Impact of hepatocyte growth factor on the colonic morphology and gut microbiome in short bowel syndrome rat model.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on colonic morphology and gut microbiota in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS: SD rats underwent jugular vein catheterization for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 90% small bowel resection [TPN + SBS (control group) or TPN + SBS + intravenous HGF (0.3 mg/kg/day, HGF group)]. Rats were harvested on day 7. Colonic morphology, gut microflora, tight junction, and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the colonic morphological assessment. No significant differences were observed in the expression of tight junction-related genes in the proximal colon. However, the claudin-1 expression tended to increase and the claudin-3 expression tended to decrease in the distal colon of the HGF group. The Verrucomicrobiota in the gut microflora of the colon tended to increase in the HGF group. The abundance of most LPS-producing microbiota was lower in the HGF group than in the control group. The gene expression of TLR4 was significantly downregulated in the distal colon of the HGF group. CONCLUSION: HGF may enhance the mucus barrier through the tight junctions or gut microbiome in the distal colon.

Inflammation patterns in early post-operative cholangitis predict long-term outcomes in biliary atresia: a potential role of non-suppurative cholangitis.

PURPOSE: Frequent post-operative cholangitis in biliary atresia (BA) affects the long-term native liver survival. This study assessed the characteristics of early cholangitis and their influence on the prognosis. METHODS: Forty-three patients with BA who underwent surgery between 2000 and 2020 were analyzed for routine inflammatory markers. Early cholangitis characteristics were compared between native liver survivor (NLS) and living donor liver transplant (LDLT) patients. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients, 30 (69.8%) experienced 130 episodes of cholangitis. In the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) analysis, the cutoff value of the total cholangitis episodes was 3, with an area under the AUROC curve of 0.695 (95% confidence interval 0.522-0.868). Before 3 years old, 113 episodes (86.9%) of cholangitis were observed. The white blood cell, C-reactive protein, and alanine aminotransferase values at cholangitis onset did not markedly differ between the LDLT and NLS groups. Conversely, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the NLS group was significantly lower than in the LDLT group (0.85 vs. 1.63, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cholangitis in the NLS group was lymphocyte-dominant and atypical in its pathogenesis. Lymphocyte-dominant cholangitis is non-suppurative, and future research should clarify its pathogenesis to improve the treatment and prognosis of BA.

Cholestasis after Kasai operation predicts portal hypertension in native liver survivors of biliary atresia: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated portal hypertension (PHT) and its predictors among native liver survivors (NLS) of biliary atresia (BA) after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). METHODS: This was a multicenter study using prospectively collected data. The subjects were patients who remained transplant-free for 5 years after KPE. Their status of PHT was evaluated and variables that predicted PHT were determined by regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Six centers from East Asia participated in this study and 320 subjects with KPE between 1980 to 2018 were analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 10.6 ± 6.2 years. At the 5th year after KPE, PHT was found in 37.8% of the subjects (n = 121). Patients with KPE done before day 41 of life had the lowest percentage of PHT compared to operation at older age. At 12 months after KPE, PHT + ve subjects had a higher bilirubin level (27.1 ± 11.7 vs 12.3 ± 7.9 µmol/L, p = 0.000) and persistent jaundice conferred a higher risk for PHT (OR = 12.9 [9.2-15.4], p = 0.000). ROC analysis demonstrated that a bilirubin level above 38 µmol/L at 12 months after KPE predicted PHT development (sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 60%, AUROC: 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: In BA, early KPE protects against the development of PHT among NLSs. Patients with persistent cholestasis at one year after KPE are at a higher risk of this complication. They should receive a more vigilant follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Ovarian endometrioma: a report of a pediatric case diagnosed prior to menstruation.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian endometriomas (OEs) are rarely found in the pediatric population, especially before menstruation. We report a 6-year-old girl who was postoperatively diagnosed with OE before menstruation. CASE PRESENTATION: A 6-year-old girl presented to a local pediatrician with abdominal pain and vomiting. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a multilocular cystic lesion to the left of the bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed similar findings, with the contents of the cyst showing a low signal on T1-weighted imaging and a high signal on T2-weighted imaging. The patient was referred to our institution for further examination. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a multilocular cystic lesion sized 56 × 44 × 30 mm with partial calcification. The left ovarian vein was dilated, suggesting the origin of the tumor to be the left ovary. Extirpation of the lesion was performed under laparoscopic assistance. Pathological findings indicated an ovarian endometrioma. To our knowledge, this is the youngest report of an OE diagnosed in a patient prior to menstruation. CONCLUSIONS: OEs in children before menstruation are extremely rare; thus, the long-term prognosis is yet to be determined.

