Successful outcomes in laparoscopic pyeloplasty using knotless self-anchoring barbed suture in children.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children has gained increasing importance over the last decade. Intracorporeal knot tying still remains a technical challenge for the surgeon. Self-anchoring suture incorporates a new concept for tissue approximation and reduces intracorporeal knot tying problems. There are very few reports on self-anchoring knotless suture and its application for laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children. We present our results of a series of consecutive children undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty with knotless barbed sutures. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We prospectively evaluate 15 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty with knotless barbed sutures (V-LocTM, Covidien) for ureteropelvic anastomosis. The decision of the operation was given by pediatric nephrology-urology-radiologic imaging diagnostic team, and all patients were operated by a single surgeon. Pyeloplasty was performed without pelvic reduction, and the anastomosis was made by barbed sutures using running fashion. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients were 5.39 (3 months-17 years). Two cases had undergone a right-sided pyeloplasty, and thirteen had undergone a left-sided pyeloplasty. The duration of the operative procedure was 60-110 min. Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complication was encountered in any of the cases. Patients were followed by ultrasonographic evaluation. The anteroposterior diameter (AP) diameter of renal pelvis and hydronephrosis grade Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) are significantly different when compared with pre-operative and postoperative period (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Owing to the renal parenchymal thickness change by age pre-operative and postoperative thickness comparison is adjusted by age, because age is considered as a covariate (confounder variable). We observed statistically significant (p = 0.003) difference in parenchymal thickness in all cases. Follow-up periods of the 15 consecutive pediatric pyeloplasty cases were 6-54 months. CONCLUSION: In the present study, successful outcome of the laparoscopic pyeloplasty using barbed suture was shown for the first time in children in literature. We believe that successful outcome of laparoscopic pyeloplasty could be achieved by eliminating knots and less manipulation on the wound edge also minimizes tissue injury during the procedure.

A female patient with congenital pouch colon (CPC): a case report.

Congenital short colon, more commonly known as pouch colon, is a rare anomaly that can be encountered with anorectal malformations (ARM). The colon is shorter than normal and the distal end is dilated like a pouch. We report the case of a newborn with a Type 2 pouch colon. A female newborn was brought to our clinic with a diagnosis of cloaca anomaly. Her physical examination revealed a single canal introitus and flat perineum. In the abdominal x-ray taken in the upright position, a prominent air sac was noticed at the left side. A laparotomy was performed and exploration demonstrated that the colon was like a pouch. The pouch terminated in the upper part of the vagina with a wide canal. A genitogram displayed the presence of double uteri and double vaginas. One month after the operation we performed a cystoscopy, which showed the urethral meatus to be more proximal than normal (female type hypospadias). When the patient was 8 months old she was re-operated and anterior-abdomino-posterior sagittal anorectoplasty plus tube coloplasty were performed. She is now 4 years old and has a stool discharge of 2-3 times a day. Her physical and psychosocial development is in concordance with her age. Congenital pouch colon is a very rare anomaly, which has to be considered especially during the clinical evaluation of children with cloacal malformations and high type anorectal anomalies.

Unusual association of omphalocele and wandering spleen.

A wandering spleen is a rare anomaly and its association with omphalocele has been reported in the literature only once. We present a female infant that has a wandering spleen associated with omphalocele. The patient was admitted with the diagnosis of omphalocele. Primary repair was performed and the patient was discharged on the 6th postoperative day. Nine months later, the girl was referred to our emergency unit with complaints about abdominal distention and restlessness. After 2 days of clinical observation, an immobile, firm abdominal mass was palpated. Ultrasonographic evaluation revealed that the mass was the spleen and it was found exactly under the left side of the umbilicus, instead of its original location. During the operation, the spleen was beneath the left side of the umbilicus, with its upper surface completely adhered to the peritoneum, and it was rotated 180 degrees clockwise. Then the spleen was rotated back and placed in its normal anatomic location. At 1 month postoperatively, a radionuclide scan was performed and splenic perfusion was evaluated to be normal. In conclusion, herniations and eventrations of organs through defects on the abdominal wall may either result in restriction of normal rotations of the stomach and the spleen or in inefficient fusion after the rotation has been completed.

Testis fixation in prepubertal rats: fibrin glue versus transparenchymal sutures reduces testicular damage.

Experimental studies have shown that different suture materials used in testis fixation cause some degree of inflammation in the testis. This study was planned to compare the histological changes that were caused by fibrin glue which is a tissue sealant and by silk and polypropylene for transparenchymal testis fixation. 28 prepubertal rats were divided into 4 groups. Testis was fixed to the tunica vaginalis by fibrin glue in group 1, by silk in group 2 and by polypropylene in group 3. Group 4 was planned as a control. Testicular inflammation and seminiferous tubular diameter were evaluated for histological changes. The least inflammation was observed in the fibrin glue group, while the most inflammation occurred in the silk group. Seminiferous tubular diameter was 241.55 +/- 45.90 in the fibrin glue group, 151.90 +/- 8.34 in the silk group and 161.36 +/- 9.96 in the polypropylene group. In conclusion, fibrin glue, when used for testis fixation, causes less inflammation and less destruction of seminiferous tubular diameter compared with silk and polypropylene.

