Pediatric surgery international
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Sep 2006
The silent epidemic of falls from buildings: analysis of risk factors.
This study wanted to search for potential risk factors associated with falls from windows and balconies in order to eventually improve prevention. All children under the age of 16 years suffering from head injuries/multiple trauma due to falls from windows or balconies treated over the last 7 years at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Children's Hospital Zürich were analysed retrospectively (group A). Fifty patients out of all children suffering from head injuries/multiple trauma due to other types of accidents in the same period were selected at random as controls (group B). ⋯ There were no significant differences in injured systems and in injury severity between the two groups. This study identified young age, an immigrant family setting, low socio-professional category of the parents, dangerous house constructions, inappropriate furniture placement, and summertime evenings as risk factors for serious building falls in children. This information may foster focused prevention.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Sep 2006
Small bowel obstruction due to adhesions following neonatal laparotomy.
The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to adhesions following laparotomy in the neonatal period. This was a retrospective study of babies born between January 1998 and November 2003 who had a trans-abdominal procedure in the neonatal period in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. Four hundred and fourteen patients had a trans-abdominal procedure during this period. ⋯ A single band caused the obstruction in eight patients (35%), multiple adhesions in six (26%), and dense adhesions in nine patients (39%). The incidence of SBO was highest following surgery for meconium ileus, followed by necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and malrotation. There were no deaths due to small bowel obstruction in this study.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Aug 2006
Comparative StudyWall or machine suction rectal biopsy for Hirschsprung's disease: a simple modified technique can improve the adequacy of biopsy.
Suction rectal biopsy (SRB) may not include sufficient submucosa for histological diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) and a repeat biopsy is required. Substitution of the conventional syringe for sustained suction from a machine or wall suction unit could provide a more consistently adequate tissue biopsy. This study was conducted to compare the adequacy of SRB specimens using a conventional method of syringe suction (SSRB) with those taken by wall or machine suction (WSRB). ⋯ The difference in adequacy between WSRB and SSRB was statistically significant (P = 0.02). There were no instances of haemorrhage or bowel perforation in either subgroup. WSRB with the Noblett biopsy forceps is more likely to produce an adequate specimen and to reduce the incidence of repeat biopsies.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Aug 2006
A high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among surgically drained soft-tissue infections in pediatric patients.
Over the past decade, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a global problem, prompting extensive surveillance efforts. A previous study of S. aureus isolates at our institution revealed alarming increases in the prevalence of MRSA with no sign of plateau. However, evidence of MRSA in pediatric surgical patients remains largely anecdotal, as there are no published reports of institutional MRSA surveillance in the pediatric surgical literature. ⋯ Our analysis confirms a high prevalence of MRSA among soft-tissue infections requiring surgical drainage. In addition, a majority of MRSA isolates were resistant to multiple antimicrobials and were isolated from children without a previous documented exposure to the hospital milieu. Thus, pediatric surgeons should be aware of MRSA prevalence and resistance patterns in the local communities.
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Pediatr. Surg. Int. · Aug 2006
Postoperative abdominal evisceration in children: possible risk factors.
Postoperative abdominal evisceration may lead to high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to determine possible risk factors, morbidity and mortality associated with abdominal evisceration in children. A total of 3,591 children underwent abdominal exploration in our clinic between 1983 and 2005. ⋯ The age-weight percentile was lower than 3% in 41.3% of patients. At the follow-up period, 19 patients recovered completely whereas 10 (34.5%) died. As a result, the age (neonates), primary surgery (colo-rectal), type of incision (median), and emergency surgery were significant risk factors for development of abdominal evisceration in children.