Evaluation of skill acquisition characteristics depending on the size of a dry box.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have analyzed the effect of the size of the working space in training on the acquisition of endoscopic skills. In this study, adult- and infant-sized dry boxes (DBs) were used to verify how the size of the working space in training affects forceps manipulation and learning curve. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two medical students were enrolled. The task was peg transfer. The training environment was divided into adult- and infant-sized DBs. Skill evaluations were also divided into adult- and infant-sized DBs (four groups in total). The forceps manipulation characteristics and task completion time were compared before and after training. RESULTS: Regarding skill evaluations using adult-sized DBs, there were no significant differences between the infant- and adult-sized DB-trained groups. Regarding skill evaluations using infant-sized DBs, there were no significant differences between the groups before training. After training, there was no significant difference in the total path length or average acceleration of the forceps between the groups. However, the infant-sized DB-trained group had a significantly faster average forceps velocity and faster task completion time than the adult-sized DB-trained group. CONCLUSION: Training with a small DB is more efficient in acquiring smoother and faster forceps manipulation in a small working space.

Clinical outcome and neurological development of patients with biliary atresia associated with a bleeding tendency: a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: We compared the clinical features of patients with biliary atresia (BA) associated with a bleeding tendency (BT) at the time of the diagnosis with those of patients without a bleeding tendency (NBT). METHODS: The patients' background characteristics, age in days at the first visit, Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE), and postoperative course were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Nine of the 93 BA patients (9.7%) showed a BT, including 7 with intracranial hemorrhaging (ICH), 1 with gastrointestinal bleeding, and 1 with a prothrombin time (PT) of 0%. The age at the first visit was 62 ± 12 days old for BT patients and 53 ± 27 days old for NBT patients (p = 0.4); the age at KPE was 77 ± 9 days old for BT patients and 65 ± 24 days old for NBT patients (p = 0.2); the time from the first visit to surgery was 13 ± 7 days for BT patients and 11 ± 10 days for NBT patients (p = 0.5); and the native liver survival rate was 56% for BT patients and 58% for NBT patients (p = 1), with no significant difference in any of the parameters. The neurological outcomes of survivors of ICH were favorable. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate BT correction allowed early KPE even after ICH, resulting in native liver survival rates comparable to those of NBT patients without significant neurological complications.

Safe and secure laparoscopy-assisted jejunostomy tube placement using a percutaneous loop needle device in an infant.

ABSTRACT: We, herein, report a surgical technique for laparoscopy-assisted jejunostomy tube placement in an infant using a loop needle device to fix the jejunum and abdominal wall. A 3-year-old boy with Down's syndrome underwent nutritional management by gastrostomy due to oral feeding difficulty after radical surgery for congenital duodenal stenosis and following bile duct stenosis. However, intractable gastrostomy site leakage emerged; hence, laparoscopy-assisted gastrostomy takedown and simultaneous laparoscopy-assisted jejunostomy tube placement were planned. After laparoscopy-assisted gastrostomy closure was performed, the jejunum was extracted through the umbilical trocar wound. A jejunostomy tube kit was inserted at the left side of the umbilicus. After tube insertion into the jejunum, the jejunostomy tube was wrapped with four interrupted sutures using the Witzel technique. Suture threads were extracted by percutaneous insertion of a loop needle device, and then, the jejunum was fixed to the abdominal wall. The post-operative course was uneventful. Percutaneous insertion of a loop needle device is useful for fixing a jejunostomy tube to the abdominal wall using the Witzel technique. Our technique is safe, secure and expected to reduce the risk of dislodgement of tube and peritonitis associated with jejunostomy tube placement.

Notable Clinical Differences Between Neonatal and Post-Neonatal Intestinal Malrotation: A Multicenter Review in Southern Japan.

