Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Cryoneurolysis of the Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerves for the Management of Prolonged Acute Post-Surgical Forearm Pain: A Report of Two Cases.

Prolonged acute postsurgical pain (PAPSP) contributes to the development of chronic postsurgical pain, impaired rehabilitation, longer hospital stays, and decreased quality of life. For upper extremity analgesia, the duration of postoperative pain management with continuous brachial plexus peripheral nerve blocks is limited due to the risk of infection. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis provides extended analgesia and avoids the risks and inconveniences of indwelling catheters. We present 2 cases of PAPSP of the forearm effectively managed by the use of ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis to treat the medial, lateral, and posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerves.

Ileo-caecal doughnut bladder augmentation in children with exstrophy- epispadias complex- a study of 100 cases.

AIM: The small bladder in failed exstrophy needs to be augmented and also accommodate bladder neck surgery, ureteric re-implantations and a catheterizable channel. We present a novel method of ileocecal bladder augmentation providing a non-implanted, un-detached appendicular channel, rendered non refluxing by an ileal "fundoplication". The colonic segment could receive ureteric reimplantation when bladder plate is unsuitable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Operative technique: Bilateral cephalo-trigonal reimplantation and bladder neck surgery is done. The ileocecal segment is isolated and arranged as a ring (doughnut) around the un-detached appendix which is made to pass behind the terminal ileum, through the ileal mesentery and then in front of the ileum as it exits as a catheterizable channel. The bowel segment is opened on the antimesenteric aspect except for the retro appendiceal ileal segment. The opened ileo-caecum is reconfigured as a de-tubularised augmentation pouch while the retro appendiceal ileal segment is wrapped around the appendix like a fundoplication. The colon segment may receive the ureteric reimplantation if required. CASE MATERIAL: 100 children (mean age 6.3 years) with failed exstrophy underwent doughnut augmentation (3 neobladders) in 2006-2021. Ninety eight were incontinent, with 30 open/dehisced bladder plate, 48 units were hydronephrotic (HUN), 105 ureters were refluxing (VUR) and eGFR was subnormal in 20 children. 79 children underwent YDL bladder neck plasty and 23 underwent bladder neck closure (primarily in 18). Three infants with HUN did not undergo bladder neck surgery. 126 ureters were reimplanted into the bladder, 44 into the colon segment while 30 were not reimplanted. RESULTS: 95 children are continent on CIC, which was gradually introduced starting with once or twice daily change of indwelling Mitrofanoff catheter leading to regular 3-4 hourly CIC as the child became confident. The appendicular channel was easily catheterizable without any leak in 95, had minor issues in 4 while one necrosed and replaced by a gastric tube. HUN recovered (25/48) or stabilized with a significant reduction in the grade of hydronephrosis (p = 0.001). VUR resolved in 90% of bladder reimplants, 85% of colonic reimplants and 70% of non-reimplanted ureters. In the 20 children with compromised renal function eGFR improved (71-106 ml/m2/min) significantly (p = 0.036) at follow up (mean 5 years). Urodynamics study (N = 33) showed a mean capacity of 95% of expected bladder capacity (EBC) with end filling pressure less than 25 cm of water (Mean end filling cystometric pressure = 15 cm of water). Complications included adhesive intestinal obstruction (N = 16) and bladder calculi (N = 12). CONCLUSION: The doughnut ileocecal augmentation provides a easily catheterizable, non-refluxing, appendicular channel, not requiring isolation of the appendix nor its reimplantation into the bladder. The colonic segment can provide a bed for ureteric reimplantation. Dryness with a good capacity bladder and preserved upper tract is achieved.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Residual Gastric Content Before Anesthesia.

