Urology
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The physiologic immaturity of respiratory musculature and central respiratory control centers leads to an increased risk of apnea and respiratory complications following general anesthesia in the neonate. Regional anesthetic techniques such as spinal and caudal epidural anesthesia may obviate the need for general anesthesia and lessen the risks of perioperative morbidity. Although these techniques have been previously described in infants, the majority of reports focus on regional anesthesia during herniorrhaphy in the former, preterm infant. ⋯ We report on three neonates (2.17 to 3.8 kg) who required anesthetic care during the neonatal period for various urologic procedures including cystoscopy, incision of a ureterocele, and vesicostomy placement. Either caudal or spinal anesthesia was successfully used in the awake infant without the need for supplemental anesthetic agents (intravenous or inhalational). The advantages, risks, and applications of regional anesthesia during urologic surgery in the neonate are reviewed.
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Case Reports
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia with testicular tumors, aggression, and gonadal failure.
Bilateral testicular tumors (adrenal rests) may occur in untreated or poorly controlled congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This case report describes two unique associated phenomena: (1) psychologic disturbances similar to those seen with exogenous androgen abuse, which resolved with appropriate glucocorticoid suppression of androgen over-production by this abnormal adrenal/adrenal rest tissue; and (2) testicular failure which showed a partial, delayed recovery with corticosteroid therapy. The need for a careful history and biochemical screening for all patients with bilateral testicular tumors is reinforced.