BACKGROUND: Most cases of intestinal malrotation appear in neonates with bilious vomiting due to midgut volvulus, whereas in cases that develop beyond infancy, the initial symptoms vary. This study investigated the clinical features of these two populations and identified issues that should be considered in daily practice. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2022. Data on patients with intestinal malrotation were collected in an anonymized fashion from five pediatric surgical hub facilities in the Southern Kyushu and Okinawa areas of Japan. RESULTS: Of the 80 subjects, 57 (71.3%) were neonates (Group N) and 23 (28.7%) were infants and schoolchildren (Group I). The frequencies of initial symptoms, such as abdominal distention (Group N: 19.3% vs. Group I: 13.0%), bilious vomiting (59.6% vs. 43.5%), and hematochezia (8.8% vs. 21.7%), were not skewed by the age of onset (p = 0.535, 0.087, and 0.141, respectively). Midgut volvulus was significantly more frequent in Group N (71.9% [41/57] vs. 34.8% [8/23]; p = 0.005), while the degree of torsion was greater in group I (median 360° [interquartile range: 180-360°] vs. 450° [360-540°]; p = 0.029). Although the bowel resection rate was equivalent (7.0% [4/57] vs. 4.3% [1/23]; p = 1.000), half of the patients in Group N presented with 180° torsion. The neonatal intestine has been highlighted as being more susceptible to ischemia than that in older children. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of midgut volvulus is higher in neonates than in older children. Even relatively mild torsion can cause ischemic bowel changes during the neonatal period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: LEVEL III.

Superiority of Intestinal Adaptation by Hepatocyte Growth Factor in the Jejunum: An Experimental Study in a Short-Bowel Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rh-HGF) on intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short-bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats underwent jugular vein catheterization for continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 90 % small bowel resection. The animals were divided into 3 groups: TPN/SBS (control group, n = 7), TPN/SBS/intravenous recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (0.3 mg/kg/day) (HGF group, n = 7), and TPN/SBS/intravenous c-Met inhibitor (0.3 mg/kg/day) (anti-HGF group, n = 5). On day 7, rats were euthanized and histologically evaluated. Serum diamine oxidase (S-DAO) levels were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nutrient transporter and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) receptor expression were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The jejunal and ileal villus heights were higher and the S-DAO concentrations significantly higher (p = 0.04) in the HGF group than in the control and anti-HGF groups. The sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 expression in the HGF group was significantly higher than in the control group and significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). The peptide transporter 1 expression in the jejunum was higher in the HGF group than in the other groups and significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). The GLP-2 receptor expression in the jejunum was higher in the HGF group than the other groups, and it was significantly suppressed in the anti-HGF group (p < 0.01). These jejunal results regarding nutrient transporter an GLP-2 receptor were not found in the ileum. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of rh-HGF appears to be more effective in the jejunum than in the ileum. TYPE OF STUDY: Experimental Research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A.

Potential mechanisms underlying the effect of hepatocyte growth factor on liver injury in short bowel syndrome model rats.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the autophagy associated with apoptosis in hepatic damage in the short bowel syndrome rat model. METHODS: SD rats underwent jugular vein catheterization for continuous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 90% small bowel resection. Animals were divided into two groups: TPN plus SBS (Control group) or TPN plus SBS plus intravenous administration of HGF (HGF group). On day 7, the rats were harvested, and hepatocellular injury was evaluated. RESULTS: In an SBS rat model, hepatic steatosis and lobular inflammation were histologically suppressed in the HGF group (p < 0.01). The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α in the HGF group tend to be higher than that in the control group (p = 0.13). The gene expression of transforming Growth Factor-ß in the HGF group was suppressed compared to the control group (p < 0.01). HGF treatment may have an antiapoptotic effect via the intrinsic pathway by caspase 9. Protein expressions of Rubicon (p = 0.03) and p62 (p < 0.01) in the HGF group were found to have increased compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The inhibitory effect of HGF on hepatic steatosis remains unclear, and further studies focusing on the mechanisms of fat accumulation are needed.

Change over time in the postoperative defecation function in female patients with anovestibular fistula at a single institution: focus on the comparison of anal transposition with anterior sagittal anorectoplasty.