Importance: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use is rapidly increasing in the US, driven by its expanded approval for weight management in addition to hyperglycemia management in patients with type 2 diabetes. The perioperative safety of these medications, particularly with aspiration risk under anesthesia, is uncertain. Objective: To assess the association between GLP-1 RA use and prevalence of increased residual gastric content (RGC), a major risk factor for aspiration under anesthesia, using gastric ultrasonography. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study prospectively enrolled patients from a large, tertiary, university-affiliated hospital from June 6 through July 12, 2023. Participants followed preprocedural fasting guidelines before an elective procedure under anesthesia. Patients with altered gastric anatomy (eg, from previous gastric surgery), pregnancy, recent trauma (<1 month), or an inability to lie in the right lateral decubitus position for gastric ultrasonography were excluded. Exposure: Use of a once-weekly GLP-1 RA. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the presence of increased RGC, defined by the presence of solids, thick liquids, or more than 1.5 mL/kg of clear liquids on gastric ultrasonography. Analysis was adjusted for confounders using augmented inverse probability of treatment weighting, a propensity score-based technique. Secondarily, the association between the duration of drug interruption and the prevalence of increased RGC was explored. Results: Among the 124 participants (median age, 56 years [IQR, 46-65 years]; 75 [60%] female), the prevalence of increased RGC was 56% (35 of 62) in patients with GLP-1 RA use (exposure group) compared with 19% (12 of 62) in patients who were not taking a GLP-1 RA drug (control group). After adjustment for confounding, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a 30.5% (95% CI, 9.9%-51.2%) higher prevalence of increased RGC (adjusted prevalence ratio, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.23-4.97). There was no association between the duration of GLP-1 RA interruption and the prevalence of increased RGC (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.65-1.14). Conclusions and Relevance: Use of a GLP-1 RA was independently associated with increased RGC on preprocedural gastric ultrasonography. The findings suggest that the preprocedural fasting duration suggested by current guidelines may be inadequate in this group of patients at increased risk of aspiration under anesthesia.

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Intercostal Cryoneurolysis for Acute-on-Chronic Pain in CLOVES Syndrome.

Cryoneurolysis is an analgesic method that has been shown to provide extended pain relief in postoperative patients. However, to date, this method has not been described in nonsurgical inpatients with chronic pain experiencing an acute exacerbation. This analgesic modality has the potential to provide pain relief for patients whose expected duration of severe acute pain would outlast that of other regional anesthetic techniques while avoiding opioid escalation and facilitating discharge. We present a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic pain from breast ulcerations caused by congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevis, spinal/skeletal anomalies/scoliosis (CLOVES) syndrome that was successfully treated as an inpatient with a portable cryoneurolysis device.  This is the first reported use of cryoneurolysis in an inpatient setting to treat acute-on-chronic pain in a nonsurgical patient. The authors recommend regional anesthesiologists and acute pain specialists to utilize this technique to provide analgesia in patients with complex pain to facilitate hospital throughput.

Pathology and Surgical Management of Urinary Retention Manifesting After Anorectal Malformation Surgery.

Introduction: Associated congenital anomalies, operative structural injury, and postoperative neurovesical dysfunction combine to cause urinary retention in children with a history of surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM). Aim: To study the presentation and management of urinary retention in patients with a history of ARM surgery. Methodology: Retrospective study. Results and Discussion: Twenty-five children presented with urinary retention with a history of ARM surgery performed elsewhere. There were 17 males (high - 14, intermediate - 2, and low - 1) and 8 females (cloaca). Sixteen children had an abnormal spine. Eight children had urethral injury (total transection - 3) and three had a large residual rectal stump. 41/48 renal units were dilated and 27 refluxing. Seventeen children had abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate and five had undergone urinary diversion. Management: Definitive surgical management was individualized, the most pertinent consideration being whether normal voiding would be feasible or whether a continent low pressure urinary reservoir with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) would be a safer option. Operative management included excision of the rectal stump (3), urethral reconstruction (2), bladder augmentation (17), Mitrofanoff port (22), bladder neck closure (2), and antireflux surgery (13). Follow-up estimated glomerular filtration rate had improved/normalized in all but two patients. HUN resolved/improved in all and 25/27 refluxing units ceased refluxing. All are socially continent with ten voiding normally and the rest on CIC. Conclusion: Urinary retention after ARM surgery is multifactorial and requires prompt recognition and possibly urinary diversion. Final reconstruction aims at achieving continence with safe upper tracts. Urethral voiding is possible in the selected cases.

An approach to giant neonatal hydrocolpos with normally sited anus - Diagnosis and management including a novel one stage operation.

