A "plastic" sutureless abdominal wall closure in gastroschisis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Several techniques are described for closure of the gastroschisis abdominal wall defect. The authors describe a technique that allows for spontaneous closure that is simple, cosmetically appealing, and minimizes intraabdominal pressure after bowel reduction. METHODS: Under either general anesthetic or analgesia with sedation, the gastroschisis bowel is decompressed, and the bowel is primarily reduced. The gastroschisis defect is covered with the umbilical cord tailored to fit the opening, and 2 Tegaderm (3M Healthcare, MN) dressings reinforce the defect ("plastic closure"). Intragastric pressure is monitored during and after the procedure. If primary reduction is not possible, the bowel is reduced daily via a spring-loaded silo (Bentec Medical, CA). After reduction of the bowel, the defect is allowed to close spontaneously using the "plastic closure" technique. The authors prospectively treated a cohort of patients with gastroschisis that included simple to complex cases using this technique. RESULTS: Ten children with gastroschisis were treated; 6 of these children had a primary reduction and simple closure of their defect using the "plastic closure." In the remaining 4 children, the plastic closure was used either primarily or secondarily to silo placement, despite the need for repair of complex intestinal anomalies. The average times to first feeding and discharge were 12.5 and 28.3 days, respectively. Six of the 10 children (60%) had small umbilical hernias, and only 1 underwent operative repair at 13 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: The plastic closure of gastroschisis is simple, safe, and cosmetically appealing. Intraabdominal pressures are well controlled, and the umbilical position remains centrally located in this sutureless technique. Umbilical defects can occur but are observed for spontaneous closure like most primary umbilical hernias.

Laryngeal mask airway--a novel method of airway protection during ERCP: comparison with endotracheal intubation.

BACKGROUND: ERCP sometimes requires deep sedation and rarely general anesthesia with airway protection. The laryngeal mask airway device is placed perorally to create a seal over the larynx. Unlike endotracheal intubation, no tube traverses the vocal cords, thus reducing airway stimulation and obviating the need to administer muscle relaxants. The feasibility of using the laryngeal mask airway during ERCP was evaluated and recovery times compared for patients undergoing ERCP with the laryngeal mask airway versus endotracheal intubation. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, anesthesia records were reviewed for anesthesiologist-assisted ERCP procedures performed during a 30-month period. Demographics, procedure duration, and time from endoscope removal to extubation were abstracted. Either propofol or inhalation agents were used for anesthesia in all patients. OBSERVATIONS: Anesthesiologists administered sedation for 41 ERCPs. The airway was managed in 12 patients with endotracheal intubation and the laryngeal mask airway in 20 patients. Six patients underwent laryngeal mask airway insertion and removal while prone. A therapeutic duodenoscope was passed beyond the laryngeal mask airway with little or no resistance in all cases. Repositioning the laryngeal mask airway during the procedure was required in 1 case. Laryngeal mask airway use was associated with shorter extubation time compared with endotracheal intubation (7.2 vs. 12 min.; p = 0.004). There were no airway complications. CONCLUSION: ERCP can be performed while using the laryngeal mask airway for airway protection. The laryngeal mask airway can be placed with the patient prone, obviating the need to change position. Laryngeal mask airway shortens extubation time compared with endotracheal intubation.

Diverticulo de Meckel / Meckel's diveticulum

Esta interesante anomalia congenita puede pasar de la forma asintomatica a una cuasa de abdomen quirurgico agudo. El diverticulo de Meckel, una evaginacion de la superficie antimesenterica del ileon distal, es el remanente mas comun de la estructura embriologica conocida como saco vitelino (o conducto onfalomesenterico). Con frecuencia se le denomina enfermedad de los "dos": afecta aproximadamente al 2% de la poblacion, sus sintomas se desarrollan durante el segundo ano de vida y el remanente se localiza en los dos pies terminales del ileon.