PURPOSE: Anovestibular fistula (AVF) is the most common type of ARM in female patients. The present study investigated changes over time in the postoperative defecation function of female patients with AVF. METHODS: Patient data were collected from 1984 to 2021. Eighty-eight female patients with AVF were enrolled. Patients' characteristics and the long-term outcome of defecation function were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. The bowel function was evaluated according to the Japan Society of ARM Study Group evacuation score (ES). RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients underwent anal transposition (AT), and 8 underwent anterior sagittal anorectoplasty (ASARP). The total evacuation score (ES) in AVF patients reached "excellent" at nine years old, regardless of the operative procedure. The constipation scores with AT showed better improvement than those with ASARP, but soiling scores in the ASARP group showed better improvement than those in the AT group. The postoperative complications did not affect the postoperative bowel function in AVF patients. CONCLUSION: Most patients with AVF eventually achieved a satisfactory total ES. Given the difference in defecation score transition depending on the operative procedure or postoperative complications, it may be important to perform long-term defecation management via surgical procedures.

Proctoring System of Pediatric Laparoscopic Surgery for Choledochal Cyst.

Background: Endoscopic surgery also has been becoming widespread in the field of pediatric surgery. However, most disease treated by pediatric surgery in a single institution are small number of cases. Besides, the variety of operative procedures that need to be performed in this field is quite wide. For these reasons, pediatric surgeons have limited opportunities to perform endoscopic surgery. Therefore, it is difficult to introduce advanced endoscopic surgery at a single local hospital. To educate pediatric surgeons in local hospitals, for widespread advanced pediatric endoscopic surgery safely, and to eliminate the need for patient centralization, we have introduced a proctoring system. We compared the surgical results of our institution, a center hospital, with other local institutions, to investigate the feasibility of our proctoring system. Methods: The experienced pediatric surgeon of our institution visits local hospitals to provide onsite coaching and supervises pediatric surgeons on the learning curve. All patients who underwent laparoscopic cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy for choledochal cysts, one of the advanced pediatric endoscopic surgeries was retrospectively reviewed. Results: Thirty-four cases were evaluated (14 cases in our institution, 20 cases in 9 other institutions). The procedures of all 34 cases were performed by surgeons with 0-2 cases of experience in the procedure. There were no open conversion cases. There was no significant difference in the operative date. There was 1 case (6.7%) of postoperative complications during hospitalization at our institution and 3 cases (14.3%) at other institutions (P = .47). Two cases of late complications (13.3%) occurred at our institution, whereas 6 cases (28.6%) occurred at other institutions (P = .28). Conclusion: With the proctoring system, the performance and completion of advanced pediatric endoscopic surgery at local institutions was feasible. This has important implications given the ever-growing demand for pediatric endoscopic surgery and the increasing need for competent pediatric endoscopic surgeons.

Case report: Minimal tissue damage and low coagulation liver resection for hepatoblastoma using indocyanine green fluorescence and water-jet dissector.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) has gained popularity in pediatric surgery as it has in general surgery. In addition, a water-jet dissector (WJD) has been successfully introduced in adult hepatic surgery. Tissue structures are dissected selectively and gently by the WJD. However, there have been no reports of hepatic resection for pediatric patients using a WJD. We applied NIR fluorescence imaging with ICG to visualize the resection line of the liver and used a WJD for liver parenchyma dissection in pediatric hepatoblastoma. The patient was a 3-year-old girl with a large liver tumor. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a liver tumor (maximum diameter: 120 mm) in the right lobe and three small lung metastases. The liver tumor was diagnosed as hepatoblastoma (PRETEXT 2) based on an open biopsy. We performed right hepatectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The right lobe was mobilized from the diaphragm, and then intraoperative ultrasound was performed to detect the localization of the tumor and its proximity to the vascular structures. We detected the right hepatic artery (RHA), right portal vein (RPV), and right hepatic vein (RHV). The middle hepatic vein was not involved. After ligation of the RHA and RPV to selectively control the right lobe inflow, ICG was administered intravenously and observed by an NIR endoscope. The resection line was clearly visualized by overlaying images in comparison to conventional demarcation line detection. Then, we used a WJD to dissect the parenchyma. Small vessels were divided from parenchymal tissue and were clearly visible. We resected them after clamping with metal clips. Finally, the RHV was transected by a linear stapler, and right hepatectomy was completed with 25 ml of blood loss. There was no postoperative hemorrhage. We performed hepaticojejunostomy because of stricture of the common bile duct on postoperative day 302. The patient was discharged after adjuvant chemotherapy. NIR imaging clearly showed the resection line. The WJD automatically separated, and thus made visible, the more resistant duct and vessel structures from the parenchyma. The combined use of NIR imaging and WJD was useful for pediatric hepatectomy.

