Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Universitat zu Koln Medizinische Fakultat, Koln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Introduction:  Esophageal atresia (EA) is often accompanied by tracheobronchial malformations leading to stridor, recurrent bronchitis, and occasionally to life-threatening obstructive apnea after surgical repair. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of tracheomalacia in patients with EA and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) pre- and postoperatively and to find endoscopic correlates leading to clinical airway symptoms.

Methods:  In a cohort of 362 patients with EA-TEF who underwent 595 tracheoscopies at the Children's Hospital of Cologne between January 1983 and December 2002, impaired tracheal lumen, localization of TEF, tracheal pulsations, and corresponding clinical symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Background:  Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common chest wall deformity. Patients with PE may have cosmetic complaints, restricted physical capabilities, or both and may seek surgical correction. One method to assess satisfaction after surgery is the single step questionnaire (SSQ). Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Introduction:  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common morbidity after esophageal atresia (EA) repair, and the antireflux procedure (ARP) is a way of treating GERD symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether reflux index (Ri) and growth were improved by ARP.

Materials And Methods:  Ninety-nine individuals with EA treated at the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 1997 and 2010 were followed prospectively according to a structured care program. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Imam Hossein Children's Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Introduction:  Mechanical bowel prep (MBP) prior to surgical treatment of Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) has been a great problem of pediatric surgeons for a long time. We conducted a single-institution randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of no MBP in children with HSCR undergoing the Duhamel procedure.

Materials And Methods:  In this study, children with HSCR who were candidate for the Duhamel procedure were included (40 cases vs. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Background:  Spaced learning has been shown to be superior in complex motor skill acquisition like laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. By using a pre-post follow-up design, the aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term impact of implementation of the spaced learning concept in laparoscopic training.

Methods:  To evaluate the effectiveness of spaced learning, subjects were asked to perform four surgeon's square knots on a bowel model within 30 minutes-prior and after 3 hours of hands-on training. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Background:  Intraoperative fluid administration is important for postoperative recovery and might be associated with postoperative complications.

Materials And Methods:  This retrospective review included 471 patients who underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Patients were separated into two groups based on whether they received low (<15. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Background:  Neuromodulation is the application of electrical stimulation on nerve fibers to modulate the neuronal activity. Its use for chronic constipation and fecal incontinence has increased in popularity over the past few years. Invasive and noninvasive techniques are currently available. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Background:  Infants are likely to develop anuria during laparoscopy which is uncommon in older patients. The reason for this susceptibility remains unknown. We compared the impact of CO pneumoperitoneum on renal perfusion and urine production in piglets compared with adolescent pigs. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Background:  Anastomotic tension has been linked to leakage and stenosis in esophageal surgery in both adults and children. We aimed to determine the effects of esophageal topography, operative technique, and anastomotic tension on esophageal blood flow.

Materials And Methods:  We divided and reanastomosed the esophagi at the carinal level with increasing levels of anastomotic tension in piglets ( = 10) and sham controls ( = 4). Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Jan 2. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Baskent Universitesi Konya Uygulama ve Arastirma Merkezi, Konya, Turkey.

Background:  Injection to the accurate area without any complications is the main factor for the efficiencies of caudal block. The aim of this study was to compare success and the complications of conventional and ultrasound method for caudal block in children.

Materials And Methods:  Two-hundred sixty-six American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category 1 children aged between 6 months and 6 years undergoing hypospadias, circumcision, or both surgeries were randomly allocated two groups (Group C or Group H,  = 133). Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 2;29(1):132-137. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

Introduction:  There is a lack of an agreed Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) definition. In 2009, a HAEC score was proposed for the diagnosis of HAEC episodes. Our aim was to apply the HAEC score on HAEC episodes to determine its diagnostic efficiency and whether it correlated to its severity. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 31;29(1):125-131. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India.

Introduction:  Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA with or without TEF) is one of the neonatal surgical emergencies requiring surgical intervention in the early neonatal period, influencing the developmental outcome in the operated children. This study was aimed to assess the developmental status of children operated for EA with or without TEF along with maternal stress, their quality of life (QOL), and coping abilities.

Materials And Methods:  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 51 children aged up to 5 years after EA with or without TEF repair and their mothers' in a tertiary care facility. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 24;29(1):120-124. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose:  The aim is to identify prognostic markers of long-term pulmonary morbidity among congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors.

