European journal of pediatric surgery : official journal of Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery ... [et al] = Zeitschrift für Kinderchirurgie
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Comparative Study
Epidural versus Patient-Controlled Analgesia after Pediatric Thoracotomy for Malignancy: A Preliminary Review.
Introduction The use of thoracic epidural is standard in adult thoracotomy patients facilitating earlier mobilization, deep breathing, and minimizing narcotic effects. However, a recent randomized trial in pediatric patients who undergo repair of pectus excavatum suggests patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) produces a less costly, minimally invasive postoperative course compared with epidural. Given that thoracotomy is typically less painful than pectus bar placement, we compared the outcomes of epidural to PCA for pain management after pediatric thoracotomy. ⋯ Postoperative pain scores were also comparable. The mean anesthesia charges were significantly higher in patients with an epidural than with a PCA. Conclusion Epidural catheter and PCA provided comparable pain relief and objective recovery course in children who underwent thoracotomy for oncologic disease; however, epidural catheter placement was associated with increased anesthesia charges, suggesting that PCA is a noninvasive, cost-effective alternative.
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Comparative Study
Laparoscopic Treatment of Intestinal Malrotation in Children.
Purpose Intestinal malrotation is a congenital intestinal rotation anomaly, which can be treated by either laparotomy or laparoscopy. Our hypothesis is that laparoscopic treatment leads to less small bowel obstruction because of the fewer adhesions in comparison to laparotomy, without increasing the risk of recurrent volvulus. We analyzed the outcome of patients who had a correction for intestinal malrotation after the introduction of laparoscopy. ⋯ In the laparotomy group, the number of complications was significantly higher and the length of hospital stay was significantly longer. Comparing laparoscopy and laparotomy for the treatment of malrotation, no difference exists for the long-term risk of recurrent volvulus. In children aged 6 months or older with suspicion of intestinal malrotation but not presenting with an acute abdomen or hemodynamically instability, laparoscopy should be considered as a first approach to diagnose and subsequently treat intestinal malrotation.
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Background Conservative approach for complicated appendicitis has been gradually adopted in children to decrease postoperative morbidity. The first aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a second-line antibiotics enlarged on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus in case of poor clinical outcome after initial conservative approach for appendiceal mass and abscess. The second aim of this study was to identify predictive factors of failure of first-line antibiotics. ⋯ Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in all the cases (emergency or interval procedure) with six postoperative complications and two conversions to open surgery. Conclusions A gradual adapted antibiotherapy in nonoperative management of appendiceal abscess and mass is effective. We found no relevant predictive factor of failure of the first-line antibiotics.
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Background Pelvic fractures are considered a marker of injury severity, especially in the pediatric population. However, the correlation between the severity of pelvic fractures and incidence of associated abdominal injuries is not clear. Methods A retrospective cohort study involving blunt trauma patients up to the age of 14 years, who suffered from pelvic fractures, with or without associated intra-abdominal injuries. ⋯ A significant correlation was found with intrapelvic organ injuries (p value < 0.0001) and kidney injuries (p = 0.03). Conclusions Mortality of pediatric trauma patients with pelvic fractures is correlated with the severity of the fractures. An increase in the severity of pelvic fractures in this population is associated with an increased incidence of pelvic organ injury, but is not associated with the presence of extrapelvic abdominal injuries, except for kidney injuries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Impact of Epidural Failures on the Results of a Prospective, Randomized Trial.
We conducted a prospective randomized trial to evaluate the merits of two established postoperative pain management strategies: thoracic epidural (EPI) versus patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with intravenous narcotics after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. Pain scores favored the EPI group for the first two postoperative days only. Critics of the trial suggest that if the epidural failure rate was not so high, results may have favored the EPI group. Therefore, we performed a subset analysis of the EPI group to evaluate the impact of these failures. ⋯ In patients with failed epidural therapy, there is no significant difference in postoperative hospital course. Comparing those with well-functioning catheters to those in the PCA group, trial results are replicated-that is, no significant difference in length of stay, time to regular diet, or time to transition to oral medications. Therefore, failure rate in the EPI group did not influence the results of the trial.