Does sucralfate prevent apoptosis occurring in the ischemia/reperfusion-induced intestinal injury?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We have shown in a previous study that sucralfate is beneficial in the prophylaxis and treatment of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced intestinal injury. The aim of this study is to investigate whether sucralfate has any effect on the prevention of apoptosis in the ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced intestinal injury. METHODS: Rats were randomized into three groups. Group 1 and 2 were subjected to I/R. Group 1 (treatment group) received sucralfate while group 2 (treatment control group) did not. Group 3 served as a normal control group (sham group). The terminal ileum was harvested for histopathologic investigation by light microscopy. The presence of apoptotic enterocytes (DNA fragmentation in cell nuclei) was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end-labeling (TUNEL) reaction. RESULTS: In treatment control group, 3 of 7 rats had severe inflammation. None of the sucralfate-treated rats showed severe inflammation, 6 of them only showed mild inflammatory changes (p < 0.05). The apoptotic percentage was found to be 37.1 +/- 9.4 in the sucralfate-treated group (group 1), whereas it was 45.4 +/- 3.9 in the untreated group (group 2) (p < 0.05). The sham group had a completely normal intestinal architecture. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that 1) the experimental model of I/R-induced intestinal injury induces enterocyte apoptosis; 2) sucralfate decreases enterocyte apoptosis in the experimental model of I/R-induced intestinal injury which may play a key role in the pathophysiological events leading to failure of the intrinsic gut barrier defense mechanisms.

Histopathological evaluation of the urethra after the Snodgrass operation: an experimental study in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histopathological outcome of the incised urethral plate after tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty (the Snodgrass procedure to repair hypospadias) in a hypospadiac rabbit model, as it can produce meatal and neourethral strictures, and healing with scarring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 10 male New Zealand White rabbits (2.2-2.4 kg); under general anaesthesia the ventral urethra was completely excised 1 cm from the meatus proximally and a model of hypospadias formed. A full-thickness incision was then made in the distal dorsal urethra and the two sides of the incision marked by Indian ink tattooing. After placing a feeding tube (5 F) as a urethral catheter, both urethral wings were sutured ventrally by a 7/0 polydioxanone running suture, and the penile skin approximated by 5/0 chromic catgut. At 21 days and 3 months after surgery the penises were harvested, assessed histopathologically, and compared with those from control untreated rabbits of the same age and weight. RESULTS: In the study group the incised area of the dorsal urethra was re-epithelialized; the regional tissue and vascularity were normal. CONCLUSION: In this rabbit model the dorsal urethral incisions healed with no scar tissue; only the ventral suture lines had minimal fibrosis and inflammatory reaction.

Analysis of meatal location in 300 boys.

The high incidence of anterior hypospadias and the consideration of some of the parents that this location is a normal variation and the resistance to the surgical treatment led us to investigate the normal meatal location in boys. The location of external meatus was analyzed in 300 boys. The meatal location was classified as type A (anterior third/tip of the glans) type B (middle third) and type C (posterior third/glandular hypospadias). Of the 300 boys taken into study, in 282 (94%) meatus was located at the tip of the glans in 14 patients (4.6%) on the middle third, 'type B' and in 2 patients (0.6%) on the posterior third, 'type C'. The present study clearly demonstrated that the true location of urethral meatus should be at the tip of the glans. Type B is an acceptable location, which requires no operation and is seen in a very small percentage. Type C is a true glandular hypospadias and should certainly be corrected by glanuloplasty and meatal advancement. We are of the opinion that after surgery for anterior hypospadias meatal position presenting elsewhere than at the tip of the glans should not be considered a successful intervention.

Long-term follow-up and evaluation of autoaugmentation cystoplasty (detrusorotomy) in an animal model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term follow-up of an autoaugmentation (detrusorotomy) technique, in puppies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 10 mongrel puppies, bladder capacities were reduced to nearly half their original volume by 10 per cent formalin instillations. In 7 puppies, the muscular coat of the bladder was split open widely down to the mucosal layer, from the bladder neck anteriorly, to the trigone posteriorly while the mucosa was kept exposed and intact. Three puppies were kept as controls. RESULTS: Mean post-instillation bladder capacity was 15.40 ml. One week after detrusorotomy the bladder capacity averaged up to 20.00 ml; 3 weeks later up to 20.43 ml; and 3 months later up to 34.28 ml and were well up to 3 months. However, at the termination of an additional 9-month period, the bladders of 4 of the remaining five dogs were seen to decrease in volume except the one with an accidental omental adherence to the exposed mucosa which kept the detrusorotomy intact. CONCLUSION: Post-detrusorotomy volume could be retained if a graft, e.g. omentum, gut segment, amniotic membrane or lyophilized dura is inserted at the time of intervention, in-between the split musculature to line the exposed mucosa externally and to prevent re-adhesion of the muscular edges.