The clinical features of patients who underwent bladder augmentation of cloacal exstrophy and their functional outcomes: the results of a nationwide survey in Japan.

PURPOSE: Cloacal exstrophy (CE) patients may need bladder reconstruction after initially undergoing surgery to obtain continence and improve their quality of life. This study attempts to clarify the clinical features of CE patients who underwent bladder augmentation (BA) and their urinary functional outcomes based on a nationwide survey in Japan. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted, and 150 CE patients were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics and urinary outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: BA was performed in 52 patients (34.7%). Most cases underwent early bladder closure at initial surgery in neonate period. The age at the BA was performed 6.4 [6-9.0] years. Among them, the most used organ for BA was ileum (n = 30, 57.7%). Regarding the outcomes, the age when the renal function was evaluated was 14.0 [10.0-20.5] years and the serum creatinine level was 0.44 [0.36-0.60] (mg/dl). Clean intermittent catheterization was required in 37 (71.2%) patients. On the other hand, no dialysis or kidney transplantation was necessary in any of these patients. CONCLUSION: The renal function and conditions of patients who underwent BA were relatively well preserved. Individualized management with a stepwise surgical approach for CE patients should thus be considered in the future.

Posterior sagittal anorecto-urethro-vagino-plasty in the late period was associated with the long-term bowel function in patients with persistent cloaca: results of a nationwide survey in Japan.

PURPOSE: After conducting a nationwide survey of persistent cloaca (PC), we assessed whether or not the timing of definitive anorectoplasty affects the long-term bowel function of patients with PC. METHODS: Patient information was obtained via questionnaire, and a total of 169 PC patients who underwent posterior sagittal anorectourethrovaginoplasty (PSARUVP) were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on their operative period, which was analyzed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: the early group (EG) underwent anorectoplasty at ≤ 18 months old (n = 106), and the late group (LG) underwent anorectoplasty at > 18 months old (n = 63). The bowel function was evaluated using the evacuation score of the Japan Society of Anorectal Malformation Study Group. We also examined the postoperative results of vaginoplasty. RESULTS: The total evacuation score was significantly higher in the EG than in the LG (5.2 ± 1.7 vs. 4.2 ± 1.8, p = 0.003). The frequency of bowel movement and the constipation scores were significantly higher in the EG than in the LG (1.4 ± 0.6 vs. 1.2 ± 0.7, p < 0.05, 2.4 ± 1.0 vs. 2.1 ± 1.0, p < 0.05, respectively). Postoperative vaginal stenosis was observed in 18 cases (10.7%), of which 16 could be reconstructed transperineally. CONCLUSION: PSARUVP should be performed in early infancy and facilitate vaginal reconstruction.

Cases of pediatric intra-abdominal solid organ injury induced by blunt trauma experienced over a 15-year period at two centers in Japan.

Objective: The present study attempts to clarify the clinical features of pediatric intra-abdominal solid organ injury at two institutions. Methods: The injured organ, patient age, sex, injury grade, imaging findings, intervention, length of hospital stay, and complications were retrospectively reviewed using medical records at two centers from 2007 to 2021. Results: There were 25 cases of liver injury, 9 of splenic injury, 8 of pancreatic injury, and 5 of renal injury. The mean age of all patients was 8.6±3.8 years old, with no difference between organ injury types. Radiological intervention was performed in four cases of liver injury (16.0%) and one case of splenic injury (11.1%), and surgery was performed in two cases of liver injury (8.0%) and three cases of pancreatic injury (37.5%). All other cases were treated conservatively. Complications included adhesive ileus in one case of liver injury (4.0%), splenic atrophy in one case of splenic injury (11.1%), pseudocysts in three cases of pancreatic injury (37.5%), atrophy of the pancreatic parenchyma in one case of pancreatic injury (12.5%), and urinoma in one case of renal injury (20.0%). No mortalities were observed. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with blunt trauma had favorable outcomes at two pediatric trauma centers covering a broad medical area, including remote islands.

Abdominal wall defect repair with component separation technique for giant omphalocele with previous relaxing incisions on the abdominal skin.