Methods:  A single-institution, retrospective review was performed on all CDH patients from 2000 and 2012 (REB#1000053383). Liver position, patch use, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) (forced expiratory volume at 1 second [FEV1] and forced vital capacity [FVC] expressed as mean % predicted + SD) were recorded. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

1st Department of Surgery, Laikon University General Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Background:  Diffuse esophageal leiomyomatosis (DEL) is a rare disorder characterized by benign hypertrophy of esophageal smooth muscle cells. No rigorous summary of available evidence on how to best manage these patients exists.

Objective:  To define the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric patients with DEL. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Objectives:  Endoscopic follow-up after esophageal atresia (EA) tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair is recommended to detect esophageal histopathological complications. We investigated the prevalence of histopathologically proven esophageal complications (peptic esophagitis, gastric metaplasia, and eosinophilic esophagitis) and assessed the predictors of these complications in children with EA-TEF.

Methods:  This is a prospective longitudinal cohort study performed between September 2005 and December 2014 comprising 77 children with EA-TEF followed-up until February 2017. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany.

Introduction:  Traction procedures are useful to preserve the child's own esophagus in long-gap forms of esophageal atresia. To date, it remains unclear what suture size or position of the traction sutures is optimal to account for differences in anatomy and to reduce the risk of traction sutures being torn out of the esophageal tissue.

Materials And Methods:  Explanted porcine esophagi (from swine aged 100-120 days and weighing 100-120 kg) were divided at the carinal level. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 10;29(1):97-101. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.

Introduction:  The U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) specify the following indications for performing rectal biopsy to rule out Hirschsprung's disease (HSD): (1) passage of meconium > 48 hours; (2) constipation since first few weeks of life; (3) chronic abdominal distension with vomiting; (4) family history of HSD; and (5) faltering growth in addition to any other indication. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 10;29(1):102-107. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Our Lady's Children's Hospital, National Children's Research Centre, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland.

Introduction:  Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). PPH is characterized by increased vascular resistance and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, leading to obstructive changes in the pulmonary vasculature. Nitric oxide (NO), generated by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), is an important regulator of vascular tone and plays a key role in pulmonary vasodilatation. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Olga Hospital, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.

Introduction:  The development of stenoses after correction of an esophageal atresia or acid and lye burn of the esophagus are well-known problems in pediatric surgery. Currently, stenoses are treated in the majority of cases by repeated balloon dilatations. The diameter of the balloons used is not standardized; standard curves do not exist. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 23;29(1):113-119. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland.

Introduction:  Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is assumed to originate from a malformation of the amuscular mesenchymal component of the primordial diaphragm. Mutations in ephrin-B1, a membrane protein that is expressed by mesenchymal cells, have been found in newborn infants with CDH and associated pulmonary hypoplasia (PH), highlighting its important role during diaphragmatic and airway development. Ephrin-B1, -B2, and -B4 are expressed in fetal rat lungs and have been identified as key players during lung branching morphogenesis. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.

Introduction: Esophageal atresia (EA) is associated with significant respiratory mortality. We aimed to assess incidence and predictive factors of EA associated pneumonia during the first 5 years of life.

Materials And Methods:  Institutional ethical consent was obtained. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 23;29(1):108-112. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

Introduction:  Central venous port (CVP) placement is traditionally performed under fluoroscopy guidance. However, efforts for radiation dose reduction in children have allowed the introduction of ultrasound guidance (USG) and anatomic landmarks as an alternative technique for CVP placement. The aim of this study is to determine whether intraoperative fluoroscopy (IF) is required to confirm the correct position of the catheter tip in children. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 2;29(1):90-96. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Introduction:  Tracheal reconstruction for long-segment stenosis remains challenging. We investigate the usefulness of BIOTUBE, an in-body tissue-engineered collagenous tube with a biodegradable stent, as a novel tracheal scaffold in a beagle model.

Materials And Methods:  We prepared BIOTUBEs by embedding specially designed molds, including biodegradable stents, into subcutaneous pouches in beagles. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ankara Children's Health and Diseases Hematology and Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Introduction:  Detecting renal scar is important in pediatric patients with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) for deciding on treatment option. The aim of this study is to detect whether freehand elastosonography technique could be an alternative to dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan in determining renal scar formation.

Materials And Methods:  Between November 2015 and April 2016, 25 VUR patients, age ranging from 3 to 17 years admitted to our clinic, had urinary ultrasound and elastosonography, and data of approximately 147 renal region were recorded. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Objective:  To evaluate the outcome and safety of corticosteroids and vincristine (VCR) in the treatment of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA).

Materials And Methods:  Clinical studies involving corticosteroids and VCR therapies in treating KHE/TA were identified by using PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, EBSCO, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases from their establishment date to December 2017. Randomized controlled trials, case-control, or case series with more than five cases were included. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Clinic for Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics Niš, Clinical Centre Niš, Niš, Serbia.

