Postoperative bladder dysfunction and outcomes after minimally invasive extravesical ureteric reimplantation in children using a laparoscopic and a robot-assisted approach: results of a multicentre international survey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess and compare postoperative bladder dysfunction rates and outcomes after laparoscopic and robot-assisted extravesical ureteric reimplantation in children and to identify risk factors associated with bladder dysfunction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 151 children underwent minimally invasive extravesical ureteric reimplantation in five international centres of paediatric urology over a 5-year period (January 2013-January 2018). The children were divided in two groups according to surgical approach: group 1 underwent laporoscopic reimplantation and included 116 children (92 girls and 24 boys with a median age of 4.5 years), while group 2 underwent robot-assisted reimplantation and included 35 children (29 girls and six boys with a median age of 7.5 years). The two groups were compared with regard to: procedure length; success rate; postoperative complication rate; and postoperative bladder dysfunction rate (acute urinary retention [AUR] and voiding dysfunction). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction. Factors assessed included age, gender, laterality, duration of procedure, pre-existing bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) and pain control. RESULTS: The mean operating time was significantly longer in group 2 compared with group 1, for both unilateral (159.5 vs 109.5 min) and bilateral procedures (202 vs 132 min; P = 0.001). The success rate was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (100% vs 95.6%; P = 0.001). The overall postoperative bladder dysfunction rate was 8.6% and no significant difference was found between group 1 (6.9%) and group 2 (14.3%; P = 0.17). All AUR cases were managed with short-term bladder catheterization except for two cases (1.3%) in group 1 that required short-term suprapubic catheterization. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that bilateral pathology, pre-existing BBD and duration of procedure were predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed that short-term bladder dysfunction is a possible complication of extravesical ureteric reimplantation, with no significant difference between the laparoscopic and robot-assisted approaches. Bladder dysfunction occurred more often after bilateral repairs, but required suprapubic catheterization in only 1.3% of cases. Bilaterality, pre-existing BBD and duration of surgery were confirmed on univariate and multivariate analyses as predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction in this series.

Thoracoscopic thymectomy in children: our preliminary experience.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to present a preliminary series of six children affected by an anterior mediastinal mass, resulting in a thymoma. We treated this pediatric population by a video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study from January 2000 to January 2012 of all children affected by an anterior mediastinal mass, resulting in a thymoma. Data included sex, age at surgery, clinical and radiological features, surgical procedure, follow-up, and complications. RESULTS: Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy was performed in six children (five boys and one girl). Four patients presented with dyspnea and/or thoracic pain treated with analgesic and corticosteroid therapy without any benefits. Two patients were asymptomatic. Preoperatively, exams included radiological imaging, blood, and immunological test. All 6 patients were treated with a thoracoscopic approach; of these patients, 5 were treated with a thoracoscopic right-side thymectomy and 1 with a left-side approach. Patients were treated by a three-trocar technique, and thymectomy was performed using Valleylab (now Covidien) (Boulder, CO) LigaSure™. The mean operative time was 120 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 5 days. In all cases histological findings revealed no malignancy. The mean follow-up was 38 months. DISCUSSION: Thoracoscopic thymectomy facilitated the goal of early thymectomy. The right-side approach is preferred because it gains a good visualization of the venous anatomy for dissection. The left side allows a good extended resection of both the thymus and perithymic fat. Thoracoscopic thymectomy should be consider a valid, less invasive alternative to the most radical open approach.

Management of brachial artery aneurisms in infants.

Brachial artery aneurisms in children under 1 year of age are very rare. The main risk is distal ischaemic complication. We report four infants suffering from brachial artery aneurism of unknown origin. In all cases we used Doppler ultrasonography to validate the clinical diagnosis. Pre-operative vascular check-up was negative for other aneurismal location. Surgical excision with direct end-to-end anastomosis was possible in one patient; the others required interposition of an autologous venous graft. At discharge, patients were given oral aspirin for a few weeks. Histological examination revealed one pseudoaneurism and three true aneurisms. There were no complications either postoperatively or at 18 months follow-up. Arterial ligation might be indicated in only two situations: aneurism distal to profunda brachii artery, or chronic wall thrombus completely occluding (but distal perfusion through a neovascularization must be assessed first on angiography). Surgical excision with arterial reconstruction is the standard treatment. Endovascular treatment is not suitable because such a procedure in an infant would generate excessive radiation exposure, and a risk of stent migration with limb growth. In the case of an initial isolated and idiopathic presentation, or of false aneurism, clinical follow-up at 1 year is sufficient. In the case of secondary lesion, multiple initial presentation or relapse, life-long follow-up with repeated corporal imaging should be performed.