BACKGROUND: The repair of large abdominal wall defects that cannot be closed primarily is quite challenging. The component separation technique (CST) is a surgical approach using autologous tissue to close large abdominal wall defects. The CST requires extensive dissection between the abdominal skin and the anterior sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. Subsequently, incisions are made at both sides of the external oblique aponeurosis, releasing the external oblique muscle from the internal oblique muscle, and then the right and left rectus abdominis muscles are brought together in the midline for defect closure. However, impairment of blood flow in the abdominal wall skin and necrotic changes are recognized as potential complications. CASE PRESENTATION: The CST was performed in a 4-year-old boy with a large ventral hernia who had undergone skin closure with abdominal wall relaxing incisions for the primary treatment of giant omphalocele in the neonatal period. Given his history of incisions on the abdominal wall, he was speculated to be at high risk for postoperative skin ischemia. Dissection was therefore kept to a minimum to preserve the blood supply from the superior and inferior epigastric arteries and perforating branches of those arteries through the rectus abdominis muscle. In addition, care was taken to adjust the muscle relaxant dosage while monitoring the intravesical pressure, ensuring that it did not exceed 20 mmHg to avoid impaired circulation in the abdominal wall caused by abdominal compartment syndrome. He was discharged 23 days after the surgery without any complications, and neither recurrence of the ventral hernia nor bowel obstruction was observed in 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: A giant omphalocele with primary skin closure was treated by applying the CST. The procedure can be performed safely while preserving the blood flow to the abdominal wall, even in patients with a history of relaxing incisions on the abdominal skin. The CST is expected to be effective for repairing the large abdominal wall defects seen in giant omphalocele when primary closure is not possible.

Feasible laparoscopic surgery for selected cases of primary adrenal neuroblastoma: Results from a comparison with open surgery at a single institution.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical management of neuroblastoma (NB) has been performed by open procedures for decades. However, advances in surgical devices and technology have made minimally invasive surgery safe and reproducible. In this study, we compared open and laparoscopic surgery regarding biopsy success and curative resection to determine the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for pediatric patients with adrenal NB. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical data of 22 NB patients who underwent surgery from 2006 to 2021 in our institution. All patients with adrenal NB were diagnosed histologically, and we retrospectively analyzed the data. RESULTS: The male/female ratio was 16/6. The median age was 2.5 (interquartile range: 2-4) years old, and the laterality was on the right in 13 and on the left in 9. A total of 20 patients underwent a tumor biopsy: 14 via laparotomy, five laparoscopically, and one retroperitoneally. Four patients underwent laparoscopic resection and 11 patients underwent open resection after chemotherapy. Two patients with stage LI underwent primary tumor resection laparoscopically. For curative resection in image-defined risk factor (IDRF)-negative patients, laparoscopic surgery resulted in shorter operation time, with less bleeding and an earlier oral intake. The three IDRF-single-positive patients on the liver (laparoscopic surgery: one patient) had a shorter operation time and less bleeding than the IDRF-multiple positive patients. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery was performed in a limited number of adrenal NB cases. A laparoscopic biopsy for adrenal NB seems to be safe and feasible to perform. Laparoscopic surgery, in carefully selected cases, permits safe and efficient resection of adrenal NB in pediatric patients.

Successful complete tumor resection for pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma by thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy with intraoperative bronchoscopy: A pediatric case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma presents as an exophytic endobronchial mass that induces obstructive symptoms often followed by distal collapse atelectasis of the lung parenchyma. CASE PRESENTATION: A six-year-old girl had recurrent bacterial pneumonia and atelectasis of the right upper lobe. Computed tomography revealed a 30-mm mass in the anterior segment of the right upper lobe with an obstructed trachea and peripheral atelectasis. A minor salivary gland tumor was suspected, so thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy (RUL) was performed. Intraoperative bronchoscopy showed no protrusion of the tumor into the tracheal lumen. We confirmed that there was no injury to the middle lobe branch and no residual tumor via bronchoscopy before transection of the trachel bronchus of the right upper lobe. The histological type was low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence was evident after one year. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Primary pulmonary cancers in children are extremely rare. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common disease in pediatric primary lung tumors but remains relatively rare. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tracheobronchial tree sometimes requires sleeve resection. Intraoperative bronchoscopy helped determine the exact position of the tumor. The value of intraoperative bronchoscopy for sparing the lung parenchyma and preserving as much of the respiratory function as possible. Intraoperative bronchoscopy should be actively performed in cases of pediatric lobectomy, especially those involving tracheobronchial tumors. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative bronchoscopy allowed for complete RUL without residual tumor or injury of the middle lobe bronchus.