INTRODUCTION: Giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos is a rare entity where early recognition of the underlying cause and drainage of the distended vagina is paramount. Conventionally, immediate management has been by abdominal tube vaginostomy or, in urogenital sinus by vaginal clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC). Though effective in providing temporary relief, the abdominal tube vaginostomy is replete with complications, making it imperative to search for alternatives. Here we describe our method of emergent and definitive management of these children, where definitive repair, depending on the aetiology, has been made possible in a single stage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven girls who presented primarily or with history of giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos at two tertiary care centres from January 2013 to March 2021 were studied retrospectively. None had imperforate anus or a bulging hymenal membrane. Four had high vaginal atresia (VA) and three had Urogenital sinus (UGS), one with high confluence. Four girls (2 VA, 2 UGS) presented to us as neonates and were managed by emergency drainage procedures other than tube vaginostomy: CIC in one (low UGS) and a novel abdominoperineal U flap vaginoplasty in three (2 VA, 1 high confluence UGS) which was also the definitive procedure. This procedure involved fashioning an inferiorly based inverted U flap from the posterior wall of distended vagina which is tubularised and flipped down by an abdomino-perineal procedure. The girl with a low UGS later underwent a perineal procedure. Three presented elsewhere as neonates (2 VA, 1 UGS) and had abdominal tube vaginostomy as the emergency drainage procedure. This was complicated by tube dislodgement and pyocolpos till successful reconstruction was performed by us. Successful reconstructions included the abdominoperineal U flap vaginoplasty in one (VA) and a perineal procedure in another (low UGS). One girl with high VA had an inflamed vagina after tube vaginostomy, precluding the U flap vaginoplasty, and underwent abdominal vaginal mobilisation and pull through complicated by partial vaginal necrosis with septic complications. RESULTS: Reconstruction resulted in a patent and a good calibre neo-vagina in all at a mean follow up of 48 months. CONCLUSION: Immediate management of giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos may either be vaginal CIC or a surgical procedure. The abdomino-perineal U flap vaginoplasty is a one stage neonatal procedure that provides effective drainage and forms a definitive neo-vagina. An abdominal tube vaginostomy can be avoided except where neonatal surgical expertise is unavailable.

Working classification and the quest for an effective, reconstructive management strategy in Y duplication of male urethra.

INTRODUCTION: Y-duplication is a rare subtype of urethral duplication whose surgical correction has traditionally yielded less than satisfactory results. Herein we report 18 patients, 17 of whom have completed successful urethral reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was done on 18 children who have undergone repair of Y-duplication urethra in two tertiary care institutes from 2013 to 2020. The various subtypes encountered were classified in order to develop a rationale for reconstruction based on the underlying pathology. The various modalities used for reconstruction and the outcomes of the repair were studied. All but one boy voided mainly via the posterior (ventral) channel opening in the ano-rectum or perineum. These boys had the urethral reconstruction incorporating the healthy proximal ventral urethra at its origin. Further reconstruction up to the glans tip depended on the degree of dorsal (orthotropic) urethral patency, which forms the basis of our classification into Types I (completely stenotic), II (penile urethra patent), III (penile and bulbar urethra patent) and IV (fully patent dorsal urethra). RESULTS: Reconstruction resulting in voiding via a glanular or coronal meatus was completed in 17 boys. One boy is awaiting further surgery while being dependent on Mitrofanoff CIC. While urethral continuity could be achieved using patent segments of native urethra alone into two boys (Types II and III), all other children needed a neo-urethral segment to replace (Type I) or supplement (Type II) the dorsal urethra. Neo urethra was constructed from a tubularized preputial island flap (n = 11), Monti tube constructed from ileum (n = 3) or sigmoid colon (n = 4). A perineal operative exposure alone sufficed in 9, while the rest required an additional trans pubic approach. The only boy with Type IV anomaly underwent excision of the ventral urethral limb. Three boys with initially elevated serum creatinine have normal levels after reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Successful reconstruction of boys with Y- duplication of the urethra entailed elucidation of anatomical variations, adequate operative exposure (trans pubic and/or perineal) and innovative utilisation of local and/or distant tissues (preputial island flap, ileal/sigmoid Monti tubes).