Introduction:  Child migrants are the most vulnerable population, prone to various health conditions due to trauma and the bad living conditions that they experience during their migration. The objective of this study was to determine the pediatric surgical conditions of migrant children treated in our hospital on their way toward North-West Europe.

Materials And Methods:  A retrospective analysis was performed on all admitted migrants in one tertiary and one secondary level hospital from 2016 to 2018. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Introduction:  Meningococcal septicemia is not merely an acute disease with a high lethality, but patients surviving the fulminant phase can suffer from serious long-term sequelae.

Materials And Methods:  The records of 165 patients admitted to the hospital from 1968 to 2008 with the diagnosis of meningococcal septicemia were retrospectively reviewed for early signs at presentation, intensive care management, acute symptoms, the necessity of plastic and orthopaedic surgical management, and long-term orthopaedic sequelae. Possible predictors of these conditions were determined. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 28;29(1):85-89. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction:  Delayed presentation of posterior urethral valves (PUVs) is a rare condition. Presentation and diagnosis of the patients with late PUVs are challenging. Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is mainly practiced. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Sep 27. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski Collegium Medicum Wydzial Lekarski, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Krakow, Poland.

Introduction:  The management of melanocytic nevi involves many various practitioners with a high number of patients. Data on failure to achieve goals of treatment are scarce. We aimed to determine percentage of incompletely excised nevi and the risk factors responsible. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 27;29(1):75-84. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Center of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School and Bult Children's Hospital, Hannover, Germany.

Aim:  Despite advances of outcomes of esophageal atresia (EA), knowledge on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is sparse. Due to the heterogeneity of EA, larger cohorts need to be investigated to ensure reliability of data. Aim was to determine generic HRQoL after EA repair in a Swedish-German cohort. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 26;28(4):383. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Centre of Pediatric Surgery Hannover, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 26;28(4):303. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover Zentrum Chirurgie, Hannover, Germany.

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 18;28(4):320-326. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Surgery, Nemours Children's Hospital, Orlando, Florida, United States.

The technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) has been adopted by most surgeons as the preferred method for treatment of this condition. However, there is limited awareness about the complications related to the procedure. Most importantly, the prevalence and potential for life-threatening complications have frequently been underestimated. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 18;29(1):68-74. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction:  With improvements in prenatal ultrasound, more abdominal enteric duplication cysts (EDCs) are diagnosed prenatally. The optimal time for operative intervention is unclear. We aimed to review the evidence supporting the indication and timing of surgery for prenatally diagnosed EDCs. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 13;28(4):304-319. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia, United States.

The procedure introduced by Donald Nuss in 1997 for the treatment of pectus excavatum at the American Pediatric Surgical Association meeting has now been adopted by pediatric, thoracic, and plastic surgeons around the world. Rather than resection of the costal cartilages and sternal fracture, which had been standard practice for decades, he advocated using a metal bar to push the sternum into position. Reasoning that the chest wall of children is very flexible, he felt that resection was unnecessary. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 21;28(4):355-360. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover Zentrum Chirurgie, Hannover, Germany.

In most cases, correction of a pectus deformity is performed for cosmetic reasons. The main indication for corrective therapy is impaired body image and self-esteem due to the deformity. In these instances, patients suffer from a lower quality of life that is not correlated with the severity of the chest wall deformity. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 21;29(1):62-67. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Aim:  The American College of Surgeons has developed a registry, the National Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P), that provides participating centers with high-quality surgical outcome data for children. Herein, we aimed to analyze for the first time the short-term outcomes of live-born infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) registered on this large North American database.

Methods:  During 2015 to 2016, up to 101 participating centers uploaded 95 perioperative data points on the NSQIP-P database for patients that underwent surgical repair of CDH. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 21;29(1):1-6. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Aim:  Biliary atresia (BA) remains a rare disease in Europe with an estimated incidence of 1 in 15-20,000 livebirths. While the Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) is regarded as the standard operation for BA, there is no consensus on optimum adjuvant therapy. We sought to determine the variation in therapy and opinion in centers known to have an interest in pediatric hepatobiliary surgery across Europe. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 21. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Evelina London Children Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Introduction:  Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) is uncommon in children. Diagnosis of the condition is almost always clinical and supported by histology. Our aim was to evaluate the outcomes of children undergoing circumcision for BXO and explore the correlation between surgical and histological findings. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 21;29(1):7-13. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Paediatric Surgery, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.

