Time Is Money in Case of a Button Battery Ingestion.

Button battery (BB) ingestion is a preventable pediatric health hazard with important morbidity and mortality due to complications. We present 3 pediatric patients with a complicated course after BB ingestion and discuss current guidelines. Urgent endoscopic removal is necessary for every BB impacted in the esophagus. A new strategy before endoscopic removal is the administration of honey or sucralfate. During endoscopy, rinsing the esophageal mucosae with acetic acid can neutralize the alkalic environment and prevent late complications. Prevention of ingestion needs to be pursued by increasing awareness and changing legislation of packaging of BB.

Disparities in the gut metabolome of post-operative Hirschsprung's disease patients.

Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a congenital structural abnormality of the colon seen in approximately 1 to 5000 live births. Despite surgical correction shortly after presentation, up to 60% of patients will express long-term gastrointestinal complaints, including potentially life-threatening Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). In this study fecal samples from postoperative HD patients (n = 38) and their healthy siblings (n = 21) were analysed using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry aiming to further unravel the nature of the chronic gastrointestinal disturbances. Furthermore, within the patient group, we compared the faecal metabolome between patients with and without a history of HAEC as well as those diagnosed with short or long aganglionic segment. Targeted analysis identified several individual metabolites characteristic for all HD patients as well as those with a history of HAEC and long segment HD. Moreover, multivariate models based on untargeted data established statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences in comprehensive faecal metabolome in the patients' cohort as a whole and in patients with a history of HAEC. Pathway analysis revealed the most impact on amino sugar, lysine, sialic acid, hyaluronan and heparan sulphate metabolism in HD, as well as impaired tyrosine metabolism in HAEC group. Those changes imply disruption of intestinal mucosal barrier due to glycosaminoglycan breakdown and dysbiosis as major metabolic changes in patients' group and should be further explored for potential diagnostic or treatment targets.

Multicentre survey on the current surgical management of oesophageal atresia in Belgium and Luxembourg.

INTRODUCTION: The surgical management of oesophageal atresia (OA) differs between pediatric surgical teams without consensus. We aimed to describe the current practice of OA treatment in Belgium and Luxembourg and compare this to the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was created and sent to all 18 hospitals (14 pediatric surgical units) performing OA surgery in Belgium and Luxembourg. The results were compared to the literature. RESULTS: Most units treat an average of 2-5 OA+TOF (71%) and ≤1 pure OA (pOA) per year (86%). The preferred surgical approach for OA+TOF is thoracotomy (86%), mostly extra-pleural (75%). Thoracoscopic OA repair is performed in 21%. All centers perform an end-to-end anastomosis (interrupted sutures), and all leave a transanastomotic tube. A chest drain is routinely used in 8units (57%). In pOA the preferred surgical approach is gastrostomy formation with delayed primary anastomosis (77%). The timing for delayed anastomosis is 2 to 24months. Intra-operative lengthening is mostly attempted with Foker technique (46%). If oesophageal replacement is needed, gastric interposition is mostly used (75%). A postoperative contrast study is routinely performed in 86% for OA+TOF and in 100% for pOA. Anti-reflux medication is routinely prescribed by all units but one. CONCLUSION: There are still many differences and controversies in the perioperative management of OA. Part of this is based on habits and is difficult to change without scientific evidence. There is a need for prospective (inter)national registries to further identify the existing differences, leading to a more widely accepted consensus. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Conversion from band to bypass in two steps reduces the risk for anastomotic strictures.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity after converting failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) to laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is three- to fivefold higher than after primary LRYGB. Allowing a time interval between band removal and actual gastric bypass might reduce local inflammation and reduce morbidity. METHODS: This study is a retrospective single-center study of patients who needed conversion to LRYGB because of failed LAGB. Outcomes after conversion of LAGB to LRYGB in one or two steps were compared. RESULTS: Between October 2008 and June 2010, 23 patients had a conversion in one step (group A) while, in 14 patients, the conversion was carried out at least 2 months after band removal (group B). The mean duration of surgery in group A was 150 ± 39 min while it took 181 ± 39 min to complete both steps in group B (p=0.02). Length of stay in group A was 3 (3-8) days, but was 5 (4-8) days for the two steps in group B (p=0.004). During a follow-up of 6-23 months, one pulmonary embolism, one epigastric artery bleeding, and three anastomotic strictures occurred in group A, while no complications were observed in group B. The BMI dropped from 41.4 ± 6.7 to 28.7 ± 10.8 kg/m(2) in group A and from 43.8 ± 5.8 to 35.3 ± 7.55 kg/m(2) in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Operating time and hospital stay are increased when conversion is performed in two steps, but, in this small series, this strategy decreased morbidity and more specifically the rate of anastomotic strictures.