Lumbosacral paraspinal interfascial plane blocks for pain control after feminizing genital gender affirmation surgery.

Aim: Feminizing genital gender affirmation surgery (fgGAS) is increasing in prevalence in the USA. Management of postoperative pain following fgGAS is challenging. We report a series of patients where post-fgGAS pain was adequately controlled with paraspinal blocks. Materials & methods: This is a case series of three patients who received bilateral lumbar and sacral erector spinae plane blocks after fgGAS. Block techniques, medications administered, opioid requirements and pain scores were reviewed. Results: Erector spinae plane blocks provided adequate analgesia for 24-48 h following the block. Conclusion: Currently, there are two regional anesthetic techniques described for the treatment of postoperative pain after fgGAS. We describe two additional approaches as options for improved pain management in this patient population.

Paediatric bladder neurofibroma on bilateral ureterostomy: rare case report-strategic management.

Urogenital involvement in neurofibromatosis is extremely rare and thus is less documented. Herein, we discuss a 11-year-old boy who was referred with a diagnosis of neurofibroma bladder on bilateral flank ureterostomy with mild renal failure. A diagnosis of neurofibroma of the bladder with ureterohydronephrosis had been made and partial excision had been attempted, followed by bilateral ureterostomy because of increasing ureterohydronephrosis. He was 13 years and wanted to be dry as he wanted to go to school. With the plan of attaining dryness with stable upper tracts, he was posted for surgery. Near-total excision followed by a sigmoid conduit was performed. The biopsy was reported as plexiform neurofibroma and is on regular follow-up, dry on a stoma bag with stable renal parameters.

Urethral reconstruction in aphallia using transpubic exposure and colonic monti neo-urethra - An addition to the De Castro reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Fashioning a functioning neo urethra in a boy with aphallia is one of the unsolved problems in this condition. AIM: We present our technique and outcome of operative exposure and neo urethral construction in four aphallic boys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of the records of four aphallic boys operated in the period 2015-2019 was undertaken. The demographics, presentation, operative procedure, current follow up and voiding outcome was noted. RESULTS: The neo phallus was constructed by the De Castro technique in four aphallic boys aged 1-8 years. Pre operative assessment revealed bladder outflow obstruction in two and urinary incontinence in one boy. The operative exposure afforded after reflection of the De Castro flap was utilized in doing a limited pubic symphysiectomy. This exposed the bladder neck, urethra and the urethral termination into the ano rectum. The healthy native urethra was isolated by disconnecting it from its ano rectal termination and a neo urethra constructed from a segment of proximal sigmoid colon by its reconfiguration into a Monti type tube. The neo urethra was then anastomosed to the native urethra and laid within the bed of the De Castro flap so as to reach the neo phallic termination. The De Castro flap was then tabularized over the neo urethra to form the new phallus. Appendicular or ileal Monti Mitrofanoff was also added to the reconstruction. Three boys are voiding well. One boy had a partial bladder outflow obstruction resulting from operative correction of incontinence and is dry on intermittent catheterization. Follow up was for 1-4 years and upper tracts are stable or improved. CONCLUSION: We describe the transpubic approach to the construction of a reliable neo urethra in the form of a Monti tube from the sigmoid colon in four boys with aphallia. We believe this to be a useful addition to the De Castro procedure for neo phallic construction.

Non-obstructive, non-refluxing uretero-colonic anastomosis by colonic sero-muscular excision and extra mural peri-ureteric wrap - A new technique in 17 children.

