Journal of pediatric surgery
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Validation of surgeon-performed emergency abdominal ultrasonography in pediatric trauma patients.
The focused assessment for the sonographic evaluation of trauma patients (FAST) in adults is effective in detecting intraperitoneal and intrapericardial fluid and can be performed quickly by surgeons in the emergency department (ED). The authors sought to validate the accuracy of FAST performed by surgeons during ED resuscitation of pediatric trauma patients. ⋯ The focused assessment for the sonographic evaluation of pediatric blunt trauma patients performed by surgical residents and attendings in the ED rapidly and accurately predicted the presence or absence of intraperitoneal fluid. The FAST is a potentially valuable tool to rapidly prioritize the need for laparotomy in the child with multiple injuries and extraabdominal sources of bleeding.
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The association of the rare hereditary cancer syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2a (MEN 2a) with Hirschsprung's disease, both linked to germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene, has been reported recently. With the widespread availability of genetic screening for MEN 2a, it is necessary to define the indications for genetic testing of MEN 2a and population subgroups at high risk for inheriting the disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Hirschsprung's disease in MEN 2a and investigate the value of genetic analysis for MEN 2a in children with familial Hirschsprung's disease. ⋯ The authors conclude that Hirschsprung's disease is a phenotypic marker for MEN 2a and possibly more common than originally appreciated. The expression of Hirschsprung's disease with MEN 2a may be uniquely linked to RETexon 10 mutations. The authors recommend that (1) patients affected with MEN 2a may be counseled regarding the potential risk of Hirschsprung's disease in offspring and (2) a family history of MTC be explored in children with familial Hirschsprung's disease and genetic screening for MEN 2a be considered.
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Although percutaneous cannulation has been previously described in adult and pediatric patients older than 3 years, its use in neonates for venovenous extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has not been previously described. ⋯ This is the first description of percutaneous cannulation in neonates for venovenous ECLS. In the authors' early experience, percutaneous access using a 12F double lumen venovenous cannula may be efficiently performed especially in patients >3.0 kg in weight and has the potential for simplifying and reducing the cost of the ECLS technique.
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The authors report a 5-year experience of inserting the Palmaz stent into infants and children who had a variety of major airway obstructions. ⋯ Airway stents can be inserted easily and safely and left in-situ for prolonged periods to relieve major airway obstruction from a variety of causes. Tissue reaction may necessitate bronchoscopic manipulation and early stent removal, and adds to the difficulty of removal.
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Whereas esophageal foreign bodies are commonly removed with rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia, selected foreign bodies also can be removed using a Foley catheter balloon under fluoroscopic control without anesthesia. The authors prefer to initially attempt removal of smooth, radiopaque esophageal foreign bodies using the balloon technique and then proceed to rigid esophagoscopy if unsuccessful. ⋯ The balloon extraction technique is a safe and effective alternative to rigid esophagoscopy for the removal of selected esophageal foreign bodies in children.