European journal of pediatric surgery : official journal of Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery ... [et al] = Zeitschrift für Kinderchirurgie
-
Social media has changed the landscape of online interaction for all doctors including pediatric surgeons. Of course the public including our patients and potential new patients having immediate access to these sites through mobile devices and iPads has contributed immensely to this phenomenon. Nonetheless, it seems that we are all rushing to get in front of our target audience and to engage in a relationship with them in a cost-effective fashion. This article will discuss the role of the Internet and media and how you can use this technology to attract new pediatric patients to your practice.
-
Postoperative antibiotics complement surgery in managing childhood-complicated appendicitis. However, there is limited evidence to guide clinicians on appropriate duration of therapy. A comparison cohort study was performed to determine whether tailoring duration of inpatient intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy to patient response, assessed using a set of clinical criteria, leads to shortened hospital length of stay (LOS) without compromising patient outcomes. ⋯ Using bedside clinical parameters indicative of resolved intraperitoneal infection to tailor duration of postoperative IV antibiotics for children with complicated appendicitis shortens LOS without apparent compromise to patient outcomes.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Forearm fractures in children: split opinions about splitting the cast.
Fractures of the forearm are the most common fractures in children. Various methods of cast immobilization have been recommended. Currently, there is still controversy regarding the optimal method of treatment, especially regarding the need for cast splitting. ⋯ No significant difference in the incidence of cast-related problems was observed between the groups. Fracture stability was comparable in both groups. We suggest that closed circumferential semirigid casts are a safe and effective immobilization technique for fractures of the forearm in children and splitting can be omitted.
-
Controlled Clinical Trial
Are neutrophil CD64 expression and interleukin-6 early useful markers for diagnosis of acute appendicitis?
The aim of the study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and neutrophil cluster of differentiation 64 (CD64) expression in diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA). ⋯ There was a difference between Group 2 and the other groups about CD64 levels. The CRP level and expression of leukocyte CD64 level did not effectively predict the diagnosis of noncomplicated appendicitis, but it predicted well the patients with complicated appendicitis. However, IL-6 levels are statistically significantly different between Group 3 and Groups 1 and 2. According to this result, IL-6 levels predicted well the patient with appendicitis. Applying additional diagnostic methods such as IL-6 levels seems to be helpful in reducing the numbers of false-positive diagnosis of AA.
-
Ovarian torsion (OT) is a clinical diagnosis with a variable presentation. The aim of this study was to develop a practical scoring system to predict patients with OT in the pediatric population to facilitate more accurate diagnosis. ⋯ The OT-CI is a practical scoring system combining clinical and radiologic findings to more accurately predict OT. An OT-CI score < 3 is strong evidence against OT in pediatric menarchal patients, which may minimize unnecessary surgical intervention. In contrast, scores ≥ 3 should be considered for surgical intervention to maximize ovarian salvage.