Pediatric surgery international
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Oct 2008
Gender assignment and hormonal treatment for disorders of sexual differentiation.
To study the gender assignment and hormonal treatment advocated for disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD). ⋯ The patients included male pseudohermaphrodite (MPH) 169; congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) 91; mixed gonadal dysgenesis (MGD) 29; true hermaphrodite (TH) 25; pure gonadal dysgenesis (PGD) 2; persistent mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) 2 and others (micropenis, severe hypospadias with cryptorchidism, 46XX male) 39. Out of 91 cases of CAH, 70 (76.9%) were on steroids (prednisolone, hydrocortisone) and/or mineralocorticoids (fluoricortisone) for adrenal suppression. Out of 146 cases of male pseudohermaphrodite and 21 cases of true hermaphrodite and 3 cases of mixed gonadal dysgenesis reared as males, testosterone was given for local application for phallic growth in 101 and/or as systemic injection for mental makeup after puberty in 41 cases. Systemic testosterone injection was also given for 7 cases of CAH reared as males. Out of 26, 15 cases with mixed gonadal dysgenesis and one out of 2 cases of pure gonadal dysgenesis that attained puberty after being reared as females, after female genitoplasty, were given conjugated oestrogen (Premarin) supplemented with progesterone, as the uterus was preserved. For 12 post-pubertal cases of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), only premarin was given as there was no uterus. Growth hormone and Gn RH analogue was given in 2 patients with CAH to tide over the early bone maturation induced by hormones with equivocal results. Thus judicious hormonal supplementation based upon type of DSD and gender assigned can provide a psychological and cosmetic benefit to patients with DSD.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Sep 2008
Prehospital predictors of risk for pelvic fractures in pediatric trauma patients.
Pelvic fractures are uncommon in children, but can occur as a result of high-energy impact injuries to the lower torso in association with blunt trauma. Pelvic fractures can be associated with significant morbidity while the work-up and treatment for these injuries is costly. The aim was to identify risk factors that help determine which pediatric trauma patients are at highest risk of sustaining a pelvic fracture to aid in the development of criteria for the targeted use of pelvic radiographic imaging. ⋯ Compared to blunt trauma injuries from falls, children who were struck by vehicles or who were occupants in motor vehicle crashes (MVC) were six times (P = 0.000) and twice (P = 0.02) as likely to sustain a pelvic fracture, respectively. Four factors were demonstrated by this study to be significantly associated with pediatric pelvic fractures: being Caucasian, age between 5 and 14 years, being struck as a pedestrian or a motor vehicle crash occupant. Identification of these factors may aid clinicians in selecting patients who are at highest risk for pelvic fracture and may benefit most from pelvic radiography.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyDoes leflunomide attenuate the sepsis-induced acute lung injury?
The organ that is affected first and most severely in intraabdominal sepsis is the lung. Oxygen radicals and active neutrophils in the lung are important sources for severe pulmonary inflammation leading to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of leflunomide, an immunomodulatory agent, on oxidant/antioxidant status with nitric oxide (NO) level and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in rats with sepsis-induced ALI. ⋯ The light microscopic evaluation showed that pulmonary architecture was preserved, and infiltration of neutrophil and edema decreased in sepsis + leflunomide group. The grade of alveolar damage was significantly decreased in sepsis + leflunomide group in comparison with sepsis group (P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that leflunomide attenuated the lung injury after CLP-induced sepsis by inhibition of neutrophils accumulation and increasing endogenous antioxidant capacity.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Aug 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA comparison of neonatal surgical admissions between two linked surgical departments in Africa and Europe.
Resources for neonatal surgery vary hugely between the developed countries and Africa. Due to the burden of other childhood diseases, neonatal surgery is of low priority to health-care budget holders in the developing countries. Admissions to two linked neonatal surgical institutions in Africa and Europe are compared to draw attention to the need of newborn care in developing countries. ⋯ The spectrum of neonatal surgical admissions in our two institutions varied. We believe this is attributable to availability of antenatal diagnosis, primary health-care, transport facilities, genetics as well as survival of delayed presentation. This study demonstrates the extent and spectrum of neonatal surgical pathology in this part of Africa and highlights the need for newborn surgical care in developing countries.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Jul 2008
Comparative StudyNon-operative management of gastroschisis: a case-matched study.
Non-operative management of gastroschisis also known as plastic closure (PC) has been described as an alternative to conventional primary operative closure (POC) or staged silo closure (SSC). The aim of this study was to compare these techniques in neonates with gastroschisis. A retrospective review of neonates with gastroschisis who underwent PC was undertaken. ⋯ Plastic closure is safe and comparable to conventional closure techniques. However, PC is associated with the development of more umbilical hernias. The natural history of these hernias remains to be defined.