diagnosis was made by endoscopy. The coincidence of urethral cysts and vesicoureteric refluxes seemed incidental in three cases. Fetal infravesical obstruction was provable in the fourth infant. CONCLUSION: Urethral cysts should be considered in boys with vesicoureteric reflux. For the vast majority of cases it seems improbable that urethral cysts play a role in the pathogenesis of congenital vesicoureteric reflux.

Perineal ectopic testis: a rare cause of empty scrotum.

Perineal ectopic testis is a rare congenital anomaly and remains a urologic curiosity. We report the course of 2 recurrent cases after hormonal therapy and a third case associated with inguinal hernia. During the surgical exploration, the gubernaculum testis was found fixed to the perineum. The testes were placed in the scrotum. The evaluation of differential diagnosis of empty scrotum is recommended.

[External femorotibial transfixation in femoral fracture with joint involvement in a child]. / Die externe femurotibiale Transfixation bei Femurfraktur mit Gelenkbeteiligung beim Kind.

Long bone fractures combined with joint injuries run a high risk of destabilising the articulations. Remaining joints incongruence can lead to early arthosis especially in cases of severe injuries or not achieved anatomical reduction. A number of osteosynthesis methods are available for anatomical repair of the articular facet. This report presents a seven years old boy with an open comminuted fracture of the distal femur and consecutive joint instability, treated with a Transfixation (Orthofix) of the knee joint. The functional results suggest this method as an alternative treatment.

Benign symmetric lipomatosis with myelomeningocele in an adolescent: An uncommon association-case report.

The authors report an unusual localization of symmetric adipose tumors associated with spinal dysraphism. Initially, the patient underwent a closure of the lumbosacral myelomeningocele. At that time, the tumors were not evident and remained undiscovered up until puberty. However, during puberty, the symmetric lipomatous masses grew at the perineal region. Except the patient's age, all findings and the clinical picture supported the diagnosis of a benign symmetric lipomatosis (BSL). To the authors' knowledge, the following case has not been described previously.