Mortality Factors in Crush Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Crush Syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following large-scale catastrophic earthquakes. Since there are no randomized controlled studies on Crush Syndrome, knowledge on this subject is limited to expert experience. The primary objective is to analyze the epidemiological and demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and mortality factors of earthquake victims after the Pazarcik and Elbistan earthquakes on February 6, 2023. METHODS: This cross-sectional and observational retrospective study evaluated 610 earthquake victims who presented to our center between February 6 and April 30, 2023. Among these patients, 128 with Crush Syndrome were included in the study. Patient information was gathered from hospital records during their stay and from national registries upon referral. The primary outcome was to identify risk factors for mortality. Demographic and laboratory data were analyzed by acute kidney injury (AKI) stages; mortality-affecting factors were identified through regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 128 Crush Syndrome patients (100 adults, 28 children), 64 were female. The AKI rate was 32.8%. Among patients with AKI, the frequency of hemodialysis requirement was 69%, and the mortality rate was 14.2%. The overall mortality rate for patients with Crush Syndrome was 4.6%, compared to 3.9% (19/482) in earthquake victims without Crush Syndrome (p=0.705). Notably, low systolic blood pressure at admission was the only factor significantly affecting mortality in Crush Syndrome patients (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.088, p=0.021, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights low systolic blood pressure upon admission as a significant risk factor for increased mortality in Crush Syndrome patients. This finding may contribute to the literature by emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood pressure under rubble and administering more aggressive fluid therapy to patients with low systolic blood pressure.

Laparoscopic management and its outcomes in cases with nonpalpable testis.

OBJECTIVE: Diagnostic laparoscopy is the gold standard in the algorithm of nonpalpable testis. Testicular tissue is examined and treatment is planned accordingly. In this study we reviewed the place of diagnostic laparoscopy, and evaluated the results and effectiveness of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and management of nonpalpable testis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children who had diagnostic laparoscopy for nonpalpable testes were included in the study. Physical examination results, ultrasonography (USG) reports, age at surgery, laparoscopic and inguinal exploration findings, surgical procedures, orchiopexy results, early and late-term complications were evaluated. Follow-up visits were performed at 3-month intervals for the first, at 6-month intervals for the 2. year, then at yearly intervals. Testicular size and location was evaluated by during control examination. RESULTS: Overall 58 boys, and 68 testes (26 left: 44.8%; 22 right: 37.9%, and 10 bilateral: 17.2%) were included in the study. Mean age at surgery was 5.5 years (10 months-17 years). Diagnostic value of USG was 15.7%. Diagnostic laparoscopy findings were as follows: Group 1: blind-ended vessels, n=7 (10.2%); Group 2: intraabdominal testes, n=8 (11.7%); Group 3: vas and vessels entering internal ring, n=53 (77.9%). Overall 43 testes underwent orchiopexy, which were normal (n=8) or hypoplastic (n=35). Mean follow-up period was 19 months (1-12 years), and on an average 7 visits were performed (5-14). On follow-up, 5 testes were normal-sized and located in the scrotum, while 4 testes were atrophic and underwent orchiectomy. Two testes were found in the inguinal canal and redo orchiopexy was performed. Control USG revealed reduced testicular blood supply and volume. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in the management of nonpalpable testes. In the majority, routine use of diagnostic laparoscopy in the algorithma does not confer any additional contributions in many patients.

Laparoscopic one-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy preserving gubernaculum.

OBJECTIVE: To assess gubernaculum-sparing laparoscopic one-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy (FSO), in the management of high intrapelvic testis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical reports of boys who underwent laparoscopic one-stage FSO were retrospectively reviewed. High intrapelvic testis was defined as testis ≥3 cm away from ipsilateral internal ring. Testes were evaluated on physical examination at 3rd, 6th and 18th months after surgery. Children were evaluated as for their demographic data, operative findings, interventional details and outcomes. RESULTS: Seven patients met inclusion criteria of the study. Six of 7 testis were small and had abnormal appearance, compared with the contralateral testis. Average distance of the testes from the internal ring was 4.2±1.1 cm (3 to 6). Average age at surgery was 6.1±4.2 years (2 to 12). Average follow-up period was 14±5.8 months (8 to 20), and 5 testis (71.4%) were considered to be normal in volume and scrotal location. Two testes were relatively atrophic and underwent orchiectomy. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results shows a good testicular survival rate for one-stage laparoscopic FSO. Sparing collateral vasculature of the gubernaculum is important.

