Journal of pediatric surgery
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A parent is often present during anesthetic induction of their child. Some ask to see surgery. We sought views regarding the prospect of a parent in theater during surgery. ⋯ This study confirms a desire by parents to be present in theater during surgery on their child but demonstrates the concerns of professionals. We propose a randomized study to test the hypothesis that having a parent in theater has measurable benefits.
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Comparative Study
Outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -exposed children undergoing surgery--a prospective study.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide pandemic. Mother-to-child transmission programs should theoretically minimize vertical transfer of the virus, but with variable effectiveness of implementation a significant number of children become infected and may present for emergency, diagnostic, and elective surgery. The aim of this study was to prospectively document the clinical presentation, the spectrum of pathology, and surgical outcomes of patients presenting to our hospital. This formed part of a pilot study of a collaborative international working group studying HIV infection in children, which included the Buzzi Children's Hospital Milan, Italy; the University of San Diego, California, USA; and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, School of Adolescent and Child Health, Cape Town, South Africa. ⋯ Human immunodeficiency virus-positive and -exposed patients present a unique challenge in management which is complicated by concomitant disease and poor nutrition. These patients require an expanded differential diagnosis. We believe that, although on the surface there may be a higher complication rate, this needs to be confirmed in an expanded comparative cohort study, which is underway and that patients should still receive the benefit of full surgical intervention.
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A 7-year-old girl with concurrent subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumoretroperitoneum arrived at our facility. Compressed air at 5 atm of pressure was insufflated through the nozzle of a spray gun over her external genitalia. ⋯ Radiographic examination of the abdomen was suggestive of a visceral perforation, but she was managed conservatively and discharged in satisfactory condition without surgical intervention. The female genitalia possibly served as the entry point for air into the retroperitoneum and peritoneal cavity, with subsequent migration of air through the esophageal hiatus that resulted in pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, and extensive subcutaneous emphysema.
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Postoperative ileoileal intussusception after surgical reduction of ileocolic intussusception in infants and children is extremely rare, and no reports of this special type of postoperative small bowel intussusception have been found in the literature. ⋯ The clinical symptoms of postoperative ileoileal intussusception after operations for ileocolic intussusception are not typical. A second postoperative (ileoileal) intussusception should be kept in mind after surgical reduction of the first (ileocolic) intussusception in children. In any atypical postoperative ileus, a sonographic study should be done to rule out the diagnosis of postoperative intussusception. Once this condition is diagnosed, surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible.
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Attention has been placed on surgical and medical errors, though there is a lack of data on the frequency of some complications. ⋯ On a national perspective in the United States, the rate of a retained foreign body is 0.0031% or approximately 1 in 32,672 cases and is associated with an increased charge of $42,077 for this complication. Comparative data demonstrate that pediatric surgery in the United States is exceptionally safe with regard to retained foreign bodies.