Laparoscopic versus open reduction of intussusception in children: experience over a decade.

BACKGROUND: Intussusception is a common cause of bowel obstruction in children, which sometimes necessitates operative reduction and or resection. We report our series of patients with intussusception who were treated laparoscopically (LAP group) compared with exploratory laparotomy (OPEN group). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review was performed evaluating outcomes for patients requiring surgical reduction of intussusception over a 10-year period. Analysis was based on intent to treat, and technique of exploration was surgeon's choice. Data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-squared test where appropriate. P≤.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: During the time period studied, there were 92 patients treated surgically for intussusception: 65 LAP and 27 OPEN. Conversion to the open procedure was required for 21 patients in the LAP group, and of those, 6 required bowel resection. Seven of the patients who were started in the OPEN group ultimately required bowel resection. Operative time, length of hospital stay, time to full feeds, and total days of narcotics were all significantly shorter for the LAP group compared with the OPEN group (P=.003, P=.001, P=.001, and P=.004, respectively). A pathologic lead point was found in 14% of LAP and 15% of OPEN cases. In a subset analysis, 33% of patients who were converted from the LAP group to the open procedure had a pathologic lead point. Complication rates between the LAP and OPEN groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy appears to be a safe and effective technique for reducing intussusception in children. The laparoscopic cases had shorter operative time, shorter time to full feeds, lower requirement for intravenous narcotics, and earlier discharges.

Clear cell, papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in patients younger than 20 years old: a clinicopathologic study with follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a clinicopathologic study with follow-up on this rare subset of tumors in the pediatric population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A search was made through the surgical pathology files of two academic institutions for cases of non-translocation associated renal cell carcinoma in patients younger than 20 years old from 1995 to 2011. RESULTS: 12 cases were identified from 350 pediatric patients with renal tumors (prevalence = 3.4%). The mean age at diagnosis was 11 years (range 1-18 years). The average tumor size was 7.3 cm (range 3.0-15.0 cm). Pathological staging analysis revealed 7/12 (58%) pT1 tumors, 3/12 (25%) pT2 tumors, and 2/12 (17%) pT3 tumors. Lymph node metastasis was present in 3/12 (25%) patients. The majority of tumors 9/12 (75%) were Fuhrman nuclear grade 2, while 3/12 (25%) cases were Fuhrman nuclear grade 3. Tumor necrosis was identified in 5/12 (42%) tumors, and angiolymphatic invasion was identified in 4/12 (33%) tumors; 1 patient developed lung metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Pathologic parameters typically associated with poor outcome in adults, including metastasis/high tumor stage, high Fuhrman nuclear grade, angiolymphatic invasion, and tumor necrosis, did not lead to death in any of the patients in our series.

Laparoscopic versus open repair of congenital duodenal obstruction in infants.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) is traditionally managed via laparotomy. Laparoscopy has been suggested as an alternative; however, few series have described this in neonatal CDO. We report our series of CDO repaired laparoscopically compared to laparotomy. METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review was performed on patients with CDO who were presented between October 2001 and July 2010. Duodenal obstruction was managed laparoscopically (LAP) or via an open approach (OPEN) based on the surgeon's choice. Data were analyzed by intention to treat and were expressed as median±range. RESULTS: Twenty-two neonates underwent laparoscopy and 36 had a traditional laparotomy for management of CDO. Associated diseases included Down's syndrome (n=26), congenital heart disease (n=29), and malrotation (n=16). Median age was 4 days (range: 1-310) for LAP and 3 days (range: 0-166) for OPEN (P=.04). Gestational age and weight were similar (P=.335 and .378). The CDO was due to atresia (n=32), web (n=16), and annular pancreas (n=10). Median operative time for LAP was 116 minutes with a range of 73-164 while median time for OPEN was 103 minutes with a range of 71-220 (P=.013). There was no difference in time to full feedings (P=.69) or postoperative length of stay (P=.682). Ventilation time was 2 days with a range of 0-149 for LAP and ventilation time was 4 days with a range of 0-9 for OPEN (P=.02). Complication rates between the groups were similar. CONCLUSION: In the hands of a skilled surgeon, laparoscopy appears to be a safe and effective technique in managing CDO in neonates. In this retrospective study, laparoscopic management of CDO appeared to allow a shorter postoperative ventilator requirement with similar length of stay and time to full feedings. Operative time was slightly longer in the LAP group. Formal prospective trials are recommended to validate these findings.