Factors affecting neurodevelopmental outcome following surgical necrotising enterocolitis: a systematic review.

Surgically treated necrotising enterocolitis (sNEC) is associated with significantly worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than that seen in premature infants without NEC. We aim to review the association between factors involved in the surgical treatment of NEC and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes to identify potential areas for improvement. The PubMed and Embase databases were interrogated for articles reporting neurodevelopmental outcomes in babies treated surgically for NEC using key terms including: "Infant", "Necrotising enterocolitis", "Surgical", "Neurodevelopmental" and "Outcomes". The search strategy yielded 1170 articles and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria 22 studies remained and formed the review. A diverse range of neurodevelopmental outcomes were reported. Extreme prematurity and lower birth weight were associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The use of peritoneal drains and enterostomies were associated with worse outcomes. Modifications to surgical strategies in NEC may improve neurodevelopmental outcomes but the effect of confounding factors remains unclear. Further large scale studies are required to define the optimum strategies for treating NEC surgically and to develop a core outcome set for research into NEC.

Paediatric post-COVID-19 hyperinflammatory syndrome mimicking appendicitis: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: A novel hyperinflammatory syndrome has emerged in the paediatric population: paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome - temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS). Up to 50% of patients develop shock with cardiac dysfunction but presentation with acute abdominal pain is common and difficult to distinguish from appendicitis. METHOD: Prospective case series of PIMS-TS patients presenting to a single UK tertiary paediatric centre. RESULTS: As of 16 September 2020, 89 patients have presented with PIMS-TS to our institution; 19 (21.3%) were referred for surgical review. Pyrexia and acute abdominal pain were seen in all 19 patients. Diarrhoea was reported in 14 (73%) and vomiting in 12 (63%). On examination, eight (42%) had right abdominal tenderness, of which five had right iliac fossa (RIF) peritonism. C-reactive protein (CRP) was universally raised: median 176 (15-463)mg/l. Abdominal imaging was performed in 17 (89%), with 11 undergoing abdominal ultrasonography (65%) and 8 abdominal computed tomography (47%); two required both. Findings included nonspecific features of inflammation in the RIF. Eight patients (42%) had an abnormal echocardiogram at admission. Two (10%) patients, with classical signs and symptoms of appendicitis, underwent appendicectomy without radiological imaging and were subsequently diagnosed with PIMS-TS. During the same period, 18 patients underwent appendicectomy for histologically confirmed appendicitis. Serum CRP and ferritin levels were significantly higher in the PIMS-TS cohort compared with children with appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: PIMS-TS is a novel paediatric condition that may mimic appendicitis. It should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal pain to avoid unnecessary surgery in children at risk of cardiovascular instability.

Management of Paediatric Testicular Torsion - Are we adhering to Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) recommendations.

Introduction In 2015, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) commissioned the East Midlands Clinical Network to develop a set of guidelines for the management of paediatric torsion. Two quality measures identified were the provision of surgery locally where possible and 100% of explorations within three hours. We sought to assess the adherence to these quality measures within our referral network. Materials and methods Retrospective data were collected for all paediatric scrotal explorations performed within our centre between January 2014 and July 2016. Patient demographics, sources of referral, transfer times, time to surgery and operative findings were obtained. Results A total of 100 patients underwent a scrotal exploration. Median age at presentation was 11 years (range 4 months to 15 years). Fifty-three per cent of referrals were from network hospitals. The median duration of symptoms was 25 hours (range 1-210 hours). The median transfer time from local centres was 120 minutes (range 45-540 minutes). The median time to theatre from the decision being made to operate was 60 minutes (range 30-600 minutes). Eighty-seven per cent of cases were explored within three hours. There were 13 cases of torsion with one orchidectomy. When taking into account the transfer time for external patients aged over five years without precluding comorbidities, exploration within three hours dropped to 18 of 46 (39%). Conclusion The RCS guidelines recognise the need for specialist input in very young patients. A large proportion of explorations are, however, currently taking place in older patients with unacceptably long transfer times. We propose an extension of this review nationally to work towards the local provision of care for suitable patients.

Surgical fires, a clear and present danger.

BACKGROUND: A surgical fire is potentially devastating for a patient. Fire has been recognised as a potential complication of surgery for many years. Surgical fires continue to happen with alarming frequency. We present a review of the literature and an examination of possible solutions to this problem. METHODS: The PubMed and Medline databases from 1948 onwards were searched using the subject headings "operating rooms", "fire", "safety" and "safety management". "Surgical fire" was also searched as a keyword. Relevant references from articles were obtained. RESULTS: Fire occurs when the three elements of the fire triad, fuel, oxidiser and ignition coincide. Surgical fires are unusual in the absence of an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. The ignition source is most commonly diathermy but lasers carry a relatively greater risk. The majority of fires occur during head and neck surgery. This is due to the presence of oxygen and the extensive use of lasers. The risk of fire can be reduced with an awareness of the risk and good communication. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery will always carry a risk of fire. Reducing this risk requires a concerted effort from all team members.

Paediatric preputial pathology: are we circumcising enough?

INTRODUCTION: Preputial problems are a common reason for referral to the paediatric surgical out-patient department. Many boys referred do not need surgical intervention. One indication for intervention is balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO), a potentially serious condition previously considered rare in childhood. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive boys referred to a paediatric general surgical out-patient department with problems relating to their prepuce during a period of 4 years were included. The out-patient diagnosis and management was recorded. All foreskins excised were sent for histological analysis. RESULTS: A total of 422 boys were referred, median age 6 years 2 months (range, 3 months to 16 years). Over half the boys referred simply required re-assurance that all was normal with their penis. However, 186 boys (44.1%) were listed for surgical procedures - 148 circumcision, 33 preputial adhesiolysis, and 5 frenuloplasty. There were histological abnormalities in 110 specimens (84.8%); chronic inflammation (n = 69; 46.6%), BXO (n = 51; 34.5%), and fibrosis (n = 4; 2.7%). Nineteen (12.8%) specimens were reported as histologically normal. The overall prevalence of BXO in the boys referred was 12.1%. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the percentage of boys circumcised and the prevalence of BXO were both higher than in other published series. BXO may be more common and present at a younger age than previously thought.

Is sexual intercourse a significant cause of haematuria?

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether recent sexual intercourse might be a cause of microscopic haematuria in patients referred to a urological unit following dipstick detection of urinary haemoglobin. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight volunteers (24 men and 24 women) consented to have heterosexual intercourse with their regular partner, and to provide samples of urine for testing before and from the first void on the morning after intercourse. After appropriate instruction, volunteers tested their own urine for the presence of blood using standard dipsticks. Any volunteer with haematuria either before or after intercourse was offered a standard haematuria assessment. The results were analysed using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: None of the volunteers tested positively for haematuria immediately before sexual intercourse; six of the 24 women (25%), but no men, became positive after intercourse (P < 0.01). Only one of the six women accepted the offer of a haematuria evaluation and no pathology was identified. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that up to a quarter of women develop microscopic haematuria as a direct result of sexual intercourse. A history of recent sexual intercourse should therefore be considered when assessing the clinical significance of microscopic haematuria in women.