INTRODUCTION: Uretero-enteric anastomosis with concomitant neobladder/augmentation/conduit becomes necessary when the bladder is unavailable or unfit for reimplantation or the ureters are short after high diversion or resection of lower ureteric pathology. Aiming to prevent both obstruction and reflux, we report a novel technique of sero-muscle denuded extra mural uretero-colic anastomosis. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: (Fig 1) The ureter was brought through the colonic mesentery. An adjacent zone of colon "abcd" was chosen to receive the ureter and colonic sero-muscular layer was excised from this zone. The ureter was placed on the raw area and uretero-colic anastomosis was done (a-d).The edges of the sero-muscular layer (ab and cd) were sutured over the ureter to complete a submucosal tunnel. The augmentation/neo bladder was completed such that the implanted ureter lay within it between two regions of re-configured bowel, this adding to the anti-reflux mechanism created by the extra mural peri-ureteric wrap. AIM: Surgical audit of this technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 children (exstrophy - 8, ectopic ureter with bladder agenesis/hypoplasia - 3, prune belly - 2, neurogenic bladder -2, eosinophilic cystitis -1 and posterior urethral valve -1) underwent colonic implantation of 23 ureters while 6 ureters were drained via a trans uretero-ureterostomy into the reimplanted ureter. Nine augmentation, seven neo bladders and one sigmoid conduit was performed. The colon was available for ureteric re-implant in all patients. RESULTS: Pre-operatively 21 had hydroureteronephrosis. The bladder was agenetic/hypoplastic, small and fibrosed or poorly compliant. Eleven ureters had been diverted. Post operatively (mean follow up - 3.4 years) 16 of 30 renal units were normal, 11 had mild and three had moderate residual hydronephrosis, with no new hydronephrosis. Cystogram showed no reflux in 14 children and unilateral reflux in three (one re-diverted). Of 29 renal units drained directly or via trans uretero-ureterostomy by the uretero-colic reimplantation, none are obstructed, 26 have no vesico-ureteric reflux while three (10%) have reflux. DISCUSSION: We report results comparable to other extra mural techniques into the bowel, mainly from adult literature. Pediatric refluxing ureters are often large megaureters with or without preliminary diversions. The technique described avoids obstruction although having a slightly higher incidence of recurrent VUR. The ureters with recurrent reflux were massively dilated preoperatively and showed decrease in ureteric diameter postoperatively. The wrap, made for a larger ureter could have become too roomy and allowed reflux. CONCLUSION: This technique of non refluxing non obstructive uretero-colonic anastomosis has proven useful in selected situations.

Management and outcome in dehisced exstrophy with a simplified bladder re-closure and further reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: The traditionally accepted method of bladder re closure in dehisced exstrophy involves osteotomy assisted pubic bone approximation (PBA). Continent voluntary voiding is achieved in a small proportion of children sometimes after many operative procedures. We propose a simple yet reliable method of repair of the dehisced bladder using Rectus abdominis muscle flap (RAM) instead of PBA to bridge the inter-pubic gap, followed by concomitant or subsequent bladder augmentation (BA). AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of dehisced exstrophy, using a RAM flap assisted redo closure (without PBA) with concomitant or subsequent further reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of children who presented with dehisced exstrophy after repair in other institutions and who have undergone redo repair using RAM flap in two tertiary care centers from 2001 to 2019. The outcome of the redo closure and subsequent or concomitant further reconstruction as regards dryness, stability of the upper tracts and resolution of vesico ureteric reflux (VUR) was studied. RESULTS: Fifty five children (34 boys) underwent redo exstrophy repair for dehisced exstrophy using the RAM flap. Epispadias repair was performed concomitantly in 31 boys. In 26 children (group1) of mean age 12 months further surgery was deferred while in 29 children (group 2) of mean age 69 months underwent concomitant BA. Nine group 1 children underwent BA subsequently. Ureteric reimplantation was done at the time of BA in 54 ureters, 40 into the bladder plate and rest into the bowel segment of BA. 22 ureters were not reimplanted. Bladder neck surgery including 18 bladder neck closure and Mitrofanoff port for Clean Intermittent catheterization (CIC) were done along with BA. The RAM assisted bladder closure was event free and none needed redo operation. 35/38 augmented children are dry on Mitrofanoff CIC and one unaugmented boy voids normally. The upper tracts remain stable on ultrasound and VUR has resolved in 67/76 ureters. At current follow up, after a mean period of 53 months eGFR was normal in all except 3 who had initially presented with severe hydro uretero nephrosis. CONCLUSION: We present a simple and reliable method of repair of dehisced exstrophy using RAM flap with the feasibility of concomitant BA. Dryness was achieved with stable upper tracts in 36/39 children, 27 of them with a single reconstructive attempt.