Introduction:  Recent literature advocates outpatient emergency department (ED) management of intussusception citing low recurrence rates and postreduction events after uncomplicated ileocolic reduction. However, few studies include both inpatient and outpatient cohorts. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare recurrence rates and length of hospital stay between the groups. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 15;29(1):39-48. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Aim:  Surgical expertise and advances in technical equipment and perioperative management have led to enormous progress in survival and morbidity of patients with esophageal atresia (EA) in the last decades. We aimed to analyze the available literature on surgical outcome of EA for the past 80 years.

Materials And Methods:  A PubMed literature search was conducted for the years 1944 to 2017 using the keywords "esophageal/oesophageal atresia," "outcome," "experience," "management," and "follow-up/follow up. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 15;28(4):361-368. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.

Surgical procedures for pectus excavatum (PE) repair, such as minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum or similar interventions (modified open videoendoscopically assisted repair of pectus excavatum), for remodeling the anterior thoracic wall may finally not always achieve sufficiently pleasing aesthetic results. Particularly in the asymmetric and polymorphic cases, remnant deformities may still be present after any sophisticated remodeling attempt. On the other hand, some cases despite optimal surgical management develop mild recurrences with partial concavity or rib cartilage distortion shortly after pectus-bar removal. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 15;28(4):347-354. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Pectus carinatum has traditionally been described as a rare chest wall anomaly in comparison to pectus excavatum. However, recent data from chest wall anomaly clinics demonstrate that this deformity is probably much more frequent than once believed. In the past, invasive surgical correction by the Ravitch technique was essentially the only option for treatment of pectus carinatum. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 15;29(1):53-61. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Aim:  To define patterns in the management of pediatric appendicitis.

Methods:  A total of 169 delegates from 42 (24 European) countries completed a validated survey administered at the EUPSA 2017 annual congress.

Results:  In the work-up of children with suspected acute appendicitis, most surgeons rely on full blood count (92%), C-reactive protein (82%), and abdominal ultrasonography (76%), but rarely on computed tomography scans or magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 15;29(1):14-22. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Aim:  The main purpose of this study was to investigate if necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has a different presentation and outcome in patients with congenital heart defect (CHD) (cardiogenic NEC) from those without (classical NEC).

Materials And Methods:  A systematic review of the literature on the characteristics of infants with NEC and CHD was performed by three independent investigators using a defined strategy (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science). A meta-analysis was conducted on studies comparing NEC in infants with CHD and non-CHD infants using RevMan 5. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 15;29(1):33-38. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

Introduction:  Surgery for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is performed by both pediatric surgeons (PS) and urologists (URO). The aim of this study was to analyze treatment modalities for UPJO and results in relation to the surgical technique and the operating discipline in Germany.

Materials And Methods:  Data of patients aged 0 to 18 years were extracted from a major public health insurance (covering ∼5. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 13;28(4):327-346. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, Virginia, United States.

Patients with pectus excavatum (PE) frequently present with complaints of exercise intolerance and cardiopulmonary symptoms. There continues to be controversy regarding the physiologic benefits of repair. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss recent data regarding the cardiopulmonary effects of PE deformity and the evidence for improvement obtained after surgical repair including (1) a greater efficiency of breathing (chest wall mechanics), (2) improvement in pulmonary restrictive deficits, (3) an increase in cardiac chamber size and output, with improved cardiac strain and strain rate, and (4) improvement in exercise capacity. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Aug 13;28(4):369-372. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen, Switzerland.

For decades, open surgical repair was the only available method to treat congenital and acquired chest wall deformities (CWDs). In 1998, D. Nuss described a minimally invasive procedure for surgical repair of pectus excavatum (PE), and a few years later H. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 13;29(1):49-52. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, United States.

Introduction:  Rhabdomyomatous dysplasia (RD) is a pathologic finding in CPAMs that was incorrectly attributed to their malignant potential. The increasing recognition of extrathoracic (intradiaphragmatic and intraabdominal) congenital pulmonary airway malformations (CPAMs) offers a clue to the origin of RD. We hypothesize that the presence of RD is related to the CPAM's anatomic location. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2019 Feb 7;29(1):28-32. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.

Aim:  Hepatoblastoma is the most frequent hepatic tumor in children, and its initial presentation will affect treatment and prognosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate long-term results of liver transplantation in children with unresectable hepatoblastoma.

Patients And Methods:  This is a retrospective review of patients with hepatoblastoma who underwent liver transplantation, analyzing risk factors, tumor presentation, treatment, and long-term survival to identify prognostic factors. Read More