Laparoendoscopic single-site gastrectomy for a gastric GIST using double-bended instruments.

BACKGROUND: Laproscopic single-site surgery is the natural evolution of minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: A 70-year-old male was planned for a resection of a gastric GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). A Triport trocar (Olympus, Aartselaar, Belgium) was placed through a 2-cm periumbilical incision. Besides the placement of a Nathanson liver retractor in the subxiphoidal position, no additional trocars had to be added. The partial gastrectomy was carried out by using clinical prototypes of double-bended intruments and of a "goose neck" videolaparoscope, all specially designed for single-port surgery. RESULTS: Total operative time was 140 minutes, and estimated blood loss was 10 mL. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred. Hospital stay was 4 days. Final pathology revealed the complete resection of a GIST tumor of gastric origin. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated the technical feasibility and described the detailed surgical technique of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery gastric wedge resection.

Should an infected Nuss bar be removed?

BACKGROUND: The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive procedure for correction of pectus excavatum. It involves insertion of a substernal metal bar. A feared complication of any implanted device is infection, which often necessitates removal. The purpose of this report is to describe the authors' experience with infectious complications after the Nuss procedure. METHODS: From February 2000 to July 2002, 102 patients underwent the Nuss procedure in 2 pediatric surgical centers. In a retrospective way, the files of those patients in whom a postoperative infection developed were studied. RESULTS: Seven patients suffered postoperative infectious complications. Only one bar needed to be removed. CONCLUSION: The authors' experience indicates that there is no need for immediate removal of an infected Nuss bar. Most of these infections can be managed conservatively. However, early antibiotic treatment is warranted to ensure salvage of the bar.

Surgical treatment of severe obesity with a low-pressure adjustable gastric band: experimental data and clinical results in 625 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a low-pressure gastric band in the treatment of severe obesity in a prospective study. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Gastric banding for severe obesity has been associated with erosion and perforation of the stomach. The Swedish adjustable gastric band (SAGB) has been proposed as a low-pressure device. METHODS: From January 1998 to October 2001, 625 patients underwent laparoscopic SAGB. Median age was 36 years, and 80.4% of patients were female. Median preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 40. Previous upper abdominal surgery was reported in 36 (6%) patients. A five-trocar technique was used without a calibration balloon. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 19.5 months. All patients were treated laparoscopically with a median operating time of 80 minutes. Conversion was necessary in two patients (0.3%): one trocar injury of the mesentery and one esophageal perforation. Median hospital stay was 3 days; there were no 30-day deaths. Early morbidity was present in 27 patients (4.3%). Late band reoperation was necessary in 49 patients (7.8%). Indications for reoperation were band slippage or pouch dilation, acute total dysphagia, and band leakage or malfunction. Median excess weight loss was 45.8%, 49.9%, and 47.4% after 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively, with a measurable beneficial effect on arterial hypertension, sleep apnea syndrome, and diabetes control. CONCLUSIONS: SAGB is a safe and effective new method in the management of severe obesity. Long-term follow-up (>3 years) is necessary to confirm its effectiveness and safety.