A falciform ligament flap surface sealing technique for laparoscopic and robotic-assisted liver surgery.

Whether sealing the hepatic resection surface after liver surgery decreases morbidity is still unclear. Nevertheless, various methods and materials are currently in use for this procedure. Here, we describe our experience with a simple technique using a mobilized falciform ligament flap in minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS). We retrospectively analyzed the charts from 46 patients who received minor MILS between 2011 and 2019 from the same surgical team in a university hospital setting in Germany. Twenty-four patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection, and 22 patients received robotic-assisted liver resection. Sixteen patients in the laparoscopic group and fourteen in the robotic group received a falciform ligament flap (FLF) to cover the resection surface after liver surgery. Our cohort was thus divided into two groups: laparoscopic and robotic patients with (MILS + FLF) and without an FLF (MILS-FLF). Twenty-eight patients (60.9%) in our cohort were male. The overall mean age was 56.8 years (SD 16.8). The mean operating time was 249 min in the MILS + FLF group vs. 235 min in the MILS-FLF group (p = 0.682). The mean blood loss was 301 ml in the MILS + FLF group vs. 318 ml in the MILS-FLF group (p = 0.859). Overall morbidity was 3.3% in the MILS + FLF group vs. 18.8% in the MILS-FLF group (p = 0.114). One patient in the MILS-FLF group (overall 2.2%), who underwent robotic liver surgery, developed bile leakage, but this did not occur in the MILS + FLF group. Covering the resection surface of the liver after minor minimally invasive liver resection with an FLF is a simple and cost-effective technique that does not prolong surgical time or negatively affect other perioperative parameters. In fact, it is a safe add-on step during MILS that may reduce postoperative morbidity. Further studies with larger cohorts will be needed to substantiate our proof of concept and results.

Kawasaki disease in older children and adolescents.

Features of 28 patients older than 8 years of age with acute Kawasaki disease were reviewed. Observations included a predominance of male patients and white patients, delays in diagnosis of acute Kawasaki disease, presence of additional signs and symptoms, and a substantial incidence of coronary artery abnormalities (21%) including mild transient changes.

Adrenal suppression in children with the human immunodeficiency virus treated with megestrol acetate.

Symptoms and laboratory evidence of adrenal suppression developed in 2 children with the human immunodeficiency virus after megestrol acetate (MA) therapy was discontinued; both required transient glucocorticoid replacement therapy. High-dose corticotropin stimulation testing performed on children with the human immunodeficiency virus treated or not treated with MA showed that baseline and post-corticotropin cortisol levels were extremely low in 7 of 10 treated patients and normal in 10 of 10 members of a control group (P <.01). MA may suppress adrenal function, and replacement glucocorticoids may prevent or relieve associated symptoms at times of severe stress or on discontinuation of MA therapy.

Are the Duke criteria superior to the Beth Israel criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in children?

Accurate diagnosis of infective endocarditis may be difficult. The Beth Israel criteria and the newer Duke criteria assign probability to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis on the basis of the presence of common features and manifestations. We reviewed 111 cases of pediatric infective endocarditis diagnosed and treated over 19 years. Each case was classified by the two criteria, and the results were compared. Of 111 cases, 73 (66%) and 18 (16%) were classified as definite by the Duke criteria and the Beth Israel criteria, respectively. No cases were rejected by the Duke criteria, while 21 (19%) of 111 were rejected by the Beth Israel criteria. In 18 pathologically proven cases, reanalysis without pathological data showed that the Duke criteria had significantly greater sensitivity (83%) than the Beth Israel criteria (67%) (P < .03). Echocardiographic evidence was required in 22 cases for definite classification by the Duke criteria; none were rejected, however, when echocardiographic findings were ignored. Our results suggest that the Duke criteria are superior to the Beth Israel criteria for the diagnosis of pediatric infective endocarditis.