Effectiveness of endoscopic balloon dilatation in grade 2a and 2b esophageal burns in children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictability of the initial endoscopic evaluation of the effectiveness of endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in childhood esophageal strictures caused by corrosive ingestion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 635 endoscopies caused by corrosive ingestion between January 2000 and December 2015 in children between the ages of 0 and 18 years were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, five children with grade 2a and 15 with grade 2 b who developed esophageal strictures were evaluated for the effectiveness of endoscopic balloon dilatation. RESULTS: The stricture rate was 5/136 (3.6%) in grade 2a and 17/25 (68%) in grade 2 b esophageal burns. Strictures with grade 2a burn had seven (1-10) EBD sessions, and grade 2 b had 8.8 (1-30) EBD sessions. For grade 2a burns, the treatment period was 15 months and 18.8 months for grade 2 b burns. Three patients with grade 2 b and two patients with grade 2a are still on the EBD program. CONCLUSION: Initial endoscopy for caustic ingestion and esophageal injury grading may help to provide healthcare givers with information about future stricture formation and management.

A Diagnostic Dilemma for the Pediatrician: Radiolucent Tracheobronchial Foreign Body.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine the role of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings in the evaluation of patients with suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration. METHODS: The medical records of 236 children (under the age of 18 years), on whom a rigid bronchoscopy was performed between 1999 and 2015 because of suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration, were analyzed retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings were evaluated. RESULTS: In 71.1% of all cases, the children were under the age of 3 years. The bronchoscopy showed the presence of a foreign body in 52.9% of cases, with the locations of the foreign bodies being as follows: (1) right main bronchus, 47.2%; (2) left main bronchus, 36.0%; (3) trachea, 11.2%; (4) both bronchi, 5.6%. Organic foreign bodies were found in 78% of the patients, whereas inorganic foreign bodies were detected in 22% of the patients. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings were 98.4% and 54.9%, 47.2% and 74.7%, and 35.2% and 92.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations usually occur prior to the age of 3 years, with the most frequently aspirated foreign bodies being food or items of a radiolucent nature. Clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings are not able to detect the presence of a radiolucent foreign body aspiration in children. Therefore, a bronchoscopy should be performed on children in whom a choking event has been witnessed, even in cases of normal radiological and clinical findings.

A bladder diverticulum model in rabbits.

PURPOSE: Shuttling of some of the bladder volume into the bladder diverticulum (BD) can cause urinary retention, lower urinary tract dysfunction, infection, and stone formation. This experimental study is the first to create a rabbit BD to study micturition physiology (urodynamics and pathology) that mimics clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 16 New Zealand adult male rabbits in the BD group and 16 sham-operated controls. BD creation consisted of a lower midline laparotomy and bladder entry via the spacing between the detrusor muscle fibers and the mucosa, posterolaterally from the bladder wall. The detrusor was excised to provide a mucosal prolapsus, creating a narrow BD neck (Figure). The sham group underwent bladder exposure with a midline incision. All rabbits underwent urodynamic study preoperatively and postoperatively, consisting of postmicturition residue (PMR), maximum bladder capacity (MBC), voiding detrusor pressure (VPdet), filling detrusor pressure (FPdet), compliance, and urine flow (Qflow). The animals were then sacrificed and their bladders assessed for pathology and stone formation. RESULTS: Preoperative MBC, Pdet, and Qmax were within reference ranges. No animals had PMR or urinary tract infections (UTIs). The BD group showed urodynamic and pathologic bladder changes, including decreased (28%) cystometric bladder capacity and compliance (Sham: 26.8 ± 0.4; BD: 4.46 ± 1.08, p = 0.0001) and increased post-void residual PMR (8.3 ± 2.4 mL). Pathology revealed increased bladder detrusor thickness correlated with urodynamic findings of increased filling detrusor pressures (Sham: 1.58 ± 0.2; BD: 4.89 ± 0.93, p = 0.0001). Urodynamics revealed intermittent BD bladder contraction during the filling phases. Eight BD group rabbits had UTIs; five had stone formation (4-9 mm). DISCUSSION: In the literature, it has not been determined whether lower urinary tract disorders (LUTD) could cause diverticula, or if a congenital diverticula could be reason for LUTD. Anatomical or neurological reasons for a low-compliance bladder can cause diverticulosis. As demonstrated in our study with rabbits, the congenital diverticulum could further reduce the compliance of the bladder. Further, a decrease in compliance logically correlates with the progressive decompensation of the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: The nature of diverticula remains undetermined. All the information presented for this model is relevant to our clinical observations. We conclude that the rabbit bladder can be used for research into experimental diverticulum-induced changes in the activity of the bladder and for experimental detrusor research.