Askin tumors in children: a report of four cases.

Primary malignant tumors of the chest are rare in the pediatric age group. Askin tumor belongs to the peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor family, and typically involves the periosteum, soft tissue and extrapulmonary tissue of the thoracic wall. We report our ten years experience with four cases of this rare tumor.

Correction of vesico-ureteric reflux by subureteric fibrin injection in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To study the histological and radiological potential of the biomaterial fibrin in the treatment of vesico-ureteric reflux by a subureteric injection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For histological studies the bladders of 22 non-refluxing adult female dogs were exposed and in 20 of these two-component fibrin glue was injected into the right subureteric intramuscular portion of the bladder and teflon was injected into the lamina propria of the left ureter; two of them acted as controls. Two dogs were killed on alternate days over the course of 21 post-operative days and the bladders and distal portions of the ureters were examined histologically. For radiological studies micturating cystograms were obtained from 15 female puppies. In only eight puppies was vesico-ureteric reflux naturally present. In six of these two-component fibrin was injected into the right and teflon into the left subureteric areas, and in two puppies fibrin was injected into the subureteric areas, while the left sides acted as controls. Micturating cystograms and intravenous urograms were obtained from all puppies 3 weeks post-operatively. RESULTS: Histopathological studies showed persistence of increased amounts of endogenous collagen at the fibrin-injected sites; at the Teflon-injected sites a mass surrounded by dense granulation tissue was seen. Radiological studies revealed complete disappearance of reflux in the study group of six fibrin and Teflon-injected puppies; in two control puppies fibrin was injected into the right subureteric area only; the left sides were left untouched to show that maturation did not play a role in abolishing the spontaneously occurring reflux. Follow-up intravenous urography showed no evidence of vesico-ureteric obstruction in the treated ureters. CONCLUSION: Fibrin has the properties of a substance inducing a controlled increase in the number of endogenous collagen fibres.

The Rapunzel syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

The Rapunzel syndrome, found characteristically in girls with varying gastrointestinal symptoms, is a rare form of gastric trichobezoar extending throughout the bowel. The previously reported cases have different clinical and pathological features affecting the mortality. We describe a new case preoperatively diagnosed with none of the complications previously reported.

Splenoptosis (wandering spleen).

Splenoptosis which is a congenital fusion anomaly of dorsal mesogastrium in children is a very rare entity. In the literature cases are usually diagnosed at operation and it is noted that in former years splenectomy had a special place among various methods of treatment. In this report, a 7-year-old case of splenoptosis diagnosed on ultrasonography and isotope scintigraphic methods preoperatively and treated by splenopexy is presented. In cases with splenoptosis the clinical and radiologic diagnostic criteria are given and the importance of splenopexy in treatment is emphasized.

Segmental dilatation of intestine: a case report and review of the literature.

Segmental dilatation of intestine (SDI) is a rare disorder that leads to functional obstruction without stenosis and normally functioning ganglion cells. The etiology of the disease is unknown. Definitive treatment consists of segmental resection of the dilated segment with end-to-end anastomosis.

Jugular phlebectasia in children.

Jugular phlebectasia is a congenital dilatation of jugular vein which appears as a soft, compressible mass in the neck only during straining or crying. It should be differentiated from laryngocele, cysts and tumors of neck which may also appear during straining. Comparable ultrasonography (US) and computerized tomography (CT) are diagnostic methods to distinguish the pathology. Four children with jugular phlebectasia diagnosed by venography, US and CT are reported. Surgical excision of the dilated segment was performed in each case. The inevitability of surgical intervention is discussed.

Lipid secreting breast carcinoma in childhood: a case report.

A ten-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with a mass in the left breast after a local recurrence following a resection done in a district hospital three months earlier. A modified radical mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection was performed in our department. Histological examination revealed a lipid secreting carcinoma (lipid-rich carcinoma) of the breast. To our knowledge she is the first case in childhood in the literature and is therefore reported.

Polyorchidism: a case report and review of the literature.

We report on a case of polyorchidism associated with left-sided inguinal hernia and hydrocele. Biopsies of both testes revealed normal histological pattern. After the hernia repair and hydrocelectomy both testes were left at their original places in the scrotum and fixed. Polyorchidism and its management are discussed briefly.