Reliability of the Grading System for Voiding Cystourethrograms in the Management of Vesicoureteral Reflux: An Interrater Comparison.

Aim. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the most common conditions seen in pediatric urology. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for this disorder. The grading system for VUR varies among doctors, and the literature on its reliability is sparse. Here, we assessed the effectiveness of the current VUR grading system. Methods. A series of 40 voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) studies were selected. Four pediatric urologists (PU) and four pediatric radiologists (PR) independently graded each VCUG and then agreed on a uniform interpretation. For statistical analysis the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was applied to assess interrater agreement. Results. ICC values ranging from 0.82 to 0.88 reflected the strong reliability of VCUG for grading cases of VUR among pediatric urologists and radiologists as separate groups, and the reliability between the two groups was also good, as indicated by an ICC of 0.89. Despite the high ICC, disagreement existed between raters; the lowest agreement was associated with middle grades (III and IV). Conclusions. The interrater reliability of the international grading system for VUR was high but imperfect. Thus, grading differences at middle grades can profoundly influence the type of treatment pursued.

Dangerous Toys for Teenagers: Air Weapons.

INTRODUCTION: Air weapons are used for sport, hunting, firearm training or just for fun, especially by teenagers, worldwide. These weapons are generally regarded as toys, and injuries from these weapons are thought to be harmless by users, parents and even officials. Improvements in weapons technology make the penetration power of these toys similar to conventional hand guns. To increase awareness about the serious injuries associated with these guns. CASE PRESENTATION: The medical records of four teenage boys shot by air weapons between January 2012 and January 2013 in Mersin, Turkey, were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Of the four boys, two needed prompt thoracic intervention due to pneumo/hemothorax, one needed urgent abdominal exploration due to pneumoperitoneum and bleeding from the spleen and one was treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Air weapons can cause serious injuries among children. Increased public awareness, limitations to their usage and strict legislation are needed to protect children.

Antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive activity of some xanthone derivatives.

Some of appropriate aminoisopropanoloxy derivatives of 4-xanthone were tested for their effect on circulatory system (protection against adrenaline-, barium-, and calcium chloride-induced arrhythmias, as well as hypotensive activity and acute toxicity). The most prominent hypotensive activity was demonstrated by (+/-)-1-[4-(hydroxyethyl)-1-(piperazinyl)]-3-(4-xanthonoxy)-2-propanol dihydrochloride (II), which diminished arterial blood pressure by about 40% during one hour observation. The investigated compounds did not prevent adrenaline- and barium-induced arrhythmias. In calcium-induced model of arrhythmia compound II slightly intensified blocks (about 7%), but delayed extrasystoles (37%), efficiently prevented bigeminy (70%, p <0.01) and diminished (53%, p <0.05) mortality of animals. All investigated compounds decreased heart rate by 10 - 18%, prolonged P-Q section, QRS complex and Q-T interval. The most potent and significant negative chronotropic effect and markedly prolonged duration of P-Q section was demonstrated by compound II. The influence of investigated compounds on ECG components suggests that activity of compound IV is similar to class 1a anti-arrhythmic compounds according to Voughan-Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs, because of prolongation of P-Q and Q-T intervals and extension of QRS complex. Compounds II and IV were also evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in the maximal electroshock seizures (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole seizure threshold (ScMet) assays and for neurotoxicity (TOX). The anti-MES activity in mice was found for IV, which in a dose of 100 mg/kg within 0.5 h after ip administration showed 75% anticonvulsant protection with 50% neurotoxicity.